AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As I continue to flick through the pages—each one revealing a different family member—I study each drawing completely spellbound by how realistic they look.
My eyes instantly narrow into slits when they land on a drawing of Lily. She is seated at Mason’s desk, pen in hand, and writing something on a piece of paper. The muscles in my jaw instantly go tense at the thought of her being seated where I am right now and shifting my gaze to Mason, I watch a smirk tug on his lips. Quickly looking away, I turn the page a little rougher than intended, ignoring the amused chuckle rumbling from Mason’s chest at my obvious jealousy.
The next drawing is of Grant Malloy, and my whole body breathes a sigh of relief that Lily’s picture is just one of many different people.
Continuing on, I pause when I land on a drawing of a guy with a crucifix tattoo on his forearm. He has short hair and a piercing in his lip and eyebrow. He’s standing in front of a punching bag with his fist directed straight at it. “Who is this?”
“That’s James. My sparring partner at Krav Maga,” he explains.
“He looks…” I pause, trying to find the right words that won’t insult his friend. He looks like a thug and not someone I ever imagined Mason would hang out with.
“Like a thug?” Mason finishes for me as if reading my thoughts.
“I didn’t want to say that. But yeah.”
“He is a thug. Well, he was. He’s been in prison three times.”
“What for?”
“Car theft. But after he got out of prison for the third time, he decided to turn his life around. He’s a tattoo artist now and a black belt in Krav Maga just like me.”
I look over at Mason’s arm, curious about the ink I caught a glimpse of in the basement that day and what it actually looks like. Turning the page again, I notice there are no more drawings and feel a stab of disappointment that there are none of me but quickly snap myself out of it.
Jesus. What am I? Self-absorbed?
“Do you only draw people?” I ask, genuinely curious as to what inspires him to draw.
“Only my friends and family.”
My stomach drops.
Am I not a friend?
Pulling myself together, I try to shake it off, but as usual, my mouth has other ideas. “Do you think you would draw me one day?”
“Maybe.” He nudges my side, making me smile at his playfulness.
“Would you draw me like one of your French girls, Jack?”
His face scrunches up. “What? Who’s Jack?”
I roll my eyes. “Jack! As in Jack and Rose inTitanic?”
“You want me to draw you naked?” His eyes widen, and I burst out laughing.
“No, I was only joking.”
“Look, I totally get it.” He raises his hands, and I frown. “You find me irresistible and want to take things to the next level. I will admit it’s a bit sudden, but if you really feel the need to take your clothes off and pose naked for me, then I guess I would be cool with it.”
I pin him with a glare. “I am seriously going to slap you right now.”
“Do you mean slap me or… spank me?” His face breaks into a sly grin. “It’s not really my kink, but I’m willing to try anything once.”
My jaw drops, and he bursts out laughing.
“You’re incorrigible.” I shake my head.
“And you’re smitten,” he counters, and I roll my eyes.
