Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!
"Reka!" he called with a strained voice, "Slow down, I'm about to-"
"Do it! Just let it out!" she commanded, speeding up instead.
Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!
Her bouncing was driving him crazy. When he inevitably popped she flung herself forward and invaded his mouth with her tongue, almost like she was trying to balance the equation by getting her tongue as deep in his throat as his cock was in her pussy. Fortunately for him, Reka's tongue was long, but not that long.
Sometimes Reka was like this, not even caring how long he lasted, just laser-focused on making him cum.
After a short post-coital cuddle she got off him and returned to teacher mode so fast it was jarring.
"Back to studying, Brad," she said, putting her top back on and pulling out two chairs at her desk, their desk at this point.
Living with Reka during the school year was the best. They took little breaks like that all the time, and she always made sure he kept up with his school work. It felt like his girlfriend had already detected and patched every hole in his knowledge and he was really hitting his academic stride in junior year. Forget B's, he was aiming for A's this time!
He spent some time working on his problem set in silence. Typically, Reka would only intervene if he asked a question or made a mistake in his calculations. Otherwise she just sat next to him, head resting on his shoulder, her hand tracing small circles on his back absentmindedly. It was like having a tutor and a personal cheerleader at the same time. Somehow, being with Reka made him want to work harder. She was so damn smart, it was like he had to up his game just to be worthy of her.
Then Reka's phone lit up. That never happened. It never happened so much he didn't know how to react.
She looked cutely flustered as she fumbled with it and typed out a reply slowly.
That didn't seem like bad news, he hoped.
Brad looked at her expectantly, "well?"
"We have dinner plans tonight," Reka explained.
Strange, they didn't go out to eat much. "What's the occasion?"
Reka smiled slightly, "I made a friend."
Brad stood up out of his chair so fast he got a little dizzy and threw his arms around her. "Reka that's great!" he praised.
He loved Reka, really loved her, but knew a relationship where they were one hundred percent focused on each other at all times with no outside interests was unhealthy. It was great that she was branching out.
"Who is she?" With how hostile Reka was to Alex he just assumed that the friend couldn't possibly be male, not that he was insecure or anything.
"Her name is Julie; she works with drugs," she said simply.
Brad's breath caught. Drugs? Was Reka falling into bad habits again?
He tried to keep his voice neutral, "works with drugs?"
"Yes," Reka nodded. "I believe it's called pharmacology."
Oh thank God.
"So," Brad questioned, "How'd you meet? What's she like?"
Reka's head turned away in thought, giving him a face full of her silky black hair. Brad felt something stir inside him, immediately recalling memories of that same hair draped over his face, slick with their mingled sweat in the heat of their passion.
"Oh, it was quite fascinating," Reka began, "Julie is a well-known rat slayer, the finest in the lab by all accounts. I was there to inquire about procuring specimens for my own research."
"Something about Stardust City? Radiation screenings?"
Reka blinked. "Yes," she said, not seeming too confident.
Maybe she's under an NDA, Brad thought, best not to press her if she can't talk about it.
"Well, no classes for me today," Brad pivoted the conversation. "You're not the only one with a side project. Alex got me a paid undergraduate research gig, will make for a decent part time job this semester."
His girlfriend's face scrunched up in displeasure. "My love, you know you don't have to work during the school year. You should focus on your studies," she complained, but there was no heat in her words.
They'd been over this. Reka didn't like it, but she didn't hate it enough to forbid him, either.
"It'll be a good experience for me, Reka my love, Reka my light, Reka my life," he praised her casually. Reka was weak to praise. "And some more spending money wouldn't hurt. Didn't you like those shoes I bought you with everything I saved over the summer? You wear them everywhere. At this rate you'll wear them out and I'll have to buy new ones!"
"They won't wear out!" She said fiercely, crushing him to her in a hug that knocked the air out of his lungs. "I'll cherish them forever," she whispered softly into his ear, "my first gift."
Brad could somehow feel the blush on her skin where their cheeks touched, the familiar heat that lulled him to sleep every night. He pulled back slightly. "Reka, I love you, but it's time for me to go to work," he said reluctantly.
Reka pulled him into a burning kiss, a kiss that was almost painful. "And I, you, my love. Farewell, and return swiftly to me!"
********************
Reka's Point of View
Later that day
Love and loss were two sides of the same balanced equation, Reka concluded as she graded this week's homework for Dr. Rosen's class. It was obvious in retrospect. The joy she felt in her boyfriend's presence was equivalent to her pain at their parting. It was truly galling that her beloved consort still needed to attend classes and engage in vulgar trade to obtain a living. It would be years yet before she could arrange a life where he need never leave her side.
That was the solution, of course. The love/loss equation only held in circumstances where parting was required. When she was master of all Brad would never leave her sight, and if possible he'd never leave arm's reach.
During the recitation session today Reka had been informed that she had a "fan club", that is, a cult dedicated to her worship. She decided to wear her intended outfit for the evening excursion during the work day, a green gown that matched her eyes and hugged the curves of her body in a way that Brad appreciated. The girls in class named her "fashion icon" and the boys were predictably crude, though they retained enough sense of self-preservation to be subtle about it.
This cult, though perhaps premature, was an encouraging sign that she could eventually come to power by love and persuasion rather than naked force, so she accepted their praise with good grace.
Her phone lit up, another text from Julie. It was time to retrieve her boyfriend and bring him to the agreed upon meeting place. She had instructed Brad to return home after his work day where he would bathe and change into something appropriate.
When she approached their chambers she spotted the warlock.
"Hey, Reka!" greeted Alex boldly, as if he was wanted here.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
The smile on the warlock's face faltered slightly. "I walked Brad home, that's all. We were talking about work, might be able to get his name on a research paper and everything. He went inside to shower and I was just leaving, honest!"
The warlock did not seem honest, but she knew her boyfriend had better sense than to allow one such as him admittance to their private rooms, not after she had expressed disapproval.
"So," he prodded, "dinner with Julie that works in the bio lab, huh?"
Reka gave him a sharp look. The warlock's interest in her affairs was most unseemly!
"Yes," Reka confirmed stiffly. "Though I fail to see how that's any of your affair."
"You know," Alex said, sounding a little bitter. "You could afford to be a little nicer. I haven't done anything to you. I just want to be friendly and get to know you better."
Most unseemly and most unwholesome!
"Not interested," she declared flatly. "You may continue your professional relationship with my boyfriend but I prefer other company."
The warlock looked at her insolently. "Fine," he replied as if the word tasted foul.
Reka troubled herself no more with the likes of him and went inside. Brad was dressing in the clothes she picked for him, black slacks and a green shirt to match her gown. He leaned down to kiss her, adjusting a black tie to complete the outfit. "Ready to go, honey?"
"My love, you didn't let Alex into our chambers did you?" she had to confirm.
"Of course not, you told me you didn't want anyone else in here," he said easily.
She tasted no deception on his lips, only love and obedience. Reka looked away, somewhat ashamed of doubting her man, even for a moment.
They met Julie at the university quad, a kind of courtyard enclosed by the chief towers of the academy.
"Oh my, is it prom night?" Julie called out merrily. "I guess I should've told you where we were going. Oh well! It's not like it's a crime to be overdressed."
Now that she mentioned it, Reka noticed Julie was dressed more simply than she and Brad were, just jeans and a blouse. Were officially arranged social dinners less formal here?
"Oh honey," Julie said in pity. "You're wearing heels too. It's going to be a bit of a walk."
"I could carry you," Brad offered immediately.
Reka smiled. She should be the one offering to carry him. "That won't be necessary, my love," she said, affectionately touching his cheek with her hand. The heels didn't bother her at all. They were comfortable and easy to walk in, almost like having hooves.
"And you must be the boyfriend I've heard so much about," Julie turned to him. "Julie Winchester, grad student in pharmacology," she introduced, offering her hand.
"Brad Regis, undergrad in nuclear engineering," he replied, shaking it briefly.
"It's about twenty minutes to that cluster of restaurants downtown by foot," Julie said. "I guess we can make a game of it, how does a riddle sound?"
Reka loved riddles. Very well, dark apothecary, I'll play your game.
"Ask, and I shall answer," Reka agreed.
"What's the ideal first date location?" Julie asked excitedly as they walked.
Reka was taken aback. She and Brad didn't often go on outings, preferring to make love or just spend time together in their chambers.
"Dinner and a movie?" Brad offered, sounding unsure.
"Ah," Julie acknowledged him, "but what kind of dinner? That's the real question, isn't it?"
They walked in silence while they pondered. "Perhaps a cafe?" Reka suggested.
Julie laughed. "I didn't think a fancy girl like you would be one for coffee dates, Reka. And no, it's too impersonal, too low impact. You can get coffee with anyone."
Reka frowned in thought. Coffee wasn't disagreeable. Sometimes, when his schedule allowed, Brad would bring her a latte to sip on while she graded homework. It was invigorating, like a better-tasting stamina potion.
"Then a fancy steakhouse," Brad guessed.
Julie grunted in negation. "Nope, opposite problem. Too intimate, too expensive, not appropriate for somebody you barely know."
"Then an eatery of middling quality," Reka made the logical deduction.
Julie laughed uproariously. She looked at Brad, rubbing a tear out of her eye, "You're used to this, aren't you?"
"For a long time," Brad said proudly. "But you can't mean something like Applebee's, or fast food."
Julie was still trying to contain her laughter, "Not quite, but since we're almost there I'll tell you. Fancy pizza!"
Reka didn't follow. "I fail to see how elegant flatbread topped with cheese can be."
The apothecary made a sound that was half laugh and half choke, "You are killing me, Reka! But you'll see! Welcome to the Ratt!" She threw open her arms theatrically. They arrived at a building with a sign that read Rattinger's Pizzeria. Reka could've guessed Julie's interest in rats was not limited to the laboratory.
"The ideal first date is something nice, but too expensive to justify getting it for just yourself. A date is the perfect excuse to indulge. Fancy pizza, the kind that starts at thirty bucks or so for a large, and does sit down dining rather than delivery, is the perfect middle ground. It's expensive enough to matter, but cheap enough that if the first date is the last date it's no great loss."
Reka pondered the philosophy of this while they entered and waited for an attendant to guide them to a table. She noticed eyes on her, as she always did, but didn't trouble herself overmuch about it. It wasn't a crime to wear a fine gown to an eatery of middling quality, as Julie observed. Once they were finally seated, she deferred to Julie's wisdom on the appropriate order.
They made small talk until a servant brought their food, her gaze lingering on Reka perhaps a moment longer than was proper, but Reka was in an indulgent mood, it was probably nothing more than fascination with her gown. She could tell Brad was looking forward to the meal, even without their bond. As for herself...
The pizza was gigantic. The servant placed a slice that was so large it hung off the plate slightly in front of her. How was she supposed to eat this?
Without being asked, Brad started cutting up her pizza for her with a knife and fork. Well pleased, Reka stroked his leg with her own in gratitude. Bite-sized pieces would be much more manageable for her.
Julie leaned forward with a goofy grin, supporting her chin with her hands. "I get it now," she said in a sing-song voice. "Brad really takes care of you, huh?"
Reka could only agree. "He services me frequently."
This time, both Brad and Julie made the half laughing half choking sound.