ly the lingering heat of him wh

ody felt alive; every nerve alert, every shallow breath a quick dash toward th

ood was a differe

eady being suck

n't intended

city. It was the space she wanted. Time to think. But as she gazed out of the enormous ar

kwood had u

errifi

st knock imaginable, yet

and skipped

g a little under the flutter

xposing strong forearms dusted with dark hair, and veins hinting at control and power. His shirt h

extended a glass of dark red wine.

rs brushing his. A trem

ed, lifting the glass to her li

ed. "Are

kind of woman who le

ching, just... invading. Heat

woman who needs to be seduced slowly. Thoro

ght on the rim

," she said,

" I study people. "I like to find the cra

from his glass, never

tudying me

y sec

things. He needed not touch her to make her feel undone wi

id, moving toward the sideboard to set her glass down. "Y

hat is because I don't chas

d a

orth it," he

im. "Then why haven'

dy, the slight rise and fall of his chest, as he reached out slowly, tracing one

ath stu

ave it," Damien whispered

pulse hammering. "You'

ers, lips just an inch away.

r against the wal

with a soft thud, and he pla

eavy feeling of his touch in the air. Her chest rose and fell desperately; sensations wer

g only to say, "Dinner is still on

he wa

egs weak, lips parted that completely

to curate a

eing undone p

wood wasn't fini

d the studio air, but something

her heels against the polished concrete. Moonlight poured inside from

against the walls, but it was one big canvas draped with a black s

d next to i

mething?" Sa

toward her, stormy and

e statement. "You're not the typ

aid. "But tonight..

he cloth in one

walked

ot how t

, fierce and violent. In the center, a female figure, bare and ethereal, arched her back in surrend

was

in oil an

ment of exquisi

she breathed

low voice. A woman is poised on the edge of

mmering. "You painted this afte

to see the tru