Page 19 of Announcing Love
“Forget I said anything. I’m sure your sister wouldn’t lie.”
Tip snorted. “She absolutely would. I think I’ll send Quince snooping. If you’re right, I’ll go by there when we go to New York.” He watched Tip take a deep breath. The air lightened. “How was your day? What have you done?”
“I took my last final for the year this morning and then worked for a couple of hours. After that, I spent the day painting. Would you like to go upstairs after we eat and take a look?”
“Absolutely.” Tip’s lightning-quick response had Artem biting his bottom lip. All he ever wanted to do anymore was smile. He didn’t know what secret problem Tip needed him to fix, but Artem would. Artem wouldn’t stop until Tip smiled every bit as much as him. That was a promise.
Tip couldn’t say he felt better exactly after talking through things with Artem. But he had a plan that wasn’t another hundred-thousand-dollar car, and that was something. Admittedly, it hadn’t occurred to him his family might lie to him to suck him dry. Pride had never allowed him to say no. If he didn’t take care of them, it looked like he couldn’t. His chest hurt. Maybe he should just buy the car.
Artem took his hand, making him realize his food was gone, and the dishes cleared. He had lost himself in the darkness again, and this time it had stolen time away from Artem. That made things twice as bad.
Artem led him up the stairs, and Tip forgot everything except the beautiful man in front of him. Then he stood in front of the completed Medusa painting with Artem wrapped in his arms.
With his back against Tip’s chest and Tip’s chin resting on his shoulder, Artem explained what Tip looked at. “All art is open to interpretation, of course. Like I’ve said, it’s supposed to make you feel. But what I hoped to achieve was to capture her pain and fury. Medusa was the victim in the story. Somehow that got lost, and she ended up the villain. She wasn’t, though.”
Tip’s chest swelled with pride. He really dated this amazing guy who cared. Things mattered to him. He felt issues that weren’t his. Tip had been surrounded by selfish people his entire life. Artem was different. He was flawless.
“I absolutely love it. You should bring it with us to New York. It’s likely Tamara might want to see at least one picture in person. Let’s take it. No matter what happens with the gallery, I’ll buy it. I know exactly where it could go at the ranch.”
Artem huffed. “I’d never expect you to pay for my work. It’s really just a hobby.”
“It’s worth money to me. Even if it wasn’t obviously valuable, which it is, it wasn’t free to paint.”
Artem turned in his arms. “I meant you could have it as a gift. Sometimes, it makes me sad to put so much of myself into these paintings just to set them aside and start another. They’re just put away. Forgotten. No one gets to love them. They should go to people who appreciate them. That’s all that matters to me.” Artem’s gaze dropped to Tip’s mouth. “Well, not everything. You’re pretty high up there too.”
Tip smiled. “Pretty high, huh? How far down this list am I exactly?”
Artem’s gaze lifted and collided with Tip’s stare. “You’re making your way up.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to Tip’s, swiping a light kiss across his mouth. “In fact, you’re staring down at a lot of things I never thought anyone would.”
Tip’s hands moved to Artem’s ass. He pulled him closer. “Really? You’re staring down at everything in my life, and I don’t even know how it happened.” He stole a kiss. “But I’m not sorry.”
Artem had no idea exactly how important he was to Tip. Tip had never claimed to care about anyone. Artem was under his skin. Tip wanted to keep him there. He wanted to be under Artem’s skin too.
“You should let me make love to you to prove to you I can. I want to make up for those bruises.”
A flush already tinted Artem’s cheeks. He looked like a man ready to get fucked. “In your defense, I bruise easily.”
“I’ll buy you a multivitamin.” He lifted Artem from his feet and walked him toward the bed. Artem’s gaze never left his. Tip gently took Artem down, covering Artem’s body with his. The moment their lower bodies met, there was no missing how hard Artem was for him.
Soft men might have bored Artem in the past, but he knew Tip would never disappoint him.
“I don’t have anything here.”
Tip hummed against Artem’s neck as he tried to get him out of his clothes. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Oh, wait. I do. I just use it to mix with acrylics for pouring projects, but I don’t do that often.”
Tip lifted his head. “Are you uninterested? You’re doing a lot of talking about other things.”
Artem winced. “Sorry. Nervous chatter. The lube is over there near the easel.”
Tip rolled to his side and propped up his head with his hand. “I’m making you nervous. I don’t think I want it now.”
Artem’s expression turned heated enough to scorch Tip’s skin. “Yes you do.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He popped from the bed and went hunting. Sure enough, there was a tube amongst the paints. In seconds, he was back to stripping Artem. He understood the nerves. Artem didn’t hop from bed to bed. In fact, he was Tip’s and Tip’s alone. That was sexy as fuck. He was so enthralled with Artem’s body and the knowledge it was his, he had Artem’s cock in his mouth before he knew it.
Artem nearly levitated from the bed. “Oh my god, Tip.” He snatched the headboard and held on like he might fly away.
