Page 59 of More Than I Can Bear

“You don’t have to ask—”

“Yeah, I do.”

He wouldn’t move an inch forward, not without my say so and that emboldened me. I reached out, stroking my hands across that broad chest, feeling the textured surface of his thermal Henley, the heat of his body radiating through. I felt him shiver at the first touch and the last. Then I gave him my answer.

“Yes.”

That seemed to break something in him, his hands going to my hips and tugging me tight against him, then one cupping my jaw, tilting it to just the right angle for him to take. But while his mouth drew closer, he didn’t kiss me, not yet, waiting for me to let out a small sound of protest, then smiling before putting the two of us out of our misery.

And it was everything.

I was clear headed, not wracked by insecurity or dazed by the lights of the cameras. Here there was only River and only me. The whistle of his breath as he sucked it in, right before he plundered my mouth. All gentleness, all reticence seemed to have been tossed aside.

His lips were forcing mine wide before I could even think, and he groaned at what he found. At the soft swipe of my tongue against his, at the softness of my mouth. The hand on my hip held me tight against him, so I could feel exactly what I was doing to him and respond in turn. My hips shifted experimentally against his, that rocking sensation helping to provoke something but not settle me.

“River…” I gasped as he picked me up like a doll and set me on the counter, stepping between my legs.

His hair felt like silk between my fingers and I found myself stroking it over and over, unable to get enough. River seemed to know exactly how it felt to want more, clutching at my arse, encircling my waist, then rubbing up and down my spine. We kissed and kissed until our lips were swollen, going back for more until we both heard someone clear their throat. We jerked apart to see Kaine standing at the other end of the kitchen.

“So that’s how you’ve been keeping our mate distracted?” One of his brows rose up slowly. “Can’t say I don’t approve, but maybe you should tell me exactly what’s got Freya’s lips looking so bruised, or…?” The challenge was plain in his eyes. “Maybe you should show me.”

Chapter30

Kaine

Get Freya an exhibition at a gallery.

Having a goal made all the difference to me and I was willing to bet it would do the same for her if I could pull this off. Having a project would keep her from thinking about the bullshit going on, distract her from my brother’s prescribed antics. But more than that. If this is what she wanted for herself, then I wanted it too, so when Margot came on the line, I cut to the chase.

“Something I might want to buy?” Margot was the owner of a prominent local gallery and she had done well out of providing pieces for our completed projects. “Colour me intrigued.”

“Can you fit me in for an impromptu meeting in the next half hour?” I asked.

“For one of my best patrons? Of course, but are you going to tell me what this is about?”

“I’ve met a new artist who’s looking for somewhere to show and I thought of you.”

“Kaine, darling.” Margot rose from behind her desk and clasped my shoulders to bestow air kisses on each of my cheeks. “So a new artist? How did you come across one in your line of work? Not that delicious River, is it? I’ve seen some of his sketches. He’s very capable.”

“I’m fairly sure River would rather set every drawing he’s ever made alight before holding an exhibition.” I sat down when she gestured to a seat. “No, this is Freya North.”

Margot shook her head. “Never heard of her, but you obviously think I should’ve. What’s her medium?”

I unlocked my phone and navigated over to Instagram, bringing up the profile I’d been watching like a hawk once I’d realised what was happening. Jack was onboarding a social media manager, but until then I was reporting abusive comments left and right. I set my phone down on the desk and waited for Margot’s reaction.

And was sorely disappointed by it.

“Goblincore?” I was glad I hadn’t thought to bring Freya with me, because the scorn was obvious in Margot’s voice. A scarlet talon tapped on my screen, flicking from one image to another. “I mean there’s a kind of animal vitality about these, but…” She looked up at me. “This is the work of someone close to you.”

“Someone I want to get close to,” I muttered, mostly to myself.

“Ahh… so there is someone special in your life.” She sat back then, fingers laced together. “Well, I can appreciate that you might want to pull some strings for the little woman, but I don’t think Miss…” She peered at the screen again. “Goblincore would be a good fit for the Sutter Gallery. You know what kind of business we do here. Sutter sells exclusive pieces, the kind of high end stuff clients who buy your homes won’t be embarrassed by.”

“They’d be embarrassed by Freya’s artwork?”

I didn’t know shit about art, just that interior designers insisted we have some pieces to place in showrooms and display homes. Usually I just gave dimensions and colour schemes to Margot and she found the right piece to fit the space.

“It just doesn’t really fit the clientele we cater to, surely you understand. It’s like in the building trade. There are quickly-made, basic kinds of places for people on a budget.” Her eyes slid back to the phone. “And then there are the kinds of placesyoubuild. Constructed in desirable locations, from high end materials. People buy something solid, enduring, functional, but beyond that. Your architects make damn sure that the spaces inside have the kind of elegant design that will stand the owner in good stead for years to come.”

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