Page 79 of Rush

Clean and unused.

I brush it over the blank canvas, tracing invisible lines, thinking about Ares.

Him and me together.

Without conscious thought, I reach for my black oil paint. I squeeze some out onto my palette and sweep my brush through it.

And then I start painting.

The room is bright with the morning sun. I can hear the birds outside. The rumble of cars traveling down the street. And I’m still painting.

I’ve been at it for hours, and it’s starting to take shape already. It’s something new for me. It’s a still, but instead of a solitary person, it’s two people. It’s Ares and me, entwined, making love.

I’ve never done anything like this before, but I don’t want to stop, for fear that I’ll never start again.

I’m painting for the first time in seven months, and it feels good.

I hear movement behind me, and I stop and turn.

Ares is standing in the doorway, shoulder leaning against the frame, dressed in his boxers, hair ruffled.

He looks gorgeous.

“Morning.” I bite down on a smile.

“You’re painting.”

“I am.”

He walks the distance between us, leans down, and presses a sweet kiss to my lips.

“Apparently, having sex with you was what I needed to get started again.”

He grins. “My cock is pretty inspirational.”

I glance down at the bulge in his boxers. “Can’t disagree with that.”

I shrug, and he chuckles. Then, he kneels behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder.

I stare back at my work in progress.

I’m painting again, and I have the most beautiful man in the world wrapped around me.

Life is pretty freaking great at the moment.

“I’m happy for you, babe.” He presses a kiss to my neck. “And not to sound arrogant…but is that me you’re painting?”

“It’s us…having sex.” Biting my lip, I turn my eyes to his. “I guess I was inspired by last night.”

His smile is wide. “Can I have it when it’s finished?”

“The painting?”

He nods.

“Well, um…sure, if you really want it. But it might look like crap when it’s done. It’s been so long since I painted.”

He gives me a look. “Babe, we both know it won’t be crap. And, of course, I want it. It’s us. It represents our first time together. I want that fucker hanging in my bedroom.”