“No…that’s not the distraction. Let me show you what I brought.”
Brooke let him push her away gently. Drake slipped off his coat and drew something from the pocket before tossing it aside. He turned to her and let something black and silky fall until it dangled from his fingertips.
One eyebrow rose as she laughed at it. “Really? A blindfold?”
Drake nodded. “Yes. But it’s more than just a blindfold.”
“Are you intending to show me your kinky side, Dr. Barrymore? This might not be a good time.”
Drake shook his head, smiling at the mild concern in her gaze. His plan was already working. She was thinking about him and the blindfold instead of tomorrow.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Dr. Daniels…and for the record nothing is off the table between us…but the blindfold I brought is unfortunately not your intro to kink.”
She folded her arms. “Really? What is it then?”
Drake stepped in close, one arm coming around her waist to hoist her against him, folded arms and all. “It is a lesson in trust…and our first step to navatantra. A baby step…but still a step…if you’re willing. I promise it will be a painless experience. Mostly it will be a distraction…for both of us.”
Brooke uncrossed her arms and linked them around Drake’s waist. She rose on her toes until her mouth lined up with his. The kiss she gave him was reciprocated in the most thorough of ways, his mouth sliding across hers with precision. A hand in her curls had her sighing in bliss.
She could let herself go with the man who held her and be perfectly safe with him. There would be pleasure and there would be Drake. Life didn’t get any better…too bad it had taken her so long to figure it out.
“What if I don’t like being blindfolded? Are you going to give me safe word?”
Drake snickered. “What kind of games have you been playing with the other boys before me?”
Brooke blushed as she pulled away. “None like you’re thinking…but I read. It’s not like safe words are a secret these days.”
Laughing, Drake swooped down to hungrily take her mouth. His head was spinning before he lifted it. Brooke’s groan as his lips came to hers again moved things along much faster than he’d hoped. He pulled away reluctantly, pushing her hair back so he could see her face. He kissed every inch revealed and both her eyes until they closed.
“No safe words needed between us. You can take it off or leave it on. I’m not into that kind of control.”
Brooke giggled. “Liar…you hold my wrists all the time. And you know I like it. So stop acting like you don’t.”
“That’s for leverage, darling. It beats my hands slipping on sheets while I’m thrusting. It’s a guy thing.”
Brooke drew in a breath and hummed as she let it out. “Mmm…thrusting. Now that’s a distraction I can get behind…I mean—under. Behind would be okay too, though. We’ve never done it that way. I think I’d like that with you. You’re very proficient.”
“Enough sexy talk without action. Can I take you to bed now?”
Brooke giggled again. “Actually, I need a shower. But I won’t be long. I just want to smell as good as you do.”
Drake sighed. “Okay. I’ll sit on your uncomfortable couch and wait impatiently.”
“I promise I won’t be long. And you can wait for me in bed. Prep the blindfold and think lots of dirty thoughts.”
Drake laughed. “Go. Hurry. I’d offer to join you, but that shower of yours isn’t big enough for the two of us. How in the hell did Shane ever use it?”
Laughing, Brooke shrugged and hurried off.
***
“Nice teddy. Black lace suits you.”
“I thought it matched your kinky accessory. You can put it on me now.”
Drake grinned at Brooke’s excitement. He was still dressed in his shirt, but had ditched his slacks. He grabbed the blindfold from the nightstand and fitted it over her eyes. It was a total blackout kind because he didn’t want her to see what he was doing to her tonight.
“By the way, I was wearing this same lace teddy the night I came to your house for dinner. See what you missed with your brooding? That will teach you.”
Drake’s hands paused as he was tying the string in the back. He grinned at her smirk. “Why did you not let me go home with you that night? You know I wanted to. I asked you at least twice.”
Brooke bit her lip before sighing. “Okay—you’re right—I did. I admit it. I didn’t take you home with me because I was afraid of how much I wanted you back.”
Drake sighed and bent to kiss a nearly naked shoulder. He ran one finger under the thin strap of what she wore. It was tempting to break it, tempting to ravage. Part of him was clamoring to take what he could, while he could, but that was just his own fears about tomorrow. He would not let his worry rule him tonight—not when he had something so important to do.
“Kinky accessory is in place, and you’re all tied up now. How do you feel?”
“I guess I’m a little nervous about not being able to see.”
“Perfect. I’m going to paint you tonight. You’re not allowed to see my work until I’m done.”
“Paint me?” Brooke told herself not to over-react. “I thought we were going to learn about Tantric sex, not make a Brooke In Bondage portrait. Which, by the way, if you ever show a picture of me in a blindfold to anyone, you will be a dead man with no accessories.”
Drake laughed. “I’m not going to paint a portrait of you—at least not in the normal way. Your body is going to be my canvas. I’m literally going to paint on you.”
“Like finger paints? You’re kidding.” Brooke touched her blindfold, tempted to rip it off so she could make sure he didn’t do anything awful. When Drake belly laughed, her hand dropped. “You are kidding, and you’re laughing at me for my reaction.”
“Actually, I’m not kidding at all, but I love seeing you so nervous. The paint won’t hurt your body. Plus, I promise not to draw any obscene pictures.”
“Is this the trust part?”
Drake grinned and crossed his fingers behind his back. “And you’ll be able to wash it off tomorrow morning—unless you want to have some fun embarrassing the hospital staff who’ll be working on you. Totally your call…”
Brooke chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t know, Drake.”
“What are you afraid of, Brooke? Trust is about not being afraid. It’s knowing you’re safe. And you are safe with me…safer than you have ever been.”
Instead of ripping off the blindfold, Brooke rubbed her hands down her thighs as she knelt.
“Keep rubbing yourself and this is going to be over before it gets started. You have incredibly sexy legs. I’m planning to bury my face in your lap and wrap those around me as soon as I can.”
“Drake…stop.”
“Why?”
Brooke bit her lip again at his question, and then she giggled. “I don’t know. You’re making me nervous—like really nervous. It’s difficult to listen to you talk that way and know it’s about me.”
“Lust will turn a guy into a blabbering poet, especially when the woman looks as great as you do,” Drake said succinctly, leaning forward to take her mouth. Two drugging kisses later he pulled away. “Before I forget what I came here to do, let me get my paint pens out of my jacket and finish undressing. I’ll be right back.”
Brooke sighed at his words and rolled off her knees. It took all her willpower to leave the blindfold in place. Not being able to see was nerve-racking. She felt the bed give as Drake slid back on it.
“I’m going to ask you one serious question, and then we are not thinking about tomorrow again until it gets here. Which breast has the lump? You never told me.”
Brooke covered the problem breast with her hand and circled the lace with fingers spread. “Right here,” she whispered, pointing to the exact spot.
“My God you’re sexy as hell when you touch yourself. I’m trying like hell not to take advantage of your vulnerability.”<
br />
“Take advantage of me…and don’t bother with the condom…unless you want to. My birth control is working and fully functional.”
“Well, hell. Now I know I’m not going to get this right. You’re too beautiful and I’m too needy. All I want to do is be inside you. Navatantra may have to wait a bit longer.”
Drake set his arts supplies on the nightstand. He cupped her rib cage and bent his mouth to the top of her breasts. He ran a tongue under the edge of the lace until she arched. Closing his mouth around the turgid nipple saluting him, lace and all, he drew hard on it as he slid his body between her legs. He finally dragged his mouth from the wet lace when her thighs flexed around his hips. Her face was flushed with arousal and her hands were nowhere near the blindfold…instead they were on him.
He thought “mine” when he studied her, but didn’t say it. He was going to have enough to answer for tomorrow. The rest would have to wait.
Brooke laughed at Drake’s quiet grunting and sighing every few seconds. It was funny how much she could tell about his lust level from the sounds he made.
“Forgive you for what—which thing?” she asked.
She felt him sliding down her body. The delicate strap of the teddy’s thong got roughly pulled to the side. It broke on the next hard tug the other way. She giggled at his sweaty, hot palm encircling her thigh and gripping hard as Drake swore about what he’d done. She loved knowing he was so excited by her.
“Damn it—I broke it. I’m sorry. Oh hell,” she heard.
Drake’s swearing made her laugh until his tongue pierced her and obliterated all thought. Her scream two minutes later was rewarded by her body being flipped mid-climax.
Drake pushed and tugged her to knees, and then wrapped his body over the back of hers as he pushed the torn lace clear of her hips. He rubbed his erection between her legs until she was swearing at him for the torture. Penetration had never felt quite so relieving before, when she’d finally talked him into it. She pushed her hips back against his in demand and he seated himself as deeply as he could.
She felt Drake lever himself off her back, which changed the angle of their connection. Holding her hips in his hands, he began to move inside her, once again exercising a control he never admitted to. Grinning over his natural aggression, Brooke roughly imploded several deep thrusts later. Then she exhaustively climaxed yet another time when Drake slowed every thrust to draw out the end for her.
It was sex in bullet-time after that, and she couldn’t do anything but say his name and beg him to finish. The man was beyond talented.
She collapsed onto the sheets when he finally let himself go and whispered her name. After he stopped moving, Drake lowered himself to her back again and kissed her neck and shoulders. Contentment had her drifting into a dream state as his body covered hers so warmly.
Her little mew of pleasure about it all had him chuckling in her ear. “You are amazing. I love you, Brooke.”
“So sleepy…” she whispered, drifting off with him still whispering into her ear as he brushed back her hair.
Later she woke up alarmed when Drake rolled her to her back. She felt him removing what was left of her lace teddy, which she doubted was much. You had to appreciate a man who could destroy your underwear. She got a whiff of something and waved a hand under her nose.
“Something smells funny,” she admitted, feeling for the blindfold so she could investigate the stench. Drake’s hand covered hers and pulled it back down.
“No. Leave it on…just a little longer.” Drake kissed her now naked breasts. “It’s just my paints smelling so bad. I’m sorry about the smell, but I’m almost done. Go back to sleep now. I’ll be finished next time you wake up.”
“What about you? Aren’t you sleepy?”
“No. I’m living every artist’s dream. I’m painting the sexiest woman on earth. This is very relaxing for me.”
“Well your art stinks—but only literally. I actually think you’re very talented—in bed and out,” Brooke said softly, letting herself drift off again when he laughed at her teasing.
She felt short, soft strokes of something on her skin and it tickled. Drake grabbed her hand and ordered her not to touch it when she tried to brush it away. She snickered at his tight grip, smiling about how often the man restrained her without conscious thought. She drifted into the waiting blackness when Drake planted a series of kisses along one hip.
Drake linked his fingers with Brooke’s to keep her hands from traveling. Watching Brooke settle back into sleep, Drake kept his gaze on her face as he blew across his latest design. Work was going fast because it wasn’t taking long for the markers to dry. The evening hadn’t gone exactly as he’d planned, but the net result was turning out better than he’d imagined.
He capped the last permanent marker and hoped Brooke would forgive him for the one white lie he’d told her tonight. His artwork wasn’t washing off in one shower in the morning, but then he’d never intended it to. She wouldn’t have agreed if she’d known what he planned, but his intentions were among the most honorable of his life.
He ran a loving hand over her pelvis. Her body was a haven for him. He hoped he got to keep her for a long time.
“Art is its own language and all the mojo I have in this world, Brooke Daniels. Now all that’s left is for us to pay the devil his due and send death away from your door. I hope it works this time.”
He watched Brooke sleeping peacefully as he dressed in the wee hours of the morning. He didn’t want to be there when she woke. She needed to have the shock alone.
Maybe she wouldn’t understand what he’d done to her body any more than she did about the models in his class. Maybe all he’d done in making her his art tonight was give Brooke something else to yell at him about later. But whether she understood or not, he’d at least shared with her all his hopes and dreams for the two of them. That and his love was all that was within his power to give any woman.
He let himself out of the apartment and used the key Michael had given him to lock up. He grinned as he put it in his pocket knowing he was never giving it back.
Chapter 17
The sun was barely rising when Jessica pulled her car into the parking lot. She slung the bag in the passenger’s seat over her shoulder and walked at a rapid clip toward the building. Brooke’s frantic call had made no sense, but she’d come tearing over here anyway. Her daughter needed her and that was really the only thing that mattered.
Maybe Brooke was worried about the doctors finding something more today. Maybe she was worried about waking up and finding out she was already missing a breast. Any woman would be concerned.
The door to the apartment was opened a crack so she could let herself in. Accepting her daughter’s unspoken invitation to enter, Jessica slipped inside and closed the door behind her.
“Brooke?”
“In the bedroom, Mom. Hurry. We don’t have a lot of time.”
Jessica’s feet flew across the floor, the bag bouncing against her side. She stopped and drew in a breath when she saw her nearly naked daughter standing in front of a mirrored closet door.
“Oh My God. Look at you.”
She tiptoed across the bedroom and peered down at her daughter’s breasts. One was covered in writing. She tilted her head. It was a poem…no…it was… “Scripture?”
Brooke nodded. “Yes. From Song of Solomon. It’s where King Solomon was complimenting his lover’s breasts.”
“Honey, there’s pictures on your back…and symbols…and a lot of words.”
“I know. I can’t even see them all. I need you to take pictures for me…in case they get removed later. He only left the breast they’re operating on free of art and that’s nearly the only skin not covered in something.”
Jessica nodded numbly. “Yes. I can see that. Are you sure you want me to take pictures?”
“Yes,” Brooke said, admiring the symbols adorning her shoulders. “I have ankhs on my shoulders and infinity knots on both arms. I c
an’t see everything on the back. I don’t want any of it to be lost.”
“There are two more poems back here. One is Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The other is Robert Browning. I applaud both choices.”
“If you think those are great, you should see my ass. The writing was large enough for me to read in the mirror,” Brooke said, staring at her mother’s shock.
“He wrote poetry on your ass? I think I’m jealous.”
Brooke laughed when both her mother’s eyebrows went up. She slid her panties down to reveal her ass cheeks to the most outrageous woman she’d even known. Said woman very predictably put a hand over her mouth and laughed hard behind it.
“Oh God…he’s every bit as wonderful I ever imagined. I give him double points for originality.”
“Well, at least he phrased it as a question. From the stories I’ve heard, that’s more than any bossy Larson male ever did.”
Jessica made a face and shrugged. “True,” she admitted, biting her lip as she stared.
She watched her daughter admiring herself, including her decorated backside.
“Aren’t you mad at Drake for this? It looks like he used permanent markers. It’s not going to wash off before you have to go to the hospital this morning.”
Brooke lifted her chin. “Well I was mad at first…until I saw my ass. He got to me with that. I admit it, I have a weakness for the man.”
Jessica covered her mouth to stifle her giggle of happiness.
Brooke glared. “Oh, go ahead and get it out. I know you’re dying to say I told you so. I knew you were going to laugh when you saw this, but I couldn’t take enough selfies from all the angles I needed. You were the only person I could call.”
“Right,” Jessica said, taking the bag off her shoulder. She put it on the rumpled bed and smiled at the wrinkled sheets as she removed the camera from the bag. “So what are you going to do about him? Are you leaving him unscathed?”
Brooke snorted and looked over her shoulder as her mother uncapped the lens. The first picture caught a pensive look on her face as she pondered Drake’s fate. The next caught a wicked smile as she considered the irony of what he’d done.
Covered In Paint: Book Five of the Art Of Love Series Page 17