Page 64 of Breathing Wisteria
Wyatt
Three weeks ago…
I lean back on my stool and a small sigh slips past my lips as I stare at the canvas in front of me. It’s beautiful, I’m objective enough to see that. The darkness of the last few weeks is lifting, and some lightness has made its way onto the canvas. My art has always been a reflection of my heart and I’m relieved to see, as well as feel, that I am coming out on the other side.
All of this Giselle bullshit has only made Flynn and me stronger, our commitment more fierce. We are going to make this work, I’ve never been more certain of anything. It’s as though the hand that has been squeezing the life out of my heart for all of these years has finally lost its grip and I can finally breathe easily again.
I move to pick up the canvas when I’m startled by a low whistle of appreciation from behind me.
“You are talented, I’ll give you that.”
I turn and my stomach drops when I see Giselle standing in the doorway. Squaring my shoulders, I stand and turn to face her. My hands land on my hips and I can feel my eyes narrow,
“How did you get in here?” I know for a fact Zane is out front and Connor is standing guard out back. There is no way in hell either of them would let Giselle anywhere near me.
“Sweetheart, I can get in anywhere I want. Everyone has a price, and I am more than willing to pay. The owner of this building was surprisingly amenable to my offer.” She smiles, but it fails to reach her eyes and the result is one of menace. “I wonder if you’ll be as open to my proposition.”
Clenching my teeth, I step away from my easel, trying to figure out how quickly I can get all of my stuff out of this art studio. The dream art space that Flynn rented for me only weeks ago, the one that earned him the blow job of the decade, has suddenly lost its sparkle.
I move toward the cubby at the rear of the studio that holds my purse. “I’m not leaving him. I thought that would have been clear after your last pathetic attempt at blackmailing me.”
“Oh, but I think you will,Cherry.” She spits the name out with venom. “And let me tell you why.”
Ten minutes later, I am standing shell-shocked, watching Giselle’s retreating form, wondering how anyone could possibly be so evil.
But if she thinks I’m going to roll over and let her malicious ass get what she wants, she doesn’t know me very well.
She’ll figure it out soon enough, though.
I pace the room anxiously, waiting for Flynn to get here. My fingers twisted in the oversize t-shirt I was sleeping in when I got the call, I’m waiting for this whole nightmare to finally be over. Campbell’s last message said he would be landing forty-five minutes ago and there’s a high chance that there will be a hole in Charlie’s rug by the time he gets here.
Tired of staring at the walls in the living room, I head into the kitchen to make a coffee. Not because I want one, but because I need to have something to concentrate on other than the clock.
I have just taken the milk out of the refrigerator when the pounding on the front door starts and I drop the carton, watching the creamy liquid spread across the floor.
Choosing to believe that Charlie will forgive me for the mess, I turn and sprint to the door, yanking it open.
Before I can speak, I’m pushed backward and pressed against the wall. Flynn’s mouth crashes to mine, his tongue teasing, as he kisses me fiercely. His hands cup my face, holding me in place, and when we finally break apart, he sweeps his thumbs over my skin, gently tracing the slope of my cheekbones.
“Did you get it? Is it over? Did you really get it? She confessed?” My words are expelled in a rush.
“I got it.” The heat of his lips kisses a line along my jaw. “She confessed, it’s over,” he whispers against my skin before he suddenly pulls away.
“Why the hell weren’t you taking my calls?” He grips my thighs and lifts me until my legs wrap around his waist and we’re nose to nose.
“Because you would have tried to talk me into coming home, and I would have let you.” I pepper his face with kisses. “Cam was right, we needed to be away from each other for it to work.”
“I disagree, and now, I think you must be punished.” He bites down on the juncture where my neck and shoulder meet, and I can’t control the groan that escapes.
“Promises, promises.”
I really should know better than to antagonize the beast, because the next minute I’m lifted up, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist, and the sting of his hand on my ass is all I can feel.
On second thought, antagonizing the beast is kind of fun.
I lift my chin slightly and our mouths are only an inch apart. I can feel his warm breath dance across my lips, and I don’t think I have ever been more desperate for the taste of him.
He dips his head, breaching the space between us and I have what I want. His tongue sliding against mine, his mouth devouring me.
