Page 20 of Illicit Illustration

Seven: I didn’t like being ignored.

Fourteen: Aw, did I make it hard for you?

Seven: Yes. You’ve definitely made things hard.

Well, damn. So much for not being flirty.

Fourteen: I’m sorry. How would you like me to make it up to you?

Seven: I want you to finish telling me about this secret talent of yours. How exactly does one get into drawing naked people?

Fourteen: By accident.

Seven: Don’t play coy. You’re much too clever to do anything accidentally. I want to know more about you, so when I meet you in a few weeks, we’ll have gotten all the awkwardness of getting to know each other out of the way. Talk to me.

Fourteen: We’re not supposed to actually talk to each other right now.

Seven: Then type to me. Tell me all your dirty secrets.

Fourteen: Not many dirty ones. Despite my flirting, I’m not that experienced with dating. Or dirty things.

Seven: But you seem like you’re curious and ready to learn. Now, back to the subject at hand. How did you learn to draw these naked people?

Fourteen: Can you stop saying naked people? You’re making me blush.

Seven: I wish I was there to see it.

Me too, was what I wanted to say, but I wasn’t brave enough to type it. So, I did what he asked.

Fourteen: Figure drawing courses at art school. I’m an illustrator.

Seven: Wasn’t aware drawing nude studies was a lucrative endeavor.

Fourteen: You just have to know the right places to look. You’d be surprised at how large the market is for what I draw. I make more illustrating than I do in my other job.

Seven: Which is?

Fourteen: Are you always going to focus the conversations on me? You’re supposed to be telling me about you, too.

Seven: But you’re much more interesting.

Fourteen: Not sure about that.

Seven: I am. But I’m also in an artistic trade. People pay me to mark things for them.

Fourteen: That wasn’t vague at all.

Hisresponses stopped, and I straightened up as I heard a door down the hallway close. The last thing I needed Reid to do was catch me texting Seven. He’d tease me relentlessly.

Seven: I need to go for now. But don’t ignore me that long again, I’m not sure I can stand it. Might make me beg the event coordinator for your address so I can see the answers to my questions come from your lips in person.

While I wanted that, I knew I wasn’t ready yet.

Fourteen: You have to earn seeing me again. Start making a list of answers to all these questions you’ve been asking me. I’m not taking no for an answer next time.

Seven: My answer to you will never be no, to anything you ask…or want.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, and I tried to will away my blush, tucking my phone into my shoe and trying not to focus on the alluring man on the other side of the conversation.

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