Page 20 of Announcing Love
That was all it took. Tip couldn’t stop. He forgot his pleasure and his plans to make love to Artem. This was better. He had honestly been a little too rough with Artem. The guy just did it for him, and Tip was a monster. He intentionally dragged his teeth down Artem’s dick before swallowing it.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Artem slapped his hand over his mouth, making Tip chuckle.
He hadn’t hurt him. Not really. That didn’t stop him from doing it again.
A muffled moan came from behind Artem’s hand. He used the other to snag Tip’s hair and hold on. Tip didn’t let up. Artem’s entire body stiffened. Whimpers escaped Artem. He blew. Tip crawled up Artem’s body and forced him to taste his own cum. Artem didn’t fight him. He treated the kiss like any other. Fuck. He was perfect. Tip set his erection free and stroked while their tongues fought.
Artem tore his mouth away. “Use me.”
Tip sweetly kissed his neck. “No. I promised I’d make love to you, and I don’t think I can right now. I’m too far gone.”
“Use me,” Artem practically growled.
He wouldn’t continue to argue. Tip was too aroused. He snatched up the lube and barely had his jeans pushed down his hips before he was inside Artem.
“Yes. Like that.”
Tip wasn’t going to make it. “Goddamn. You make me so hot. I’m already addicted.” Tip bit his tongue. Artem had him fucked in the head. He had to watch his words. Tip was the type to end up promising him the world. Damn. He deserved it, though. Artem’s teeth sank into his chest and Tip blew faster than he ever had in his life. He wasn’t ashamed. Artem was the goddamn devil, stealing his soul.
Artem kissed the spot he had bitten before reclaiming Tip’s lips. Their kisses slowed. Tip’s cock slipped from Artem’s ass, followed by a gush of cum. Fuck. That was the second time Artem had made him lose every ounce of good sense he ever possessed. At least he knew Artem hadn’t been with anyone else. Unfortunately, Tip couldn’t say the same, and Artem deserved better.
He crawled from the bed and finished stripping before heading inside the bathroom. Tip stared at himself in the mirror as he waited for the water to heat. He looked like a satisfied man in love and that was fucking nuts. Then again, so was Tip. Tamara’s text about meeting Artem had somewhat saved him from a big conversation filled with confessions the other night. But yeah, he wasn’t sane. He hadn’t told Artem exactly how often he saw him. After meeting Artem that very first time, he had been obsessed. He couldn’t count the number of times he had tried to run into Artem, only to have Artem completely look right through him. That had done nothing to squash this thing that grew inside him. He had tried talking himself down so many times, telling himself they were too different. Artem was too young. He didn’t wantsomeone inexperienced. Nothing worked. Tip was infatuated, and he wasn’t sure that was a good thing.
He wet a washcloth with warm water and went back to Artem. Artem was stretched out like a contented cat. He didn’t argue as Tip cleaned him and the mess. Tip spoke as he worked, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass Artem too badly. “I guess it’s probably too late to apologize and let you know my every test has been negative. Plus, I haven’t fucked anyone without a condom since I was a teenager. I don’t know what it is about you. You make me—”
A loud bark of laughter cut off his speech. “Oh wow. What does it say about me that I didn’t even think about that?”
A smile exploded across Tip’s face. He tossed the soiled cloth into a nearby laundry basket before curling himself around Artem and pulling the covers over them. “Next time, you can hit me over the head and tell me to put on a condom.”
“It seems a little late for that now. Plus, I’m not worried. It never once occurred to me that you might endanger me in any way, so it’s whatever.” He paused. “Unless you sleep with someone else.”
Was he crazy? “I’ve never found anyone who comes close to your passion. Why would I waste my time with anyone else?”
He practically heard Artem smile. “You sound like a man in for the long haul.”
Tip stole a deep kiss. He wanted Artem to taste the truth. “Absolutely.” Artem was his now. There was no escape.
Chapter Nine
ArtandArtistrywasway more amazing than Artem imagined. It was huge and fancy as fuck. The place was a genuine gallery, filled with art that cost so much it didn’t have a tag. Tamara was nothing like he pictured. He didn’t know what he had truly expected, but it wasn’t a six-foot-four queen in six-inch heels, towering over him with hair almost as tall as her heels. She was wonderful.
With her arm linked through Artem’s, she gave him the full tour while Tip trailed along in their wake. “Now, Tip tells me you’ve brought a sample of your work with you. I loved everything I saw in the video he sent, but I’d very much like to see one of your paintings in person.”
“Sure. It’s in Tip’s SUV out front.”
Tamara glanced over her shoulder. “Be a dear, Tip, and grab that painting. You don’t have to worry about your angel. I won’t eat him.”
A deep chuckle rumbled behind him, stealing Artem’s breath. He had always believed there was nothing he wanted more than to be right here, staring at the possibility of being a real artist. Now there was this man, and Artem found a deeper desire.
Tamara dragged him over to an empty wall with display lights. It was obvious the spot was in the process of becoming a fresh showing. “I can get the perfect view here.”
Tip appeared with the painting.
Tamara gasped as she hung it on the wall. “Fabulous.” She hit a button he hadn’t noticed. It switched one display light to a black light, highlighting the hidden images. The light combination showed the painting in a way even Artem hadn’t seen before. It had turned out really well, but he wasn’t sure it was good enough for this place.
“I absolutely love it. This isn’t taught. Artists like you are born. Most people see Medusa as a monster. She was the victim, and I’ll never stop dying on that hill. You did a wonderful job of capturing that female inner rage against the injustice.”
Artem’s throat swelled. She saw it. Tamara got his vision. He could die now. His dream had already been reached. A genuine curator had seen through his eyes and loved it.
