Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 784(@200wpm)___ 627(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“You’re making this for me?” Arik asked, astounded.
“Yeah, I guess. I thought it would complement what you have. I’ve had the design running through my mind for a while, I just couldn’t figure out where it should go. It made sense to me when I saw your living room. You don’t have to take it,” Kellus said and slightly lifted to extend a hand toward some sketches he’d drawn. Arik had totally missed those and craned his neck to see.
“So you were breaking up with me, but making me one of your originals?” Arik asked, laughing a little as he gave up any pretense of not being interested and went to stand directly behind Kellus so he could stare at the pages.
“I guess it is funny. It was in my heart, so I had to design it. Who knows if I would have ever given it to you,” Kellus said. The pages were done with charcoal—no color at all. It was hard to make out what he was seeing, but his excitement didn’t diminish. He’d happily accept anything Kellus was willing to give him.
“Too late now. I’ve claimed it.”
Kellus looked over his shoulder, smiling before he lifted the back of his hand to his mouth, hiding a yawn. Yeah, that pretty much said it all. Arik looked down at his watch. They’d killed about ten minutes and had another twenty, maybe thirty tops before his security team arrived. Arik took the opportunity to look around the studio. The space was large, sectioned off into different areas in a kind of organized chaos.
“So this is where the brilliance happens?”
“Or the insanity,” Kellus mumbled. He was back on his stool, all his attention focused on Arik. Arik laughed at his joke and turned full circle, only then did he suddenly stop, his eyes riveted to one of the paintings in the corner. He headed immediately in that direction, stopping about a foot from a painting of himself. How had he missed that when he’d walked in?
“You make me look handsome,” Arik said, studying the piece.
“You are handsome.”
Arik barked out a laugh and looked over his shoulder at Kellus. “Not this handsome.”
“It looks just like you,” Kellus replied. Arik watched the tension Kellus carried slide away as he looked at him as though he’d said something absurd.
“I don’t know about that, but I’m glad you think I look like this. When did you do it?” he asked, turning back to the painting. A tingle skidded across his chest as he stared at the great detail Kellus had used in creating this painting.
“I started it several weeks ago. I think the night you bought the statue.”
“It’s incredible.” He truly had never felt this special in his life. The artist he adored had painted a spectacular picture of him. Wow. Looking back at Kellus, he asked, “What are you going to do with it?”
For the first time tonight, Kellus laughed a small, enchanting little chuckle. “Nothing. It’s just for me. Maybe I’ll hang it in here. When I focus on something, I need to get it out. It’s not finished.”
“It looks finished to me,” he said.
“It’s not.”
Maybe he didn’t understand the process. Learning how Kellus did what he did went to the top of his to-do list. It fascinated him. Arik finally nodded and again focused a second longer on his likeness covering the canvas.
“I should’ve come when I first thought something was wrong. I’m sorry for that,” he apologized, distracted by the talent staring back at him. Kellus had a way with mastering the eyes. He could put all the right nuances together to capture the feeling and emotion of the moment. He wished he could remember what he was thinking at that exact moment. Probably had something to do with Kellus. All his speculation had centered on that man since the minute he’d laid eyes on him.
“When was that?” Kellus asked.
“When I got to the end of the driveway this morning,” Arik answered and turned. He went back to Kellus, coming to a stop between his spread thighs. “I need something from you.”
“What’s that?” Kellus asked and gave a full out yawn this time.
“I need you to stop deciding my fate.”
“Arik…” Kellus interrupted, and Arik just reached out, putting his hand over Kellus’s mouth.
“No, I’m serious. Listen to me. I also need you to stop trying to break up with me all the time,” he said, not mincing words as he fought the urge to draw Kellus tightly against him for fear he’d always be having this same exact battle. How could they build a relationship if he continually had to start at the beginning every time something happened?
“Break up? We’ve only had a few dates,” Kellus replied, tipping his head back, looking him in the eyes.
“That doesn’t matter. I decided this afternoon, when I should have been focusing on a boring-as-shit briefing, that I’m completely certain that I want you in my life. There’s no question I want you to be my boyfriend. Actually, there’s no real choice. I’m completely fucked over you. I love spending time with you. I want to learn everything I can about you and share new experiences with you. I want to wake up every morning with you, Kel,” Arik explained, crossing his arms over his chest in an attempt to hold himself together now that he’d dumped his most personal feelings out at Kellus’s feet.