Anything but that.
A sweaty strand of my hair fell into my face and he moved it. I stared into his eyes wanting to lie. He’d think I was crazy if I told him the truth. Maybe I am crazy.
“I don’t need every detail, Emersyn. Just tell me what made you leave so I don’t fuck up and do it again.”
I closed my eyes and rubbed my nose against his. “You didn’t do anything. It was perfect. That’s why I left.”
When I opened my eyes, he gave me the confused look I’d anticipated.
Sighing, I let my gaze roam over his beautiful face. “It was so perfect I was afraid the morning after awkwardness would ruin it before I could capture it.”
“Capture it?”
I took a deep breath, sucking in the courage to explain. “When anything major happens in my life, good or bad, I have to hold onto it until I’ve painted or sculpted it or whatever. When my dad left, I stayed in my room working for three days.”
“You couldn’t have told me that?”
I shook my head. “I wish I could explain it better. But I have to go to this place in my mind, it all has to be fresh, raw. I have to feel it fully to work. Otherwise it’s just…like the echo of it and not the emotions behind the real experience fueling me. Does that sound nuts?”
Yes, it does. Stop talking.
Surprisingly, he smiled. The same free, genuine smile from the ice rink.
“I saw your project. Picking up the Pieces. Was that what you were working on?”
Sinking my teeth into my lower lip, I nodded. “Do you think I’m crazy?”
He expression turned serious. “I think you’re the most amazing fucking girl in the entire world.”
Relief whooshed through my entire body. He leaned into kiss me again but just as our lips touched, a loud knock rapped against the door.
“Aiden!” A male voice shouted. “Get out here and get your fucking friends under control!”
He sat up looking disoriented.
That made two of us.
“One second.” He straightened his clothes before scrambling off the bed to the door.
Axel stood in the doorway once it was open. “There was a brawl in the kitchen,” he tells us. “I know Derek Owens from your team was one of them. Pretty sure his younger brother is the other one.”
My heart made a solid leap in my chest. What was Derek doing here?
“Stay here,” Aiden ordered. “I’ll deal with Derek.”
I couldn’t just stay awkwardly in the bed, so I moved to stand by the door.
Axel gave me a once over. He was like an angrier, broader, rougher version of Aiden.
I swallowed my nerves and met his stare. He jerked his chin up.
“Derek Owens here because of you?”
I couldn’t seem to make my tongue work properly. “I-I don’t think so. He dates a friend of mine but I’ve never had anything to do with him if I could help it.”
“Smart girl.”
“Emersyn,” we heard Aiden call out. “Come here.”
