Page 75 of Painter's Obsession

“What an odd thing to ask?” His gaze doesn’t waver. “So, how did you respond?” Using his hand to signal me to carry on.

“I knew I was attracted to men,” I finally admit, the words falling like stones. “I knew, and he knew.”

Ren resumes painting, crossing one muscular leg over the other as he listens. “So, you let him suck your cock?” I grunt ,confirming his suspicions,briefly he looks at me and I can see the smile in his eyes. “So, what happened next?”

“Sandra walked in as I fucked her cousin throat.” I blurt out, ripping the bandage off without caring for pain or shame. But Ren doesn’t shame me, it seems like he genuinely is intrigued by me.

“I grew up in a household where it was... frowned upon,” I say, my voice cracking under the weight of the shame. I couldn’t say it. Not then.

“To like men?” Ren asks, frowning slightly as he sets the brush down. “Sort of like my mother. She hated that as I grew older, I found others attractive. She even killed one for my sake.” He lets out a sigh, his gaze drifting to the blood streaming down her chest.

He grabs a sponge, soaking it in the crimson pool before patting it against the canvas. “So you cheated to prove you were straight, but ended up liking it. Then she walked in.”

He reads me like a book, and all I can do is nod.

“Do you like what I do to you?” he asks, his voice dropping lower.

My heart picks up, warmth surging through me despite the fear, despite the pain. I can’t look at him. “I don’t know,” I admit, my voice trembling with honesty.

“I think you do,” he says softly, standing and walking toward me. “I think you like it more than you’re willing to admit.”

I suck my teeth, sinking to the floor as I glare at him. “What if I do? Nothing changes. I’m just your puppet—your game.”

Ren stops abruptly, the air between us crackling with tension.

“You think you’re a game?” he says, his voice laced with quiet fury. “Do you know how reckless I’ve been to get you here? To break you?”

He gestures to the woman beside him. “Even her—a mistake. All I’ve done since you walked into my life is lose control.”

He closes the distance, his skin brushing mine as he cups my jaw, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You have made me reckless. A real thorn in my ass.”

Before I can pull away, his lips crash into mine, hot and unrelenting. The shock ripples through me, freezing me in place. His mouth is soft yet demanding, the taste of spearmint laced with something darker—something dangerous.Intoxicating.

My mouth opens willingly, almost instinctively, allowing his tongue to invade. It sweeps over mine with deliberate dominance, exploring, tasting, claiming. A groan escapes my throat, raw and involuntary, as his hands tighten around my jaw, holding me firmly in place.

His touch is fire, burning away every shield I’ve built around myself, every lie I’ve told. My hands move without thought, tangling in the dark strands of his hair, pulling him closer as though the distance between us were unbearable. The sharp strands of his raven locks prick my fingers as I grip tighter, anchoring myself in this impossible moment.

Ren deepens the kiss, his tongue twisting with mine in a battle for dominance I can’t win—and don’t want to. His teeth graze my bottom lip, the sharp bite sending a jolt down my spine. A shiver courses through me as I feel the rough stubble of his jaw scraping against my skin, grounding me in the reality of what’s happening.

The world around us fades, the studio disappearing into a haze of heat and sensation. The metallic tang of blood lingers faintly in the air, mingling with the electric charge crackling between us. It’s suffocating, intoxicating.

I feel his hand slide down from my jaw, trailing across my neck, his fingers firm and possessive as they trace the line of my collarbone. He pauses there, his thumb pressing lightly againstthe hollow of my throat, as though testing my pulse—measuring how fast he’s unraveling me.

A low growl rumbles from him, vibrating against my mouth, as though my surrender is the final piece of a puzzle he’s been trying to solve. His lips leave mine briefly, only to drag down my jaw, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin there before returning to claim my mouth again.

I gasp into him, my breath hitching as the kiss consumes me. There’s no room for thought, no space for denial—just the raw, undeniable truth. I want this. I want him.

For the first time, I let myself feel it. No mask. No shields. Just the reality of Ren’s touch, his taste, and the dark, suffocating pull of his presence.

“There you go,” he breathes into my mouth, his voice low and drenched with satisfaction. His lips hover over mine for a moment, his breath warm against my skin. “That’s the truth I’ve been waiting for.”

“How about yours?” I ask, my voice shaky but cutting through the charged air.

Ren doesn’t look away. His dark eyes lock onto mine, unreadable, impenetrable. Without a word, he steps closer, his thumb pressing against my lips. His touch is firm, controlling, and the chill of his skin sends a shiver down my spine.

“There’s not much to say,” he murmurs, his voice low, almost detached. “I wasn’t loved. My dad killed himself to escape the demon he called a wife, leaving me damned to a life where my only purpose was to please her. In every way she needed.”

I can’t breathe, the weight of his words sinking into me like stones.

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