Tempting Lessons

I pushed the door open, and light from the hallway spilled into the room, revealing a couple tangled in each other's arms.

“S-sorry,” I stammered, my cheeks flushing as confused faces glared at me. “Wrong room.” I quickly shut the door, leaning against it as faint party music and bursts of laughter echoed in the hallway.

Shaking my head, I glanced down at the set of keys in my hand—my roommate's keys. She had asked me to bring them, but where the hell was she? “I'm not drunk enough for this,” I muttered, pulling out my phone to text her.

Before I could type a word, a man stumbled out of a nearby room. His hands were tugging at the waistband of his briefs, which did little to hide a rather impressive bulge. “Oh my God!” I gasped, quickly covering my eyes and turning away, expecting him to be mortified and apologize. Instead, he laughed. A deep, warm sound.

“You know I'm decent, right?” he asked, and I dared a glance at him. My eyes landed on the briefs again before darting to the ceiling. “I don't know if I'd call that decent,” I retorted, earning another chuckle.

“Are you afraid if you look at me, you'll faint?” he teased.

“No,” I shot back, “just thought I'd give you a bit of privacy.”

“Privacy?”

“Most people feel uncomfortable when they're caught during a walk of shame.”

“Not you, though,”

“Not me.”

My stomach flipped as the realization hit. “Really, Maddie?” I thought to myself. Of course, it's Alex Jones. The campus Casanova.

As if reading my thoughts, Alex's eyes glinted with amusement.

“The people who witness it tend to get embarrassed, though,” I said.

“Are you saying you're embarrassed to look at me?” His smirk deepened as my gaze flickered. First to his abs, then his toned arms, then back to his briefs. He noticed, of course, and I forced myself to focus on his chiseled jaw instead.

“Not particularly. But things could get awkward when your hookup comes stumbling out behind you.”

As if on cue, I half-expected a lingerie-clad woman to emerge and beckon Alex back for round two—or knowing him, round five. But no one appeared, and Alex's laugh filled the hallway again.

“That's what you think I was doing?” he asked, clearly amused.

“Well… yeah.”

“Think again. I lost my clothes playing poker with some buddies. I was dared to do a keg stand in my briefs. Should've thought it through, huh? Didn't mean to traumatize you.”

From behind him, muffled laughter drifted out of the room.

“What, you didn't have any money to bet?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It's more fun this way,” he said, his grin growing. “At least I didn't bet my watch!”

A head poked out of the dorm. “You made me bet it!”

“I didn't make you do anything, Nick, but I'll be wearing it next time we hit the bar,” Alex called back.

Nick slammed the door with a muttered curse, and Alex chuckled.

“He's a sore loser,” Alex said.

“And you're not?”

Alex planted his hands on his hips. “Do you think I'd be out here in my favorite boxers if I wasn't?”

“Hmmm. I'm not convinced. How do I know you're not all talk and no game?”

His smirk widened. “Wouldn't you like to know?”

Before I could reply, the door burst open, and a group of his friends spilled out.

“Alex! You still need to do the keg stand!” one shouted.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says, rolling his eyes before locking his gaze on me. My throat tightened under the weight of his stare.

“Hate to cut this short, but duty calls.” His eyes trailed over me, deliberate and slow, as he grinned. “Keep thinking about my briefs—or better yet, leave those keys under my doormat. I'll gladly visit you later.”

My jaw dropped as he jogged down the stairs.

“Right! Vivian.” I said.

Reluctantly, I followed Alex a while after.

I followed the noise of the party and found her in the center of the crowd. She's on a chair, swinging her bra like a lasso before tossing it onto the chandelier.

“Thank you, thank you! I'll be here all night!” she shouted, laughing as she hopped down. Then she spotted me.

“Maddie! My favorite roommate!” I was crushed into a hug before I could respond.

“Looks like you're having fun,” I said.

“Oh, definitely. This party is wild.”

“And whose fault is that?”

Her grin faltered as she noticed my empty hands. “Wait—where's your drink?”

“I just got here.”

“Shoot. I think they're out of cups… Guess I'll join those guys.” She pointed at two men doing a keg stand. Unsurprisingly, Alex is one of them, loud and victorious as his drunk supporters cheered. I tried not to stare at his briefs.

“How do you even drink upside down?” I asked.

“It's not hard. Takes some getting used to, though,” Vivian said, shrugging.

“You've done one?”

“One? I've done multiple.”

I can't help imagining her petite frame hoisted over a keg. Of course, she's done it. Vivian could outdrink a sailor.

“We should join them,” she said.

“Uh…” I scanned the crowd, searching for an escape route—and my breathing literally stopped. Harry is here. The guy I've had a crush on for years.

Vivian followed my gaze. “He's single now, you know.”

My heart skipped. “How do you know that?”

“Come on, Maddie. I know everything.”

She's right. Vivian always knows what's going on. Usually, I don't care about campus gossip, but when it comes to Harry, I can't help but listen. He's been with Mary for what feels like forever. And I've liked him for just as long. I watch him cross the room, oblivious to the sea of women staring at him.

“Single, huh?” I murmured.

“Yeah. I heard he and Mary broke up because they weren't compatible anymore.”

“If you ask me, they weren't compatible from the beginning,” Vivian declared, twirling her cup of cheap party punch like she was a wise sage.

“Vi!” I exclaimed, wide-eyed.

“Seriously! Think about it,” she insisted. “A preppy future president and an apolitical, mousy girl? Come on. Can you picture Mary as the First Lady?”

I hesitated before nodding slightly. “I guess you have a point.”

“I always have a point,” Vivian said, grinning. “But who knows? Maybe they hashed out their differences… in the bedroom.”

I choked on air, startled. “What?”

Her grin turned mischievous. “Word on the street is that Harry has a kinky side.” She leaned closer. “He likes his women… experienced.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My stomach clenched as I glanced over at Harry, who was laughing with a group of friends across the room. My crush on him has always been like a candle that never burns out, but Vivian's comment made the flicker feel dim. He's ambitious, confident—everything I'm not. And now, apparently, he's… experienced.

“Come on,” Vivian urged, noticing my gaze. “What are you waiting for? Go talk to him!”

“I… I don't think I'm, you know, his type,” I mumbled, avoiding her piercing stare.

Vivian paused, her sharp eyes studying me. “Oh. Well, hey—if you're worried about your seduction skills, go practice on someone else!”

“Yeah, right. That sounds like an even worse plan,” I retorted.

She shook her head, undeterred. “Maddie, he's not going to bite you. What's the worst that can happen?”

“I get tongue-tied, and he never speaks to me again?”

Vivian extended her cup with a flourish. “Then bring some liquid courage with you. I'll sacrifice my drink for the greater good.”

I took the cup hesitantly and down a long swig. It's watery and cheap, with a faint chemical aftertaste that made my face scrunch up in distaste. Vivian burst into laughter.

“The more you drink, the better it tastes,” she quipped.

Rolling my eyes, I tipped the cup back and finished it. Before I could second-guess myself, Vivian grabbed the cup, set it down, and gave me a firm nudge forward. “Go now! Before you chicken out.”

Somehow, my feet obeyed, carrying me across the room until I was standing behind Harry. His broad shoulders and Greek curls made my heart race. He turned around just as I raised a trembling hand to tap him.

“Whoa! Maddie? How long have you been standing here?” he said, looking genuinely surprised.

The face on this man is incredible. He has light skin. His dark and curly hair framed his face perfectly. His almond eyes, deeply expressive and framed by dark lashes. He is so beautiful.

“Oh, hi!” I stammered, my throat dry. “Not long… I mean, I wasn't standing here long. Just got here.”

His smile widened, and I swear it could melt ice. “Feels like I haven't seen you in forever. How've you been?”

“Good. Great!” I blurted out, mentally cringing. Is this going well? I couldn't tell at all.

“Hey, would you like to…” I started, my nerves making my voice wobble.

“Yes?” he prompted, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

Come on, Maddie, just say it! I screamed internally. I opened my mouth to say the words, but before I could, Alex's booming voice cut through the noise.

“Hey, party people! Cops are on their way—noise complaint!” Alex announced from the top of the stairs. “Chug your drinks, pack it up, and get to bed!”

Groans rippled through the crowd as everyone scrambled to clean up. As the line slowly forms, Alex matched the drunks with their less inebriated friends. Watching him in action, I couldn't help but think, I can't tell if Alex is the worst or the best RA ever.

Harry glanced back at me, his brow furrowed.

“I guess I'll see you another day?” he said, offering me a warm smile.

“Sure,” I replied, my chest tightening with disappointment.

He squeezed my shoulder gently before melting into the crowd. I stood there for a moment, rooted in place, before shuffling toward the door. What a disaster.

I was the last one to reach the exit, where a smirking Alex blocked my path.

“You decided to say yes to the offer?” he asked.

“What?” I blinked in confusion.

He nodded toward the keys in my hand—the ones I was supposed to give to Vivian hours ago.

“Oh,” I muttered. “No, these are my roommate's.”

“Shame,” Alex said with a wink before striding past me, his clothes clutched under his arm.

Vivian's words echoed in my mind. “If you're worried about your seduction skills, go practice with someone else.” The budding idea took hold of me immediately. Alex would be perfect for that.

The next morning, I found myself standing in front of the RA's door. I had hoped the wild idea I'd entertained last night would fade by morning. Instead, it had rooted itself firmly in my mind. Alex seemed like the perfect solution to my predicament—assuming I could get him to agree.

I glanced down at my outfit for the fifth time, tugging nervously at the hem of my oversized sweater, paired with skinny ripped jeans. It wasn't exactly the kind of outfit you'd wear for a proposition like this. But the thought of showing up in something more daring only made me cringe.

I knocked lightly at first. “Alex? Are you awake?” When no answer came, I knocked again, harder this time.

The sound of stirring reached my ears before the door swung open, revealing a disheveled and bleary-eyed Alex. His black shirt clung to him loosely, and his sweatpants were slung low on his hips. He squinted at me and muttered, “It's 10:00 in the morning.”

“Right…” My confusion must have been obvious because he added, “I had a night shift. Got off two hours ago.”

“Oh, sorry,” I said quickly. “Should I come back later?”

He stifled a yawn and leaned against the doorframe. “No need.”

“Okay,” I said, swallowing hard. “I need to talk to you. I have… a proposition.”

His eyebrow arched slightly. “A proposition?”

“I want you to teach me about sex!” I blurted out fast before I could lose my nerve.

Alex coughed, clearly caught off guard. I rushed to clarify. “Sort of like… friends with benefits. No strings attached.”

The silence that followed was agonizing. My instincts screamed at me to run away and pretend this conversation never happened, but Alex's thoughtful look kind of held me in place.

“Look,” I said, desperate to fill the quiet. “I've heard about your reputation—how, uh, experienced you are.”

“And you're saying you have no experience?” he asked, his tone neutral.

“I mean… some. Just the basics. But I think you'd be a good teacher. And I'd be a very dedicated student.”

Alex leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms as he studied me. “What's in it for me?”

I expected the question. “You get to sleep with me. No strings, no texts, no begging for dates. And when you've taught me everything I need to know, we go our separate ways.”

He stroked his goatee thoughtfully, his eyes fixed on mine. Finally, he spoke. “It's a good deal. But you'll have to convince me.”

“Convince you?” I asked, my heart skipping a beat.

“Yes,” he said with a slight smirk. “Come by tonight at nine. It'll be your first lesson.”

“Really? But—”

He cut me off with a raised hand. “I have to know you're serious about this.”

“Of course I'm serious!” I said.

“That's for you to prove and for me to find out,” he replied.

I shook my head, already questioning the reality of this situation, and turned to leave. But before I could take a step, Alex's hand gently touched the small of my back, stopping me in my tracks.

Leaning close to my ear, his voice dropped to a low, intimate tone. “Wear something hot.”

The warmth of his breath sent a shiver down my spine. I glanced down at my sweater and jeans, realizing I'd need to step up my game.

“You don't want to start our lesson right away?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

“No. I'm going back to sleep now,” he said, shutting the door before I could respond.

I leaned against the wall, breathless and stunned. Holy moly. I can't believe that worked.

Still in a daze, I returned to my dorm room.

As I flicked on the light, the mound of blankets on the other side of the room shifted.

“Too… much… alcohol,” came Vivian's groggy groan as she rolled over to face me, squinting against the light.

“I feel like crap,” she muttered.

"Poor thing!" I said, grabbing a water bottle from the mini-fridge and handing it to Vivian. "Looks like you've finally learned your lesson."

She groaned, holding the bottle to her forehead like it was the only thing keeping her alive. "I tell myself the same thing every weekend," she mumbled. "And yet, here I am. Again."

"The full college experience," I teased, leaning against the desk. "At least it's Saturday. You've got the whole day to stay in bed and recover."

Vivian let out another groan, rolling onto her back dramatically. "I wish. But I ordered a few things from Reverie, and I have to pick them up before the store closes."

Reverie. That place practically is the definition of sexy.

"And every time I go," Vivian continued, popping an ibuprofen and washing it down with a sip of water, "I end up buying half the store. It's a problem."

"Sounds like you should ban yourself from going," I said, raising an eyebrow.

She smirked weakly. "True, but where's the fun in that? Hey, why don't you come with me? Shopping is way more fun with company. Plus, you can stop me from blowing all my money."

For a second, I hesitated, but then a thought struck me. This could be an opportunity to shop for sexy outfits to see Alex.

"You know what?" I said, feeling a spark of excitement. "I'm in."

The soft scent of floral perfume greeted us as Vivian and I walked into Reverie. Vivian headed straight for the bodycon dresses, flipping through racks of vibrant colors and sleek designs. However, my attention was caught by a wall of lacy lingerie—delicate black, red, and emerald green pieces.

Alex asked me to wear something sexy, I thought, running my hand over the smooth fabric.

Vivian wandered over, her gaze landing on the lingerie I was holding. She raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Well, well, someone's got plans. Who's the lucky guy?"

"No one," I said quickly, trying to sound casual. "Just treating myself."

"Good for you! Now pick something hot," she said with a grin. "Go all out."

I grabbed a few pieces and headed for the fitting room, my heart thudding. Inside, I slipped into a black lace bodysuit. It fit like a second skin, hugging every curve perfectly.

When I stepped out, Vivian's jaw practically hit the floor. She gave a low whistle. "Damn, Maddie! If anyone sees you in that, they'll knock down the door."

I turned to the mirror, my cheeks warming. It was bold, sexy, and completely outside my comfort zone.

I knocked on Alex's door at 9 p.m. sharp, dressed in a black lace bodysuit paired with a dangerously short mini skirt that would definitely flash my panties if I bent over. My black hair was down in curls.

When he opened it, his eyes widened, and for a moment, he was speechless. “Whoa,” he finally muttered.

He was dressed casually, in a loose white graphic tee and oversize denim shorts that sagged low on his hips, showing his briefs.

“Surprised?” I asked, stepping past him into his room.

His place was impressive. It's way better than my dorm room. It didn't even look like a student's room. I plopped into his office chair, swiveling slightly as I took it all in. “This place is insane,” I say.

“The perks of being the RA,” he replied, leaning casually against his desk but keeping his eyes on me. “I didn't think you'd actually show up.”

“Honestly?” I said, crossing my legs. “I wasn't sure either. But what do I have to lose, right?”

He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Right. Well, if we're going to do this, we need to set some ground rules.”

“Ground rules? I thought this was just a test run.”

“It is,” he said, folding his arms. “But it's better to establish boundaries now.”

“Fair enough,” I said, tilting my head. “What's rule number one?”

“No kissing,” he said firmly.

I blinked. “At all?”

He shifted his weight, watching me closely. “No kissing on the lips,” he clarified.

“Okay… but why?”

“Kissing is romantic,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “And I don't want you getting any ideas.”

I stood up, trying to stifle a laugh. “You should worry about not falling for me, Alex.”

He chuckled, the sound low and amused. “Yeah, right.”

We stared at each other for a moment, a silent battle of wills. Finally, I stepped closer and extended my hand. “Deal. What's next?”

“No dates,” he said. “I'm not going to bring you flowers or buy you chocolates when you cry over one of those stupid videos about a duck and a dog being friends.”

“Hey!” I protested. “Those videos are adorable.”

“Exactly my point,” he countered, grinning.

“And lastly,” he continued, “we'll use a safe word in case things ever get too intense.”

“A safe word?” I raised an eyebrow. “Did you even think of one yet?”

“Not yet,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “It's harder than it sounds.”

I shook my head, pulling out my phone for inspiration. “You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. How about… spice?”

“Spice?” He smirks. “I like it.”

“Great. So, no kissing, no dates, and the safe word is spice. Anything else?”

“Nope, that's it,” he said.

“Perfect,” I replied, feeling a strange mix of nerves and excitement. “When do we start?”

“Now,” he said, his tone shifting as he stepped closer.

I gasped softly when his hand rested on my hip, his thumb brushing against the sensitive bone. “W-what are you doing?” I whispered.

“Testing your reactions,” he murmured and bit his bottom pink lip, his hand traveling upward, grazing my rib cage just beneath my breasts. “Are you shy? Confident?”

My breath caught as his other hand gently tangled in my hair, holding me still. “Submissive?”

My eyes fluttered close as his finger trailed lightly between my breasts, leaving a line of fire in its wake. His lips hovered near mine, the proximity making my pulse race, but instead of closing the gap, he leaned closer to my ear.

“Let me touch you, Maddie,” he whispered, his breath warm against my skin. “Let me make you feel good.”

A shiver ran down my spine, and I stepped back, trying to collect myself. “This… is moving a little too fast,” I admitted.

Alex tilted his head, studying me. “Are you sure you're up for this?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “But we need to take it slow. I'm a bit… rusty.”

He nodded, his expression softening slightly. “All right. That's enough for tonight.”

He stepped aside, motioning for me to leave, but stopped me with one last comment. “But Maddie?”

“Yes?” I asked, my hand on the doorknob.

“If you want this to work,” he said, “you'll have to do everything I say.”

I swallowed hard, his words sending goosebumps across my skin. “Everything?”

His lips curved into a smirk. “Everything.”

I sighed and left his room.

The dorm hall felt colder without Alex's presence. I didn't realize how intense all of this could get until now. What have I gotten myself into? I could still feel his hands on my body as I walked down the hallway, my mind racing with fantasies of what Alex could teach me.

Then, a voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

I turned around quickly, and my blood ran cold when I saw Harry. He looked at me, eyebrow raised, clearly noticing something.

“Oh no. He's going to see how I'm dressed. My outfit feels all wrong compared to his clean, preppy look.” I whispered.

He took a few steps and we were now standing in front of each other.

"Did you just come out of Alex's room?" he asked.

What should I do?