Page 102 of From West, With Regret

“Terrible.” I growl, against her ear. I breathe her in, and she tightens around me, goosebumps breaking out across her skin.

“Terrible?” She giggles. “Why?”

“You weren’t there.”

“West.” She sighs, pushing me gently away from her. Her gray eyes meet mine. “I’m always with you.”

“It isn’t the same, Dimples. But I’m here now, so that’s all that matters.” I kiss her again before glancing over my shoulders at her work area. “How’s the last drawing coming?”

She cracks another small smile, unraveling her legs from around me. I back away, and she hops off the edge of the table. I have half a mind to stop her and bend her over the edge of the table right now, sinking my cock into her, but I bite the tip of my tongue instead.

She walks over to her easel and unclips the drawing held to it by a small metal clip. After handing it to me, she plants her hands on her hips. “It’s finished.”

It’s a sketch of Brooklyn. Specifically, my neighborhood. Recognizing the top of my building, I point to it. “Is that our place?”

Her cheeks redden, probably because I called itourplace.

She nods. “Yeah.” Then she clears her throat. “I told you I only draw places that have meaning to me.”

I grin, thinking back to that day she’d first shown me her work. “You did.”

“It’s my home.” She lifts one shoulder. “Our home.”

Tears sting the back of my eyes, but I force them back. She never drew Heath’s place because she said it never felt like hers.

Now, she feels at home here. With me.

“This is the last piece, then?”

“Yep.” She pops the ‘p’ and points to the new portfolio she bought to store all the pieces she plans on displaying at the opening. “I would say, now that I’m finished, we can start planning the event, but Julianna and Charleigh might have already started taking over in that regard.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Oh, yeah?”

A beautiful laugh escapes her. “You’d think Julianna wouldhave gone into event planning more than interior design. Our group chat has been blowing up the past several days with her ideas.”

“I’m not surprised. I was going to hire an event cooridinator, but Julianna seems to have it covered. As long as you’re happy, then whatever you want is fine with me.” I eat another grape, never taking my eyes off London.

“I know. We’re thinking another month or so until the re-opening of The Veiled Door.”

I nod my agreement.

Her smile fades, then she looks around. “I guess that means we’re almost done here then, huh? My job creating pieces for your bar is finished.”

I narrow my gaze and take a step toward her. She steps back. The corner of her mouth lifts, and I want to steal the smirk from her with my own mouth.

“What was that?” I ask, swallowing my grape. I eat another one and take another step closer while she takes one back, testing me.

She giggles, tucking her long hair behind her ear. Her gold rings glint under the bright studio lights, revealing her heart-shaped birthmark.

“I don’t see a need to stay here any longer,” she jests. “I’m not needed anymore, so I can just head back to Boston once the reopening is finished, right?”

I know she’s teasing, but the idea of her leaving me injects urgency into my veins. The thought of her returning to Boston, in the shadows of her life as my brother’s wife, makes me physically ill.

Her teasing grin fades, and her chest stills as I close the gap between us. She’s no longer backing away from me.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Dimples,” I growl, slipping myarm around her again. I walk her backward until her back lands against the brick wall.

“No?” She tips her chin up, drunk on the love I’m giving her.