Lull of the Sea

Chapter Three: Part Two: Ceria

The next morning, when I arrived back at the café, Felix was sitting there in the same spot as before. He glanced up as the door hit the bell that was positioned above it. When the bell struck the door, it clinked. I put in my order before I went to my preferred table, which was next to his.

“Ceria, why don’t you sit with me?” His voice was light and airy, and his eyes twinkled when he called out my name.

“Are you sure I wouldn’t be bothering you?”

He shook his head and patted the chair next to him. “Sit.”

His voice was firm, like he was commanding me. Of course, I wanted to obey his harmless little command. I mean, what would really come of it? Probably nothing, and besides, his tone made me a little aroused. His smoldering eyes followed me as I approached the chair. I sat across from him. Our eyes locked, and that stupid heat crept up my neck again. He only smiled back at me.

Did he even notice how he made me feel, or was this all just in my head? Could this just be because I was all worried about getting this book done and losing Lucas? This really could all just be in my head, but a part of me was hoping it wasn’t. I sipped at my tea and nibbled on my scone. What does he want? Why does he want me to sit with him?

“So, what kind of books do you write?”

My face lit up like a blazing firework, and not in a good way. “Uh, well, it’s a sub-genre in romance,” I replied as my voice wavered, and I was trying to avoid making eye contact this time. I could feel his eyes on me, watching every micro movement. It was almost like he was in my head.

“Huh, that’s interesting.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You just didn’t seem the type to write that type of romance. You seem kind of shy.”

“Well, all the best steamy romance authors are… normally,” I said, my voice still wavering.

“Hmm, I guess that makes sense. The shy ones are always the most interesting.” A small smile played on his perfect, kissable lips.

Our gaze locked again, and this time I swore his face was the one that was now slightly flushed. Did I say something that got to him, or was his mind wandering? Wondering how shy a person I really was and how much of it was a facade. I pulled out my laptop.

“You don’t mind if I work while I sit with you, do you?”

He shook his head. “Not at all. I’d love to see the master at her work.”

I beamed at him; his watchful gaze didn’t seem to faze me as much now. Instead, it boosted the feeling of how badly I wanted to finish this book. That wasn’t something I was expecting, but something deep down in me wanted to show him that I was the master of my chosen side profession. I wanted someone to see I was a success. After all, my father and sister frowned on the idea of the starving artist. Not all of us were starving. I was well off due to having a stable job to support my true passion, which was writing smutty romances.