Page 48 of Clashing
“I want to.” She licked the entire length of my cock. “I like to.”
Her lips wrapped around me, and my head thumped against the wall. Half of me wanted to worship her for being so good with that smart mouth, and the other half cursed her as she sucked me deep and eliminated any chance of self-control winning.
Tell her to stop.That would be the right thing to do.
Instead, I grabbed the back of her head and sank deeper.
Chapter fourteen
Art Lessons and Texts
Scarlett
Earlyafternoonsunshineilluminatedthe white tiles and walls of the gallery. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered natural lighting for the front room, though a few spotlights aided in accenting artwork. A curved, sleek black counter with a glass top served as the front desk off to the right. To the left, I mounted my last painting. Although it seemed even, I climbed on the stepladder and placed my little level on the top. The bubbles inside the green liquid informed me it tipped to the left. I adjusted the frame, then climbed down and stepped back.
René, the curator, approached, her straight, dark hair tied in an elegant ponytail. “Looks good. I’m excited for Friday. You’ve created a wonderful centerpiece.”
I beamed while I folded the stepladder. “Thanks.”
“Month after next, I’m doing a charcoal drawing theme centered on the human body. Have anything to show me?”
Sweat formed on my palms. Practicing human anatomy had gotten lost in my recent obsession with creating full scenes. However, I’d been drawing Ryker a lot. Nothing spectacular. I couldn’t capture that perfect body in a drawing, and despite what he said about that one charcoal he saw, it lacked.
“I’m not sure my stuff is up to your standards.” I snapped a few photos of my painting on the wall for Dan. More acrylic paintings hung beside it—some my work and some not. The show would be for all kinds of paintings. I had more over in the oil and watercolor collections, but this was my big one. “I only recently picked up human anatomy again, and I have a lot to learn.”
“I have a friend who teaches a phenomenal class, if you want to brush up those skills. Hera’s a fantastic teacher. I’ve had people who couldn’t draw stick figures come out with incredible talent.”
A lightness spread in my chest at the thought of continued education. I missed my classes. Being around others pushed me to work harder. “Really?”
“Yeah. It’s a six-week course. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from four to six. She has two openings left. Here, let me get her card for you.” She dug into a drawer on the inside curve of the glass desk. “It’s a little pricey, though.”
I picked at my phone case, and the aroma of roses and vanilla wafted from the glass bowl of potpourri on the counter. “How much?”
“Eighteen hundred.” My eyebrows shot up, and René offered a sympathetic smile. “I know it seems like a lot but trust me, she’s amazing. You know that new artist taking off, Marvin Jarkus?”
“Yeah, he’s skyrocketing.”
She handed me a colorful business card. “After he took her class.”
“Seriously?” I took the card and scanned the information. “Why haven’t I heard of her?”
The bangles on René’s wrists clinked together when she braced an elbow on the counter and rested her chin in her hand. “She’s a great artist but not anexceptionalartist. She is, however, an exceptionalteacher. Marvin credits her all the time. She’s a master at teaching and critiquing.”
“Damn.” I tapped the card against my palm. “Okay. I’ll try to get the cash together. When does it start?”
“In a couple weeks. She’ll give you up until a couple days before class starts to pay in full as long as you provide a small deposit up front to hold your spot.”
I nodded. “Thanks, René.”
“No problem.” She clicked her French-manicured nails on the counter. “I need all the artists here by five on Friday. I’ll see you then.”
I waved at her over my shoulder as I strolled out the front door. “See you Friday.”
So far, my art shows had been successful. Unfortunately, not successful to the point I had a spare eighteen hundred dollars. I did have almost a thousand saved.Could I pick up the difference in the next two weeks?Maybe if I got more commissions and shifts at the bar.
Retrieving my phone, I updated my social media, stating I’d give ten percent off commissions for the next week. That usually got me some business.
After a hot drive home courtesy of the awful summer weather, I sat at the bar near the register where the rumbling A/C offered respite from the heat.
