My cheeks heat. I wait until my tongue feels less heavy in my mouth before replying. “That would be very meta. A drawing of the artist sketching the subject.”
“I could take a photo of you, and then you could draw yourself.”
“That would be even more meta and also kind of weird. I don’t draw myself.”
“Ever?”
I shake my head.
“That’s a shame.”
“Why?”
“I was going to commission a Quinn Jenkins original of the two of us. It’ll be worth millions one day.”
I snort. “Hardly. I’m an illustrator, not the next Michelangelo. Anyway, you don’t need to commission anything. Whatever you want me to draw, just ask.”
“You and me.”
I stare at him for a few moments. I can break my rule of not drawing myself for him. “Okay.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Just no promises on when I’ll draw us, okay?”
“That’s fine. I know you’ll draw us when you’re ready.”
I return my attention to the sketch and put the finishing touches on it—a bit more shading and then erasing all my original guidelines. When I’m done, I put my tools down and stare at the drawing for a good two minutes to make sure I’m completely happy with it.
“Done.”
“Can I see now?”
I nod. Stefan gets out of bed and comes to me. My heart goes crazy as I hand him the sketchpad.
“Fuck.”
“What?” Is that bad?
“I, oh, fucking hell, Quinn.” He wraps his arm around me and kisses my hair.
“You hate it, don’t you?”
“Hate it? How could I hate it? I love it. I thought the last drawing you did of me was stunning, but this… this… You make me feel beautiful.”
“I already told you youarebeautiful. Do you want me to add some bats and cobwebs to make it gothically valid?”
Stefan laughs. “Don’t you dare.”
“I am going to draw you as a vampire one day.”
He tilts my face up and kisses me softly. “I look forward to it.”
I grin and then laugh as my stomach grumbles, completely ruining the moment. I lean against Stefan until I can move and speak.
“What time is it?”
“I’m not sure. It must be around lunchtime by now.”
