Unforgettable Heroes Boxed Set

by James, Maddie

  They talked about his art and her textiles. About the dreams they had for their respective passions. About her envying his freedom as she’d lived with a strict family that hadn’t allowed her to have a life of her own. Weather, politics, and religion were discussed, as were travel, global warming, and the possibility of one day living on another planet.

  He’d never met a woman so willing to expose her innermost thoughts without fear of judgment or persecution. She didn’t hide behind batting eyelashes or vague answers, which was something he'd grown used to since he’d started dating at the age of sixteen. She was open to his probing, and she didn’t mind probing either.

  It was so nice to be treated like a man a woman was interested in for reasons other than his being a conduit to the who’s who of popular culture, or the son of a multi-billionaire, or a god to some art groupie. The conversation between them flowed as if they’d known each all their lives, but had that spark and sizzle of a new relationship in the making.

  Phillip was careful to steer clear of any talk of family. That would lead down a path he didn’t want to go. If things between them progressed beyond his art and her need to flex freedom muscles he’d have eventually tell her just who he was. But until then he wanted to savor being treated like a regular guy. Fortunately, it seemed she was just as happy to leave other people out of their relationship, too.

  “If I eat another bite, you’ll need a forklift to carry me out of here.”

  Phillip settled back in his seat and sipped at his freshly filled coffee cup. “You barely ate anything.”

  Rose laughed, her eyes twinkling. “Actually, I ate a lot for me. I rarely have time for meals. I usually work the night away on my current assignment, or am preparing for the next one, or I’m making an outfit for myself. I couldn’t tell you the last time I actually bought clothes from a store. I just window-shop and recreate my version of what I see that I like. It saves money and gives me an opportunity to fine-tune my sewing. It’s my least favorite part of designing. And a sandwich or bowl of cereal takes care of my need for nourishment most of the time. This,” she said, indicating the table between them, “is pretty much the most elaborate meal I have ever had.”

  Phillip felt his heart trip in his chest. Other than his being fed, and fed well, with regularity, by the man who oversaw the cleaning of his penthouse, and the care of his personal needs, he felt he and Rose were alike in many ways. He too had foregone food, sleep, and a social life when he was deep into a piece of art. The ability to push the world away and focus on the art was something he completely understood, and Rose was the first woman he’d ever encountered who understood that too.

  He looked over the soft folds of the short black sleeveless dress. “That explains why you always look like you just stepped off a runway. Everything fits to perfection.”

  The pink tinge in her cheeks was endearing. He couldn’t think of the last time he’d seen, much less made, a woman blush. He needed to get her on canvas soon. Yes, they needed to get started but he was enjoying getting to know her so much and could just sit and look at her all evening for the pleasure of the view with, or without, a paint brush in his hand.

  “Are you ready to get started?”

  Surprise flashed in the blink of her eyes as if she’d forgotten why they were together. She smiled suddenly, and those dimples peaked at him. “I guess I am.”

  Phillip stood, rounded the table, and pulled her chair back as she stood. “Let’s do this, then.”

  ****

  Aurora bit her bottom lip as she slid the dress from her body, leaving only a thin silk lace trimmed cranberry teddy and matching lace-ruffled bikini panties. Though simple, the design was her own, one that emphasized her curves, elevated her already high breasts, and showed to advantage her long, long legs. The effect was one she was privately thrilled about, as she was in great shape, if she did say so herself. But she had never stood before a man so scantily dressed and the butterflies were circling in her stomach. Even though, if she was completely honest, she had worn the lingerie with seducing Phillip in mind.

  Shaking off the jitters, she stepped from the elaborately decorated marble and gold bathroom suite and crossed to the door leading to Phillip’s studio. Excitement tangled with nerves so she did what she always did when she felt uncertain. She lifted her head, held her shoulders back, and put one foot in front of the other.

  She stopped at the open doorway and took a moment to study him from behind without his knowledge as he unpacked and aligned his art supplies with meticulous precision. It was like watching a General setting up toy soldiers on a table-map so he could strategize how to win a war. Phillip softly sang a popular tune as he worked, revealing a deeply smooth voice, then halting before tilting his head slightly to study his handiwork.

  Feeling slightly voyeuristic, Aurora studied his form, from the slightly long soft chestnut curls that barely passed his shirt’s collar to the half-inch heels on his rattlesnake boots. Phillip’s shoulders looked sturdy and strong, broad but not bulky. They were the anchor for well-defined arms and a torso that continuously narrowed until it came to designer jeans encasing slender hips, tight round butt cheeks, and long, lean legs. The man was as much a work of art from behind as he was from the front. She smiled to herself just as he slid a glance back.

  Phillip turned from the long table where he’d been aligning his art supplies and froze. Aurora couldn’t help the moment of absolute satisfaction as she studied his face. His dark eyes, the only part of his body that moved, slowly scanned her from head to toes and back up again. His nostrils flared, his lips parted making the line of his jaw dropped slightly… In surprise? Appreciation? She delighted in the flash of fire burning from his gaze.

  “Hi.”

  The grin started as soon as his lips came together. “Hi, yourself.”

  “I’m ready. Where do you want me?”

  Aurora nearly laughed at the response in his gaze, though he refrained from making a verbal response. He pointed to a corner of the room she only now realized he’d pre-prepared for her. A large, cream color satin sheet ran down from the ceiling where it was draped over a half-wall and lower, a chase lounge, its folds reflecting bright light and deep shadow from the strategically placed photographer’s lamps. With a small fan blowing in the direction of the stage, the sheet had the look of colorless water in motion. She turned to Phillip. “What do I do?”

  He moved then, approaching her slowly, stopping inches before her. She looked up into his eyes, wondering why she felt this incredible need to take his lips with hers. He didn’t say a word, but moved forward, fulfilling her fantasy for her. His lips were questioning, soft.

  Phillip pulled back slightly. “You aren’t protesting.”

  Aurora lifted her hand to his cheek. He had just enough of a five o’clock shadow to make him even sexier. “No.”

  He chuckled. “Was that your protest, or are you saying you aren’t protesting?”

  Aurora moved forward to take his lips, something she'd never done in her twenty years. Fleeting thought that she might disappoint him with her inexperience was immediately replaced with nothing but the sensations that rippled over her body as he deepened the kiss. She felt herself melting as he folded her into his arms. She embraced the moment, amazed that there was nothing frightening about the experience, when every past possibility of a sexual relationship had scared her silly. She pulled back and looked into his eyes. He stood there silently, allowing her time to study him.

  “I don’t usually do this.”

  Phillip took her hands in his. “Kiss the man about to paint you?”

  Aurora smiled. “Mmm, hmm.”

  Surprise lit his eyes. “Usually?”

  Aurora giggled. “Okay. Never.”

  Phillip leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m glad you’re here.” He took a step back and looked her over from blond head to raspberry colored toenails. “But why? Why me? Why a nude?”

  Aurora bit her bottom lip and shrugged. �
�Like I told you before, I’ve lived a very restricted life. I’m almost twenty-one years old and I feel like I’ve never lived. I’ve never done anything daring.” She sighed. “I’m about as interesting as cardboard.”

  Phillip shook his head. “I don’t believe that for a minute. First of all, you are, without exception, the most exquisitely beautiful woman I have ever seen. Your features are a symmetrical work of art. Your figure, especially now that I can really see it, is as perfect a structure as was ever built. Your eyes sparkle, your skin glows, your lips, oh my God, your lips would make any man hungry… What can I say? You take my breath away.”

  Overwhelmed by his assessment, it took a moment before she realized that all he saw was her exterior. But of course that would be important to him as an artist. She had so hoped he’d see her as more than an object de art. “That’s just looks, Phillip, though I thank you. You need to know that I’m more than just looks.”

  Phillip nodded. “Exactly. You are you. You say what you think. You keep appraised of current events and talk intelligently and without apology about many subjects. You are so artistic.” At her lifted brown, he nodded. “Oh yes. I’ve seen your work. Professor Batson is a good friend and he couldn’t wait to show me your portfolio. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Aurora didn’t know what to say, or know if she minded. She was bowled over by his high praise. Other than her teachers, no one had ever treated her as such a valued individual. Sure, the aunts loved her and had spent her life making sure she had everything she needed to succeed in school and now in college, but she’d learned years before that they depended on her as much as she depended on them. She stepped forward, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake.

  “I want you to paint me, Phillip. I want you to make me as desirable on canvas as you have told me I am. I want you to make me into the woman you see, not the woman I know myself to be.”

  He took her hands again and pulled her closer. “I am going to paint you just as you are. Believe me, it will be more than enough.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Are you comfortable?”

  “Very, thank you.”

  “Good.” Phillip had already done three preliminary sketches of her face at different angles, enjoying the play of lights on her luminous skin, captivated by the gentleness in her eyes. He was forcing himself to concentrate his efforts above her neck even though he knew he could paint that face in his sleep. To look lower was a distraction he didn’t want to pursue. For all Rose’s bravado about getting naked, she was an innocent to the bone. And she was trusting him with that innocence. He hadn’t asked her to remove the feminine underwear as a show of respect, but it wasn’t making any difference. If he was any hornier for her, he’d pop.

  “If you don’t mind, I should probably go soon.”

  Phillip lowered his charcoal pencil and glanced at the large clock over the door. He hadn’t realized the day had turned to night or that three hours had passed since they’d started. “I’m sorry. You should have said something. I didn’t realize the time.”

  Rose sat up from the lounging position he’d placed her in all those hours before. She stretched, pulling the camisole tight across her globelike breasts, and stretching those smooth long legs out before her. She stood then and wiggled as if releasing the stiffness from all the muscles in between. She looked at him then, her face relaxing into a smile. “How did it go?”

  “Great. You are doing great.”

  Phillip sighed against the tension building, tightening an invisible band around his chest. Why did he feel like a complete idiot around her? He’d had hundreds of incredibly beautiful women throwing themselves at him since puberty. So why did she stop his thought processes in their tracks? Why did she make him want to protect her from his desire to ravage her? Why her? After all the years of never considering taking a woman into his life for more than pleasure or art, she brought out feelings and needs he’d never experienced with anyone.

  It was scary. It was invigorating. And the last thing he wanted was to watch her walk out of his door, even if the separation was only temporary. But he knew he had to. “Get dressed and I’ll walk you down to the garage.”

  Rose walked towards him, uncertainty in her beautiful sapphire eyes. “Tomorrow?”

  Phillip relaxed just knowing she was looking forward to coming back. “Tomorrow is great for me.”

  She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “I noticed you have a really nice kitchen that looks like no one has ever cooked in it. Do you think the owners would mind if I cooked you dinner?”

  Surprise and pleasure filled him, as well as a little pang that he was lying about not owning the penthouse suite. He ignored the guilt and focused on the pleasure. He knew he couldn’t count the number of women he’d taken out to dinner in the past, but he could certainly count the number who had offered to cook him a meal. Not counting his mother, it was a big fat zero.

  “The entire place is mine to use. Dinner sounds great. Do you want me to pick up supplies?”

  “No. I want to surprise you. What time do you want me here?”

  “You could just stay,” he said, comically wiggling his eyebrows.

  Rose laughed. “Unfortunately, I can’t. I’m sure I’m already due for a lecture from the aunts about staying out so late and worrying them to death.”

  “Do you need to call and let them know you’re okay?”

  Shaking her head, Rose moved to look at the sketch pad he still held in his hands. She glanced from his last sketch to him, delight sparkling from her eyes. “That is… Wow! You are incredible. And no. The aunts are just going to have to learn to loosen the strings a little. This is the right time to make some changes in my life.”

  She sent him a cheeky grin before giving him a great view of her ass as she left the room.

  Phillip glanced down to the sketch. The woman was a work of art and he was just reflecting her beauty on paper. He placed the pad and the charcoal on the table then blinked when a light sharply hit his eyes. He walked to the long row of ceiling to floor windows to peer at the Trump building across the way. With window after window reflecting the evening light, he couldn’t see anything but his own building’s reflection. He glanced up at the top of the Trump building, then blinked. He wasn’t certain, but he thought he saw something move. Frowning, he started to step onto the long balcony.

  “Hey.”

  Phillip turned back and couldn’t help but smile. Rose had dressed, but it didn’t make her any less sexy. He walked towards her and held out his hands. She moved to him and took his. Her eyes crinkled at the corners with her smile. “Are you sure you have to go home?”

  Rose nodded. “Afraid so.”

  He pulled her towards him as he lowered his lips to hers. When she responded to his kiss with hesitant ardor, he set a slow but steady pace of invasion until their tongues mingled and mated. He pulled back to stare into her eyes. They were clear, expectant. “I want to make love to you.”

  Tilting her head, she released his hands to capture his face between them. “I want to make love to you, too. But I’m not ready yet.”

  Phillip nodded his understanding. “Okay. Just let me know when you are.”

  Rose kissed him softly then released him. “I really have to go now.”

  Together they left the penthouse and rode down the smooth elevator. Phillip took the opportunity to hold her close, embracing her scent as much as her form. When they reached the ground level the doors swooshed open with a ding. Bart walked toward the lift but stopped when he that saw Phillip was with her. He tilted his head in acknowledgement and then turned to return to his booth.

  “He is such a nice man. The first day I arrived here looking, I’m sure, like I had made a wrong turn and accidentally ended up in this richly appointed garage, he treated me like I belonged here.”

  Phillip smiled, pleased. He’d have to give the man a big raise. “I’m glad to here it. Though he could have been just bowled over by your beauty.”

 
Rose laughed, sending him a twinkling glance. “Keep talking like that and you are going to give me a big head.” Her smile faltered. “You make me feel so special, Phillip.” She bit her bottom lip then released it. “I really like you and I have the greatest respect for your art.”

  “I hear a but in there.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t have much experience with men. I haven’t had time or opportunity to date much. Please don’t play me. I’m totally thrilled someone with your skill would want to paint me. And I’ve never wanted to make love with anyone like I want to with you. But if it’s just art and sex to you, that’s okay. I’m sure women throw themselves at your gorgeous feet all the time. All I’m asking is that you just be honest with me about it.”

  Phillip didn’t know what to say. Women had thrown themselves at him all these years but he knew it had as much to do with his wealth as with who he was as a person. And he hadn’t wanted a woman with the same intensity as he wanted Rose. It wasn’t just her face or her body, though both were incredible. But she was smart and funny and so damned desirable because of her cumulative charms that he honestly couldn’t decide what he liked best about her.

  He pulled her into his arms, his eyes intent. “I really, really like you. In fact, I am In Like with you. You make me smile. You stimulate my mind as well as my body. If you never wanted me to lay a hand on you, I would still want to be with you. Don’t underestimate yourself, Rose. You make me want to be a better person just for having met you.”

  He smiled, realizing he was coming on too strong, and probably being too honest, but he didn’t care. For the first time in his life he’d met someone he could project wanting in his life in the future. “When you’re ready, Rose, let me know, and I will be happy to fulfill your every sexual fantasy. And if you decide you don’t want that from me, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed, deeply disappointed, but I still would want you in my life.