CHAPTER SIX

Karin comes out of the bathroom changed. She doesn't see Yohan any where in sight and wonders what he could be up to.

She decides to feed her eyes with the way his studio is arranged, not ready to go look for him. She walks towards a stack of papers on a stool and looks through them hoping she wasn't overstepping any boundary.

She takes a look at the first picture and is captivated by the shot. Her eyes are transfixed on the woman in the picture, there's something about the look of the woman that enraptures you; she can't believe she could be mesmerized by another female. She smiles to herself and shakes her head a little hard, as if ridding herself of thoughts she's not ready to explore.

Moving on, she flips the pictures, scrutinizing each and blown away by Johan's handiwork. The pictures are nice, like really nice but is the monochrome doing them justice? The models look beautiful, all having similar features, how would they look in colour though, their eyes and hair colour she thinks to herself, completely drawn in and oblivious to her host.

Johan walks into the studio carefully, after lingering at the entrance for a while, having seen that she's lost to her present environment.

He clears his throat to announce his presence but still couldn't get Karin's attention. He moves closer until he is a couple of inches behind her and lowers his head, a little towards her right ear.

"The theme is retro." Johan says from his position, making his voice a little deeper.

Karin lets out a loud gasp. "Woah Batman! you scared the shit outta me there!" She says, turning around to face him; the hand holding the pictures on her chest to calm her racing heart. "Why did you sneak up behind me Johan?" She goes ahead and places both hands on her hip, not hiding her displeasure.

Johan smiles a little and repeats his earlier statement "the theme of the pictures you are looking at is RETRO but with modern touch." He looks at her stance, some pictures still in her hand, but a little askew. He laughs and gently takes the hand clutching the pictures, carefully taking them from her.

"I'm sorry I scared you but you sounded like a programmed robot little Karin. Is this how you let off when you get scared?" Ignoring her scowl, he carefully place them on the same stool, now behind her. He continues, not waiting for a response from her "Although it was a little intentional, given how you drifted into another realm while looking at the pictures."

Karin's scowl eases, she couldn't stay mad at him as his hands encircle her waist and pulls her close. Her breath hitches in her throat, trying not to feel his touch too much but every fibre in her body is alive due to his touch. She successfully masks her emotion and looks into his eyes.

"You were too serious judging my work, it felt like it was a contest and I could not read your assessment on your features." He gently pulls a strand of hair away from her forehead, caressing her cheek in the process.

Karin's mouth goes dry, still trying her very best to mask her emotions, she bites her bottom lip fighting for control.

Johan frowns a little. "Don't do that, you're tempting me! So tell me what you were thinking while you were judging my work little Karin."

Karin gulps the building saliva in her mouth, trying to come up with a rhetoric response, she rehash his last words and frowns a little. "Little Karin?"

Johan smiles "Yes, little Karin. By age and stature, from my range of view or are you going to argue about that?" He pulls her closer, glad the tense atmosphere earlier is now history.

Karin returns his smile with an emphasized grin, placing both hands on his chiseled broad chest. Choosing to answer his first question, she angles her head, still looking at him "Your work is really good, or should I be praising the camera and it's manufacturer?" Tempted to play with the buttons on his shirt, but holds still.

Johan arcs a brow and smirks. "Who's holding and guiding the camera?"

Karin rolls her eyes. "Ok fine. I meant it anyway; your work is really good and I was captivated right away. I completely forgot about my environment."

Johan nods a little pausing his lips. "That was what it was meant to do. And having it judged by someone who doesn't really pay attention or reads magazines means a lot. Thank you!" He resumes caressing her cheek.

Karin close her eyes to savour the moment and open them a couple of minutes later when he stopped, only to see Johan's eyes are at the same level as hers, their noses inches apart.

She swallows the drool that pooled in her mouth and bites her bottom lip again, resisting the urge to lean in and kiss him.

She looks at his lips briefly and back into his eyes.

Johan smiles, as if he could tell what she's thinking. "May I?" He asks her.

Karin returns his smile with one of her own, like a toddler being led, and nods her head, giving him the go signal.

Johan straightens, pulls her closer and lowers his head when she raises her head for his kiss.

He captures her waiting lips, kissing her lightly, like a feather caressing a surface, afraid to hurt it.

Karin tenses, not sure what got her to give him the go ahead to kiss her. Is she that desperate to have him continue from where he left off in the kitchen? But then his gentle caresses is her undoing, treating her as if she is the most precious thing he's ever had.

Johan lifts his head briefly and sees she has her eyes closed. He caresses her cheeks lightly and smiles to himself.

When she opens her eyes, she looks directly at him, a little frown gracing her brows, confused by his gesture, wondering if that was the kiss he wanted to give her.

She looks down at his jaw line, any where but his eyes because she can't seem to understand the look in them. Was it lust, desire or genuine interest in her person?

Johan's smile deepens when she looked away. He clears his throat to gain her attention back but she refuses to look up. "Karin!"

Karin reluctantly looks up and whispers. "Yes?"

Johan's smile returns "You're very beautiful." His thumbs replace his fingers and continue caressing her cheeks. "I am attracted to you because you are different, and getting to know all of you is a quest I am willing to take." Not waiting for any response from her, he pulls her closer and kisses her deeply, drawing a gasp from her parted lips.

The feeling of butterflies fluttering in her belly makes her knees buckle; She leans into him for support as she kisses him back, her hands going round his neck so she could taste more of him.

Johan picks her up in a bridal style and walks out of his studio still kissing her, towards the living room, back to their earlier relaxation spot. He sits down not letting go of her, carefully placing her on his laps as he continues exploring her mouth.