by Ali Parker
"Damon?" Matt glanced back at me. "Didn't we tell her he was engaged?"
"No. We just made fun of him." I put the spoon down and moved over to pull my best friend in a tight hug. I kissed the side of her head. "How about this... We're all going to De Luge tomorrow night with fifty really rich people that live here in Washington. Why don't we have a little bit of fun and try and find you one of them to take home? Could be interesting?"
She perked up a little. "I love that, but you know I'm really picky about the men I take home."
"I know." I released her and glanced over at Matt. "Lanie makes her dates show their cocks before they get to come into her apartment. Too small? No deal."
"What?" Her eyes lit up and her cheeks burned pink. "You're horrible. I don't do that." She glanced toward my handsome lover. "I don't, Matt. Don't believe a word she says."
"She needs a spanking." He shrugged, winked at me and walked toward the bedrooms. "So rich, pushy, a little old and a huge monster cock. Got it."
"Oh my God," Lanie whispered and covered her face with her hands. "Did he just really say that?"
I laughed until my sides hurt at the look on her face and the willingness of him to play along. I loved them both. Life was complete with them on either side of me. Now we just needed to work through our differences and find Lanie a man that we all could appreciate, or at worst... tolerate.
***
"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 question. "In the bedroom?"
"How about the kitchen?" He smiled and picked me up, forcing me to wrap my legs around his taut waist.
"Do you have condoms?" I kissed at his lips before moving down and sucking his ear into my mouth.
He groaned and pulled my skirt up over my ass, slipping his fingers into my panties and petting me as he walked us to the kitchen. "Yeah, I do."
"Good." I rolled against his touch, finding something far beyond pleasure. Acceptance. Love. Belonging. All of those belonged to me when he held me close. I didn't want to miss a minute of it. Mitch was wrong. So wrong.
He set me down on the edge of the counter and pressed his hand between my breasts. "Lean back and rest on your elbows."
His dark gaze said that his words weren't a request, but a command. I loved this side of him as much as all of the others.
"Like this?" I moved back and arched my back as he gripped my ankles and rested them on his chest.
"Exactly." He licked his lips and let his eyes run over me.
"You want me naked?" My heart began to hammer inside my chest.
"No. I like this. There's something so naughty about fucking with your clothes on... you know?"
"Absolutely." I tensed as he worked himself out of his jeans and pulled a condom from his pocket. "You know how much I want you beside me?"
"As much as I want to be beside you?" He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and gripped his cock, pulling at my legs as he pushed.
"And inside of me," I groaned as his hips bumped against the back of my legs.
"I'm all the way in. You realize I'm not going to let a night go by without us making love, right?"
"Mhhmm..." I tried to keep myself in the moment, but the pleasure of him between my legs was almost too good. "Can we fuck in my office soon?"
"Shit, woman. You're going to be the death of me."
"I hope not." I let my head drop back as Matt unleashed on me, rocking his body against mine until both of us were panting, exhausted and covered in sweat.
He picked me up and toted us to the bedroom to start another round of love-making that lasted through the rest of the night.
Making love every night sounded like bliss, but I was going to have to start cutting him off around ten or eleven if I was going to function the next day... much less walk.
Chapter 39
Matt
Erica 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. Let me know if you need anything."
"We'll need you to sign the papers on the piece, but that's it." One of the guys smiled over at me as the other headed back down the hall. "He's a cute little guy."
"My girlfriend’s." I glanced down at the mutt and realized how much I enjoyed thinking of Erica as my girlfriend. It was silly, but I loved it... I loved her.
I put Zek in his crate and made myself a few pieces of toast and two eggs before they left. I offered them breakfast, but they declined and headed out.
It took me a minute to realize why my heart was racing all of a sudden. I was nervous. Insanely nervous. My work would be on full display for a handful of really important, wealthy people later that night. It could change everything.
I grabbed my phone and called Sophie without checking to see what time it was. I tried not to bother her too often, but I couldn't help it.
"Hey you. I got five minutes, so talk fast," she barked into the phone. It sounded like she was running around.
"Just wanted to see how you were doing. I came to Dallas and didn't even stop by. What a dick." I ran my hand down my face realizing that firstly, I hadn't called her when I was in town and secondly, I shouldn't have called her to calm me down and reassure me. I should have called Erica.
"You are a dick then." She chuckled. "I'm good, just running out to capture a new story. I'll call you tonight."
"All right. See you later, alligator."
"After a while, crocodile."
I dropped the call and dialed Erica's number at the office. Joan answered after the second ring. "Erica Hall’s office. How can I help you?"
"Hey, Joan. It's Matt. Is Erica in her office?" I picked up my toast and took a big bite.
"She sure is. Let me get her for you."
I smiled as she answered the phone. Much better.
"This is Erica."
"Hey, baby. I just wanted to call and tell you that I hope your day goes great." I licked my lips and leaned against the counter.
"Matt." The way she said my name made the world seem right. "You doing okay? Did the painting get picked up?"
"Sure did, and yeah, I think I'm all right. I'm nervous as shit, but I guess
that's normal, right?"
"Completely. You're going to be brilliant today and I'll be right there beside you. I'm going to pick up Damon and Kent for you around two today. You just relax, get your outfit together and be ready to just be you tonight, okay?"
"I'll get my brother and my father. I don't want you doing all of that. You and Lanie just meet us there around six."
"You sure? I just wanted to take as much off of you as possible." God I loved this woman.
"No, I'm good. What are you wearing tonight?"
"What do you want me to wear?" Her voice grew sexier, as if that was possible.
"I love that cream-colored dress that hugs in at your waist."
"Then expect to see me in it."
"Your hair down so I can run my fingers through it, and dark red lipstick."
"Are you planning on fucking me at the event?" She chuckled, but it was a really good question. A better idea.
"I wish. That'll definitely be in my thoughts, but then again, it always is when you're around."
"Now it's you who needs the spanking." She chuckled.
"I'll see you tonight. Enjoy your day, okay?"
"It would be better if you were here, but I'll try. Call if you need anything."
"Bye, baby." I hung up the phone and took a minute to catch my breath. It was happening. Like, it was really happening. Erica and I were becoming the type of couple that others would be jealous of, that most people would kill to be a part of. She was mine. I just needed to seal the deal.
***
"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 Erica.
"I wish Beth could have come with me. You know how much she loves supporting you."
"And dressing up." I chuckled.
"That too." He brushed something off my chest. "Since joining the firm again, she's taken on a leadership role, and Dad promoted her to senior early. I thought everyone was going to have a fucking cow about it, but she's got a way about her with the staff up there."
"Now that Delilah's gone." I rolled my eyes. For some reason, my father thought it was a good move to hire Damon's ex-girlfriend's twin sister to come work as a senior manager at the firm. Not only was the bitch conniving, but she'd almost forced Bethany to leave the firm for good.
Stupid moves on everyone’s part.
"Matthew. There you are." Jonathan walked out and reached to shake my hand. "You look awesome. Is this your brother?"
"Yes. This is Damon and my father, Kent, will be here a little later tonight." I glanced over at Damon as he shook Jonathan's hand. My brother wasn't at all comfortable around artistic types. If nothing else, the night was damned to be interesting.
***
The hour of preparing went by far too quickly for my liking, and the clock above the main entrance chimed six o'clock. Damon moved up to greet people on my behalf as I walked into the back room to get a beer or something to help me chill out. Erica wasn't there yet, and as silly as it was, I was worried about her.
She had ten minutes and I was going to blow up her phone with texts or calls.
"You're up." Jonathan walked in and stopped in front of me as I turned to face him. "Hey. You all right? You look like you're about ready to hurl."
"Just nervous. Is Erica out there? I haven't seen her yet." I glanced around him, as if I could see out into the showroom without walking through the curtain. I couldn't.
"No, but I'm sure she's almost here. Let's have you start moving around the room, greeting people. We'll unveil the main attraction in thirty minutes, and the room will just be wild. It's incredible, Matt. One of the most beautiful portraits I've ever seen. You should make sure to put a ring on that woman's finger soon if that's really how you see her."
"It is." I pursed my lips and breathed in deeply. I hated mingling, but the thought of doing it with Erica on my arm made it all better. Now that she was missing in action, I was ill all over again.
"All right. Let's do this. If she comes in the front door, I'll tell your brother to send her right over to you. Good?"
"Yes." I walked past him and moved into the showroom, stopping beside an older couple who were talking excitedly about the picture I'd done of Bethany.
"Such incredible detail. Beautiful lines." The woman glanced up at me and smiled. "Do you work here? Do you know the story behind this picture?"
I took a shallow breath and shook my head. "I don't work here, but-"
"Oh, I'm so sorry." She smiled and shook her head, her long dangly earrings moving about. "I should tell Jonathan that he needs to have uniforms for his staff. Then I would stop embarrassing myself."
The older man beside her leaned around her. "I highly doubt that." He snickered and I smiled.
Erica's voice on the other side of me caused something beyond relief to flood through me. "Matthew doesn't work here, but he's the artist whose painting you’re enjoying. He can tell you the story behind the girl’s haunted expression."
I wrapped my arm around her and leaned in to hug her. Pressing my lips to her ear, I closed my eyes. "I was terrified that something happened to you."
She pulled back and smiled. "Don't be. Talk to these people tonight and sell your art. It's our future, right?"
"Absolutely." I kissed her softly and turned back to the couple as the woman's cheeks colored pink. "The painting is of my stepsister. Her mother and her were in complete poverty for most of her life. She hides it well now and works harder than any woman I know, besides my woman." I pulled Erica closer and smiled.
"I was in poverty at one point in my life too." The older woman's eyes filled with tears. "I remember praying that I didn't look like I felt."
"And how did you feel?" Erica's voice was soft, sweet.
"Like this." She pointed to it and sniffled. Her husband wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and my heart grew warm. This was what art was all about. Connecting people across generations and from places far and wide who shared one thing. The human experience.
"How much for this piece? I must have it." The woman turned toward us.
I had no clue how much to charge and figured the best thing to do was to find Jonathan. Erica spoke up before I could utter a word, saving me.
"It's four hundred thousand. Matthew is taking off a hundred thousand on this one tonight." She glanced up at me as if I were the most generous man in the world.
Four hundred thousand dollars? That was ins-
"I'll take it, and don't discount it. It's worth every bit of five hundred thousand. Have Jonathan wrap it up for Liz Mantrell. It's stunning. Great job, young man." She nodded and slipped her hand into her husband’s, walking off and wiping at her eyes.
I turned to Erica, my heart racing, my knees weak. "Are you freaking kidding me?"
She laughed and bounced on her feet. "That was fucking awesome!"
"You were fucking awesome." I gripped her shoulders and leaned down, kissing her with every ounce of passion I had inside of me. "I'm so glad you're mine."
"Am I yours?" She smiled up at me, making the world disappear.
"Without a doubt."
Chapter 40
Erica
Butterflies 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, dousing my insides and leaving it hard as hell to breathe. "The centerpiece is me, so no giving me shit about it, all right?"
"Absolutely not." Kent tilted his head to the side. "Why in the world would-"
"And here you have it. Appropriately named, Passion of the Heart." Jonathan had the cloth dropped and several gasps rang out around the room.
"Oh. Wow." Damon pressed his hand to his lips and smiled. "That's beautiful."
"Intriguing." Kent took a step toward it. "I can't believe how talented you are, Matthew."
Matt pulled me against his side and smiled like a tomcat. "It's easy when you have the perfect model to use for our passion piece."
"That's stunning, bro. I'd love to have that in my house, but Beth would have a fucking conniption."