I brushed her hair aside, pushing it over one shoulder so I could get a better view. At least, that’s what I told myself. She shivered, and her reaction sent a wave of excitement through me. It was as if our bodies were having a conversation, even without words being spoken.
Question. Response. Action. Reaction.
Perhaps caught up in the moment, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to the delicate skin behind her ear. “Thank you.”
She sighed, her body relaxing, sinking into mine. And it encouraged me to continue.
“Thank you.” I placed another kiss on her neck. “Thank you,” I said, kissing lower still. I didn’t know if I could adequately express the relief, the joy she’d given me.
“You’re welcome.” Her answer was soft, just like her touch had been.
I didn’t want to release her, but ultimately, I forced myself to let go and back away.
“So…” She stepped aside, giving me a better view of the canvas. “How did it feel?”
Kissing her?Amazing. I could only imagine what it would be like to kiss her lips, and a soft smile played at my own. But I knew that wasn’t what she was referring to. “Good. Different, but good.”
She grinned. “Good.”
Her phone chimed from across the room, and she retrieved it from her tote. The light from the screen illuminated her face, and I wondered who was texting her so late—a boyfriend?
I clenched my fist, immediately regretting it. It was none of my business. But more than that, my hand was already tired from drawing, and clenching it had only made it ache more.
“Everything okay?” I asked when she returned.
“Yeah.” She gave me a sheepish grin. “But I have to get going or Hunter will worry.”
“Hunter?”
“Oh.” She placed the heel of her hand to her forehead and shook her head. “Right. My brother. My older, very protective, brother.”
I felt something ease in my chest. Brother. Not boyfriend. Even so, I couldn’t get the word “older” out of my head. Did she think I was older or justold? And why did I care so much?
“How much older are we talking here?” I tried to keep my tone light.
“Six years.”
I sputtered a cough, feeling as if the air had been knocked out of me. If six years was old, she must think I was ancient at nearly double that.Shit.
“But,” she continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “He takes his role as big brother very seriously.”
“I see,” I said, thinking about my own brother. Theo was older than me by two minutes, and he could be overprotective as well.
“Anyway.” She smiled, grabbing her clothes and heading toward the bathroom. “I better get going.”
“When can I see you again?”
She dipped her head, her golden hair nearly curtaining her face from my view. “I wasn’t sure you’d want to.”
“Kate.” I stepped forward, so tempted to touch her. I lifted my hand as if to do just that before remembering the fact that I was a professor, I was older, and I needed her help. Besides, she probably wasn’t interested in me. “You helped me tonight—more than anyone or anything has these past five months. I need you.”
“You don’t need me. It’s all in here.” She tapped a finger to my chest, just above my heart. “It’s all in you.”
I wanted to believe her, but I wasn’t sure. I knew if she hadn’t helped me—if she didn’t continue to help me—I’d still be staring at a blank canvas, my shaky hand unwilling to paint. She’d not only managed to help me overcome my fears but made me want to draw again and not just because I had an obligation.
“I’d really like to continue working with you. If you’re willing, that is.”
She seemed to consider it a moment before finally saying, “Okay.”
