Page 79
Chapter 22
“I liked where we originally had it.” Rane shrugged his shoulders as he took the weight of the double bed he held.
“We should have it against this wall.” Nell tried to turn the bedframe and came to an abrupt halt as Rane dropped his side. She frowned and lowered the bed to the ground.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ve tried that position. Why does it matter where the bed goes, so long as we have one?”
“Because this is our new home. We need to make it perfect.”
“You being here makes it perfect.” He hopped over the bed and wrapped his arms around Nell.
It had been three weeks since he’d woken in that medical room and found Nell waiting for him. He couldn’t have imagined a more perfect reception.
“If we try it against that other wall, it will look better.” Nell snuggled against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
As soon as he’d gotten out of the medical room and off Starland, they’d started making plans together. There was no need to wait. She loved him, and he adored her. Rane didn’t want to miss a single moment with Nell.
He’d suggested they move in together two days after getting out of the hospital, and she’d agreed. Today was their official move in day on Prodigy, and so far, everything had been a chaotic, delightful mess.
Rane breathed in the almond scent of Nell’s shampoo. Not so long ago, she would have flinched away if his hand touched hers. Now, she took every opportunity to stroke him and be close to him. He loved it.
He stroked a hand down Nell’s back. “There are only so many walls in this bedroom. Pick one and stick to it.”
“We need more room. Some of your paintings will have to go from in here,” Nell said. “There are way too many of me. I’ll get a big ego if you keep drawing me and making me look so stunning.”
“None of them are going. I’m never going to stop drawing you. And you are stunning.”
She stared up at him. “Can’t you paint something else? You used to like doing beach scenes from Earth. Go back to those.”
“I don’t find them stimulating. There’s only one thing I find stimulating these days.” He brushed his lips against hers.
Nell’s smile turned sly. “Well, if you insist. I was thinking there’s one style of drawing that you haven’t done of me.”
Rane looked at all the sketches of Nell in the bedroom. He had pictures of her dancing, sitting on the couch and reading, even sleeping. “What have I missed?”
“Me with no clothes on.” She grinned as she stepped away and tugged down her jumpsuit zipper, her eyes not leaving his. “What do you reckon?”
He nodded eagerly. “An opportunity not to be missed.”
“Grab your sketch pad.” Nell laughed as he raced from the room and returned with charcoal and paper. “Computer, play my dance compilation.”
Rane’s hand paused over the pad. “Please say it’s not eighties music.”
Nell laughed again as her hand slid her zipper to her belly button. “This is much better.”
The rhythmic drumbeat of Egyptian dance music began. She twisted her hips in time with the beat and nodded at Rane. “Get sketching.”
Rane dropped onto the bed, his cock hard as he watched Nell’s slow, rhythmic dance as she moved around the room, inching her jumpsuit down one step at a time. She was so beautiful. He could watch her dance for hours.
“I don’t see any drawing.” Nell threw her head back.
Rane sketched a few lines as desire rumbled through him. Her beauty was so hard to capture on the page. That was why he had so many drawings of her. Every line he created never did her justice. But he’d keep trying. He’d draw her until he got it right.
He looked down to see he’d already completed one drawing. He’d barely been aware of what he was doing as his eyes skimmed over the lush amount of flesh Nell showed him.
She chuckled. “I wonder if you’re more turned on by your art than by me.”
Rane tossed aside his sketch pad and made a grab for Nell, but she stepped out of his reach.
