Please, with a Cherry on top? | 18+

28 | Cerise

Cerise stared into the computer screen's pixels, pretending to be very busy.

In reality, she was actively avoiding the stare boring into the side of her face.

She scrolled with the mouse, clicking on random appointments in the scheduler. But it wasn't enough, and the sound of heavy boots growing nearer had her scoot her chair back so she could escape.

Her eyes closed as his hands planted on the desk around her, and a familiar cologne filled her senses.

She was pushed right back up to the desk.

"Going somewhere?"

Cerise cleared her throat, "Bathroom."

"You just went," Saint reminded her.

"Okay, well, I have to go again," she tried, "What are you, the potty police?"

Saint lowered his head to whisper directly into her ear, "If you haven't noticed, avoiding me isn't quite working out for you."

"I'm not avoiding you," Cerise lied.

"Hm."

The arms retreated, and she didn't feel Saint so close to her anymore. She released a sigh of relief.

Then her chair was wheeled back and the computer disappeared from her sight as she was spun around.

Saint trapped her in the chair, his hands holding the armrests as he stared down at her, "Try again."

Her lips pinched to the side, and she said nothing.

"I know it's finished," Saint said, glancing down at her lap.

Cerise nodded, looking to the floor and tapping the tip of her shoes against his boots.

"So let's do it."

She bit her lip and wrapped a braid around her finger as she finally looked up at him, "But what if you don't like it?"

"Show me," he said gently.

Cerise sighed and opened up her tablet placed on her lap. She navigated to the graphics program and swiped through the countless drafts until she found it. Tapping on the screen, she held up the tablet to Saint and immediately hid her face behind her hands when he took it from her.

It felt like hours until he said anything.

"Flawless," he complimented her drawing, and she peeked between her fingers to see him smiling and tapping on the screen.

"What're you doing?"

"Sending it to the stencil printer," he answered casually.

"What?! But it's so sloppy. I thought you'd draw it like you usually do," Cerise frowned.

He shook his head before passing the tablet back to her and walking away.

Saint had a space on his thigh that he wanted to fill, and he asked Cerise to come up with a tattoo design after she finally showed him her artwork.

She had hesitantly agreed and worked on it constantly in her free time. She tried to perfect it, but she was worried that he still wouldn't like it. She had at least hoped that it could draw out some inspiration for him, and he would adapt it to his liking.

"Cherry," he called out to her from his workstation a moment later.

She timidly left from behind the desk and made her way to him. She found him staring down at the stencil that he already cut to shape while pulling off his rings.

Saint took off every ring, minus the snake one she gave him, then held out his hand, "Hold on to these for me."

Cerise cupped her hands, letting the rings fall into her palms, "You're doing it now?!"