Lying flat, the canvases were individually covered in cloth. I couldn’t believe I was staring down at eight hundred million dollars.
“I’m taking them back now,” I said. “You’ve got until the end of this week to finalize the sale.”
Florian shrugged. For some reason, I’d expected him to work harder at convincing me to leave them there.
“If that’s what you want.” He turned to Miranda.
I lifted a finger. “Can you give us a minute?”
Florian nodded and moved away.
“What should I do?” I asked.
“I would take them,” she replied.
“Tonight? Now?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I would.”
“You weren’t convinced by the buyer on the phone?”
“I’m not sure. If the insurance was up to date, I wouldn’t be so concerned.”
I took a deep breath. Yet another reminder of my frustrating blunder.
“We’ll just have to be careful not to fold them.” She bent down and lifted the protective sheeting from the painting on top, squinting at the work of art.
I stared down at the canvases. I could have carried them myself in one go, but taking heed of Miranda’s advice, I agreed to handle them with care.
By eleven, we’d carted the paintings back to the apartment one by one. Each was covered with a sheet, just as Miranda had instructed.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I said, turning to her. She was slumped on the couch.
“Don’t be. I was the one meant to deliver this sale.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.” I headed to the fridge for a beer. “What can I get you?”
“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” she said.
“Beer?”
“Sure.” She smiled tightly.
We sat on the sofa and drank in silence.
“I’ll talk to Sotheby’s and Christie’s tomorrow, if you like,” she said.
“We’ll wait and see what happens with the French collector. If nothing shows up in a day or so, then let’s take that path.”
I took her into my arms. “Let’s go to bed.”
Although I was tired, as soon as her soft, naked body rubbed against mine, blood rushed to my groin.
I rolled Miranda on top of me and trailed kisses all the way from her warm lips to her breasts.
Gripping her hips, I guided my engorged dick into her wet slit. I glided in and out, working up to a frenzy and falling into Miranda’s hooded eyes.
Her muscles sucked in my cock to the point of no return, tipping me over the edge. She dug her nails into my arms and sighed loudly as her snug walls shuddered and drenched my dick, and all my earlier tension flooded out of me.
We fell into each other’s arms, panting, and when my breath returned, I nestled into her warm neck.
Miranda’s softness melded into my tired body, and all the stress I’d been carrying dissolved.
My heavy body surrendered to bliss.