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After I drank the tea, she said, “Are you in the mood for a movie or a documentary?”

“Whatever you want.”

An hour later, we snuggled on the couch watchingSerendipity, one of her favorite movies.

“Do you believe in fate?” she asked.

“I do.”

“Me too. Certain things can’t be explained. Like how I chose your art as the winning piece all those years ago. And how you bought my first painting butdidn’t know me until later.”

“The universe is the perfect orchestrator.”

She pinched my cheeks. “God is the most extraordinary artist.” She got up from the couch. “I’m craving a snack. Do you want anything?”

“No, thanks.” I was going to ask why she wanted a snack when the table was filled with so much food.

Had she made something else for me?

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

VANESSA

I leftthe living room but didn’t go into the kitchen. Instead, I walked into my studio and prepared for the surprise. Attikus had wanted me to paint him in the nude. I’d make his dream come true today.

I stripped out of my clothes and slipped on a silk robe that stopped at my knees, tying the fabric belt at the front. The neckline was open enough for Attikus to see parts of my breasts.

I placed a fresh canvas on my easel, preparing to paint my hot boyfriend. Things could get messy, so I covered the wooden floor with a thick canvas fabric. I selected a soft instrumental song on my phone. Then I picked up a metal container holding my paintbrushes and dropped them onto the floor, creating a loud noise.

“Ouch!” I cried.

I smiled as I heard footsteps rushing to my studio and stepped to the side.

“Vanessa? Are you all right? What happened?” Attikus rushed in and glanced around.

“Hi, Whistler. I’ve been waiting for my model so I can paint him.”

“Is that what you’ve been up to?” He grinned. “I wondered what kind of snack you were getting because it was taking so long.”

I walked up to him and placed my hand on his chest, sliding down to palm his cock. “This kind of snack.” I fluttered my eyes at him. “I’m in the mood to paint your nude body on this new canvas. The art would be for our bedroom only. Unless you want to show it off at your museum.”

“It’s going into our bedroom.”

“But it could draw millions of visitors to your museum.”

“My body is only for one set of eyes.” He walked over to me, untied the belt, and slipped the robe off me.

He scanned my body, and heat bloomed inside me. He cupped my breasts before his hands roamed all over my body.

I moaned when he cupped my sex. “Not yet, Whistler. I need to paint you first.”

“You’re so naughty today, Lily Pad.”

“Did you think we were just gonna watch movies all day?”

In seconds, he was naked in front of me, his clothes tossed to the side. “I’ve never been a nude model for an artist. What am I supposed to do?”

I stared at his magnificent form, strong and muscular. His cock twitched as though wanting my attention.