Gideon seemed to rein himself in. He was such a passionate man and so sure of himself. He knew what he wanted, and he was going after it full force. Lori wasn't quite ready. She'd never been with anyone who wanted her with so much fervor. It was a little scary. She needed breathing room.
"I'm sorry. Really, baby, sit down beside me.” When she stared at him, he pleaded, “Pretty please?"
She looked at the couch in apprehension. “Just ease onto it, honey. I promise it won't hurt."
She slowly sat. He was right, it didn't hurt. In fact, her bottom wasn't sore at all. For some insane reason that rankled.
"Now, where were we? Oh yes, I was telling you all my dirty little secrets, wasn't I? So, Lori, do I frighten you now?"
She frowned. “Why should I be afraid?"
"Because I can read your mind. That would make anyone uneasy."
She answered with complete candor. “I could never be afraid of you. If I were, do you think I'd still be here?"
"No, I suppose you wouldn't.” He paused, as if giving it some consideration before adding, “Most people are a little cautious around me, and they don't even know what I can do. Somehow I guess they sense something is different.” He narrowed his eyes. “I'm glad you aren't afraid of me. I would have hated if you looked at me differently."
"How do I look at you?"
His grin was wicked. “As if you want to eat me up."
She tried to ignore how handsome he was when he smiled and said, “I'm only posing for you, remember? Eventually you'll have your statue, and our association will be finished."
A muscle in his jaw jumped. “Our association may have started out as artist to model, but it's quickly turned into something much more."
As his voice slid up and down her body, she blurted out her thoughts without thinking them through. “How do you do that, Gideon? How do you make your voice so irresistible? It makes me want to give you whatever it is you ask."
"If my voice was so mesmerizing, I'd use it to make you take off that purple silk, so I could see all of you with nothing hindering my view."
She frowned. “Uh-uh, no way.” Besides, Lori knew she was terribly shy. The idea of stripping with the lights illuminating her imperfect body was not the same as making love in the softly lit bedroom the way they had the previous night.
"I'm turned-on right now too, but I'm not as open about my sexuality as you.” Heck, if she took off the one thing preserving her modesty, she'd fall into his arms and do anything he asked. Lori knew he'd ask for plenty too.
"Yes, I would,” he confirmed. “I want everything from you, and soon you'll not feel a need for such ludicrous modesty.” Her back stiffened in annoyance at having once again been caught thinking of him.
"Stop it, Gideon. I mean it."
"Fine,” he conceded. “If it makes you feel more at ease around me, I promise to stay out of your head ... for now."
He could easily lie to her; tell her he wasn't slipping into her mind even while he did as he pleased. If she knew nothing else of him, she did instinctively feel he was a man of his word. If Gideon said he would block her thoughts, then she believed him.
Her lips quirked up despite her worries. “You just couldn't resist adding that last part could you?"
He smiled broadly and left the couch. “I do know my own limitations.” He held out his hand and said, “Let's get this sketch out of the way. Then we can concentrate on more exciting things."
His smile was contagious and Lori relaxed. She wouldn't have to shield her mind from him. She had free rein to think all the naughty things about his sexy body she wanted. He'd be none the wiser.
She grinned shamelessly and took his hand. “Ready when you are."
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Chapter Eight
Gideon perched her atop the hard wooden stool and instead of posing her, he'd insisted she sit whichever way was most comfortable. With her legs crossed and her hands in her lap, she seemed as relaxed as she was going to get.
"Turn to the side a little and give me your profile."
She