Page 100 of Cross To Bear

“Are we doing a porn shoot?” I asked, excitement and trepidation in my voice. “I’m not sure I like the idea of someone else shooting us fucking. Maybe if I ring Hawk up? The big dickhead can press a button, so I’m sure he won’t fuck this up.”

“We’re not,” she said, turning around to face us. “But you are.” Maddie made no attempt to go any further, making clear I had a choice. “If you want to. Just me and you in a room with a camera. You drew all those images of me, over and over until Razor stopped you from customising people’s bikes.”

“He told you about that, did he?” My smile was a nervous one, as I mentally prepared to kick my brother’s arse when I saw him next.

“Why did you draw me so much?”

“I…” There were so many pat responses I could’ve given her, but that wasn’t what this was about. At some point I had to let her in, didn’t I? “I told you already. It felt like every memory I had of you was slipping through my fingers, so I needed to record them as quickly as I could so I didn’t lose them.”

“Enough memories to fill twenty or more sketchbooks?”

This was the point where I couldn’t keep it back. My smile faded, and I just stared at her, willing her to understand.

“Found them, did you?”

She nodded slowly.

“I didn’t mean to. I was going through everyone’s bedrooms, picking up laundry—”

“Which you don’t have to do,” I growled.

“And that’s when I saw them. All the same type of sketchbook, lined up on your bookshelf. I shouldn’t have taken a look,” she said with a rueful smile.

“Yes, you should’ve. It’s all you, baby. I’m not afraid to admit it. Twenty, thirty…” I shook my head. “I’ll draw you until the day I can’t hold a pencil anymore, then I’ll shove one in my mouth and give that a crack. I’m an artist and we like to draw beautiful things and there’s nothing more beautiful than you, but…” I sucked in a breath. “If you want me to stop—”

“I don’t.” Maddie hefted up the camera. “But I want to understand this need to document me. I figured if I was the artist and you were the subject, maybe I’d gain greater insight.” She looked me up and down. “At the very least, I’ll have some sexy photos to look at.”

“No need for photos…” I growled, ambling closer. “I’m yours, Maddie. Any time you want to take a look at what I’ve got, I’ll strip down for you.”

“Then let’s go inside the studio,” she said.

She was asking me to trust her, just like I’d asked her to. I knew it, she knew it, and I had to respect that. I nodded then, offering her my hand, and she used it to tug us forward.

“This your guy?” A feline looking chick with cat’s eye makeup looked me up and down. “Damn, he’s pretty.”

“And a one woman man.” I stepped behind Maddie and wrapped my arms around her.

“Settle down, biker boy. Your girl’s more my type, if you know what I mean?” She winked slowly. “But I could sell photos of you real easy, so if you ever change your mind?”

A card appeared in the air so damn quick, I wondered what the hell she was. Not human, that was for sure. My nostrils flared, catching the rank musk of a fox shifter.

“I’ll never change my mind about my fated mate.”

“Ugh, bear shifters and their mates.” She rolled her eyes before looking down at Maddie. “So you’ve been through an induction. You know how to use the lights and that. I removed anything breakable or expensive and the place has been cleaned thoroughly, so we agreed to three hundred dollars?”

“You got it, Selene,” Maddie said, slapping the money down in the woman’s palm.

“Well, enjoy.”

Selene sauntered out without a look over her shoulder, the door clicking shut behind us, leaving me standing next to my girl in a massive, well-lit space. My fingers itched for a pencil, wanting to draw Maddie as the light fell on her face.

“So… what am I about to enjoy?” I asked. “Are you going to let me in on the secret now?”

“I want to see what it’s like, making art with you as the subject,” she told me. “I want to see if I get the same experience.” Her brows creased, then smoothed. “I want to see if I can… capture you on the screen, like you did me on the page. If you’re not up for that, I’ve got a tentative reservation at a cute little cafe—”

“Shoot me, baby,” I said, pulling my top off over my head then tossing it on the black painted floor. “And let’s see what you come up with.”

Chapter 57

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