Sawyer studied the paintings. They were subtle enough for an office, yet still retained the aura of sensuality he enjoyed studying. The woman lay her head on the man’s chest, her eyes closed, her face reflecting a peace and satisfaction of a recent orgasm. The man held her in a possessive gesture that always fascinated Sawyer. When he took women to bed, he had never experienced the need to hold them close afterward or the roar of his inner primate to claim them on any more than a physical level. He soothed, comforted, supported. He pleasured. Never, ever did he actually feel.
Until Julietta.
They’d gone riding yesterday again. Taking advantage of the lure of spring, they’d actually played hooky on their lunch hour and taken to the streets. He loved the wild freedom of watching her take off on the sexy bike, her laugh-ter and challenge echoing in the air around them as they roared through the city.
He still hadn’t responded to her comment of love. He’d prepared himself for a dreaded conversation where he once again explained his emotional limitations, but instead she hadn’t said a word. Just continued as if the event had never happened.
He didn’t even know if he was overjoyed or pissed off.
The door opened behind him, but he didn’t turn around.
“About time you got back. Don’t tell me we had more problems on the site.”
“No. remember I told you I needed a few hours to meet with Maggie?”
“oh, yeah, the modeling thing.” Sawyer shook his head in amusement. “you won’t even wear the designer clothes I got you, let alone get in front of a camera. But I thought it was really nice you let Maggie drag you over there.” He twisted to face Wolfe with a grin. “How’d you get—holy shit!”
He blinked, not recognizing the boy in front of him.
He looked more man than boy. His crazy spiked hair had been completely shaved off so he sported the popular look preferred by today’s youth. Without hair, nothing de-flected from the strong lines of his face, the stinging blue of his eyes, the strong jaw with the slight dimple that he never noticed because of the facial jewelry. A bit of stubble hugged his chin.
His basic shirt and tie had been replaced by an Armani suit that seemed to have been custom-made for him. Snug lines emphasized his height, and the double-breasted jacket with a red tie gave him a dashing aura that would have women dropping their panties. Crap, his shoulders and biceps were huge, evident in the way the material stretched. All that working out had given his apprentice another benefit.
A hot bod, as the ladies would say.
His gaze kept roving over the boy’s figure but his mouth wouldn’t work. Wolfe scowled and thrust out his jaw in familiar rebellion. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like the hair?”
Sawyer struggled for words. “you look so different.”
“Different how? Do I look like a nerd, dude?”
He shook his head in awe. “Hell, no. you look awesome.
How did Maggie talk you into this? What happened?”
Wolfe shifted his weight. “I had a consultation with the designer. He was a trip. Loved my look, but said we needed to soften some of the edge. Maggie suggested I go for the shaven style, and I figured it would be good for business, too. I mean, I can’t keep meeting big clients with this appearance anymore. It’s just not fair to you.”
Sawyer remained mute, feeling as if he’d been dropped into an alternate universe. Was this the kid who sneered and challenged and refused to bend?
“So, we got it done, and the guy booked me for a shoot next week. But listen, I don’t want you to think this is going to pull me away from Purity. It’s a Saturday session, and I’ll make up the hours. Is this cool with you?”
raw emotion rose up and choked him. “It’s very cool with me. Jesus, Wolfe, you look amazing. So . . . grown up.
And you’re gonna be a f**king cover model? Women will be dropping at your feet.”
Wolfe grinned and again, Sawyer was struck by how the boy seemed to have changed. “yeah, we can hope. Listen, I gotta catch up with Julietta on a few things. you need me for anything?”
“Not now. We have a four o’clock meeting I’ll need you to sit in on.”
“No problem. Thanks, Sawyer.”
Sawyer watched the door close behind Wolfe. Pride surged and tingled through every vein in his body. Somehow, someway, Wolfe was going to be okay.
…
Later that night, Sawyer watched the credits roll past on the massive TV, and he pulled his wife’s feet into his lap.
She groaned as he massaged her insteps. “I can’t take any more,” she moaned deliciously. “No more Rocky. I’m burnt out. How does he always manage to come from behind when he’s so much smaller than his opponents?”
Wolfe snorted. “Wait till you see the final installment.
Five sucks bad so we’re skipping it, but he brings it home in the sixth.”
“But how old is he? I thought his brain was fried in three?”
Sawyer gave a patient sigh. Women. “He pushed through it. Wolfe’s right, five’s a tragedy. But the last one wraps the whole series up. Poor guy.”
“yeah, it’s sad how lost he seems without Adrian.”
Julietta swung her head around. “What? Adrian dies?
That’s terrible! I don’t want to see it.”
Wolfe stuffed another handful of popcorn in his mouth and adjusted his blanket. Clad in flannel pants and a long-sleeved shirt, he propped his bare feet on the edge of the chair with a bowl settled in his lap. “Come on, Julietta.
you’re usually not so girly. Suck it up.”
She sputtered a laugh, which turned into one of those yummy moans when Sawyer worked her toes. She had pretty feet, with delicate bones and fire-engine-red nails.
“Fine. But this is the last one. It’s almost two a.m.. I’ll be dreaming about knockout punches.”
Sawyer pressed a kiss to the top of her head and eased off the sofa to slip in the last DVD. When Wolfe arrived home from work, Julietta always greeted him with a kiss and a huge. Sure, Wolfe usually looked awkward and ducked his head, but the flash of pleasure in those blue eyes told him the truth. He’d gotten quite attached to Julietta and allowed her liberties most couldn’t claim. Like touches, smiles, and even the occasional laugh.
After dinner, Wolfe announced they should have a movie marathon with the old classics. Since his collection included all of the Rocky movies, they’d convinced Julietta to watch the original Rocky. of course, this morphed into most of the series, so they all looked like a bunch of vegetables like poor rocky.