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Vanessa:I’ll get a new model then.

Attikus:If you want him to DIE.

Vanessa:(eye-roll emoji)

Attikus:I don’t share my wife’s attention.

Vanessa:Moving on, Mr. Mount—we’re in the studio now. Your stalk won’t behave.

Attikus:Not my fault. My wife is so hot.

I snorted at this entertaining text.

Vanessa:I walk over and grip you.

Attikus:The artist’s grip—my dream come true.

I laughed.

Vanessa:Your face lights up as I move my hand up and down.

Attikus:My hands are all over your breasts.

I sucked in a breath as liquid oozed out of me.

Vanessa:The model must be punished for misbehaving.

Attikus:What will you do?

Vanessa:What do you want me to do?

Attikus:Paint me with your tongue.

I grabbed a glass of water to cool my heated body.

Vanessa:How does it feel?

Attikus:The most incredible brushstroke . . .

Vanessa:Never had this kind of lunch date before.

Attikus:Me too. This needs to be repeated.

Attikus:Gotta go clean up before my meeting.

I gaped at the message. Did I make him come?

Vanessa:You okay?

Attikus:Thanks for the quickie. Can’t wait to be home.

Oh, my gosh. I didn’t know how to respond because my body was also reeling with arousal.

I should have mentioned Dr. Messina to him, but I’d forgotten during our fun texting. I feared if I told him what I was about to do, he’d cancel his meeting and rush back to stop me.

I had a couple of hours before I had to head to Canal Walk to look for the Modern Research Group, so I began a new painting, pouring joy into it. Thinking of Attikus, I painted an abstractlandscape. I was lost in creation when my phone buzzed with the reminder to meet those college students.

I changed into the RISD T-shirt and jeans, tied my hair back, and pulled on a college logo cap. Then I grabbed an old backpack I used for my paint supplies when I took trips to the park or into the woods. It had paint splattered all over it, making me look like a poor art student in need of a part-time job.