AllFreeNovel
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“You don’t paint in here with the windows closed, do you?” he asks.
I frown. “That’s your first question?”
“Well, I just don’t want you making yourself sick with paint fumes. Although that would explain why you’re such a goof sometimes.”
I laugh. “Yep, high on fumes most always.” I have to say I’m touched he cares about my well-being.
He approaches the canvas and focuses his eyes on it. “Wow, this is amazing.”
“You think?”
“Yeah. Almost like you’ve taken a photo or something.”
I scan the painting; I have an affinity for painting water landscapes. Started with beaches right here in Savannah. And then wanted to branch out, and paint other places. Unfortunately, travel is expensive. But Google is free. So now I’m painting the seaport of Kinsale, Ireland as best I can from a hi-res image. It’s not the same as being there, smelling the sea air, and trying to capture that feeling on the canvas. It’s the best I can do for now, though. “It’s not done yet.”
“Well, it’s beautiful.”
Chase’s gaze lingers on me. He may as well have called me beautiful in that moment. “I’m glad you like it.”
“You should do one of these on the wall in the foyer.”
I snort. “Onthe wall?”
“Yes, why not?”
“The champagne is talking again, I think.”
Chase closes the space between us again. I’m too afraid to look at him, knowing the desire he stated before we left Gram’s property. “I promise, I’m as sober as can be.”
“That’s not entirely true and you know it.”
We are standing so close together, untouching. I can feel his breath hitting a curl on my forehead, delicately moving the strands of hair.
“Thank you for showing me.”
“Thank you for… being shown,” I say and then immediately cringe inside.
Chase moves that curl off my forehead. I have no choice but to look at him. His pupils are so big I can barely see the blues of his eyes anymore. He wants me so badly. And that only makes me want him even more.
However, just as he’s about to plant another kiss on my lips, I stop him, pressing my hand against his chest. “What are we doing?”
He starts to shake his head. “I don’t know –”
“This is just going to complicate things. If we do anything more than…”
“Jude, we’re going to be married. How complicated can this…” He kisses my cheek and I swoon. “Or this…” Then my brow bone. “Or this…” One more kiss to my earlobe, the tip of his tongue running up against my skin. “…really be?”
I am only human. And humans do stupid things. However, fucking my fake husband-to-be seems like one of the lesser mistakes I could make.
Let it happen, Jude.
Take the fucking risk.
My hand that has been holding him back turns into a latch, pulling his face back to mine. I smash my lips against his, teeth clacking, breath seizing.
I find myself pressed up against the wall, paint cans at my feet that clatter together. I nearly trip, but Chase is there to keep me from falling. His strong arms land on the wall on either side of my head. He could pin me right here and fuck me until the sun comes up for all I care.
Chase moves one of his hands to the small of my back and pulls our hips together. I can feel him now, hard, as he grinds against me. “You feel me?”
