She opened the door and turned on the light. Jace walked in, scanning the room. He had knocked on the door while she was working, so everything was still a mess. Photos and sketches littered one desk, while another held watercolors in various stages, drying. Still another was reserved for larger acrylic paintings. The desk in front of the window was for polishing up a finished project. It had the best natural light, so she used it for getting a good look at a piece. Or for rethinking her career.
“Nice,” he said. “Looks like you’ve got a lot going on.”
“I contract for two different greeting card companies, and each of those projects are at different stages. I split them by desk to keep them straight.”
He grinned. “I saw you through the window when I pulled up.”
“I was hoping for a little more inspiration today,” she said, “This hasn’t been my most upbeat year.”
“Mmm,” he murmured, then laughed. “You mean no one wants a ‘fuck you very much for the divorce fallout’ card?”
Selena gave a dry laugh. “You should have seen my Valentine’s Day portfolio this year. It was awful.”
He nodded slowly. “What’s the solution?”
“Put on my cheerful pants.” She gave him an exaggerated, toothy grin, and he chuckled.
“Hmm…is that working?”
She shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Can I see some of the results?”
Selena bit her lip. If this was the first night, she probably would have said no. But this was Jace. He wouldn’t care if next season’s Christmas cards were a little… inappropriate.
She walked over to her desk, and he followed her close behind, resting a hand on her hip. She turned around to face him, her body blocking his view. His fingers stroked her waist, under her t-shirt. His smile was slow and easy, and his gaze wandered down to her lips. He was waiting for her, as if there was nothing in the world he’d rather do.
“I’m experimenting with new markets this next year, and it might mean printing the cards myself. My first sketches were too gloomy, so I went for, um,” She paused, searching for the right word. “Raunchy. Just so you know.”
Jace’s smile grew. “Now I’m even more curious.”
She opened a drawer in her filing cabinets and pulled out a folder, setting it on the desk next to her. Jace’s gaze lingered on her for an extra beat, and then he opened it, flipping through the preliminary prints of the cards. He let out a snort of laughter.
“Wishing you a well-hung Christmas?” he read, holding up one of the cards.
She had painted a close-up of a suggestive-looking ornament on a tree, right on the border of inappropriate. Without the words, the subject matter might not be obvious, but with them… well, it was clear.
“Is that what’s inspiring you this winter? A well-hung Christmas?” His voice grew deeper, as his laughter faded. His eyes were bright and warm. She wasn’t sure what was happening between them, but she was willing to go along with it as long as she’d be lying naked with him soon.
She tilted her head. “You offering?”
He smiled. “I guess I am.”
Chapter Twelve
It’s just sex. It’s just sex.
Maybe if she chanted that sentence enough times, the message would sink in. Because now that Selena had let the idea in her head, she couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to be with Jace again. Really be with him.
Hot? Almost definitely.
But intimate, too. His body brushing against hers, his deep voice, his hand on her hip, stroking gently—each sensual detail was a trigger, leading her back to the way it had been all those years ago. There were times when she felt so raw, so bare. Could they have some sexy fun together, or would it leave them both vulnerable? She was about to find out.
He was so close now, his familiar scent surrounding her and his eyes, hungry.
Take it slowly. Nothing serious.
So Selena crossed her arms and lied. “Well-hung? I don’t really remember…”
