Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Just tired of waiting for the world to know you’re mine. It’s been fourteen years, after all.”
The spark he’d lit in my chest by holding my hand ignited to a wildfire. “Yes, it has.”
We rang the bell, and a man opened the door for us. He asked our names, and when Lane told him, he let us in. Genevieve clearly did well for herself. The inside of her condo was even more lavish than the outside, with open ceilings and exposed beams, and her decor was all in light colors.
A man approached us. “Hey, Lane. How are you?”
“Demetrius, hi. I’m good. This is my partner, Isaac Pierce.” He turned to me. “One of my very first large-scale shows was with Demetrius.”
We shook hands. “It’s great to meet you,” I told him.
“You as well.” He gave his attention back to Lane. “Gen’s been raving about your new pieces. It’s the first thing she showed me. Your color scheme is gorgeous. Will you be expanding it?”
The two of them spoke for a few minutes, and then we moved on. We hardly made it a few steps before he was stopped again. Each time, he introduced me as his partner. No one looked twice at us. No one questioned anything. They all raved about Lane’s work, about the two paintings there as well as stuff he’d done in the past.
I stood back and watched him shine. I’d always known Lane had made a name for himself, of course, but it was different seeing it in person, being the man on his arm while he was surrounded by people blatantly in awe of him.
When we finally got a moment to ourselves, I leaned in, lips close to Lane’s ear. “You’ve always said that people gravitate toward me, but the way I see it, that’s you.”
He actually blushed. “Just here, in these situations. It takes a lot out of me, though.”
“Still that boy who would rather be alone in the attic.”
“Not alone.”
I cupped his face, smiled, and kissed him.
“Sorry to interrupt,” I heard just as I was pulling away. There was no doubt this was Genevieve. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, with high cheekbones, dark lashes, and a kind smile.
“No you’re not,” Lane teased her.
“This must be Isaac.” She held her hand out for me, and I took it. “Whatever it is you’re doing with him, keep it up. If he keeps creating work like this, there’s no stopping him.”
“It’s not me. It’s all him,” I replied.
A gentleman walked by with a tray, and I took glasses for the three of us, giving Genevieve hers first, then Lane, and keeping one for myself.
“From what Lane says, he had a great muse.”
My brows pulled together, surprised he’d told her that, but then said, “Well, I can’t argue with you there.”
The three of us laughed.
We went with her to where she’d displayed Lane’s paintings. There was a group of people around them, all talking and dissecting his work. When they realized he was there, they turned their attention to him. Lane clearly knew some of them, and some he didn’t.
It was a constant flow of people, all vying for a piece of him. As the evening went on, I could see he was having a harder time dealing with it. Lane was people’d out.
“Whenever you’re ready, say the word.” I pushed his hair behind his ear.
“Soon,” he replied before he was pulled into the conversation again. Genevieve was still there chatting. Demetrius had joined us too, along with a few others.
When two men approached, I could feel the change in Lane, see the excitement bouncing around inside him.
“You’re Ezra,” Lane said.
“Lane is a fan.” Genevieve smiled. Now that she’d said it, I recognized the name as one of Lane’s favorite painters.
The man with him was his partner, it appeared. He had his arm hooked with Ezra’s, but was looking at Lane’s art.
“And you’re Lane Ryan. It’s, um…good to meet you.” Ezra seemed a little shy and subdued, but then he pointed to Lane’s display. “This is incredible.”
Ezra and Lane, along with the rest of the group, went back to discussing the two paintings and chatting. Apparently, Ezra and his partner, Dae, were out from California for a show, and Genevieve had invited them to the party.
Lane’s whole demeanor had changed. He wasn’t ready to go home anymore. It was obvious how much he respected Ezra and appreciated talking about his own art with him.
During a lull in conversation, I looked up to see two more people approaching. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, because of course the fuckface slimeball had to be there.
“Lane…hey,” Jayden said, and Lane’s gaze snapped to him. The man with him had dark eyes, and his hair was tied back.
“Hi, Jayden. Salvador,” Lane said, his voice not holding any of the anger I felt rushing through my veins. This was the guy Jayden had fucked when he was with Lane?