Chapter 7
Madison
The art hanging on the walls was brilliant, and I couldn’t help but stand back and look at the masterpiece I had created using this talented display of creativity. Every picture had been meticulously hung, measured, leveled, and lit to bring the best positive results for the show.
More times than not, I really didn’t like my job, but this was the part that made me proud and excited to come to work. I knew Lee would never be able to put something like this together. I walked back to the front, watching the crowd gathered outside before the doors opened. The artist was going over his notes and looked visibly nervous, exactly how I knew I would be when I finally got a chance to display my work.
“You better not fuck this up,” Lee whispered in my ear from behind. “Especially if you want to keep your job.”
The smell of liquor on his breath and the feeling of his body pressed against my ass made me shiver. I scooted out from between him and the podium and walked away, not giving him any indication that I gave a damn about what he just said. Instantly, I felt disgusting, like I wanted a shower. I needed to get that vision of his sweaty pits rubbing against my shoulder out of my head.
I walked over and stood in front of a large rectangular canvas. Streaks of reds and yellow floated across the board like ribbons. In the center was a large pair of lifelike puckered, red lips, with the artist’s signature painted in black in the corner. Immediately, I felt a tingle in my chest as I thought about Zach and the kiss we shared at my front door just a couple nights before. It was so sensual and lustful, and I hadn’t been able to get it out of my mind. Just thinking about the fact that I would be alone and close with him in twenty-four hours gave me butterflies.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the lock clicking open on the gallery door, drawing my attention to the front of the space. Lee was standing to the side of the door, welcoming the guests in as the artist stationed himself at the front to greet them. It was the normal mixed crowd of both eclectic art lovers and rich people looking for their next piece. Every once in a while, I’d find a scout, out to pick pieces for their employer who was either too far away to come, or too rich to make the effort. We usually focused in on them, since they tended to buy several pieces at once for their designers. I began to move around the room, greeting guests, asking their opinions, and directing them toward the artist. This was the part I didn’t like, but tonight, with Zach still fresh on my mind, I found myself more attentive and bubbly than normal.
As I stood speaking to a buyer about the lip piece, I could feel someone staring at me. I glanced over quickly, and my nerves shot into my throat. Zach was staring over at me with his blue eyes sparkling and his hands in his pants pockets. He looked so suave and debonair, standing amongst the expensive, colorful art work. It almost suited him perfectly, with his attentiveness to fashion and his perfectly coiffed hair. I could picture him perusing art galleries and buying pieces for his office. He spent most of his time there. If he were anything like me, he would have made his office homier than his actual home.
When I was finished talking with the buyer, I walked toward Zach, grabbing a glass of champagne from the waiter walking by, and handed it to him. He leaned forward and kissed me gently on the cheek, sending butterflies through my entire body. I was really surprised to see him, but extremely excited at the same time.
I ignored the feelings bubbling in my chest and turned toward the painting he was looking at. It was about nine feet tall and three feet wide and included a variety of media. There were pasted and altered photos from the artist’s life, comically drawn characters, delicately painted foliage, and in the center, was the same poignant set of lips. It was bold and dramatic, and I imagined it hanging in the lobby of a comic publisher or a playhouse.
“This art is really amazing,” Zach said, sipping his champagne.
“He is one of my favorite artists,” I replied, looking around. “We have at least three shows a year with him.”
I took Zach’s lead and began to walk around the room, stopping at each painting and looking at its meaning and depth. I hadn’t realized Zach was so in tune with art until that moment, and that fact only added to his charm. I walked him over to the artist’s corner to introduce the two.
“Christopher,” I said, nodding my head at the artist. “This is Zachary Case. Zach, this is Christopher Watkins, the artist.”
“I know you,” Chris said in a familiar tone. I watched the two men embrace in a hug, slightly confused. “Zach and I worked on a charity event together last year for the homeless. I volunteered two pieces for the event.”
“It was an awesome time.” Zach chuckled. “How have you been? Your art is truly inspirational.”
“Thank you, man,” Chris said excitedly. “I’ve been good. Busy, as you can see, but good.”
“Well, that’s awesome,” Zach said, slapping him on the shoulder.
“I hate to run,” Chris said, motioning to the buyer waiting for him. “Let’s catch up soon. Grab my card, and hit me up. We’ll grab drinks one night.”
“Will do,” Zach replied, shaking his hand.
As we went to step forward, Lee popped in front of us, staring at me and then over to Zach. I could see Lee’s little beady eyes rolling over Zach’s expensive suit. Zach kept his composure, but I could tell the two were sizing each other up before even speaking a word.
“You must be Lee,” Zach said, breaking the silence and reaching out his hand. “Zachary Case.”
“Nice to meet you,” he replied, pushing his shoulders back. “Are you enjoying the show?”
“Very much so,” Zach said, looking over at me. “I think Madison may have talked me into a couple pieces.”
“That’s good,” he replied with a stern look.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Thompson, but the artist needs you up front to complete a sale,” the hostess interrupted.
I let out a deep breath as Lee gave us a low, closed mouth smile and shuffled up toward the front. The last thing I needed was for him to embarrass me in front of Zach. If I had learned anything the last couple days, I knew Zach would not put up with crap, especially after I had told him all about Lee on our first date.
“I’m going to take a break,” I said, turning to Zach. “Meet me outside, around the corner of the building?”
“I’ll be there,” he said, smiling.
I walked into the back, grabbed my coat, threw it on, and walked out the side door. The fresh air hit me hard, and I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes. The night was going so well, but I was a bit thrown off from all the excitement of Zach showing up.
He was so handsome, and I noticed his possessiveness when Lee confronted him. Zach had placed his hand on my lower back and stepped slightly in front of me. Though normally, behavior like that would be frowned upon in my book, there was something very sexy about Zach wanting to protect me, almost claiming me in the process.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he said, pulling me from my thoughts.
I smiled and walked over to the small bench against the building and sat down. He pulled his hands from his pockets and sat next to me.
“Thank you,” I replied with blushed cheeks.
“I almost didn’t recognize you with your ponytail and hip clothes,” he teased, tossing his fingers through my hair.
“Gotta fit into the art world.” I chuckled.
I could feel his hand reach down and take mine, and electricity shot through my body. Our hips were touching each other, and I spread my legs out in front of me, feeling my thigh run across the side of his knee. The attraction between us was almost painful. It was so full and unclouded. We both took in a deep breath and looked across the alley at the cat jumping through the trash.
“I have a question,” he said, breaking the silence. “What would it take for you to lose your virginity?”
“Well,” I said, slightly thrown off by the question. “It would take someone completely sweeping me off my feet and turning my world upside down, I suppose.”
“I could do that,” he said with a sure tone that was sexy and longing. I swallowed hard and laughed.
“I’d love to see you try,” I scoffed. In reality, however, all I could see at that moment was me against the brick wall of the adjacent building, my legs wrapped around his waist, and his cock deep inside of me. I could almost hear my moans of passion echoing through the alleyway. I shifted slightly in my seat, feeling the wetness between my legs.
Zach stood up and reached his hands down to me. I looked up into his gorgeous blue eyes as I allowed him to pull me up and into him. For a moment, our faces were only inches apart, and I breathed heavily, no longer being able to feel my legs. He leaned in and brushed his lips across my ear.
“I think I might be up for that challenge,” he whispered.
He pulled his mouth around and pressed it hard against mine, this time running his hands down my side. I leaned into him, pressing my stomach against his crotch and feeling his cock starting to harden. One wrong move and I might just let him take me right here in the city.
He reached up and put his hand against my face, sliding his lips across my lips until I gave in and opened up, letting him explore my mouth. He pulled my face in harder, and heatedly, we made out in the alley way beside the gallery. I reached up and grabbed the band of his pants, hooking my fingers inside. He pressed his crotch harder against me, and it took everything I had to not reach down and rub my hand over his erection.
As he began to pull away, I moaned in lust and disappointment, not wanting the kiss to end. He smirked as he sucked lightly on my lip and then kissed me hard on the cheek. He took my hands in his and bowed heroically, making me giggle. This guy was absolutely breathtaking, and I could already feel myself losing control.
“I’ll let you get back to work,” he said, clearing his throat. “I cannot wait until tomorrow.”
As he walked away, he flashed a smile and winked, making me wet in my panties and weak in the knees. He swayed through the alley, pulling his coat closed and sticking his hands in his pockets. I watched as he turned the corner and disappeared into the sounds and lights of the city. If that kiss was any indication of what tomorrow night was going to be like, I knew I was in some serious trouble. How was I supposed to fight off temptation of that magnitude? I shook my head and turned back toward the door, still tasting him on my lips.
What little resolve I was clinging to was fading very, very fast.