Page 70 of Connected By Love
I walk back into the living room and look around when I don’t see Travis. I search the downstairs before making my way up the stairs to his studio. His back is to me as his hand works furiously over the paper.
Not wanting to disturb him, I watch from the doorway and admire the way his muscles work as he draws. He still has on his faded jeans from earlier. His black t-shirt clings to him like asecond glove showcasing that glorious body of his. His black ball cap is on backward. I bite my lip to stop the moan that’s threatening to escape. It’s my kryptonite.
He must sense me because he drops his pencil and turns my way. He smiles when he sees me, and my heart beats happily in my chest. “Did Max go down good for you?”
“He’s out like a light.”
“I think he likes having you here almost as much as I do. You are quickly becoming his favorite person. I guess I’m going to have to learn to share.” The corner of his lip turns up, and I grin back at him. “Come here,” he says softly. “I want to show you something.”
He holds his arm out, and I walk over. Pulling me onto his lap so I’m facing the desk, my eyes widen when I see my portrait staring back at me. It’s the one he drew of me that night, but unlike the others, it’s in color. My green eyes are vivid, and I can feel how I felt in that moment just by looking at this drawing.
My dark hair covers most of my breasts, with the barest skin showing on the rounded sides. I’m leaning back against the wall as I sit on the bench with my thigh-high boot hanging over the side and the other bent at the knee on the cushion. The barest hint of my lace thong is showing. The way I’m looking at him while he draws me gives little doubt to how I feel about him. I wanted him in this moment, and he captured every fiber of it in my being.
“What do you think?” he whispers against my ear as he leans over my shoulder.
“It’s beautiful, Travis. It’s sexy and seductive and…I can’t really believe it’s me. It’s like I’m looking at a character in a book. I’ve never seen you do color before. It’s breathtaking.”
“Youarebeautiful and sexy and very seductive. This is what I see when I look at you. You’re my masterpiece. Beforeyou, my life was just shades of grey with a hint of color, but now…now all I see is color.”
I stand up and turn around so I’m straddling him. Blinking back the tears that this man makes me shed on a daily with his beautiful words, I lean forward and place a kiss on his lips before putting my forehead to his and grasping him on either side of his face. “I love you. I never knew it could be like this, that I could feel so much so fast with someone. Don’t doubt for one second that you didn’t bring color into my life, too. Ever since I was a little girl and read my first princess book, I’ve wished that I would find someone who would be my happy ever after. You’re my happy ever after, Travis, the one I wished for.”
“God, I love you, wildcat.” His hands dive into my hair as his tongue plunges into mine. We collide in a rush of emotions as we seek and taste each other. He pulls back, breaking the kiss, and I practically whimper on his lap, not wanting him to stop. Seeing the sexually frustrated look on my face that clearly must be showing, he laughs softly. “Don’t worry, wildcat. I’m not done with you in the slightest, but I do have another surprise for you if you’re up to it.”
His grin and hint of a dare have me intrigued by what it could be. “I’m listening.”
“I knew that would get your attention.” He chuckles softly and reaches behind me to grab a piece of paper hidden under the others.
“Is this?” I stare in shock at what I’m looking at.
He nods his head and seems hesitant about what my reaction will be. “It’s your tattoo I came up with. Of course, I can change it…” I throw my arms around him, cutting him off. Laughing, he hugs me tight. “I take it you love it?”
“It’s absolutely perfect.” I look at the drawing in my hand. A black panther with its big eyes is peaking out of plumeriaflowers. The wildcat looks so life-like it’s as if it’s about to jump out of the page. I look closer and see a couple of books open with their fanned pages blended into the flowers so intricately that you almost miss them if you don’t look closely. “How did you get it exactly right when I had no clue what I wanted? I’ve waited years to get one because I could never decide, and you get it right on the first try.”
“It was the painting on the wall when I first bought this house. Every time I looked at it, I felt something but couldn’t put my finger on it. The night I met you, and you got your claws out, you reminded me of a wildcat. Your black hair and beautiful green eyes that I lose myself in were exactly what I saw when I looked at the painting.”
“I saw that you kept it on the wall. I love that painting and thought it would be fun to leave a piece of me in the house. It started as a joke last Thanksgiving when Noah and Maverick called Bella and me helpless kittens, and we quickly referred to ourselves as sexy panthers instead. With my green eyes and black hair, it kind of stuck. When I saw that painting, I had to have it. I understand the book reference because, as you know,” I wave my hand at the bookcases, “I love books, and it also represents being a teacher, which I love doing. The flowers, though…how did you know plumerias were my favorite?”
“Max helped with that. He insisted on picking them for you on the first day of school. Then, it became his routine every Friday so you could take them home for the weekend. He told me they were your favorite flower. Plus,” he buries his face in my neck and takes a deep breath, “you smell like them with just a hint of peaches.” He takes a lick, and I laugh.
“I love it. It’s seriously perfect, and I can’t wait to get it.”
“Good, because I brought my stuff home with me yesterday. I’ll get the table set up.” He lifts me offof him and gets up.
“Now? Here?” I look at him like he’s crazy. “I thought I would just make an appointment like everyone else.”
“One, you are not like everyone else, and two, I have a feeling that marking you on your virgin skin with my artwork is going to be the sexiest thing I’ve ever worked on. I’m already getting hard just thinking about it.” His grin is full of naughty promises as he looks at me. “I don’t want an audience because as soon as we are done, I’m burying myself inside you where I belong.”
Chapter Thirty
Travis
She eyesthe table that I set up. The black leather table sits in my art studio, next to the equipment I brought from work. I printed off a few extra transfers, taking a chance she would love my design and want to do this tonight.
“Where should I put the tattoo on my body? I want your opinion on where you would like to see it.” She looks down and eyes her clothes.
“Well, first, I’m going to need to see a lot more skin to determine that.” I lift her t-shirt and run my finger over her black lace bra. “Hmmmm. These straps might get in the way.” I flick the back of her bra with my two fingers and slide it to the floor. The cold air hits her nipples, immediately tightening the small buds. I rub my thumb over one, and her eyes close briefly before shooting me with a gaze that goes straight to my dick.
“The pants need to go too.” Sliding down her leggings, I let her step out of them as I run my hands back up her legs and over her firm, round ass leaving her in only a black lace thong.
