Page 71 of Touch Me

Me:

You know you could’ve just asked someone to move for a minute.

Jace:

It’s fine. Gave me something to look forward to I guess.

Me:

Well I am in awe of your talent. This is stunning. Please tell me you're going to frame this and hang it somewhere.

Jace:

Already done.

“Well, what have we here?” The hairs on my neck stand on end when Mark’s breath is close enough to ghost across my cheek. With his hands braced on my armrests, he leans in until his chest rests on my shoulder. “That’s pretty amazing work.”

“Yeah, it is,” I say, squirming to shrink myself inward to break contact. “A friend of mine.”

“What’s your friend's name? Maybe I’ve heard of them.”

He leans over and not so inconspicuously smells my hair. I throw out a silent SOS with my eyes and am met with a look of horror on Jen’s face and Ashley practically gagging.

“Oh, I doubt that. He hasn’t published anything. It’s just a hobby.” I slide further down in my chair to get away from him.

“Well, these images would fit nicely in that nature gallery opening in a couple of months. If you can get him to publish, I might be able to get you the exclusive on the opening. And an interview with the artist, of course.”

“Oh, wow. That would be amazing. I, uh, I’ll talk to him.”

Because I’m so low in the chair, and he’s leaning over so far, he’s upside down in my vision. His eyes move to my lips, then my boobs, and then my crotch.

What the fuck?

Ashley dramatically clears her throat when he licks his lips. The sound must break through his perv trance since he pushes off the chair and walks back to his office.

“What the fuck was that?” I ask, righting myself in the chair.

“That was Mark, true to form,” Alex says, opening his laptop.

“Whatever you do, never go into his office alone. Ever. If you get pulled in by someone else, and he closes the door... scream.” I laugh thinking it’s a joke but soon realize by the look on their faces, they aren’t kidding.

My plan for today was to work on the article for the gallery opening, but now I think my time is best served coming up with a plan to get Jace to allow me to publish these pictures. Landing this gig will ensure me a salaried position, and I need a way to convince Jace to help me.

* * *

What dothey say is a way to a man's heart? His stomach? With Jace, it certainly won’t be in the bedroom so... stomach it is.

God, that makes me sound like a horrible person. I couldn't come up with a single plan today that didn’t feel like I was manipulating him to get what I want, so I decided to go with the truth. With a kickass meal and wine to loosen him up. And that’s not necessarily a manipulation. I’ve never cooked for someone who appreciates it more than Jace does. So we’ll eat, talk and laugh hopefully, and I’ll ask him. If he says no, end of story.

Plan in place, I jog to my room to change, swing the door open, and stop, my bag dropping to the floor when I see it. The collage hanging perfectly centered above my desk.

Well, shit.

He worked on it for five years and immediately bequeathed it to me? Does that mean it’s mine to do with as I please? No, no, no. That’s ridiculous. It’s his work. If he doesn’t want it published, it doesn’t get published.

As soon as I leave my room, the music upstairs in the gym cuts off, and I jump into action preparing dinner.

“Hey,” he says, pulling out his phone. “I forgot to show you this when Max sent it.”

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