Page 45 of Note to Self
I slow down and let him get to the bedroom before me, giving him time to get naked. I can torture him by edging him, even before I’ve got my clothes off. My dick won’t like it, but I only want to get inside Trent when he’s begging me.
When I get to the doorway, I stop. “Fuck.” Trent is lying propped up on the bed, his legs spread as he strokes himself slowly, leisurely up and down his length. Perhaps edging can be saved for later. “Now, that’s a pretty sight, boy.”
We spend the whole afternoon in bed and make it to Merrick and Drew’s just in time. Trent has a glow of satisfaction on his face. He’s looking thoroughly well fucked, and I can’t help but match his smile.
“You don’t need to tell us what you’ve been up to.” Drew grins and steps to the side to let us in.
“Blame your boyfriend,” Trent says with a wink.
“Merrick, what, who? What did you do with Merrick?” His eyes dart between us, then over his shoulder to Merrick. “What did you do to them to make them look like this?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Merrick says, then rolls his eyes at us. “You know that’s not how it works.”
We follow them down the hallway to the large kitchen. Ivan and Brodie are already here, and both have a beer and the same goofy, loved-up smile as us. “Hi, good to see you.” Brodie moves away from the counter to greet Trent with a one-armed hug. “You’re looking good. The fresh sea air has done its job.”
I’d forgotten that the two men knew each other in London. We should meet up more often. We’ve both been so busy and, I guess, caught up in each other when we’re together.
Trent smiles at me. “Yeah, it’s definitely something around here that’s doing me some good.”
Note to Self—don’t ever let Merrick talk me into doing anything again. Ever!
I look at myself in the mirror. The smart royal blue suit that Merrick made me buy is stunning and fits like a glove. I’m foregoing a tie. I’m stressed out enough without feeling like I’ve got a noose around my neck.
Merlin appears behind me in the doorway. His beautiful smile, along with the heat in his eyes as he looks me up and down, isn’t enough to make me feel any calmer.
“I don’t think I can do this.” I run my sweaty hands down the seams of my trousers. “I don’t know why I let him see them in the first place. Let alone talk me into doing something so stupid. I’m going to be laughed out of the gallery.”
He pushes himself off the doorframe and approaches me. He’s looking so good in a charcoal suit with a black shirt, which he’s also left open at the neck, showing just a glimpse of his tanned chest. My mouth goes dry. He wraps his arms around my waist and tugs me close.
“We could stay here and get naked and do all the rude things you like,” I whisper.
“Nope, we can do all that later as a celebration of the total success of your show.” He kisses me, but when he pulls back, asheepish look crosses over his face. “Is now a good time to tell you that my parents are coming too?”
“What!” My voice has gone up about six octaves. “Why? Why would you do this to me now? Oh god, I’m absolutely not going now.”
“They are not going to get in the way. In fact, I’ve been given strict instructions not to introduce them to you until it’s over.” He checks his watch. “It’s time to go.”
My feet don’t seem to want to move, and my stomach churns with a mix of terror and nausea.
He smiles, gently clasping my hands in his. “You can do this, and it will be a complete and utter success. I promise you. Merrick wouldn’t do this if he didn’t have total faith in you and your work. You’re brilliant.”
“You have to say that because you’re my boyfriend,” I say mulishly but give him a small smile. “If anyone is mean, I’m coming home.”
“Okay. I’ll be sure to make sure there are no meanies.” He presses a kiss to my temple.
“And no wandering off. You have to stay with me.”
“I won’t leave your side.”
We leave the house. Merlin drives my car, as his is always full of dirt. His hand rests on my jittery leg the whole way into town. We park around the corner and, hand in hand, walk to the gallery.
I’ve seen the layout, wandered through the rooms with Merrick to make sure we’re both happy with the positioning of each painting and drawing. But still, I’m not prepared to see my paintings in the spotlight, hanging on wires from the ceiling, lighting up the dark November night.
“Wow!” Merlin halts us and stares at the paintings. Merrick’s original plan of having two of the softer erotic paintings in the window has changed. Now the first one is of thecove from the dunes at sunrise, the sky all pinks and oranges with not a single cloud to mar the perfection of the sun coming up over the calm sea and the pale gold sand. The second one is a surprise. Merrick has used the last painting. The one of me looking over the stormy sea, the grey clouds and the smallest glimpse of the sun trying to break through the storm. It’s a perfect contrast to the serenity of the first painting.
Merrick walks through the open door and stands next to me. “What do you think?”
I shake my head, trying to find the words. The emotions that are rushing through me leave me speechless. “This can’t be real,” I finally choke out and turn to Merrick and Merlin. “It’s like looking at someone else’s work.”
