Page 43 of Finding Out

“Do you want to see it?”

Tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear, she gave me a once-over, taking in my white T-shirt and gray sweats. My cock jumped as her eyes landed on it. And my heart sped as she licked her lips.

“I’d love to see it.”

I wasn’t sure what we were talking about. My painting or my cock. Either way, I had to touch her. My control was shredded on the floor.

I stalked across the room, and I didn’t stop until our chests were practically touching.

Lifting her chin, she slowly ran her tongue along her bottom lip.

A groan rumbled up my throat.

“What are we doing here, Wren?” I dropped my head so my lips rested against her forehead. “I don’t want to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.”

“All night I stressed about Avery. About what she’d say if she found out about New York. Or what she’d think if she knew that I can’t stop thinking about you.”

My heart pounded, and desire and fear swirled in my chest. Could I stand it if she pushed me away again?

She ran her hands up my sides, causing a shudder to roll down myspine. The feel of this woman’s hand on my body was like nothing else.

“I have all this guilt.” She pressed her lips to my neck, and my cock swelled against her thigh. “And yet I want to be here with you. More than I want anything.”

Cupping her cheeks, I ghosted my lips over hers. Her soft mouth molded to mine, and a whimper echoed through her.

For days I’d been dreaming of this moment. Longing for the time she’d be in my arms again. And my body burned with the need for more.

Tilting her chin, I ran my tongue along the seam of her lips, silently begging her to open for me. When she obeyed, I tangled my tongue with hers, savoring her. With one hand on her ass, I pulled her close. She moaned into my mouth, and I rocked against her.

I wasn’t sure rushing this was the answer. I wanted her body, but I needed her heart more. We needed words before this could go any further. So I couldn’t allow the pounding need rushing through me, making my cock throb, to control this moment.

Slowly I broke the kiss and held her to me. Pressed together like this, I could feel her heart pounding and hear the panting breaths as they left her lips. Giving myself a moment to enjoy the feel of her in my arms, I relaxed. Then I pressed my lips to the top of her head and stepped back.

With dark eyes full of confusion, she looked up to me.

“I want to show you my favorite spot.”

Her worried expression morphed into a smile. “I’d love to see it.”

Hand in hand, I led her through the kitchen to the basement steps. Nothing about the stairwell looked special. In fact, half the massive basement was nothing out of the norm.

“What’s that?” Nose scrunched, she studied the metal door in the middle of the wall separating the boiler room from my man cave.

“It’s my art room.” I stepped up to the keypad and hit the bottoms, then twisted the handle to unlock the fireproof door.

The heavy door swung open, and the light automatically turned on.

“Wow.” Wren stepped over the lip of the doorway into the room. “It’s temperature controlled?”

I walked in and closed the door behind us tight.

“It has its own filtered air. Humidity control, fireproofing, and low lighting to preserve the art.”

Her head swiveled like she was unsure where to look first.

“Holy hell, that’s a Rembrandt.” She rushed to the far side of the room. “This is amazing, Tom.” She took two steps forward and then turned. Stepped the other way and spun again. “I saw the file but haven’t had time to read through all of it. I knew you had close to a hundred pieces but…” She turned again, her face bright. “This is crazy cool.”

Her reaction made my heart squeeze. I was proud of my two-thousand-square-foot gallery. The downside here, though, was that I was the only one who got to enjoy it.

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