One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 277 Audrey The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos.

I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with clothes, models and stylists bustling about, and all I could think about was how one tiny thing going wrong would ruin everything.

A misplaced hem. The wrong lighting. A dress out of line. Every possibility spun through my head, tangling up in knots. And the fact that I'd hardly slept last night didn't help any.

I was somewhere between the back dressing room and the main area when my mother appeared out of nowhere in a rush of blonde hair and sweet perfume. She stepped in my way, physically blockingfrom rushing past her.

"Audrey." She put a gentle hand on my arm and stoppedin my tracks. "You need to breathe." "I am breathing," I said, but it cout shaky, and I could tell that she knew I was lying.

She just shook her head and wrapped her arms around me, tuggingclose. The smell of her perfand the soft silk of her blouse enveloped me, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"You've done everything you can, sweetheart," she murmured, stroking my hair. "It's all going to be wonderful. Just like we planned." I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into her embrace for just a moment. “It just feels like... if one thing goes wrong..." "It will be perfect, Audrey. Don't worry." She pulled back, givinga reassuring smile. "I panicked before my first show, too. Every designer does. But you're not doing this just for yourself, honey. This show is about something much bigger. It's about making a difference. And that's what people will remember." Her words set the worry at ease inside of me, even if only a little. She was right-this was about helping others, not about making a nfor myself. It wasn't like the Paris fashion show all over again, back when I was a human just trying to gain enough respect to be treated equally to everyone else.

My mother kissed my forehead softly, a small smile pulling at her lips. "Now go on and take a moment to catch your breath. You've earned it. And I think Edwin is looking for you." I nodded, realizing that there was nothing else that could be done now. The models were getting dressed, the staff was handling the lighting, and the audience was steadily flowing into their seats. Now, all I could do was wait until the show was ready to begin.

Leaving my mother, I made my way backstage, looking around for Edwin. I ducked into a small, quieter hallway just off the main area in search of him.

Lo and behold, as I rounded the corner, Edwin was there as if he knew I would go to that spot. He was leaning against the wall, looking ridiculously handsin his fitted suit. He had that familiar smirk on his face, the one that always made my heart stutter, and his cologne hitlike an invisible wall.

"There she is," he said, pushing away from the wall and striding up to me. "The brilliant designer in the flesh. How's it going?" "Like I'm one loose thread away from unraveling," I replied with a shaky laugh as I walked into his open arms. "You?" "I'm fine. This isn't my first rodeo, you know." He heldfor a moment, kissing the top of my head, before he pulled away. "Cwith me. I have something for you." Curious, I followed him down the hall and into a small room tucked away from the main bustle of everything. He glanced around, closing the door behind us before turning back towith a grin.

"I thought you could use a little something to keep you grounded." He pulled a small, crinkled package from his pocket, handing it towith a sheepish smile. "Don't look atlike that. Just open it." +5 He didn't need to telltwice. I tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade-there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the outline was lumpy. It was far from perfect. But I loved it all the more for that.

"Goddess, Edwin," I laughed, running my fingers over the wool. "Did you... did you knit this yourself?" He rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost embarrassed. “Yeah. Thought it could match the one you made forback when we first met. I may know how to sew, but I'm no knitting expert, obviously..." “I don't care. It's perfect," I whispered, lifting it and inhaling the scent of him that was all over the wool. "Absolutely perfect." I didn't give him a chance to reply before I was in his arms, holding him tightly, feeling his heartbeat steady and solid against mine. He huggedback, his hands sliding up my waist "You're sure you like it?" I nodded into his chest. "I love it. Thank you." He pulled back slightly, his hands slipping under the scarf, and took it from me. His fingers brushed against my collarbone as he adjusted it around my neck. "You know," he murmured, his voice low, "this scarf remindsof that night at the bar. Do you remember?" I felt my breath hitch as the memory of that night cback in a rush. How could I forget? "When I pulled you closer with it and kissed you?" "That's the one." His fingers tightened around the scarf, his grip possessive and steady. He gave a gentle tug, drawingtoward him until there was nothing between us but our clothes. That's one of my favorite memories, you know," he whispered, his voice rough.

The words barely had tto settle before his mouth was on mine, hungry and insistent, with a heat that chased away every shred of doubt still lingering in my mind. His hands slid up my back, his thick fingers tangling in my hair as he kissedlike he was trying to melt all the tension out of my body.

I responded just as fervently, my arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer, letting myself get vel lost in the faste of him. His right hand slipped down to my waist, pressingagainst him, his fingers digging in like he couldn't get close enough. I felt like I was burning from the inside out, every nerve in my body lighting on fire from his touch.

He broke away for just a second, his eyes dark and his breath hot against my skin. "Audrey," he whispered huskily. "You look gorgeous today. You know that?" I didn't even have tto blush in response to his comment before he was kissingagain. His hand slid back up to my neck, his fingers finding their way into the silver strands of my hair.

He tilted my head back to deepen the kiss, and I parted my lips, letting his tongue slip in and swirl around mine. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew we should probably stop, but the world outside this small room had disappeared. All I wanted was him.

As his lips trailed across my jaw and then down to my neck, I felt his breath against my skin, and I couldn't hold back the small gasp of pleasure that escaped me. He smirked against my neck, clearly enjoying the reaction he was drawing out of me.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging him closer as he nipped at my flesh. I wasn't sure if this was what my mother was talking about when she toldto relax before the show, but it was helping. Immensely.

After a few moments of heated passion, Edwin pulled back just m slightly. He rested his forehead against mine, his breathing just as ragged as mine was. Then, he glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, and when he looked back at me, there was a mischievous glint in those gray eyes of his. "Do you think we could spare a few minutes alone before the show starts?"