His Work of Art (9 page)

Reese smiled. “Here.” She reached up and inched the dress down a bit. The top of her boob offered him more canvas.

Without acknowledging the fact that she offered more bare flesh—what was she thinking?—he continued to pretend to draw on her. Then without warning, he stretched alongside her body and hit a lever to lower the stool. The sudden drop caught her by surprise and she squeaked.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “I'm tired of stooping.”

Except now she was staring right at the button of his jeans. But then he knelt in front of her, which put his line of sight at her chest.

“Hold still,” he said as he uncapped a marker.

She tried to see what he planned to draw, but since he was left-handed, she saw nothing but the back of his hand and some random lines. In an effort to keep her hormones in check, she stared at the ceiling and tried to forget how close Adam stood or how easy it would be to lean forward and steal a kiss.

A
dam needed to focus. Tuning out the noise from the party was easy enough. Ignoring his senses around Reese was a different story. He had to block almost everything: the silky feel of her skin under his fingertips, the thump of her heartbeat, the soft scent of her perfume, her breath hitching when the cold ink stroked her, the fact that a nipple was a mere inch from his face. He could cause a wardrobe malfunction and have that nipple in his mouth in a second. He clamped his jaw tight.

He closed his eyes momentarily and let the art take over. When he reopened his eyes, Reese was looking up at the ceiling. Not having her stare at him made it easier.

With his concentration intact, his fingers flew over her skin, quickly marking a path. He worried about mistakes and not being able to erase, but once he started, he knew it was right. He'd been thinking about this image for days, sketching it on random pieces of paper, trying to get it perfect.

“Can I see?” Reese asked.

“Not 'til I'm done.”

He had no idea how long they sat there in silence while he worked. The black ink on her pale skin mesmerized him. The swell of her gorgeous tit tormented him. He had the main star complete and was working on the stardust pattern over her shoulder when Hunter called from the door, breaking their bubble of solitude.

“Here you are. A bunch of people are looking for you to tattoo them.”

Adam's fingers froze on Reese's shoulder. He glared at Hunter. “I'll be done in a minute.”

Hunter chuckled. “Maybe close and lock the door next time. Sock on the knob.”

“Shut the hell up.”

“For real, when are you going to be done? I need your help.” Hunter leaned against the doorjamb, but Adam knew that look in his eyes. He was worried about something.

“Two minutes.”

Hunter shifted like he didn't believe it.

“Time me.”

Sure as shit, Hunter pulled out his phone and tapped away. Adam stood and held the skin taut as he added the finishing touches. He stepped back and looked from a few angles. It was good. He recapped the markers and said, “Okay, you can look now.”

Reese glanced down at her chest with wide eyes. She stood and went to his closet to look in the mirror. She turned and studied it much like he had.

“Well?”

“It's amazing. You could do this for a living.”

“Nah. I don't like needles.”

She gingerly touched the spray of silver and black as if she thought it might rub off. Then she readjusted the top of her dress, covering the swell of flesh he wanted to taste. “Thank you.”

“Hey, dude, can I talk to you?”

Hunter still stood in the doorway, waiting. Adam followed him out, reluctant to leave Reese. Over his shoulder, he said, “Drinks and food are in the kitchen. Help yourself, I'll be back in a minute.” At least he hoped he would.

Hunter dragged him into the far corner of the living room. “I need your help.”

“With what?”

“Amy, Lisa, and Kelly are all here.”

“So?”

“I didn't invite them.”

“Again, so?”

“I have a date planned for tonight. And it isn't any of them.”

Adam couldn't help but laugh. Hunter's social life was finally coming back to bite him in the ass. But then he remembered last year's disastrous fight. “These aren't the same girls from last year, are they?”

Hunter shook his head. “No, but they worry me.”

“What am I supposed to do about them?”

“Keep them away from Sydney. And me.”

“First of all, who the hell is Sydney?”

“My date. She's our drummer for tonight.”

Adam shook his head. “How do you suggest I keep them away?”

“Use your imagination. Tell them what a horrible guy I am. Introduce them to other guys. Tell them to leave. I don't care.”

Adam looked into his best friend's eyes. He was really worried about this. “Why not just tell Sydney that these old girlfriends are here? I find that being honest with a girl goes pretty far.”

“Because she'll leave. She'll think I'm playing games and leave.”

Although he hated asking, he had to. “Are you?”

“Playing games? No.”

Then Adam saw the reason for the worry. It wasn't that Hunter thought a fight might break out or he might be embarrassed. He really liked this girl. She mattered. Adam sighed. “I'll try, but if they're all here without an invite, they probably have a reason.”

“And I doubt it's good. If you and Free could convince them to leave, I'd owe you.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “Do I know these girls?” The names didn't sound familiar, but he rarely paid attention to who Hunter was dating. Mostly because
dating
was a term Hunter used loosely.

Hunter made a few quick, shifty looks around. “Okay, over my left shoulder, red sweater. That's Lisa. Hanging in the doorway to the kitchen in a green dress is Amy.”

Adam easily found the two women in question. “And Kelly?”

“I don't see her right now, but she's wearing jeans and a Northwestern sweatshirt.” He looked around again. “Sydney should be here soon, so I'm going to go warm up.”

“Did you try telling these girls that you have a girlfriend? Maybe they'd take a hint.” Adam began to look for Reese. He'd seen her leave the bedroom and go to the kitchen, but not come back.

“I tried. They laughed. Three conversations, three women, and they all thought I was kidding.”

“Good luck. I'll see if I can get them to leave. Have you talked to Free?”

“Yeah. He's moping around here somewhere looking like a lost Doctor Who. Thanks for your help.”

“Sure.” Adam looked at the two women in question and since they made no move toward Hunter, he decided to find Reese first. She knew no one at the party and he felt bad leaving her alone.

In the kitchen, he found her surrounded by a group of people, mostly guys who were all admiring her tattoo. He didn't like other people commenting on something that was their private moment. He liked it even less when guys hit on her.

He poured himself a beer from the keg and drank half before interrupting the Reese lovefest. He had no right to be mad or jealous. He'd told her that getting together would be a mistake. He knew it would be a mistake.

“Hey, Reese, can I get you a drink?”

Her face softened when she looked up at him. “A beer would be great. Thanks.”

A guy to her left said, “I would've gotten you a beer. You should've said something.”

Reese lifted a shoulder in a mini-shrug and accepted the cup Adam held out to her. She pointed at Adam. “He's the artist who drew my tattoo.”

Everyone turned to look at him. “Hi.”

Three people started talking at once about what they wanted him to draw. He held up a hand. “I'll be in the living room in a little bit to do more tattoos. My hand needs a rest.” He grabbed Reese's hand and tugged her from the group. “Can I talk to you a minute?”

“Sure.” She smiled at everyone as he led her away from the kitchen.

He pulled her back toward his bedroom, but didn't enter. He continued to hold her hand, even though he no longer had a reason. “Sorry about that. Hunter needs my help, but I don't want you to feel left out.”

“I'm fine. There are a lot of friendly people here. Do what you need to do.” She drank the beer he poured her.

“I'm glad you came.”

“So am I.”

“I'll be around. Just holler if you need anything.” He looked around for Free and found him chatting with Lisa. “You know Hunter. And that tall guy over there wearing the brown pin-striped suit? That's Free. He's my other friend.”

“I've seen him at the shop before. He was dressed like Sherlock Holmes.” She laughed at whatever image popped in her head of Free.

“Today he's Doctor Who. If you need something and can't find me, go to them.”

“I'll be fine.” She slid her hand from his grasp.

He didn't want to let go, but he'd promised Hunter some help. At least for a little while. Then the rest of his night would be spent with Reese.

Reese wandered through the apartment with her beer and talked with a roomful of strangers. After about an hour, Hunter and his band started playing music, and they were good. Although Reese worried about feeling weird at the party, she was having fun. Everyone was friendly. It was probably the free-flowing alcohol, but Reese didn't care.

Adam checked on her repeatedly. He was cute, the way he worried about whether she was having a good time. While she talked with some guys, she felt Adam watching her, so she smiled at him to let him know she was fine. Even as the conversation around her continued, she stared at Adam drawing on another woman. She couldn't tell what the design was, but it was small.

The woman squealed and kissed Adam on the cheek. He shied away from her touch, which gave Reese some satisfaction. She enjoyed the way Adam had touched her when he'd drawn her tattoo, and she didn't like the idea that other people would get the same treatment. She wanted to believe that what they'd shared was special, that she was special. When they were alone in his room, it was easy to believe.

But now, out here, in the middle of a party, surrounded by a crowd, it should've been harder to feel, but it was still there. Every time their eyes met, a spark of desire zinged through her, and she didn't think it was a one-way thing.

The music picked up and she winked at Adam. She wanted to dance. She moved back to the living room, where Hunter and his band played. Kicking off her shoes, Reese raised her arms and danced to the rhythm. The vibrations of the floor hummed through her. It was nearing midnight and the partiers joined in on the makeshift dance floor. Drunk bodies crashed into hers, laughing and drinking.

Suddenly hands were on her hips. She turned to find Adam behind her, barely an inch between them.

“You okay?”

“I'm having a blast. Dance with me.”

“Are you drunk?”

She shook her head. “No, but I'm getting there. How about you?”

“Working on it.”

His hands still held her hips, not confining, just holding. She began to sway again, and Hunter switched up to a slow song. Reese didn't recognize it, but it was beautiful and sexy. She wrapped her arms around Adam's neck and waited to see if he would pull away. He didn't, so she nudged closer.

Their bodies melded into one. Adam's hands slid around to her lower back. She laid her head on his shoulder.

“This is a mistake,” he whispered in her ear.

“Says who?”

“We both know it. We shouldn't do this.”

“Shouldn't, huh? But you want to?”

“You know I do. You're making me crazy, dancing in this skimpy dress and talking with all these other guys. It's like you're trying to make me jealous.”

“If you're not interested, it wouldn't be possible to make you jealous. You wouldn't care.”

“But I do.”

“I didn't dress like this to make you jealous.”

“Then why?”

“I did it because I thought you would like it.”

“I do.”

The music stopped and everyone around them began chattering. It took a moment for her to realize that they were getting ready to count down to midnight.

A drumroll sounded behind her and everyone began chanting, “Ten, nine, eight . . .”

Reese stared up into Adam's eyes, wanting to pull him closer, but needing him to make the first move. He stared back, his chest rising and touching hers in the process.

“Seven, six, five . . .”

His fingers flexed at her waist. She licked her lips and left them slightly parted in invitation.

“Four, three, two . . .”

Celebration rang out around them as Adam's mouth came down on hers. She plastered her body against his and let him lead. His mouth was hot and wet and his tongue slid past her lips. She heard nothing more as Adam filled all of her senses.

She was buzzed and the alcohol should've dulled everything, but it hadn't. Each of her cells was alive and alert. Reese's body lined up perfectly with Adam's. His hard-on pressed against her, so she ground her hips.

More. She wanted more.

He pulled away and stared at her. His pupils were huge and he panted. For a second, she thought for sure he'd continue to back up, out of her embrace, away from her body. Then the corners of his mouth quirked up and he came at her again. He kissed her like he owned her.