Summer, four years ago.

Dr. Cole Easton hated parties, especially parties that he knew he was obligated to attend. His department was dependent upon grants and donations to survive. Without them, he couldn't do the research that was required to keep the school above all of its competitors. He knew one of the reasons the Anthropology department at the University was so successful was because it was a hands-on program, and the hands-on took money. It took a lot of money, which meant that it was vital that he attend some of the more affluent parties in his social circle so that he could ask for donations. It was why he was so secure in his job, not only was he good at teaching, but he was also good at asking for money.

And money was the only reason he had attended Stanley Mitchell's Anniversary party. The man had hinted at the possibility of donating to the University, and they needed the money to fund a summer dig in the desert. Stanley had assured him that the best time to talk would be at the party.

However, after a day spent at the Mitchells' house, and well into the party, the possibility of a donation still hadn't been discussed. Instead, Mitchell's daughters were introduced to him. It was nothing new to Cole. He came from a very distinguished and wealthy family, and parents were always introducing their daughters to him in hopes of a romance blossoming, but Cole had learned the hard way that money was not a good motivator for any relationship.

Typically, he took it all in stride, but this time he was angry. He had had high hopes for receiving the money, but he had the distinct feeling that the only way he would get it was if he were to choose one of Stanly's daughters, and the entire situation was made worse by the fact that one of them was his student.

Sydney Mitchell had been a stellar student for the last year; she was inquisitive and caught on quickly, she wasn't shy about speaking out, and it was evident that she had a keen sense of humor. What he hadn't realized was that she was Stanley Mitchell's daughter. If he had known it he would have avoided the man altogether.

It disheartened him that a father was trying to marry off his daughters so young. Sydney couldn't be more than twenty and Angel, her sister, had to be even younger. In his experience, the only reason for introducing girls that young to the men in his social class was because the parents were in a financial crisis and needed some capital rather quickly, and an arranged marriage might be a way of obtaining that capital.

Cole couldn't help but compare the two sisters as he remembered the awkward introduction that Stanley had arranged. Angel was the more attractive of the two and looked, as her name suggested, like an angel, but her personality was young, and she seemed to have a constant pout on her face. Sydney, on the other hand, was fairly plain. He had also found it odd that she had presented herself differently with her family then she had in class, she had seemed almost meek, and the Sydney in his class had been anything but meek.

He pushed his thoughts of the young girls aside. He would have to begin again in the search for another source of income for the department, he took a deep breath and let go of his disappointment.

Now, having realized that his continued appearance at the party was no longer needed, he still had that evening and the next morning to get through, having agreed to stay the night after the party. He thought he had seen a pool house on his earlier tour of the grounds and that seemed to him like the perfect way to relieve some of his pent-up stress. A round of laps and then he would retire to his room for the evening.

*******

Sydney was tired, she was tired of the lecturing from her parents, she was tired of acting a part and playing nice with her parents' friends, and she was tired of the heat. What she needed was some time in the pool. It was well after midnight, and the party was winding down, so she could sneak off to the other side of the estate and no one would be the wiser.

She should go to her room and get a suit, but she couldn't be bothered. There would be no one there, and the pool was indoors and private and if she left the lights off, then no one would know she was there. She had done it many times as a child, and it was one of her favorite places that very few people even knew existed.

When she entered the calm oasis, she shed her clothes as quickly as she could and dove into the water like a knife. The cool water was like silk on her skin, and it was pure bliss. She rolled over on her back and floated, looking up at the metal trusses that held up the glass roof. The pool house had been built in the 1920s, much later than the main house which had been built in the 1860s. She loved the house because it was easy to lose oneself in it, making discovery almost impossible.

She knew that many of the guests that were attending her parents' Anniversary party were staying the night, and now that the main festivities were over she doubted that she would see any of them.

Sydney had been shocked when one of her Professors had shown up at the party. Dr. Cole Easton had won her heart the moment she had first seen him in front of one of her classes, and she had been pleased to see his friendly face at the party until her father had introduced him to Angel. It had been apparent that her father was matchmaking, but he had had to introduce Sydney too because she had been standing nearby. It would have appeared rude not to. Her father hadn't even attempted to be subtle in pushing Angel towards Dr. Easton.

Choosing not to think of that, she focused on the fact that she only had two more weeks left of summer break before she could return to school and get away from her parents' house. The truth of it was, that even though she referred to them as her parents, her father was her only parent. Her mother had died when she had been an infant, and her father had quickly remarried. Angel, her half-sister, had been born a year later and was the favored child. As plain as Sydney was, was as beautiful as Angel was. Anything Angel wanted she got. She was seventeen and in high demand, something Sydney had never been.

On that miserable thought, she flipped over and pushed off the side of the pool, silently moving from one end to the other. As Sydney reached the opposite end, near the door, she saw a figure approaching. She felt sudden panic as she ducked down, letting the pool hide her naked form.

What was she going to do? She should make her presence known, but she was too frightened to move. If her father found out she was swimming naked he would be livid.

Sydney slowly turned around and peeked above the edge of the pool as the towering figure entered, and she had to cover her mouth to hold back the gasp. It was Dr. Easton, and he was headed right for her. He looked angry too. She was too scared to move as she watched him enter, look around, and begin to undress. He was magnificent. It was dark, but she was still able to make out the definition of muscle that meant that he was in prime physical condition. She couldn't have looked away even if she had wanted to as he continued to shed his clothes and, then without a second thought, dove into the pool in the same way she had.

She watched his muscular body cut through the water, and as he turned and started towards her, she felt herself panicking all over again.

When Dr. Easton realized she was there, his feet lowered below him, and he came up out of the water spluttering.

He looked surprised and then shocked as it registered who she was, and he backed away from her, trying to clear the water from his eyes before he quickly looked around to see if anyone else was with them.

"No, it's only us," she assured him, pleased that her voice didn't sound as shaky as she felt.

Pretending to feel confidence, that she in no way came close to feeling, she pushed off the wall and circled him, treading water. It was dark, but the moonlight coming in from the roof above made their forms visible to each other in the clear water.

His eyes looked down at her body and then quickly up at her face. He looked grim, and she felt herself grow even more nervous, but she didn't want him to think she wasn't mature enough, and this was her chance to make him see her as more than just a girl in his class.

"Did you enjoy the show?" he asked as he nodded over his shoulder to where he had undressed.

She attempted to give a low sexy laugh. "Yes, as a matter of fact, I did."

His eyes glanced down again and then quickly back up to her face.

"Are you enjoying the view?" She watched his face turn a ruddy red, and she giggled again as she let her gaze drop down to scan his body in the same way he had scanned hers. "I know I am."

He let out a curse, and Sydney knew she was losing him, so she did the only thing she could think of, she threw her body against his, wrapping her arms around his neck. As their bodies met she couldn't contain the shudder that moved through her body, and she thought he felt it also, but she couldn't be sure.

"You planned this little game well, didn't you?" he accused as he unwrapped her arms from around him and threw her across the pool with little effort before he turned and swam in the other direction. She was quick on his heels, watching as he pulled himself up out of the pool with little effort. "It's a sad thing for you that I don't enjoy games."

Sydney climbed up after Dr. Easton, studying his magnificent form as he crossed to where he had shed his clothes. She exited the water and silently watched him. When he turned around to face her, he was already pulling on his pants, and he gave a little growl as he hurled his shirt at her.

"For God's sake put something on, will you?"

She stood, her eyes scanning him, not moving at all. She knew she was getting to him. Slowly, she walked towards him. "Come on, Cole, no one needs to know. We could have a little fun. It might be a way to pass the end of a boring summer," she suggested.

"I would know!" he ground out, looking anywhere but at her. "You are my student. I have never crossed that line, and I never will! Besides, you're not worth the risk," he spat as he let his eyes drop down to sweep her body.

Sydney was rooted to the spot. She felt her face pale and then turn a deep red just as his had earlier. She couldn't let him know he had gotten to her. Hopefully, the dark had covered her reaction. She gave a slow, mocking smile and shrugged, tossing his shirt back at him. "Your loss." Then she turned around and dove back into the pool, letting the cold water sooth the heat that had enveloped her. She prayed he wouldn't linger since she could feel tears threatening.

He stood silently, shooting her a menacing glance, but she could also feel his worry as if it was a chain connecting them, and despite what he thought she was a nice person.

"Don't worry Dr. Easton, I'll keep this...show, between us." She forced a laugh as if it was all a giant joke and returned to floating on her back, giving him even more of a show. "Enjoy the rest of the party," she said, dismissing him, waiting for the sound of the door. After she heard it, she held her position a little longer, letting the tears come.

Sydney should be more embarrassed than she was, she should hate him, but all she felt was pain. She was in love with him, and he had said that she wasn't worth it. No words had ever hurt her more.