Page 7 of Valentine's Kisses
I nod, considering his words. “Would you be able to wait if you were me? Would you take a chance and risk it all or go by the book?”
His answering grin is broad and devilish. “As your mentor, I should say I would go by the book and do what’s right. As a man in love, I want to say go with your heart and to hell with the rules.”
“So which voice should I listen to?” I ask curiously.
“Don’t ask me, I’m the one with the official censure still on my file, but the love of my life still sitting at home waiting for me,” he says with that cocky grin still in place and then drains his wine glass.
My gut stirs with absolute certainty. I want Gabrielle more than anything. I will do anything to have her, including risking it all.
Chapter Seven
A Bold Question
He makes me want to let all my timidness go. He makes me feel…a little wild. And very free. –Gabrielle
Gabrielle
I stare at the lines drawn in front of me. I still can’t get it right, no matter what I do. The model’s torso just looks flat, lifeless. The lines and curves somehow aren’t merging to match the picture in my brain. I sigh and close my eyes, trying to see the model’s chest again.
This project is due tomorrow. I’ve done as much as I can in class, so I decided to come back and try again after dark. It’s easier to concentrate without the girls giggling next to me. The building closes early, but my roommate charmed the janitor so she could get in. My entry was included in that little arrangement. Hanna is studying sculpture, and she is wild and fun. In other words, the complete opposite of me. Somehow, our roommate arrangement works though. Probably because we were both late transfers in and she seems to have had her own battles in life. Her nightmares are worse than my own. We both have a code of silence about those. Neither asks nor tells when it comes to the noises we hear from each other at night. We accept each other as the broken souls we are.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the door to my class open, so I parted ways with Hanna and agreed to meet up with her in two hours. So now, I have all the time in the world to sit here and stare at this mess on my canvas. I click my tongue and tilt my head.Where is my inspiration? Where did the one talent I seem to possess go? What if I can no longer draw?My stomach aches at the thought.
“What are you doing here, Gabrielle?” Professor Michaels’ husky voice reverberates through the studio space, and I jump on my stool.
Shit.
I slowly turn. The professor looks even more handsome framed by the moonlight and the small desk light I turned on earlier. He’s wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. He looks younger than he usually does in his casual clothes. And hotter, which I didn’t think was possible. The tightness of the shirt emphasizes the muscles that are pronounced from his days in the NHL. I did my own research about our professor. And I may have watched a few of his old games. And I may have gotten so turned on that I had to pleasure myself underneath the covers…but that’s my secret.
“I…I’m so sorry. I know I’m not s…supposed to be here. I just wanted to work on my drawing some. I…it’s not going the way I had hoped.” I scrunch up my nose as I look back at my drawing. The nipples don’t look right. They look…well, a little ridiculous to be honest.
Professor Michaels walks over, his sneakers echoing on the hard tile. My head hangs as he studies my drawing.
I feel a hand underneath my chin. “Now, now, that’s not the strong girl I know. This drawing isn’t perfect because it isn’t coming from your soul.” His blue eyes bore into mine as he points at the easel. “You’re not passionate about your subject so you don’t draw the way you usually do.”
I lick my lips and his gaze follows the movement. I sigh. “I’ve tried, I’ve really tried. I just can’t get into it. The model is so…cocky,” I say and scrunch my nose again. “He makes it difficult for me to want to draw him.”
He chuckles. “There will always be subjects that are easier to draw than others. Is there anyone, that, um, you think you could feel passionate about?”
His intense stare makes me blush.He knows. He knows about the dreams I have of him. The dreams where he’s the one I’m touching.
I don’t know where my sudden courage comes from. “Y…yes, there is someone whom I ache to draw.”
He takes my hand and places it against his chest. I can feel his racing heartbeat beneath it. “Maybe he wants you to draw him too. Maybe he would be happy to model for you.”
My own heartbeat is out of control. “Would you? Would y…you let me draw you?”
Chapter Eight
Nude Drawing
What is it about her that makes me lose control? -Flynn
Flynn
Her softly uttered question throws my world into chaos.
I lift my hand and cup her cheek. “We shouldn’t do this, princess. I shouldn’t let you draw me. I shouldn’t let things get personal between us, but I can’t seem to help myself.” I grimace. “I’ve tried so hard, sweet girl, but you’re a temptation I can’t seem to get enough of.”
