Here's the latest chapter, Lovelies. The attached song puts me in the mind of the way Byron feels about Cera.
Enjoy! Please comment to let me know your thoughts.
xoxo, AM <3
Chapter 11
Cera sat wine glass in hand, at her drawing table as she lazily sketched a new design. This one was for her new men's line, the one inspired by Byron. Her next sip turned into a hearty gulp followed by a heavy sigh. Rarely a day drinker Cera figured she would have one more glass before she called it quits. After the night she had a few glasses of wine couldn't hurt.
Her dinner with Byron had left her agitated and aching. With no one to call and her battery operated boyfriend not getting the job done Cera had a restless night. When sleep finally came, if it could be called that, it was only two hours before it was time for her to head to the gym. Figuring that work might take her mind off of Byron and his talk of sex on conference room tables, after her workout Cera showered, dressed, and headed to her studio.
Figuring she could get a jump start on the line that would be designed after Byron's style Cera prepared her drawing table. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about Byron's fashion line. While designing was her passion and something she knew she excelled at, his line of clothes would need to be approved by him. It wasn't so much mandatory as it was a courtesy. The same courtesy she extended to her sisters when she first to them she wanted to model the lines after them. She felt it even more necessary for Byron to approve his line since he would also be working as a partner. Before starting work she turned Pandora to an R&B love song station and poured herself a healthy glass of wine to help take the edge off her nerves.
She was now halfway through her second glass of wine and nearly finished with her first design for a casual outfit when she heard the intercom buzz for the downstairs door. Cera frowned while checking her phone. She thought she might've missed a message or a phone call alerting her that someone was on their way, but she had no new notifications. Cera wondered who could be dropping by unannounced at nine in the morning on a Saturday.
She walked to her desk and connected to the intercom. "How can I help you?"
"Ms. Michaelson, its Byron Steel. Mind buzzing me in?"
Cera reeled back slightly at the voice coming through the speaker. What is he doing here? Cera unconsciously started straightening her blouse and checking to make sure there wasn't a hair out of place. She was still running through possible reasons for his visit when his disembodied voice came to her again.
"Cera, I'm still waiting. Open the door."
Cera rolled her eyes at his command. He hadn't even stepped through the door yet and already he was irritating her. "I'm in the studio." She told him simply before pressing the button to unlock the door. As she waited for him to join her she made her way back to her drawing table and her glass of wine. She was glad she had it now if she was going to have to deal with him in person. As hot as he was and as sexy as his kisses were his arrogance and attitude were still annoying.
As she took a much needed sip from her glass a thought nearly stopped her in her tracks. What if he changed his mind? The thought had barely formed in her mind when she heard the sound of the old elevator stopping on her floor. The doors were pulled open and Byron stepped out looking as good as he always did in a powder grey suit with a stark white shirt and no tie.
Byron threw a smirk Cera's way as he moved closer to her. Cera rolled her eyes before fulling turning towards him. She was going to remain professional but she couldn't help that his smirk and unannounced weekend visit ticked a nerve. Still holding on to her wine glass Cera propped a hand on her hip and gave him a small smile.
"What are you doing here this Saturday morning, Mr. Steel?" Her voice wasn't exactly friendly and she put emphasis on Saturday.
Crossing his arm Bryon assumed a stance of power. "I told you last night to call me Byron."
Cera shrugged and produced her own smirk. "I prefer Mr. Steel. It makes you sound almost as important as you think you are."
Byron's nostrils flared. This woman really liked to get under his skin. Or at least try to. He really wished Jasmine hadn't been busy last night because even though he worked out for an extra hour this morning seeing Cera in the flesh had him riled up all over again. He meant what he said last night about not keeping his hands to himself. She was a beautiful woman and she was determined to resist him. This made him like a kid in a candy shop; he wanted to look, touch, and taste as much as he could until he was sick.
Byron tamped down on his desires. He was here for business. He held up the yellow envelope for her to see.
"I brought the contract over for you to look at."
Cera's eyes narrowed. "On a Saturday? After we just finished discussing it last night?"
Byron shrugged. "I don't like to waste time. The sooner the contract gets signed the sooner we can start working together. Besides, I'm not the only one working on the weekend." He motioned towards her drawing table where her sketches were clearly visible. "You clearly couldn't wait for Monday."
He moved towards her to hand her the envelope. She grabbed for it but he didn't let it go. He just stood there in her space, staring at her.
Byron reached up and placed a gentle hand on Cera's neck, his thumb brushing her jaw and tilting her head to the left a bit.
"What happened here?"
Cera's eyes widen just a touch. She hadn't thought about what she put on when she finished her workout. Not expecting to see anyone today she just tossed on an oversized blouse and a pair of jeans. Now with the way Byron was touching her and looking at her with a slightly furrowed brow, she knew that the red splotches she had acquired thanks to her hives were clearly visible to him. They had stopped itching after the dinner since he put her out of her misery by finally giving her an answer of whether or not he would work with her.
"Did you have this last night? Does it itch?" Byron continued with his line of question before realizing that Cera hadn't answered him.
Cera stood in a bit of a dazed as his touched burned through her. His touching her did not help her current situation. His soft caress blazed a trail right down to her core. She had barely registered his questions before he called her name again. She blinked back to consciousness.
Realizing that he was still touching her Cera jerked her head back some before answering. "You happened. All that damn waiting you made me do made me break out. You knew you were going to work with me the whole time, didn't you?"
Byron only chuckled. She was right of course, but he wouldn't let her know that. Taking a play out of her book, he simply didn't answer her question. He moved his hand to her waist stepping further into the space she had attempted to move him out of.
"Don't fret, Ms. Michaelson, I won't bite, at least not today. And are you sure it wasn't the worry instead of the waiting that had you breaking out?" He asked as he gave her a gentle squeeze while she tried to step back.
Byron as her as she rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. He couldn't help but notice the bit of extra cleavage that the action produced. He knew she would neither confirm nor deny that she had been worried, but he was going to put her mind at ease anyway.
"Cera you have nothing to worry about. Your work is amazing." Cera turned to look him in the eyes and Byron saw her expression soften. "I am honored that you want to work with me. Honestly with how good your work is I can't possibly imagine what kind of help you would want from me. You are good, Cera. One of the best designers I've had the pleasure of working with. Remember that and don't doubt it. Ever."
He followed his words with a series of gentle kisses to her lips to which she did not protest. When he pulled back it was with a small bite to his bottom lip. He just couldn't get enough of her. Byron caressed her cheek once more before giving her one final kiss.
"Look over the contract. Call me if you need to make changes and get it signed and back to me as soon as you can. Together we will do big things, Ms. Michaelson."
With that he left to get tot his own office. Cera remained standing there wondering how he not only managed to know the exact words of her mantra, but also how he could calm her down and excite her at the very same time.