Johnny Blue Read Free Page B

it if you painted me, why not . Only if you still want to, though.”
    I worked up the nerve to look at him after several seconds of silence. Made no sense that I suddenly wanted to beg him to . But I did . Cause it felt like he’d offered me a ride and I’d turned it down, not realizing he was offering a ride to the moon.
    He suddenly walked toward me and as the distance closed between us, my heart sped up . He stood at my left shoulder and all I could do was keep my palms firmly on the counter, waiting, holding my breath, wondering what on earth he might say or do .
    My body tingled when he slid a finger along my face. Then spoke words that went further into my bones than words had a right to go. “I do want to paint you. You’re different. ”
    There was a raw need in his voice that lit a flame in me . A flame I had no idea how to control, didn’t want to. I couldn’t turn to him cause I could feel it . The insane urge to consume his lips right where he stood . Lord . How did this happen?
    “Can I start tomorrow?” His voice was so damn calm! It was unfair.
    My heart hammered my chest . Start?  How long did it take?  I nodded, only able to glance toward him, surely not at him . What must he be thinking?  What a prude to be so undone over something so silly . It’s not like I was stripping naked .
    My stomach jolted a s n aked bodies flashed in my mind, making lava leak from that volcano in my center. “I’d… I’d really like that.” And there it was , years of unmet need right there in my quiet answer . But all regret was erased when he whispered that thank you, next to my ear. I’d never heard such emotions mixed in a tone . Joy—mystery—passion—it was enough to make me swoon.
    I suddenly knew right then and there . I would let that man paint me however he wanted or needed . Clothed, nude, standing on my head, it didn’t matter, the only thing that mattered was answering that need I’d heard in “ I do want to paint you.” Because r e ally, to my ears, it sounded like, I do need to paint you.
    I followed his beautiful form as he went to the sink, turned, and placed both palms on the counter behind him . “What time would you like to come?”
    I tucked hair behind my ear wondering why the word come suddenly took on an erotic meaning. “ I get off work a fter supper time —eight o-clock . If you don’t mind workin ’ evenin’s then…that works for me.”
    He stirred his coffee then put his spoon in the sink next to him. “I love painting in the evening.”
    I swallowed as every letter in his soft words slid through me and tickled places t hat had never been touched. Not like that.
    “ So i t’s a date.” He gave me a sexy half smile before sipping his coffee, all while masturbating my soul with those clear blue e yes.
    I focused on sipping my own coffee, wanting to vomit with excitement. “Yes, i t sure is.”

Chapter Three
     
    “Okay,” Sarah huffed, blocking my path and leveling her determined hazel eyes at me. “Fess up. Why you runnin ’ around here like you got some place to go?”
    I couldn’ t keep my grin down and the heat out of my cheeks while looking around before finally stopping a foot before my life-long pudgy friend. “I have a date.”
    Her eyes widened with her sharp intake of breath. “With who? ”
    It was a valid question in a small town like this . All the women knew there wasn’t a datable man around worth a dime . I bit my lower lip. “Remember I told you I was going out to that painter ’ s place?”
    Her brows furrowed with a please don’t tell me you’ve stooped to dating artistic be g gars.
    “ I know what you’re thinking that he’s some bum but …” I leaned my hip on the ice machine and leveled my secretive gaze and smile on her . “ Well, he aint .” I got closer to her and grabbed her arm with both hands and whispered. “While I was at his place, I got a little nosy.”
    “You don’t say.”
    I dismissed the sarcasm. “Yes, and h