Quoth’s lips found mine, hungry and hot. His hand thrust between my legs, his fingers plunging inside me, stoking the fire that he’d created. The ache inside me flared into an inferno.
He rolled me onto my side and slid behind me, parting my legs with his knee. When he entered me, colors from the painting bled into the room, soaring across my vision like an aurora. Quoth held me, nails digging into my breast, finger darting over my clit.
Cocooned in his warmth, I’d never felt so protected, so loved, so needed. We fit together so perfectly, our bodies like puzzle pieces that had finally found their mate. Inside me, his cock touched hidden places, building sensation upon sensation until my body could take no more.
We came together in a shower of bright fireworks, our bodies trembling under the stars of our own creation. Bright lights burst across my vision, and I lost myself outside my body, no longer certain where my pleasure stopped and his began.
I sank into his arms, squeezing my eyes shut, relaxing into the hum of release. The colors still danced behind my eyes – Quoth’s painting come to life inside my brain. In the stillness of his attic room, in the safety of his arms, I saw the world as he saw it, and it was beautiful.
“Mina…” Quoth shuddered against me. Overwhelming by the rush of emotion, tears spilled over my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.
I grinned. “That was amazing.”
“It was.” Quoth wiped a finger under my eyes. “You’re crying?”
“Not sad tears.” I touched my hand over his heart. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt closer to you than right now.”
“Good.” He swallowed. “There’s something I want to ask you.”
“Ah.” That explained his behavior tonight. He’d been building up toward this moment. I rolled over so I was facing Quoth. I could only just make out the edges of his face. The colors still darted across my vision. I reached out a hand and stroked his cheek.Even when I’m blind, I’ll still be able to feel his soft skin, his warm lips on mine. I’ll see the lights and colors and pretend I’m inside one of his paintings. Even when I’m blind, this moment will be perfect.
“I think I want…” Quoth gulped. “I’ve been looking at art schools on the internet.”
“You have?”
Quoth’s cheek moved beneath my hand as he nodded. “I don’t even know why. I didn’t think I wanted to go. I just wanted to find out… There’s a college in Barchester that offers a part-time degree. I would only be in classes a few times per week. The rest of it is independent work. They have this big, bright art studio overlooking a park, and a pottery kiln and metalworking spaces and a photography suite, and all the teachers are professional artists and—”
“I think that sounds amazing,” I breathed. My heart just burst for him. Two months ago, Quoth wouldn’t even leave the shop. He was invisible, without even a passport or a real name. He barely said a word and wouldn’t appear downstairs unless it was in his raven form. Now he was talking not just about being in the world more, but about taking a step toward having a career, a life. “Are you ready for that?”
“I think so.” His finger stroked my cheek. “I’ve realized that if I want to have a future with you, I can’t just expect you to hang out in a dusty old attic.”
A future with you.By Isis, his words made me feel so good.
“I like your attic, but I like this idea even more.”
Quoth’s finger paused mid-stroke. “And… I think you should enroll with me.”
My body froze. “Um… why?”
“Because you’d love it.”
My heart pattered against my chest. “You’re right. I would love it. But that doesn’t mean it’s something I should do.”
“I know there’s a chance it will make you feel bad about your eyes, but it could also be amazing. Will you at least consider it? You’re the only other artist I know. I trust your opinion. They’re having an open day next week. Will you come and meet the lecturers with me? Please?”
I sighed, sensing a rat. Quoth’s motives were entirely selfless. He probably didn’t even intend to go to school himself. He was just trying to get me to find excitement in something since I couldn’t do fashion anymore.Well, two can play at this game. I’d make him so excited about art school that he signed up on the spot, and it would be his own bloody fault. “Sure, I’ll go with you.”
“You’re amazing.” He kissed me again. “Thank you, Mina.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I reached over and flicked off the lamp. “You won’t be thanking me when you’re introduced to the reality of student loans. Goodnight, my infuriating bird.”
“Goodnight, my rare and radiant maiden, my muse.”
I settled my head into the crook of his arm and closed my eyes. Weariness and happiness washed over me in equal waves. “Damn you, yours is much better.”
Chapter Seven
My phone alarm blared an angry guitar solo. I reached over to flick it to snooze, but my arm slapped against warm flesh. I opened one sleepy eye and was met by Quoth’s kind face.
