“I’m done with this one. Do you want to change positions?”

“Oh good, my left butt cheek was falling asleep.”

I don’t miss the pink hue her chest and neck turn when she says it.

“Sorry, was that too much information?” She looks at the ceiling as she lets out a little high-pitched giggle.

“No, you’re fine.” I chuckle along with her. No, too much information would be telling her that the way her breasts jiggled when she laughed and the way her skin brightened has me imagining all sorts of scenarios where I’m the one making them bounce, but harder. I’m the one making her flush, but darker. I’m the one making her breathless.

I’ve been in a constant state of semi-arousal since I entered the apartment, but my erection is full on at the moment.

Maybe my celibacy is becoming a problem.

She twists to her right, facing me this time. I draw her again.

We take water breaks and talk a little here and there, both finally relaxed, but mostly we’re quiet and I sketch and shade and get into the rhythm of it.

She shifts to a three-quarter view the next time. I draw her again. And again. I draw her hands. Her feet. Her backside. Her face. Her hair.

Her face again.

Each one with more detail, trying to get her likeness where I want it. Each time, falling just short of conveying her beauty.

The orange and honeysuckle scented candle next to me has gone liquid, warming my arm. My hand aches. But I don’t want to stop.

“What time is it?” she asks, yawning.

“It’s half past eleven.” I had no idea that much time had passed. “One more?”

Livvy nods. “One more.”

She was right, the nerves are gone and it’s almost like we’ve forgotten that she’s naked.

Almost.

I take a sip of water and glance over just as she’s scooting up the bed. She shifts her legs from one side to the other and just for a second the candlelight catches on the prettiest, little pink lips between her legs.

Water goes down the wrong pipe and I cough and gasp for air.

“Are you okay?” Livvy asks.

I nod but I can’t speak from the choking. My eyes are watering and I reach for my water bottle but instead I knock over her jar of mineral spirits, which splatters across the floor and up onto the wall at the same time my elbow smacks against the candle.

It all happens in slow motion but I can’t stop it.

The candle falls, landing on the spilt mineral spirits and the carpet ignites into flames.

CHAPTER 7

LIVVY

“Fuck!” Noah shouts.

“Oh my god!” I scramble off the bed.

The fire alarm screams to life, so shrill and high-pitched I can’t even think straight.

Noah yanks the comforter off the bed and throws it over the fire. But the flames have spread to an area bigger than the blanket. I grab a pillow and try to stamp it out before it reaches to the door.