But what did I even want to make?
The entire town was beyond charming. Every corner of Whynot was cute. June's floral shop could have been a set from a Hallmark movie. I’d been storyboarding ideas about the town, about the landscape around it—really anything I could think of.
Maybe tomorrow I'd give myself a little tour. Stretching my legs would be good, especially after working late the last four days.
I opened a fresh page on my tablet and twirled the pen between my fingers. At the edge of my focus, an idea dangled itself, taunting me because it was just out of reach.
For so long, I'd been tied down by what my studio wanted me to work on. Most of the time, I was just tweaking the technical process involved in creating animations. But set design and character design were where I wanted to be. Those were the parts of creating that I loved the most.
Then the question followed—what story did I want to tell?
My eyes started to go out of focus, a signal that it was time to turn in for the night. With a groan, I dropped my pen and slid off my wrist brace. I'd been working for almost twelve hours and all I had to show for it was horny yearning and some hand flexing sketches.
I turned my tablet off and stood up from the chaise, stretching my arms overhead with a long groan. Every muscle sighed in relief, thankful for the movement.
Despite the need to sleep, I moved to the center of the room and knelt down on the rug—keeping an ever watchful eye for scorpions. I flowed through a few stretches, spending time on my forearms and neck and shoulders especially. My body would thank me for it later.
I was bad at self-care unless it came to preserving the parts of myself I needed in order to make art. My shoulders, neck, and wrists ached at times, but when they did—I took the time to move them. Stretch them. care for them. Even if it was inconvenient.
Once I finished, I threw myself onto the giant bed and turned out the side table lamp. Darkness swallowed me and I was tired, yes, but I couldn't get my brain to turn off.
The conversation with Dallas had been turning over in my head like a giant, never-ending Ferris wheel.
Primal kink.
I knew what it was. I wasn't completely new to BDSM. While I'd never explored it the way I wanted to, I'd certainly done enough research. The glint of mischief in Dallas’s sweet eyes reminded me of an amused wolf waiting to pounce, and more than anything, I wanted to be his prey.
Running wasn’t my favorite form of exercise. But running from a sexy man who promised he’d made me come so hard I couldn’t remember my name? I’d run for that.
But what about June?
Where did she fit into all of this?
Was I being selfish by wanting two people I’d just met? Was I losing it?
Dallas and June weren't together, but I wanted them to be. If I were still with Justin, I'd be silently lusting after the two of them while rooting for them to be together.Now kiss, I wanted to yell at them.
I snuggled under the blankets, pulling the soft quilt around my shoulders.
Maybe during my little walk tomorrow, I'd do someinvestigatingand find out more about why June just wanted to be friends with Dallas.
Not that I was a matchmaker.
But for those two?
I kind of wanted to be.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Madi
Whynot Paint was as charming as I knew it would be.
The moment I stepped inside, I let out a contented sigh. This was the dream, really. Not only was it cute, but it was spacious and in a good location. A nice desk sat in the corner for checkout, the walls around it decorated with both student and professional pieces. I liked that Avery had chosen to display them together.
It felt strange knowing this would be the first time I’d actually meet her. Avery had changed my life by inviting me here, whether she knew it or not.
Voices echoed through the space. An older couple stood in front of a giant canvas sitting on an easel, the dreamy acrylic pastel desert holding their attention. Cacti bloomed beneath a pink sun, the flowers as bright as the thorns looked sharp.
