“I’m sure it is.”
“You can’t be sure it is,” I laughed. “You’ve never seen any of my work.”
“You’re right, but if you pursue your art the way you do everything else, you’re probably a master.”
“Hmm, flattery will get you everywhere.” He laughed, and I continued. “It’s very lifelike. I’m tracing my finger along that sexy line in your chin. Feel it?”
“Yes.”
Lightening flashed outside my window, but it was nothing like the flash that went off between my legs at that single word.
I rolled onto my side, putting the sketch on my coffee table. “It’s going to be stormy tonight.”
“It’s already storming here. You’ll probably be getting it in the next five minutes.”
“Mariska wants us to go to her place Friday night.” Closing my eyes, I imagined him beside me. “She’s actually a really good cook, and she makes the most amazing Turkish coffee.”
“Sounds great. Let’s do it.” The smile in his voice made me smile.
“I’m sorry I pushed you too fast.”
He was quiet a beat. “I’m sorry I left you alone.”
“See you tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
With a goodnight, we disconnected, and I slid my phone on the coffee table next to his sketch. Tracing my finger down the line of his jaw, I closed my eyes, feeling him with me through the night.
* * *
When I arrived in the small boxing room the next morning, he wasn’t there. I was confused, but I started my workout, pulling on my gloves and doing my drills. I was twenty minutes in when I felt his touch on my arm.
Stopping, I dropped my fists, wanting to charge straight into his arms, but I didn’t.
“Now I’m the sweaty mess,” I said, looking down at my body.
He smiled. “Too bad we can’t go for a swim in my living room.”
Frowning, I looked up at him. “Where were you?”
“I thought I’d do the ladies’ locker room before I met you. I think it was the wrong decision.”
That made me laugh. “Because now I need to use it?”
“No way.” He pulled me into a hug. “Because now I smell like toilet cleaner.” He pressed his face against my neck. “You smell like good, clean sweat.”
“Oh!” I tried to pull away, but his arms tightened around my waist.
“I’ve wanted to hold you like this for two days.”
I stopped struggling and wrapped my arms around his neck. It was crazy. We hadn’t really fought. In reality, we’d just had a misunderstanding. Still, being apart for forty-eight hours had felt like forty-eight years. I leaned back and placed my palms on his cheeks.
“I want you to kiss me.”
That sexy grin flashed across his lips just before they covered mine, parting them, his tongue finding mine. In a sweep, I was off my feet and we were right back where we’d left off.
Chapter 19: “Find what you love and let it kill you.”