After Class

"Ms. Damron, can I ask you to stay after class for a few minutes? I'd like to discuss your essay."

Karrie stopped in the doorway, her back stiff. She'd been anticipating those words. In fact, she'd deliberately made certain she was the last person to leave the room for just that reason. She turned to face Professor Allen with her face a carefully expressionless mask, but she couldn't keep her voice from sounding as sharp as nails from a gun. "Of course, Professor. What would you like to discuss?"

The professor looked at her over the tops of his half-spectacles and glanced toward the door in a silent request to close it. Karrie took a deep breath and shut the heavy wooden door and, for good measure, slid the bolt shut to lock it. She'd been waiting for this, but now that it was here, nervousness vibrated in her stomach. She'd written her final essay on the subject of "The Role of Female Sexuality in Traditional Fairy Tale Literature." Professor Allen, a well-known misogynist, was probably going to flunk her.

"Please, Ms. Damron, have a seat." Professor Allen's languid British accent brooked no argument as he indicated the chair across from him, but Karrie shook her head.

"No, thanks. I think I'll stand."

He took off his glasses and set them down on the wide wooden desk. Standing this close to him, it was impossible to ignore the color of his eyes, a muted, unusual greenish-gray. She could also smell...