Page 29 of Illuminated

“Fine,” I sighed. “And you don’t have to watch over me.”

Another kiss. “But I enjoy the activity. Let me. As payment for modeling for you.”

“I like seeing my models work hard, but sure, why not.”

His smile made my cock take notice. “I can work hard. I like when things are hard.”

With that, Auris got out of the car. Before I had even retrieved my bag from the back seat, Auris opened my door.

“I’m sorry I’m too slow for you. I always have lots of stuff in the car.”

“I like when things are hard and when I get to observe you trying to get something from the back seat. There is always a chance you’ll lift your ass in just that way you are doing now.”

I snorted and pulled my bag to me. “Hilarious. Also flirtatious. Spotted any priests out there?”

“Not a one.”

I got out and pulled my bag over one shoulder, then closed the car door. The lighter mood shifted as I remembered the church again. The evening had started a lot like this one, just photography, and then, something terrible.

“What is it?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing. I’m just thinking about the other night.”

He touched my elbow. “I understand, but nothing bad will happen tonight. Come on.”

He put his arm around my back, and before long, our steps had synchronized and we walked through nighttime Cromere. A few of the houses we passed were vacation cottages with “for rent” signs in the windows, and tucked away between two houses, there was a mermaid statue I had to take a closer look at.

“A regional artist did it,” Auris said. “She does a lot of mermaids all up and down the coast.”

“That’s cool,” I said. “I love seeing artists fall in love with a place and an idea and combining the two.”

“Don’t all artists do that, to some degree?” Auris said.

I thought about that as we walked toward the next intersection and turned left.

“Maybe to some degree, or you completely nailed it.”

“Oh, I could probably think of exceptions myself. But a lot of artists fall in love with a place, and then you see them chase the essence of a place. Yes, that would have been a better way to put it to begin with.”

In that moment, it hit me, and hard. “We are dating, aren’t we?”

He looked at me, black eyes seeing all of me. “In this moment? Yes, it does feel like a date. The rest of it you could call that, but know that as far as I am concerned, I am yours, Ethan.”

“Wow. No pressure. Can we date a little while longer before anything big like that?”

“I already told you about my mother’s prophecy, and I would think that there isn’t a bigger confession I could make after that. But certainly, if you demand it, we will date like regular people.”

“Thanks.”

“Then again, if I am your model, and you are dating me, is that ethical photography, Ethan?”

“Oh, shut up,” I said, playfully pushing him off, although he wouldn’t let me go.

Other pedestrians were around now, some masked, and I pulled out a mask from my bag and put it over my mouth and nose.

“I’m guessing you don’t get sick?” I asked.

“No,” Auris said. “Did you catch it?”

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