Free Assignment to Sin by Stormy Knight Page A

was bulging against the
front of his trousers.
    “Come
on over to the round table so that I can lay out your syllabus and you can get
any questions that you have out of the way. The main reason that we’ve taken on
this research project is to help the elders of the community figure out why so
many of their youth are choosing to leave. They have lost almost a quarter of
their population in the last decade and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing
down any.”
    I
must have had the most dejected look on my face. He thought that I was
disappointed to hear more of what my assignment would be, but I was actually a
little miffed that he didn’t try to come on to me. He had a hell of a lot more
self-control than most of the other guys that I’ve spent time with.
    “Lorin, I know
this might not be the most exciting thing that you can spend your summer doing,
but if you can help us wrap this project up it is going to put a major button
on your lapel, so to speak. Not to mention we will be placed closer to the
front of the line for even bigger grant money if something like this should
open up in the future. We’re hoping to be finished up at the end of first
Summer term, but it might take the second to wrap things up.” The look on his
face was almost pleading.
    I was grinning
now. He took his work so serious and he just wanted to make sure that I
understood how important this last leg of the project was.
    “Okay,
Professor, show me what I need to do. I promise that I’m going to throw
everything I have into getting this project wrapped up for you. You have my
word that I’ll make you and this university proud.”
    We
went to work poring over the interview questions and reading over the lists of
acceptable interactions. Two hours later I left his office questioning my
sanity for getting involved with such a large undertaking but, at the same time,
looking forward to the reward that would be mine for the successful completion
of my summer assignment.

Chapter 2
    Charlie
didn’t take the news of my summer assignment as hard as I thought he would. He
did cry and whine a little bit but I made it up to him. Charlie really wasn’t
the kind of guy that I could see myself spending the rest of my life with, but his
voracious sexual appetite made up for that.
    I
think we spent that weekend before my assignment started in the bed most of the
time. The bumpy drive up the dirt road to my host family’s home left a smile on
my face remembering why my bottom was so sore. That’s one thing I can say about
Charlie. He always leaves a remembrance for the next few days. The minimal
lights coming from the windows made me wonder how these people could even
function enough to go about their daily lives. Remembering what professor had
said about no electronics, I left my cell phone in the car.
    My
timid knock on the thick, oak door was greeted by the most stern-faced,
unfriendly looking woman that I had ever seen. I was beginning to wonder if she
even expected me.
    “Hi
my name is Lauren. I’m here with university project.”
    Still
standing in the doorway, my one-woman welcoming committee displayed no
personality or emotion, whatsoever.
    “My
professor was supposed to have made arrangements with the elders here.” I still
didn’t see even the slightest spark of recognition in her eyes.
    “I
was chosen as the intern to finish the summer outreach project.”
    Mrs.
Unfriendly’s eyes traveled from the top of my head down to the bottom of my
feet. I can’t think of a time when I’ve ever been made to feel more
uncomfortable or on the spot. It was obvious from the style of her long-sleeved
floor length dress that she wasn’t used to seeing a lady in a T-shirt and a
pair of jeans. She had better be glad I didn’t wear my Daisy Dukes and halter
top.
    She
finally broke her silence. “I know who you are.”
    Relieved
that she didn’t plow me back out the door, I smiled and extended my hand in a
friendly gesture. Standing as still as a