Seducing the Professor Read online

  He did not wear a condom the day before! It was not something he planned, but nothing would have stopped him from taking her, even had he realized it at the time. He breathed in deeply, exploring how he would feel if she were to fall pregnant with his baby. Nothing but warmth and … anticipation filled his mind. He clenched his jaw.

  Shit! Get a hold of yourself, Paul Shuttle! Now you’re thinking babies already!

  Suddenly his mind was in shambles and he did not know what to think. Did he really want this? Or was it purely because this time he was the hunter and it would blow over soon?

  Alexandra stretched like a kitten in the sun and he groaned. Her naked breasts soft against his hard chest and his hands tightened around her hips. She gasped and opened her eyes and caught his sleepily.

  “Morning Angel.”

  “Hmmm.”

  Paul smiled at her lazy and sleepy response then stopped breathing when she stretched again and rolled on top of him, her legs tangling with his and her face on his chest.

  “Jeez, woman! Do you know what you’re doing to me?”

  “Hmmm. This is nice. Do we have to get up already?”

  He gritted his teeth, cursing his parent’s presence in the house.

  “We don’t have to, but if you don’t get off me immediately, my parents are going to be witnessing some loud and continuous screams. If I take you now, Alexandra, I am not stopping until you are completely wrung dry!”

  She only stiffened slightly and then giggled, wiggling closer around him.

  “You would not do that to me. Please honey, this is heaven. Don’t make me move yet.”

  “Angel … you’re killing me!”

  But he relented and allowed her to remain. He stroked her back and buttocks and she sighed into his chest.

  “I have a confession to make.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “I did not wear a condom yesterday in the loft.”

  He held his breath and waited. She was quiet for so long he wondered if she fell asleep again.

  “Hmmm.”

  “Just hmmm?”

  She lifted her head and looked into his eyes, then followed every contour of his face before she looked back into them.

  “You mentioned it has been nearly a year, so I assume you are clean and it has been over two years for me.”

  She dropped her head, kissed his chest and laid her head back down.

  “Besides, I am on the pill.”

  “You are?”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Why?”

  “What do you mean why?”

  “You’re admitting to not being sexually active for two years, so why are you on the pill?”

  “Would you rather I wasn’t?”

  This time he was quiet and she lifted her head to stare at him. He returned her look unflinchingly.

  “The thought did cross my mind.”

  “What thought?”

  “That if you were pregnant you won’t run away.”

  Her breath caught in her throat, but he kept her eyes captive, willing her to respond. She swallowed.

  “Paul, we …”

  “Paul, are you awake son?”

  Alexandra froze and stared at the door with dread. Then she became energized and before he could stop her she disappeared into the bathroom. He sighed and went to open the door.

  “Morning Dad. I’m just about to get up.”

  “Good, your Mom has been in the kitchen cooking up a storm for breakfast. Hustle son and go wake Alexa. You know your Mom hates waiting.”

  He watched his Dad walk down the stairs. When he turned around Alexandra had her tee-shirt on and headed to the door. He took her by her shoulders and drew her against him. He whispered in her ear.

  “I am not done talking about this, Angel.”

  “Paul, there is nothing to talk about! I am on the pill exactly to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. I will never force myself on a man because of a baby! I was brought up in a very conservative home and if my Mom had to know what I have been doing with you, she would disinherit me!”

  “We’re not talking about any man, Blondie. We’re talking about you and me. We’ve gone past the quick sex part … as a matter of fact … we completely skipped that part. If you think for one moment that is all there is between us … you are sadly mistaken, my dear!”

  He turned her to the door and pushed her into the passage.

  “You heard my Dad. Mom hates waiting.”

  And he closed the door in her astonished face.

  Paul took to the furthest pasture on the Ranch where he had a group of Stallions grazing. They were still half wild and Samuel and he had to start working with them. He pulled her roughly against him and kissed her silly, telling her he will see her in a week’s time.

  When they worked with those Stallions they lived amongst them to gain their trust and understand their strengths. Alexandra watched them as they galloped away and sighed heavily. On the one hand she was relieved but on the other hand she knew she was going to miss him.

  Brett arrived at that point and he joined her in the stable lab. She explained the research she had just started before she was sent to Silver Star as groundbreaking in the thoroughbred racehorse industry.

  “Exactly what does it entail? I read on ADC’s website it had to do with identifying genetic factors that enhances performance.”

  “Yes, there is approximately 120 genes associated with performance and fitness traits. We started with conducting genomic scans to identify the regions of the genome, which is the entire DNA material of the horse, that have undergone selection for increased performance in the elite horse. From there we use microarrays.”

  She laughed at his expression and he shook his head.

  “And I thought as a Vet I knew everything? What does that involve?”

  “It is a technique where we look at the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously, and measuring the level of messenger RNA, the precursor to protein, that is present in each cell. This allows us to determine gene activity in the cell at any given time.”

  “It seems quite a long and detailed process. How far are you with it?”

  “It is quite a drawn out process, but with the correct activities it would be hugely beneficial to the thoroughbred racehorse industry.”

  Alexandra frowned and looked at Brett.

  “Now that I think of … yes! It could work!”

  “What could work?”

  “I’ve designed a micro gene chip that has most of the horse’s genes on it. If I implant these chips in the horses here, I’ll be able to get accurate measures on their genes, especially the defective ones! If I modify it slightly, I might even be able to segregate the chromosome in each of them. It is quite possible that they used different strains and not all of them attack the nerve system, but other organs and genes. With the chips we will immediately identify and eliminate them! Why did I not think of this earlier?”

  Alexandra was so excited her eyes glittered and Brett smiled with her. Relieved that she seemed so positive there might be a solution to Silver Star’s problems. She sobered and frowned.

  “Now what?”

  “It would mean I need to go back to Plum Island. I need to do the modifications and test them first before we manufacture them. Paul said he won’t be contactable, but I don’t want to wait a week. On the other hand it will be quite an expensive exercise and if he did not agree with it …”

  “Let me phone Uncle Thomas and see what he says. He would not agree with this if he thought Paul would oppose it.”

  Alexandra listened to the conversation and then took the phone when Thomas asked to speak to her. She briefly explained everything and answered his questions, then waited while he kept quiet.

  “My son trusts you Alexa and so do I. It is very clear that you know what you are talking about and what you did to save Blossom and her colt … I have no doubt this will work. Go, I’ll sort it out with him when he is back.”

  “Thank you Uncle Th
om, but I … he is going to be angry that I left without telling him.”

  Thomas chuckled. “I imagine he will be. But I also think it would do him the world of good! Mary and I will go and stay on the Ranch from Wednesday, in case he decides to return earlier. How long will you be gone?”

  “Two, possibly three weeks.”

  “Travel safely and keep me up to date during this week. I will need as much information to pacify him when he returns.”

  She ended the call and handed Brett’s phone back to him.

  “Okay, that’s sorted then, but I want to prepare enough of the emulsion and the antibiotic, just in case you might need it. And Brett, please promise me you will phone me if there is a crisis. I would rather be here to deal with it and go back, than not being here at all.”

  “Deal. Draw up your list and I’ll send David to go and fetch what you need. It would be good for me to know how to prepare the emulsion as well.”

  They worked closely for the rest of the day and Wade was just as excited about Alexandra’s idea. He instructed his secretary to make the necessary flight arrangements for the following day.

  Alexandra walked into Yellow Blossoms pasture and the colt came running towards her. He jumped up and down when he reached her and she fed him a peace of apple laughingly and some to Blossom as well.

  She leaned against Blossom and stroked her nose, while she hugged the Colt around the neck.

  “You two are so spoilt already! Paul is going to have a cadenza when he gets back! I am going to miss you two so much! You must be good and don’t bite David when he feeds you again, little mister!”

  The colt shook his head up and down as if in agreement and Alexandra laughed. She sobered and felt her heart clamp inside her. She was becoming too attached to all the animals here. It was going to break her heart when she has to leave!

  She refused to think about what it would do to her when she had to leave the owner of the Ranch behind.

  Chapter Nine

  Paul ‘s good mood sunk when he cantered into the stable yard with Lancelot on Saturday afternoon and noticed a string of cars parked in front of the house.

  All he wanted to do was take a hot shower, take Alexandra’s clothes off and make love to her until the sun came up. He could not get over how much he missed her during the past six days.

  Samuel chuckled when he noticed the look on Paul’s face.

  “Guess your family missed you too! But I am glad I can just go home and Betty can pamper me. Enjoy, Boss!”

  He swung his horse around and set off in the direction of his house, waving at Paul. He grunted and got stiffly off the horse. David hovered close and lead Lancelot to the side of the stable to water and rub him off.

  Sometimes the closeness of his family was just not to be appreciated, but he knew he would be lost without them too.

  “Paulie! You’re back! We were just wondering when you’ve had enough of roughing it! Ugh! You stink! No … don’t you dare touch me!”

  Amy held out her hands to ward him off and he chuckled. He greeted everyone and searched for Alexandra. He frowned when she was not there. His Dad noticed and pulled him aside.

  “She’s not here, son. She went back to Plum Island. Paul! Where are you going? Get … Paul!”

  He ignored his father and stormed to his room and slammed the door shut. Here he was in a state of expectation and where was she! Ran back home! He ripped the door open with the first knock.

  “What!”

  Thomas shook his head. His son had it worse than any of them thought.

  “Relax Paul. She did not run away. Brett and her spoke to me first and I agreed that she go immediately.”

  “Spoke to you about what?”

  “She designed a micro gene chip for thoroughbreds and she realized that it would be ideal to monitor and identify the defective chromosomes. She went back to do the modification to incorporate DNA and Chromosome strands. She could not do it here and she has to test it before they can manufacture. We agreed it would be silly to wait a week only to talk to you about it.”

  “She could have send someone out to find me. I would have come back.”

  “To what purpose? But I guess she already knows you better than I thought.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She said you would be angry that she left.”

  “Damn right I am angry! How long does she plan to be gone?”

  “Two, maybe three weeks.”

  “Three damn weeks!”

  Thomas shook his head and smiled. He gripped his shoulder.

  “Phone her, Paul. I know she expects you to when you’re back. I spoke to her yesterday and she has made a lot of progress.”

  He nodded and whipped his shirt over his head. He walked into the bathroom and turned the shower on. He stood under the warm rays for thirty minutes before he started feeling human again.

  He dressed in shorts and a tee-shirt with flops and walked out on his balcony, dialing Alexandra’s number. He listened to the ringing and was just about to end the call when she answered out of breath.

  “Hello, Paul! Hello!”

  “Angel.”

  “Oh … I thought I missed you!”

  “I was just about to end the call.”

  “You … sound angry.”

  “You are quite perceptive, my dear.”

  “Did your Father not explain …?”

  “Yes, he did, but I still expected you here when I returned!”

  She sighed and sank down on the couch, her heart thumping wildly.

  “Are you going to fight with me?”

  Paul sighed and saw her in his mind’s eye, looking at him with those bluer than blue eyes.

  “No … I’ll leave that for when you’re back. When will you be back?”

  “I’m not sure. I am nearly finished with the altering of the chips, and then we have to test them. Hopefully by the end of next week.”

  He gazed out to the setting sun and sighed.

  “I really wanted you here, Angel.”

  “I’m sorry, but this is important. If this works it will not only solve this problem, we can also use the chips to identify what triggers better performance and we can guarantee top performers in all the future breeds from Silver Star!”

  “Where are you now?”

  “At home.”

  “And where is that exactly?”

  “2345 Sound View Road on Gross Point Island.”

  “Do you live alone?”

  “Yes, in a house that I bought when I took the job at ADC. It’s not massive, but it is home. Why all the questions, Paul?”

  “You know everything about me. It is about time I learnt more about you. My whole family is camped out downstairs again. I guess I have to go and join them. I’ll phone you later tonight again.”

  Alexandra clutched the phone to her chest and stared out to sea with a faraway look. His voice sounded so close and she only now realized how much she missed him. Her phone rang again and she groaned before she answered the call.

  “Hi Mom. How are you?”

  “Alexandra. I am well thank you. You have not called for a while. Your Father and I am concerned.”

  “I am fine, Mom. I have been in Kentucky on an assignment. I am only back here for another week or so, then I head back there again.”

  “I see. I imagine you are still happy with your job at ADC?”

  Alexandra winced at the pained sound in her mother’s voice. She was very upset when she moved away.

  “Yes, Mom. How is Dad?”

  “He is doing well. He is thinking about retiring. Seems to think we should start travelling around. With you out of the house …”

  “Mom … don’t do this! I am twenty seven. I couldn’t live at home forever.”

  “No, but you were supposed to get married and then move to your new home. Not live alone on a deserted island!”

  “It is not a deserted island, Mom and I am very close to all the major cities! Once I am done with this
assignment I will come and visit for a week or so.”

  “That’ll be nice, darling. I bumped into Andre the other day. He asked about you.”

  Alexandra winced and sighed.

  “How has he been?”

  “He seemed sad when he asked about you. He really loved you, you know?”

  “Mom, please, I really don’t have the strength for this. We were not right for each other.”

  “I disagree. You two made the perfect couple!”

  “Mom! He bored me to death! Our marriage would never have lasted.”

  “Alexandra! He is the nicest man you have ever dated! He carried you on his hands!”

  “Mom, I am sorry, but you are wrong. He was selfish in our relationship on every level. Yes, you believed he carried me on his hands, because you chose him for me. I don’t know how I managed to last for two years! Please do not even think of trying to bring him back into my life! If you really want to alienate me that would be the way to do it!”

  “Very well, darling. I accepted it is over between you long ago, I was just saying. Your Dad misses you.”

  “Send him my love. I miss you too, Mom.”

  Paul was like a bear with a sore tooth over the following week. Even Samuel got irritated with him and they had a major fall out. When Brett spoke about Alexandra as if she was his best friend, he snapped and took to the hills on Lancelot before he took his fists to his face.

  Talking to her on the phone every day was not enough and he was becoming increasingly angry. He turned Lancelot back to the house, having made a decision.

  He handed the reins to David and jogged to his room. He threw clothes in a duffel bag, took a shower and took off to his private airfield. It was just after noon when he landed his helicopter at the helipad at the Gross Sound Ferry.

  He phoned Wade and he mentioned that he knew Alexandra went to lunch with a friend at Orient Point. He offered him the use of one of the ADC vehicles which had a division next to where he landed. Following Wade’s directions he arrived at the restaurant at Orient Point at one.

  He strode towards the restaurant, searching for Alexandra and stiffened when he noticed her sitting on one of the beach benches opposite a tall blond man and an older woman.