AllFreeNovel
Share Us
To paint him like that…
Ambri turned to regard me. “Much improved.”
“Not like I had a choice. You didn’t have to buy me clothes.”
“This winter looks to be a rough one. I can’t have you dying of pneumonia in the middle of my portrait.”
“How thoughtful,” I said with a smirk. “When did you get them?”
“This morning. I was out and about early. Or rather, I never came in.” He offered a smirk of his own though it wasn’t as sharp as his usual. “Hazard of the job.”
“Thanks, but don’t do it again.” I noticed an open door that led to a small study off the living room. A glimpse of a bookshelf snagged my attention. “Can I?”
“By all means.”
I stepped into the small study. There was another fireplace, a huge, ornate desk, and built-in bookcases along every wall, lined with antique books. Old prints and first editions. The entire collection likely cost a small fortune.
“You read all those?” I asked, returning to the living room.
He sniffed. “Of course, I’ve read them.”
“Impressive.”
“Is it? Do I now seem more attractive?”
I laughed. “Big time.”
He couldn’t get any more attractive if he tried.
“Despite your aversion to necessary spending,” Ambri said, “today I’m going to purchase your painting supplies, no arguments. We also need to discuss the finer points of our business arrangement.”
“I have to make a pit stop at the optometrist for another pair of glasses, too. But can we grab some coffee first?”
“Americans and your coffee. There’s a café around the corner.”
I retrieved the coat and scarf, and we stepped out. I stole glances at him as we walked along the sidewalk in the mid-morning chill, drinking him in little sips when I really wanted to—
“So,” I said loudly to cut the thought off. “About last night…”
He cocked a brow at me. “Which part?”
The part where you went out and fucked someone else.
I coughed. “Just…all of it. I still have so many questions.”
“Naturally.”
“For instance, if you wanted to hire me to paint you, why did you come to me as a demon first?”
A muscle in Ambri’s jaw ticked. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“When you first showed up in my flat, you wore your demon suit. You seemed like you were trying to scare the shit out of me. Mission accomplished, by the way.”
His gaze slid to me and then forward. “I was testing your mettle.”
“That’s not a good enough answer.”
He shot me a dry look. “Oh? You have a preferred method for demons appearing to you in the dead of night?”
