MattNot getting to see her most of the week left me with the sound conclusion that my life was shifting from Dallas to Seattle. I'd be letting go of my apartment in Texas before January at the rate things were going, and funny enough, everyone would be thrilled about it. By the time I got on the plane to fly back home on Thursday morning early, I was lifeless and fully depressed.Somewhere along the way of avoiding Erica, I fell head over heels in love with her. Maybe that above everything else scared me. I just needed to have a sit down conversation with her about my mom and dad's relationship and how dicked up it got over time. I couldn't handle handing her my heart and have her throw it in a meat grinder by cheating on me. It wasn't as if I had a choice in either matter, but a 'come to Jesus' meeting would help calm my nerves a little.I walked into M&B around ten and made my way to my office before walking up to see Erica. I figured it would be a little more prudent to stop by an
Matt"We should have dinner tonight and talk through everything.""You ready to do that?" I gripped her hand and pulled it from my dick before stepping closer to her. "I'm ready.""Yeah, I think so. Tomorrow is the big showing. Are you excited?" She leaned in and kissed me one more time before walking back to the other side of her desk and sitting down."I am. The painting is almost done. It's going to be beautiful.""I'm surprised he didn't want it tonight.""He did." I smirked and dropped down in the seat closest to me. "I told him tomorrow morning at seven. I need tonight to add a few highlights.""Don't add this, okay?" She brushed her fingers around her bruised eye.I growled. "I don't like that one bit.""I'll get some thick make-up and have it covered by tomorrow night. I promise.""That's not what I meant. You're beautiful to me no matter what, Erica. I hate that someone put their hands on you.""Yeah, well, let's move to another subject. That vein in the side of your neck loo
EricaIt took me the rest of the day to get over how well he played my body that morning. Maybe I should get mugged and thrown around more often. My insides were liquid heat every time I thought about him and how good it was going to feel to get the rest of our shit out of the way and dive into a relationship we both wanted and needed."You want me to take you over to your place to get Zek?" Matt's voice surprised me as I tried to finish up a report I was working on.I glanced down at the clock to see that it was already seven. I was supposed to have dinner with Lanie. Shit. I'd totally forgotten. I couldn't turn away my best friend because I was starting to date Matt. That wasn't fair."You know what?" I stood and let out a long sigh. "I totally forgot about having dinner with Lanie. It's our Thursday night thing.""So invite her over to my place." He walked into the office and brushed his hand down his face, smiling naughtily."What’s that look for?""I can smell you on my fingers."
Erica"So? How was your trip to Dallas?" Lanie leaned against the counter in Matt's kitchen later that night as I chopped up veggies for a stir fry. I was glad that she decided to still come even though we were adding Matt to the mix."It was good. Like I said, I fit in with Matt's family so well. Not that I didn't know that. I mean, hell, I just got back from Jamaica as the only non-family member to attend Kent's wedding." I picked up a bell pepper and handed it to her.She leaned in and bit it. "What's going on? You're tense.""No, I'm not." I popped the rest into my mouth."Lies." She moved to the sink and washed her hands.Matt was in a room down the hall, working furiously on adding the accents to the portrait before he would let me or Lanie see it."I'm good." I shrugged and tossed the veggies in our stir fry pan. "It's just that Mitch came in today when Matt and I were kissing, which was a little awkward.""The new director at the firm?""Yeah." I glanced over at her. "I though
Erica"Wow." I stood in front of the portrait and tears filled my eyes. "I've never seen anything so beautiful." I wanted to reach out and touch it, but I knew better. "It's magnificent, Matt. Surely you don't really see me like that."The woman staring back at us from over her shoulder was a goddess. She was borrowing my face, but she was far more intriguing and enticing than I would ever be."It's exactly the way I see you, baby." He moved in front of me and leaned down to kiss me softly, slowly. It was a good thing that Lanie was already gone and it was just the two of us. I wanted him. Badly."I love it so much. It makes me feel alive. Like you see me... I mean, really see me."His strong hands ran down my back and over my rear, squeezing softly as he ground against me. "Good. I want you to feel all of that and so much more.""Make love to me." I ran my foot up the outside of his leg and hooked my knee over his hip."Where do you want me?"I wasn't sure of the true meaning of the
MattErica left early the next morning, and I faintly remember her leaving, but I was too out of it after our all-night fuck fest. I was a lucky bastard, and I knew it. The alarm went off around seven, and I rolled on my side and groaned. Someone knocked on the door."Jonathan's people are right on time," I mumbled and got up. The hope had been that I would get to sleep until noon, but no... I just had to have the guys come pick up the painting early on the morning before the showing. Ridiculous last minute shit. So typical me.They knocked again and Zek went nuts barking at the door, the little guy no bigger than my foot."Come here, buddy." I scooped him up and opened the door before rubbing at my eyes."Mr. Bryant?" Two burley guys stood in the hallway."Hey guys. You with De Luge?""Yeah. Mr. Luntz said that you had an important piece that he wanted wrapped and hand delivered to the gallery.""Perfect." I moved back as Zek wiggled in my arms. "It's in the first bedroom on the left
Matt"You look good. Happy." Damon patted me on the chest as we walked into the showing an hour before the crowd was supposed to arrive. My father had gone up to the office to make an appearance and check in with everyone. He'd show up at six with the guests for the evening, which was fine by me."I am happy." I reached up and fixed his tie as we stood in the foyer. "You know that picture I did of you the day you found out about mom's cheating is in here, right?""Yeah." He rolled his eyes. "It's fine. I know it shows a depth of human emotion and you need that. I would imagine that most people aren't going to be able to tell it's me anyway. I was just a kid then.""Most people don't realize that you're just a kid now." I checked my watch and swallowed hard. Why did the evening feel like a make-it-or-break-it time in my life? It was just a showing. Worst case scenario, the attendees hated my work and left without buying anything. I still had my job at M&B, and most importantly... I had
EricaButterflies danced in my stomach over the way he looked at me. It wasn't a passing thought or a hopeful wish for the future, but our reality. He wanted exactly what I did... us, together forever."Matthew. Erica. Let's get ready for the big reveal." Jonathan clapped his hands together and turned, walking toward a large canvas covered in velvety black cloth. "Everyone. If I could kindly have your attention please. Now comes the time in the evening when we're proud to share Matthew Bryant's centerpiece. The bidding will start at five hundred thousand dollars and go up from there.”I glanced around to find Lanie talking to a handsome, older guy near the bar that Jonathan had set up in the corner. His suit fit him well, and she seemed lost to him. Interesting. I'd have to get the scoop later.Matthew and I moved up to stand beside Kent and Damon as I realized what the painting was of. Me. Naked."Hey, guys." I glanced over at the two of them as embarrassment swirled in my belly, dou