?How would you know? I wasn?t registered for your classes.? Alessandra regained control and relaxed for an instant.
?A good professor should know all the brightest students on campus.? The Native American glanced down at the work on her
desk, her voice as emotionless as ever.
?It is a mighty big campus Professor WolfRider,? Alessandra exclaimed.
Justine rubbed her chin in silent contemplation, intense dark eyes boring into the exotic woman.
?Why are you always ignoring me?? Alessandra bolstered her courage, realizing that she had nothing more to lose.
?What makes you think I?m ignoring you?? Justine leaned back her forearms resting easily over the arms of the chair, as her
gaze was dark and smoldering.
?Come on ... you know perfectly well what I mean!? The young student sputtered in exasperation
Justine rose smoothly from her chair and approached her slowly. As the Native American stood close, Alessandra felt the
arousing warm breath upon her.
?I thought you were too bright to need my guidance and I never meant to hurt your feelings.? The black eyes drifted away. ?I
am sorry but I have to finish a presentation for a professor?s meeting this evening and I am behind schedule.? Justine hesitated
then added ?But, I am generally in my office after classes, you are welcome to drop in anytime.?
Alessandra felt an uneasiness overwhelming the professor. Maybe Max was right after all, she thought as their eyes locked for a
short instant. She was not certain, but Alessandra felt as if they both experienced a heat rapidly consuming them.
?I love you and I will never go away.? Alessandra whispered before leaving, her tentative gaze holding the woman hostage for
only a moment.
Once outside the office, Alessandra made her way around the corner, and then stopped as her heart pounded in her ears. With a
deep, inhale of air, she leaned against a wall, unable to control the cold hand closing over her heart. She felt her heartbeat
pounding the blood in her throat and could not believe what she had just done. A sickening wave of terror welled in her stomach.
There was no turning back and she would just have to deal with the consequences. As the fear and panic settled in, Alessandra
slid down the wall and started sobbing uncontrollably.
After the student left, Justine moved to the window and gazed at the courtyard with unfocused vision. As the magnitude of what
just occurred settled in her thoughts, she closed her eyes. The memory of the young exotic woman?s eyes, the intensity of her
scrutiny could still be felt.
?I hope you never do Tekihila,? She sighed ?Creator, Maka Ina, what am I going to do?? The professor knew that she could no
longer ignore her visions and the realization that they were clearly destined for each other. The Winkte who had named her when
she was little must have known it all along.
~~~~~~
New York City, 2000
A hand slowly gliding down her cheek awakened Arianna. It took a little while for the countess to get her bearings back, the past
night rolling into her brain like an old silent movie. She turned her head and her lover gazed at her intently. Alessandra looked
extremely pale; probably a sign of a very bad hangover, but the emerald eyes did not show the contempt of the previous night
any longer. Arianna extended her arm and slowly stroked her lover?s back. Alessandra?s mouth reached for the full lips and
kissed them softly before roughly grabbing the countess by the chin. The anger was back.
?Why did you have me followed by Kenji last night? Why all the acting? Moreover, you had the nerve to use your ex-husband
and son to serve your sick purpose. What did you think? That I was going to fuck her?? Alessandra spewed out the words
with malicious glee. ?I followed your orders, remember?? The alluring woman hissed with rage, ?But what I do with my life
from now on, is none of your concern? we are finished!? Alessandra pulled herself from the countess before rising from the bed
to storm to the bathroom. She went into the shower and let the water stream down her aching body.
When the golden-skinned woman returned to the room, wrapped in a towel with dripping hair, Arianna lit a cigarette and watched
Alessandra getting dressed in silence, she wanted to hurt her so badly and heard herself screaming in rage, ?Where do you think
you are going? Do you really think you can get away from me? You belong to me do not ever forget that! You knew it when I
took you out of that shit hole reservation where you were rotting away,? Arianna?s voice rose hysterically. ?You can go for
now, but I need you in the executive conference room at 2:00 pm. Go take care of that miserable hangover; I need you in top
shape!? Her lips curled in disgust. The countess walked to the bathroom, cigarette in hand, a puff of smoke rising in the air
from her perched lips before she slammed the door. Alessandra stood dumbfounded, still fuzzy from the liquor and finally
walked out.
~~~~~~
Upon entering her office, Alessandra immediately saw the faxed message on her desk from Krista Petrovna. The striking woman
was on her way back to Vienna and she would call to schedule another appointment after returning from a concert in Argentina.
After reading the typed words, Alessandra smiled broadly. The message had given her strength to defy her possessive lover and
she decided to leave the office regardless of the consequences. The exotic woman passed the conference room without giving it
a second thought.
