AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My art?”
“It’s time you start taking your passion seriously, and you need a space to do that.” He pointed to the large windows in the front. “We’ll keep these covered until you feel ready. But once you have enough pieces to show, we can open you up fully as a gallery.”
I glanced around the empty space, my mind trying to grasp what was happening.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “There’s no way.”
His eyes flashed with an almost primal determination. “It’s a great idea. You’ll be able to have art showings here and get some good exposure in the community. People will want to see what you have to offer.”
“I don’t have the money to do any of this,” I said. “This is too much,” I said, shaking my head as I backed toward the door. “I can’t accept this, Locke.”
“Why not?” His eyes darkened.
“This breaks all of the rules. You can’t just give me an art studio,” I said, backing away from him. “It’s not right.”
He smirked. “Last I checked, I made the rules.”
I couldn’t tell if it was the look on his face, or if it was my own racing heart, but I felt like I was going to throw up.
“I can’t believe you leased this place for me.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t. I bought the entire building. It’ll be a good investment.Youwill be a good investment,” he said,stalking toward me. “You’re going to go far with your art. I know it.”
“Locke—”
His hands were on my body before I could even think to move away. “I know you want to support yourself. I know you don’t want to be a kept woman as you put it. I understand all of that. But I also know you don’t love working the harbor or serving rich fucks. If you did, I’d step away and let you do what you love. But I know you hate every second of it. I’m simply telling you to follow your dream. Reach for it.”
I pushed him back. “No, Locke. This is crazy!”
“I don’t care,” he said, pulling me into his arms and kissing me. “Be crazy.”
He tasted like desire. Like sin. I couldn’t think straight when his lips were on me. I couldn’t fight it. I wouldn’t fight it.
The sound of his phone interrupted us. He pulled away, the longing clear in his face as he looked at me. He took a deep breath, and I could see the restraint in his eyes. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and glanced down at the screen, before looking back at me.
“I have to go take care of this,” he said, kissing me lightly on the lips. “You think about what I said. We can talk about it tonight.”
“Tonight?”
He smirked. “I’m taking you to The Vault. There’s another Heathens party to kick off The Hunt this weekend.”
My eyes widened. “What? Why?”
“Seems only fair. I’m expecting you to allow me into this part of your life. Your new business, your new future. It only makes sense to allow you to enter my world too.”
I nodded, trying to catch my breath. If I was still alive when he got back, I was sure it would be a miracle. I felt as if I was going to have a heart attack.
He touched my cheek with his hand, and for a moment, I forgot my own name. “I’ll see you soon.”
I stood there in the empty space for a long time, trying to figure out what had just happened. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I had a decision to make.
For once in my life, I could forget about everything but my own happiness. For once in my life, I could do what I wanted, and not what I had to. For once in my life, I was being given the opportunity to chase my dreams.
It was unnerving. The thought of being able to start a life without fear, without worry, without the constant need to survive.
And that scared the hell out of me.
Chapter 28
