“I like so many of them. Unfortunately for me, the majority are sold.”
She leaned forward. “It’s kind of crazy. I mean, I hope that people aren’t buying them just to be nice.”
I saw Penelope headed our way. “Listen, I know you’ve got a lot going on tonight, but I wondered if we could get together sometime.”
“I’d like that.”
“Should I call you?”
“You should stay a while.”
I could do that.
32
Tara
“I’m sorry to keep interrupting you,” said Pen, pulling me in the direction of a woman I recognized. Rebecca Elgin wrote for an international art journal and was widely known as an expert on Italian art.
“Ms. Elgin, may I present Catarina Benedetto,” said Pen before leaving us on our own.
The next two hours were a whirlwind of people wanting to meet and talk with me. I tried to stay focused but found myself perusing the gallery to make sure Knox was still here.
There’d been so many times I wanted to ask about him, even contact him, but talked myself out of it. I’d pushed him away. How could I tell him I felt ready for him now? How could I even begin to explain?
Now, he was here and had asked if we could get together. I couldn’t stand the idea of him leaving, saying he’d call, and then never hearing from him. That’s why I told him he should stay.
With no one waiting to talk to me and the crowd thinning out, I made a beeline in his direction.
“I hope you’re not getting bored.”
He waved his arm. “I can’t get enough. Each one is more beautiful than the rest. There are a couple I’m more partial to, however. I was hoping maybe I could get you to change your mind about selling that one.” He pointed over to the one he was standing near when I first saw him.
“Maybe we could work out joint custody.”
He laughed and looked around. “I didn’t see your father here tonight.”
“He was, briefly. It’s my night and all.”
Knox nodded and looked around, as though he’d run out of things to say.
“Come with me.” I grabbed his hand and led him to the back of the gallery. I opened the door to my studio, not bothering to turn on the lights. I closed the door behind us, put my arms around Knox’s neck, reached up, and kissed him. Our tongues wound around each others’, and I groaned. Knox put his arms around my waist, cinched up the hem of my short dress, and cupped the bare cheeks of my bottom. He spun me around so my back was against the wall.
“If I had known all you had on under this was a thong, I would’ve pressed you up against one of your paintings and done this.” He kissed me again, his hands kneading my ass.
I reached up and pulled the strap of my dress off my shoulder then pulled at one of his arms, bringing it to my bare breast.
“That is so fucking sexy,” he murmured, latching on to my nipple with his mouth. “I love your tits.”
When I heard footfalls in the hallway, I reached over to make sure I’d locked the door behind me. Knox pulled the other strap of my dress down and sucked the opposite nipple into his mouth.
“Every night, I dream of having my hands on your naked body.”
“I dream that you’re inside me.”
Knox groaned and brought his lips back to mine.
“Make it come true.”