No sooner had she thought that, but then Antoine was moving from behind the picture. It was the first time that he had done so, and he walked toward her. Her heart started beating even faster than it had been going and she had no idea what he was doing. When he grabbed the pillow and pulled it away, looking down for several moments before he moved back, she could feel her face getting beet-red. Never had she been so embarrassed before. Cassandra wanted to cover up, but he warned her against it, even before she thought to move.
“Just like that, Cassandra. You wanted to be my subject, now do it properly.”
Cassandra had never been so exposed before. She was shaking badly, and she couldn't hide how his words were messing with her. Cassandra tried to keep the pose. She knew that she had to keep the pose, because she had been told to. She wanted to close her legs and cover up her hardened tits, but she did no such thing. Instead, she did exactly as he told her. Cassandra didn't move an inch.
Cassandra spent her time watching Antoine. He wouldn't take his eyes off of her for several moments and as it turned her on further, Cassandra worried that he would say that she was wetter. She was getting wetter by the moment, all the attention on her exposed flesh made it that much worse. Cassandra didn't know how much longer she was going to be able to stay there. She was just about to ask him how much longer he was going to be when he told her that it was done.
“Can I see it?”
Cassandra didn't really think through the request. She didn't think about the fact that she was going to have to walk toward him and that she was going to be completely naked. She didn't have anything close by to cover herself up with and since he had taken away her pillow, it seemed unsanctioned. Once again, she didn't want to make him upset.
She got up slowly and did her best not to reveal how nervous she felt. Cassandra tried to ignore the fact that he was so close. She didn't want him to know what was going through her mind. It would have made everything more difficult.
When she finally looked at it, she saw it was remarkably detailed. Cassandra couldn't believe what it looked like. She was enthralled with it and couldn't take her eyes off of it.
“Is that my copy?”
“Hell no. There's no way I'm giving that up.”
Cassandra asked the next question before she really thought about it. She was doing far too much reacting and not enough thinking things through. It was understandable, considering that she found it difficult to think when he was around.
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I am going to put it up on my wall, of course. Where else would a piece of art like that go?”
Cassandra couldn't hold his gaze. She was properly chastened for thinking that any part of her plan would work. She couldn’t even ask questions without being made to turn red and embarrass herself. What had seemed like an innocent question did not seem so innocent now. Why was it, then and only then, that she realized she was so close to him? All he had to do was reach out and touch her.
Instead of making a move toward her, though, he took the canvas and walked off quickly. He told her to get some clothes on because they were going to have a meal soon.
Cassandra was left alone in the room, trying to figure out what had just happened. She had wanted it to turn out so differently, but obviously that was not meant to be. Her whole body was still on fire, every nerve ending calling out. Cassandra had to go to her room and pull herself together. How could he just walk away from that?
***
The next morning, she was wearing some of her newly-made clothes and she’d purposely put the hem up just a little bit more. He had been the one that said that was what he expected her to do. She noted the look in his eyes, but Cassandra still didn’t get the break in control and protocol that she was looking for. He wanted her, it was obvious, so why couldn’t she have him? Why did he deny them both what they needed?
“I see you were up sewing again last night.”
“Do you like it? I couldn’t sleep and needed something to do with my hands.”
“I do like it, but it isn’t something to wear outside. Just for in here.”
“Just for you?”
Antoine growled under his breath and Cassandra smiled to herself. Whether he made a move or not, it didn’t change how badly he wanted it. She could see it clearly in his expression.
“I don’t think you realize what you’re doing here, Cassandra.”
She shrugged. “I am pretty sure I do. You’re not cooperating, though.”
Cassandra smiled, trying to give him the come-hither look that she’d been rocking for a while now. She needed him, was practically throwing herself at him, and he just swiped her away.
Her confidence was dashed, and Cassandra didn’t try to tempt him any longer. She just ignored the feelings that were dying to come out. She ignored the throbbing that was caused with thoughts of him. Cassandra also tried desperately to ignore the increasingly frequent dreams she was having about dragons and mystery men. She was starting to figure that it was Antoine. He was taking over her mind. But for some reason, he wouldn’t take her body.
Cassandra had done everything she could think to do. She’d gotten literally naked and displayed herself for him, begging him silently to give her what they both needed. It hadn’t worked. She had to seriously consider the fact that she had seen it wrong and Antoine didn’t want her at all.
What else could it be?
Chapter 10
