Page 28 of Electric Touch

And shit, I went there. I run a hand through my hair and then my brain catches up to her words.

“A life class? As in, you posed for artists to draw you?”

“Um… Yes. It was… Another bet with Apollo.”

“You seem to be making a lot of bets with him. I hope he’s returning the favour.”

“Yes, of course. So, where do you want to meet up for our next lesson?”

“Wait a minute, let’s talk about the life class first. Was it like a proper one, you know? Anatomy and things.” I sweep my eyes down her body again. Fuck, if she says she was posing nude, I might just wish I’d been at that life class.

“If you mean naked, then yes.” She straightens her spine, not exactly unaware of my perusal of her body. “It was that kind of class.”

Okay then. I think about her making a bet to do it and I get angry again. This guy Apollo is really starting to piss me off with the things he is making her do. Kiss random strangers, pose nude.

What the fuck?

“It’s not what you think,” she steps closer.

Her scent fills my nostrils again, wildflowers. I don’t know what body wash or perfume she uses, but it’s intoxicating. It is difficult enough being so close, showing her how to work a guitar. Now, we’re discussing her being naked, it’s fucking near on impossible.

“There is a reason behind what we’re doing.”

“Enlighten me.” I cross my arms over my chest.

“It’s complicated and personal.” She bites her lip and looks out of the window.

“I’ve been pulled into it, though. Don’t I deserve to know why? Before I clock Apollo for what he is making you do.”

“He isn’t making me do anything, I promise. It’s all… Things I want to do. Life is about much more than what I’d always believed. I’ve been so focused on my career, my studies. I kind of forgot that. So I made a list of things I wouldn’t usually do. He’s helping give me the courage to do some of them. Kissing a stranger made me nervous.”

This woman does not shy away from telling the truth. There is a slight ring of secrecy about what she’s saying. I guess she’s right, she doesn’t need to tell me her reasons, and I feel a little better about Apollo. But I’m still not convinced.

“If it makes you feel any better, I’m glad I was the lucky guy.”

Her tongue darts out to lick her lower lip and my eyes track it. Fucking hell, she’s hot. I’d never truly studied another woman other than Riley. The groupies I slept with when I rebounded didn’t really register. I couldn’t pull them out of a line up right now. I can picture every plane of Adrestia’s face, every curve of her body, and the taste of her mouth.

She is Riley’s complete opposite, with her dark hair, hourglass figure, and beautiful green eyes. Riley has always been slim, blonde-haired, and wears too much make-up. It never concerned me before. Adrestia is a natural beauty who needs nothing to enhance that.

It registers we’re standing in complete silence, staring at one another. I run a hand over my hair again and it spurs Adrestia into motion. She brings me the guitar. I tell her to pack it away because she needs to learn that too.

“You’re a champ at that.”

She rolls her eyes at me as she locks the case, setting it on the desk.

“What will we do next time?”

I could think of a few things. I clear that out of my head. “Well, I’ll teach you chords. I’ll show you some basic sheet music so you get an understanding of how to follow music. Don’t expect to be playing Stairway to Heaven by the end.”

“Clearly you don’t know me.”

“You know what? I can actually believe that. We could go to the studio. The acoustics and equipment there are better.”

“Really? That sounds amazing.”

“No problem. I’ll text you the address.”

We swap numbers and arrange to meet again in a few days. There is no sign of Apollo, so she locks up and we walk out of the building together.

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