Jay’s eyes blinked open, awareness entering his gaze as he noticed me sitting curled up on his desk chair, covered in an oversized hoodie that belonged to him. “How long were you asleep?” His voice was low and husky, making me shiver. Would I ever get enough of this man?
“About an hour. I couldn’t sleep after that, so I showered and then…” I tapped my sketchpad.
“Can I see?”
When I nodded, he rolled out of bed, prowling over to his desk completely naked. I greedily drank him in. He was so fucking gorgeous. The way his muscles were flexing, his raven hair falling over his forehead, all mussed up from having my hands buried in it, his jaw, dusted with stubble that had been abrading my thighs earlier, his beautiful face, his cock that had drawn so much pleasure out of me?—
He smirked at whatever expression I was making, looking far too pleased with himself. “See something you like?”
I licked my lips. “Very much. How are you even real?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Reaching me, he slanted his mouth over mine in a kiss that was over far too quickly. At my noise of protest, he shook his head, stepping back with a grin. “Good things come to those who wait. I want to see what you’ve been drawing.”
“Jaaaay…”
“Novaaaa. Sketch, then sex.” My stomach chose that moment to rumble, and he chuckled. “Sketch, then sustenance,thensex.”
“Fine.” I pouted. “But you’d better cover up so you don’t distract me with all that.”
Shooting me another grin, he sauntered over to his drawers and tugged on a pair of low-slung grey joggers. His brows rose as I stared at him, amusement dancing in his eyes. “What? I did what you asked.”
“You’re still too distracting.”
“Hmm. You know who else is distracting? A fucking beautiful, sexy blonde, wearing my clothes andeye fucking me from across the room.”
“Jayesh.”
“Shit. You used my full name. Am I in trouble?”
“Maybe.” I bit back my smile. I loved this free and teasing side of him. Actually, I loved every side of him. Any barriers that had been there because of our previous situation had been completely removed, and I was left with the inevitable—falling deeper in love with him every day.
He came back over to stand in front of me. In one swift movement, he pulled his desk chair back and swept me into his arms. Lowering himself down with me on his lap and his arm securely around my waist, he placed his hand on my sketchpad. “Show me.”
“Okay.” When he lifted his hand, I leaned back against him. “You can look.”
Hooking his chin over my shoulder, he carefully opened the sketchpad. There was a sharp intake of breath in my ear, and another as he turned the next page, and the next. “These are all of me.”
My breath caught in my throat at his reverent tone, threaded with disbelief. Surely he realised just how important he was to me? “Yes. You’re my favourite subject.”
“Am I your muse?”
“Hmm. Maybe,” I teased.
“You’re so talented. Look at this. The way you’ve drawn those lines.” His finger hovered over the page depicting him reclining on the blankets in the barrow, a night I’d never forget. In that particular drawing, I’d chosen to sketch a close-up—the line of his jaw, his heavy-lidded gaze, his hair brushing against his arm as he pillowed his head on his bicep.
I couldn’t hold back my smile. “You really like it?”
“More than like it.” He brushed my hair aside, trailing kisses down the side of my throat. “You’re incredible.”
“That night was incredible.”
“Maybe we should have a repeat.”
I shook my head. “Not a repeat. It was perfect as it was, but now I’m ready to move on from there.” When he angled his head to look at me, his brows pulling together, I attempted to gather my thoughts and explain the way I was feeling. “The barrow was somewhere I needed. It served a purpose. It was my sanctuary, the only place I really felt in control of my own life. But now… I don’t need it. It played its part, but I don’t need to run away anymore. Not now I have you.”
He was quiet for a while, digesting my words, but then he nodded. “I get it. You know…this room is yours just as much as it’s mine. And once we graduate, we’ll find somewhere we love together.”
My stomach swooped, and a wide smile spread across my face. “You’re thinking of the future? We still have another year of uni left after this.”
