Page 25 of Choosing the right Man

Which piece? I desperately want to know, but I have to be careful here. I don’t want her knowing I’m the artist. I’ll never get the truth from her if she knows this.

“You said first?” I tell her.

She chuckles, seeming to relax as she talks about the art. The tension is still between us, but there’s a new lightness that’s never been here before. I like it. It seems I like everything when it comes to this woman.

“I only have two, but I have a great new job now, so I’m eyeing this one,” she says as she gazes ahead at the painting on the wall. I look at it, trying to see it through her eyes.

This art is of a woman lying on a flat rock beneath bright moonlight. Purple flowers are covering her in strategic places with splashes of paint woven over her flesh. Her head’s thrown back, her knee bent as if she’s offering herself to the heavens. It’s not bad. It’s also not something I’d think would interest Chloe. She becomes more fascinating by the second.

“What appeals to you about this one?” I quietly ask. I so want to touch her, to lean against her and run my lips over her neck. I want to take her in this room beneath these images.

She hesitates for a long moment, so long I wonder if she’s going to refuse to answer. I wait. Though I might not always be the most patient of men, I’m also well aware there’s a time to push and a time to hold.

She takes a step away from me. But then she starts speaking. “She looks so free, like nothing in this world can touch her. I love how her head’s thrown back, how she seems to be free of all of the trappings in this world. She’s offering her soul to the heavens, and because of this, she’s unburdened.” She finishes on a whisper, and I realize she’s holding so much inside of herself. She needs to be set free. I’m the man who will do this... and it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

I can’t stand to not touch her. I lean forward, her back to me and whisper my lips across her neck, enjoying the shiver that travels through her, and the soft moan that escapes her lips. I want to do more but know neither of us needs to be caught in a compromised position. I reluctantly step back.

I’m about to say something when another voice breaks in on us. I want to immediately turn and reprimand the person so foolish as to enter our private little universe. When I’m with this woman, the rest of the world isn’t invited inside our bubble.

“There you are. I thought you might’ve snuck out of here,” a man says. I turn to watch him as he moves across the room and wraps an arm around Chloe. She tenses for a fraction of a second, then pastes a fake smile on her lips. Her skins flushed, and I know this is because of me, because of the strength of her desire for me. It’s as strong as what I feel for her.

“I found the secret room,” she tells the man with a laugh. It’s fake. I can clearly see this. She’s putting on a show for me to tryto prove she doesn’t have feelings for me. It seems I’m meeting her boyfriend. Interesting.

“Ah, so you’re trying to figure out how to spend several paychecks,” he says, but it’s clear he doesn’t care. He’s not that interested. I’m unsure of why he’s even here with her.

“I’ve already figured that out,” she tells him. He finally turns as if just noticing me standing here. His smile is as false as hers right now. He noticed me the second he walked into the room, and there’s no way he hasn’t noticed the tension between Chloe and me. Pure electricity flows between us.

I don’t let him lead this conversation. I move up to both of them and hold out my hand. “You must be Paul. I’m Mason Alexander, Chloe’s . . . boss,” I say. I only hesitate with the last word for a brief pause. I’m so much more than her boss.

This takes the man back a little, but he quickly recovers and shakes my hand. He’s confident but not quite sure what to think about finding his girlfriend in the room alone with me. Good. Let him wonder. He doesn’t treat her right so he should be well aware she can be taken from him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mason,” he says. I don’t appreciate him having the audacity to use my first name, but don’t call him on it. “What a small world to find you here.”

“I love the art scene,” I tell him.

“My girlfriend does as well. I’m not that into it, but I don’t mind the free drinks and meeting people,” he says with a chuckle. Chloe shifts on her feet, clearly not loving this conversation.

“It was great running into you, Mr. Alexander,” she says. “I’ve kept Paul here for too long already, though, so we really should be going.”

She doesn’t allow me to answer, just takes Paul’s hand and quickly flees the room. I stand here a few moments before taking a card from my pocket. I move up to the piece she wants, thenpull out a card and stick it onto the back of the art. This lets the gallery know the painting is sold. I’ve never held a piece back for a person before. I’ve carried these cards to every show and never once wanted to use one. Chloe keeps growing on me, though. I want to give her more than I’ve ever wanted to give any woman. I can’t even begin to understand the reason.

I leave the gallery, no longer having any desire to be here. It was worth coming, though, because it’s one step closer to the woman I know I’ll have. I’m not sure how long I’m going to keep her, but I know it won’t be brief. I have a feeling our affair will be anything but short. I don’t think I’ll get this woman out of my system for a very,verylong time. This should terrify me, but it doesn’t. No, it’s quite the opposite. It absolutely thrills me. I can’t wait to take this journey with her. I smile, anticipating our next moment alone together.

Chapter Seventeen

Chloe

It’s been a month since my passionate kiss with Mason. A full month since we nearly consumed each other. I’ve had plenty of time to realize I made a mistake, ample time to choose the kind of person I want to be and the sort of life I want to live. I walk into the offices feeling stronger.

If I miss a morning workout, I don’t do another night one. I may be stronger, but I’m also not going to test my limits. It’s more difficult to resist temptation when darkness falls. Maybe it’s a different pull in the air, less oxygen, the alure of the moon, the magnetic fields, or maybe it’s exhaustion. Who knows? I know better than to tempt fate, though.

The last time I saw Mason, I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes. But I’m well aware he’s able to read mine. For the briefest moment I saw disappointment flash in his eyes, and it almost made me feel guilty. I had to remind myself I was doing nothing wrong by not being with him. It would be wrong if I caved to my desires and took what isn’t mine to take.

Things haven’t gotten better with Paul. He makes excuses for why he’s gone so much, and they seem believable, but I’m starting to truly wonder if he’s having that affair I’ve beensuspicious about. Am I holding myself back when I don’t need to? We really should end our relationship, but it seems neither one of us is strong enough to take that final necessary step. A part of me wants to think he’s off with some woman so I won’t feel as guilty as I do.

I don’t ask if he’s cheating, not because I fear a lie, but because, if I can’t trust what my boyfriend says to me, our relationship truly is over. I’m not ready to admit that. Why am I not ready? I honestly can’t tell you.

One day melts into the next, and the burdens I carry begin to lift. Mason’s out of office more than he’s here. I always know when he’s in the building. His presence is impossible to miss. I swear the very air changes with his existence. He’s a man the world revolves around. It must be so different for him than for ordinary people like me. What would it be like knowing all sets of eyes are on you when you walk into a room? I can’t imagine it’s a pleasant feeling.

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