Page 107 of Bad Influence
I put the empty stick on the table beside me to throw away later.
“You distracted me.” I kiss the spot under her ear which has her melting into me. Over the last week, I’ve memorized Caroline’s body like the back of my hand. I know what makes her moan, what makes her come quickly, I know what to say and do to prolong her pleasure.
“I needed your opinion,” she defends.
“Caroline, you should know by now that you can distract me any time,” I say.
Placing her hands on my chest, she pushes away from me. “No more distraction. I’m going to make us both a cool drink and we’re going to sit here and work.”
She turns around and leaves just as quickly as she came. With a small smile, I turn back to my painting. I’m finally feeling inspired enough to paint. I haven’t shared with my agent that what I’m painting isn’t anything like my usual. I utilized a lot of black, white, and grey in my paintings. They told the darker side of humanity, the secrets people keep hidden, the lies they tell, the monster lying just beneath the skin they keep on a tight leash.
This new set of paintings is more grounded, open,colorful.My opinion on people hasn’t changed. I still think most people are liars and manipulators, and I definitely don’t want to be around them. But there are reasons to believe in something else.
“Here we go.” Caroline walks back into the studio carrying a tray with two glasses of some lemonade and fennel seed drink she’s made and a bowl of salted nuts.
“I made a whole jar so if you like it. Do you think we should offer some to Lilith and Eve?” Setting my glass on the table, she takes a seat on the chaise and sets the tray beside her.
“They’re up in the Catskills,” I say.
“Oh, right, I forgot. Lucky them. They’re missing the rain and humidity.”
I take a sip of my drink, watching her carefully as she works on her laptop. She’s found her footing at work and she’s having fun. That’s not the reason I’m watching her. Does she realize what date it is?
The rain today is a little ironic.
Caroline presses the cool glass against her heated skin and I watch as a bead of moisture travels down her neck and between her breasts.
“It’s so hot I feel like I need an ice bath,” she says.
“Let me get you a bowl of ice,” I say, putting my paintbrush and palette down and getting up from the stool.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Caroline protests.
“I want you to be comfortable, butterfly,” I tell her.
I don’t mind the heat or humidity too much so I don’t have a fan. I should have asked the super for one, but maybe I can use the situation to my advantage.
In the kitchen, I find a bowl and fill it with ice which I take back to Caroline. She’s standing by the window now, her back to me as she watches the rain, and turns when she hears me come in.
“I miss the sun more than the air conditioning,” she says with a pout.
Walking back to me, she picks up an ice cube and puts it in her mouth, moaning at the icy coldness.
“Do you want to try?” There’s a mischievous glint in her eyes when she looks up at me.
Instead of eating the ice cube, I slide it down her neck. Caroline gasps as I bend down and lick away the trail of water.
“Killian!” My name is a gasp and a moan on her lips.
“What’s wrong?” I ask with a smirk. “I’m just trying to keep you cool.”
“I don’t think it’s working.”
“Maybe I need more ice,” I say, repeating my actions on the other side of her neck.
I walk her back until her legs hit the chaise and she sits down, tilting her head back to look up at me. With a teasing smirk, she grabs an ice cube and rubs it along the waist band of my shorts. My stomach convulses at the cold ice against my skin. With a teasing look in her eyes, Caroline leans forward and licks the moisture away. The sight of her tongue on my body is enough to get me painfully hard.
“That’s cheating,” I say, my voice rough. All the blood in my brain has travelled south fast.
