Secrets Bared --excerpt:
Gideon’s fingers drifted over the inside of her wrist and she shivered. “Tell me, Lori, what do you think of my work?”
His manner might have been polite, but Lori had the feeling he could be very demanding. “I think what you do is very impressive. I enjoy the flowing lines and curves of your statues.” She frowned, thinking of the focus of his work. “The fact that you sculpt people in such intimate positions has me wondering why. Why erotic art? Why not something less x-rated?” She was curious to know where he got his inspiration. His smile was intimate and it affected her as nothing else ever had.
“It fascinates me. Men and women making love in passionate ways is a joy to create.” His voice dropped an octave. “Women are interesting creatures in and of themselves. You have the joy of procreation. To bring another life into the world. I don’t see it as x-rated to sculpt the very thing that brings that about. Without love, without passion, where would we be? We need it, as badly as we need water. Passion is what makes us good at our job. It makes us good at what’s important. To me the nude form, be it male or female, is beauty. Pure and simple.” Then he angled his head slightly and asked, “Do you find making love vulgar, Lori? Does the nude form put you off or is it a thing to cherish?”
She was speechless. He was so fervent about his work, so deep. She had no idea. Lori sat up a little straighter. “I find making love an intimate thing, to be shared between two people deeply in love. That love should be handled with care. Otherwise, someone invariably gets hurt.”
He was quiet for a moment as if absorbing her words, then he asked, “Has someone hurt you, Lori?”
His question put her on the defensive. “Hasn’t everyone been hurt a time or two? It happens. You move on.”
“Yes it happens, but that doesn’t make it any less harmful.” Gideon’s face hardened. “You don’t deserve to be hurt. You deserve to be cherished. Like my statues, you have beauty in you.” He paused, and then, “I’d like to sculpt you.” Lori’s eyes widened, but Gideon only smiled. “Would you let me? I want to see your passion, Lori.”
She was stunned. “You want me to pose? Nude?”
“I would be honored.”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
She should be appalled by the idea. She wasn’t. Famous artist and sculptor Gideon Adrian wanted her to pose for his next incredible work of art. Well, she had wanted to do something to liven up her life hadn’t she? This was her chance.
“Yes,” Lori rushed out. He smiled, and it made her think of a panther who’d just caught dinner. Her insides quivered.
“We’ll start tonight,” he announced, then rose from the booth. After placing some bills on the table, he took her hand led her out of the bar. Then his words sank in and she tugged him to a stop.
He turned, a frown creasing his brow. “What?”
“Tonight?”
Gideon winked. “I don’t want to wait.” Then he started walking again. She pulled on him once more and he turned a questioning look her way.
“Gideon, I can’t just go home with you and pose. We’ve only just met!”
Gideon’s gaze darkened. “We may have only just met, Lori, but I felt a connection to you the minute I saw you. If you fear me, don’t. I promise not to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. We can go as slow as you like,” he assured.
She was beginning to feel a little silly. “I’m not afraid,” she avowed. “It’s just that…will you want me nude? I don’t think I could do that.”
He reached up and stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers, then whispered, “We won’t do anything that feels wrong to you, okay?”
She should tell him that they could meet sometime during the day, make an appointment for the sittings, or something along those lines. That would be the smart thing to do. The responsible thing.
“Okay.”
It was out of her mouth before she could stop it. Butterflies played in her stomach. If only her mother and sister were there to see. They’d both have heart failure! Neither of them were used to their spinsterish Lori being spontaneous, or doing anything risky for that matter.
As she was once again placed inside of Gideon Adrian’s sexy Mercedes, Lori squirmed with a rush of joy. This was bound to be one for the record books. |
