Campus Property

The apartment was still quiet when Isabella Keller padded barefoot into the kitchen.

She wore one of Daniel’s old button-downs and nothing else. The shirt hung loose on her, the hem brushing the tops of her thighs. Dark hair spilled over one shoulder in messy waves. Even first thing in the morning, with sleep still in her eyes and no makeup, she looked expensive, like something other men would ruin their lives for.

Daniel was already at the counter, pouring coffee into two mugs. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled the soft, private smile he only ever gave her.

“Morning, Izzy.”

Isabella stepped up behind him, slid her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek between his shoulder blades. “Morning.”

He turned in her arms and handed her a mug. Black, no sugar, the way she always took it. She took a sip, then leaned up and kissed him, slow and unhurried. He tasted like coffee and toothpaste. His hands settled on her waist, thumbs brushing the bare skin just under the shirt.

They stood like that for a while, drinking in comfortable silence. Outside the window the sky was still pale. Campus was only a fifteen-minute drive away. In less than an hour they would both be in their offices, Dr. Isabella Keller, Biology, and Professor Daniel Reed, History, surrounded by colleagues and students.

Isabella finished her coffee first. She set the empty mug in the sink and stretched, the shirt riding higher on her thighs.

“I need to get ready,” she said. “First day of class. I need to check up on my syllabus.”

Daniel nodded, still watching her. “You nervous?”

“A little.” She smiled. “New semester. New students. Same old everything else.”

She disappeared into the bedroom. Ten minutes later she walked back out fully dressed.

Black pencil skirt that hugged her hips and ass like it had been tailored just for her. Crisp white blouse, top two buttons left open. Sheer black stockings. Heels that made her legs look endless. Her dark hair was now pulled back into a sleek ponytail, a few strands left loose to frame her face. A thin gold necklace rested against her collarbone. The engagement ring on her finger caught the light every time she moved.

Daniel’s eyes dragged over her slowly.

“wow, Izzy.”

She did a little turn for him, looking back over her shoulder. “Too much?”

“You look dangerous.”

Isabella walked over, took his face in both hands, and kissed him again, deeper this time. When she pulled away she kept her voice soft.

“I’ll see you on campus later?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a nine-thirty. Don’t work too hard.”

She grabbed her bag and keys from the counter. “I won’t.”

At the door she paused, looking back at him one more time, still in sweatpants, hair messy, holding his coffee like the morning belonged only to them.

“Love you,” she said.

“Love you too.”

Isabella stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her. The elevator ride down felt longer than usual. In the parking garage she unlocked her car, slid into the driver’s seat, and sat there for a second with both hands on the wheel.

The pencil skirt was tight across her thighs. She adjusted it once, then started the engine.

Fifteen minutes later she pulled into the faculty lot, heels clicking against the asphalt as she walked toward the science building. The campus was still mostly empty. A few early students drifted along the paths. One of them, tall, broad-shouldered, backpack slung over one shoulder, looked up as she passed and didn’t look away until she disappeared through the glass doors.

Isabella’s office was on the third floor. She unlocked it, set her bag down, and stood in the quiet for a moment, staring at the empty desk and the neat stacks of syllabi she had prepared the night before.

First day of class.

She smoothed her skirt, checked her reflection in the small mirror by the door, and went to unlock the lab.