Page 12 of Announcing Love (Sporting Pride #5)

Tip’s expression closed a little more with each word. Artem almost wished he could take it back. Sometimes he got carried away.

“Forget I said anything. I’m sure your sister wouldn’t lie.”

Tip snorted. “She absolutely would. I think I’ll send Quince snooping. If you’re right, I’ll go by there when we go to New York.” He watched Tip take a deep breath. The air lightened. “How was your day? What have you done?”

“I took my last final for the year this morning and then worked for a couple of hours. After that, I spent the day painting. Would you like to go upstairs after we eat and take a look?”

“Absolutely.” Tip’s lightning-quick response had Artem biting his bottom lip. All he ever wanted to do anymore was smile. He didn’t know what secret problem Tip needed him to fix, but Artem would. Artem wouldn’t stop until Tip smiled every bit as much as him. That was a promise.

Tip couldn’t say he felt better exactly after talking through things with Artem.

But he had a plan that wasn’t another hundred-thousand-dollar car, and that was something.

Admittedly, it hadn’t occurred to him his family might lie to him to suck him dry.

Pride had never allowed him to say no. If he didn’t take care of them, it looked like he couldn’t.

His chest hurt. Maybe he should just buy the car.

Artem took his hand, making him realize his food was gone, and the dishes cleared. He had lost himself in the darkness again, and this time it had stolen time away from Artem. That made things twice as bad.

Artem led him up the stairs, and Tip forgot everything except the beautiful man in front of him. Then he stood in front of the completed Medusa painting with Artem wrapped in his arms.

With his back against Tip’s chest and Tip’s chin resting on his shoulder, Artem explained what Tip looked at.

“All art is open to interpretation, of course. Like I’ve said, it’s supposed to make you feel.

But what I hoped to achieve was to capture her pain and fury.

Medusa was the victim in the story. Somehow that got lost, and she ended up the villain. She wasn’t, though.”

Tip’s chest swelled with pride. He really dated this amazing guy who cared. Things mattered to him. He felt issues that weren’t his. Tip had been surrounded by selfish people his entire life. Artem was different. He was flawless.

“I absolutely love it. You should bring it with us to New York. It’s likely Tamara might want to see at least one picture in person. Let’s take it. No matter what happens with the gallery, I’ll buy it. I know exactly where it could go at the ranch.”

Artem huffed. “I’d never expect you to pay for my work. It’s really just a hobby.”

“It’s worth money to me. Even if it wasn’t obviously valuable, which it is, it wasn’t free to paint.”

Artem turned in his arms. “I meant you could have it as a gift. Sometimes, it makes me sad to put so much of myself into these paintings just to set them aside and start another. They’re just put away.

Forgotten. No one gets to love them. They should go to people who appreciate them.

That’s all that matters to me.” Artem’s gaze dropped to Tip’s mouth.

“Well, not everything. You’re pretty high up there too. ”

Tip smiled. “Pretty high, huh? How far down this list am I exactly?”

Artem’s gaze lifted and collided with Tip’s stare. “You’re making your way up.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to Tip’s, swiping a light kiss across his mouth. “In fact, you’re staring down at a lot of things I never thought anyone would.”

Tip’s hands moved to Artem’s ass. He pulled him closer. “Really? You’re staring down at everything in my life, and I don’t even know how it happened.” He stole a kiss. “But I’m not sorry.”

Artem had no idea exactly how important he was to Tip. Tip had never claimed to care about anyone. Artem was under his skin. Tip wanted to keep him there. He wanted to be under Artem’s skin too.

“You should let me make love to you to prove to you I can. I want to make up for those bruises.”

A flush already tinted Artem’s cheeks. He looked like a man ready to get fucked. “In your defense, I bruise easily.”

“I’ll buy you a multivitamin.” He lifted Artem from his feet and walked him toward the bed. Artem’s gaze never left his. Tip gently took Artem down, covering Artem’s body with his. The moment their lower bodies met, there was no missing how hard Artem was for him.

Soft men might have bored Artem in the past, but he knew Tip would never disappoint him.

“I don’t have anything here.”

Tip hummed against Artem’s neck as he tried to get him out of his clothes. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Oh, wait. I do. I just use it to mix with acrylics for pouring projects, but I don’t do that often.”

Tip lifted his head. “Are you uninterested? You’re doing a lot of talking about other things.”

Artem winced. “Sorry. Nervous chatter. The lube is over there near the easel.”

Tip rolled to his side and propped up his head with his hand. “I’m making you nervous. I don’t think I want it now.”

Artem’s expression turned heated enough to scorch Tip’s skin. “Yes you do.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” He popped from the bed and went hunting.

Sure enough, there was a tube amongst the paints.

In seconds, he was back to stripping Artem.

He understood the nerves. Artem didn’t hop from bed to bed.

In fact, he was Tip’s and Tip’s alone. That was sexy as fuck.

He was so enthralled with Artem’s body and the knowledge it was his, he had Artem’s cock in his mouth before he knew it.

Artem nearly levitated from the bed. “Oh my god, Tip.” He snatched the headboard and held on like he might fly away.

That was all it took. Tip couldn’t stop. He forgot his pleasure and his plans to make love to Artem. This was better. He had honestly been a little too rough with Artem. The guy just did it for him, and Tip was a monster. He intentionally dragged his teeth down Artem’s dick before swallowing it.

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Artem slapped his hand over his mouth, making Tip chuckle.

He hadn’t hurt him. Not really. That didn’t stop him from doing it again.

A muffled moan came from behind Artem’s hand.

He used the other to snag Tip’s hair and hold on.

Tip didn’t let up. Artem’s entire body stiffened.

Whimpers escaped Artem. He blew. Tip crawled up Artem’s body and forced him to taste his own cum.

Artem didn’t fight him. He treated the kiss like any other.

Fuck. He was perfect. Tip set his erection free and stroked while their tongues fought.

Artem tore his mouth away. “Use me.”

Tip sweetly kissed his neck. “No. I promised I’d make love to you, and I don’t think I can right now. I’m too far gone.”

“Use me,” Artem practically growled.

He wouldn’t continue to argue. Tip was too aroused. He snatched up the lube and barely had his jeans pushed down his hips before he was inside Artem.

“Yes. Like that.”

Tip wasn’t going to make it. “Goddamn. You make me so hot. I’m already addicted.

” Tip bit his tongue. Artem had him fucked in the head.

He had to watch his words. Tip was the type to end up promising him the world.

Damn. He deserved it, though. Artem’s teeth sank into his chest and Tip blew faster than he ever had in his life.

He wasn’t ashamed. Artem was the goddamn devil, stealing his soul.

Artem kissed the spot he had bitten before reclaiming Tip’s lips.

Their kisses slowed. Tip’s cock slipped from Artem’s ass, followed by a gush of cum.

Fuck. That was the second time Artem had made him lose every ounce of good sense he ever possessed.

At least he knew Artem hadn’t been with anyone else.

Unfortunately, Tip couldn’t say the same, and Artem deserved better.

He crawled from the bed and finished stripping before heading inside the bathroom.

Tip stared at himself in the mirror as he waited for the water to heat.

He looked like a satisfied man in love and that was fucking nuts.

Then again, so was Tip. Tamara’s text about meeting Artem had somewhat saved him from a big conversation filled with confessions the other night.

But yeah, he wasn’t sane. He hadn’t told Artem exactly how often he saw him.

After meeting Artem that very first time, he had been obsessed.

He couldn’t count the number of times he had tried to run into Artem, only to have Artem completely look right through him.

That had done nothing to squash this thing that grew inside him.

He had tried talking himself down so many times, telling himself they were too different.

Artem was too young. He didn’t want someone inexperienced.

Nothing worked. Tip was infatuated, and he wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

He wet a washcloth with warm water and went back to Artem.

Artem was stretched out like a contented cat.

He didn’t argue as Tip cleaned him and the mess.

Tip spoke as he worked, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass Artem too badly.

“I guess it’s probably too late to apologize and let you know my every test has been negative.

Plus, I haven’t fucked anyone without a condom since I was a teenager.

I don’t know what it is about you. You make me—”

A loud bark of laughter cut off his speech. “Oh wow. What does it say about me that I didn’t even think about that?”

A smile exploded across Tip’s face. He tossed the soiled cloth into a nearby laundry basket before curling himself around Artem and pulling the covers over them. “Next time, you can hit me over the head and tell me to put on a condom.”

“It seems a little late for that now. Plus, I’m not worried. It never once occurred to me that you might endanger me in any way, so it’s whatever.” He paused. “Unless you sleep with someone else.”

Was he crazy? “I’ve never found anyone who comes close to your passion. Why would I waste my time with anyone else?”

He practically heard Artem smile. “You sound like a man in for the long haul.”

Tip stole a deep kiss. He wanted Artem to taste the truth. “Absolutely.” Artem was his now. There was no escape.