The Arrogant Artist : A Billionaire Boss Romance (International Bad Boys Set Book 2), стр. 51
“Thank you.” I nuzzle into him, my heart bursting with this unfamiliar feeling.
“I have to agree with one thing your friend said…”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“I do have a big dick.” I burst out laughing. “And I think you should take one for the team and ride it, right now.”
We’re both smiling at each other.
“I think that sounds like a great idea.”
The last couple of nights I’ve woken up to my hands itching with the need to paint, but I’ve forced myself back to sleep. I am too nervous to try.
This morning, however, is different. I’m forcing myself out of my comfort zone determined to do at least one painting. I tiptoe out of bed trying not to wake Louis as he lightly snores. The sun is about to rise—the first beams start to hit the horizon—as I follow the rocky path down to the studio.
I tentatively open the wooden door and step into Louis’ inner sanctum. Taking in a deep breath, the smell of the paint, the thinners, the canvases, it all tickles my nose. Oh, how I have missed this.
There’s a blank canvas on the easel waiting for me. Did Louis do this for me? Hoping that one day I might fill the white canvas with my artwork, the chasm in my heart just shrunk a little more. My fingers lightly touch the different size brushes laid out before me. I hold the different sizes, feeling their weight in my fingers, the familiar feeling permeates through my entire being.
I scan the various colors of paint from the brightly colored to the dark tones. There’s pretty much any color I could desire laid out before me.
Nerves tickle my veins. My breathing quickens as I walk around the studio. I decide to open the windows that surround it and let in some light. I used to enjoy painting in natural light. Then it hits me—the images that have been playing over and over again in my mind. So, I don’t think, I pick up a paintbrush, scan the paint tins again until I find the colors I’m looking for and start.
30
Emily
“Hey. There you are.” Louis’ voice makes me jump, pulling me from the canvas I’m working on. “You’ve…” His words fall away as he rushes over to the couple of paintings that I have completed in secret over the past week. He picks one up, and my stomach sinks. I turn to tell him not to look at it, but he’s already shaking his head as if anticipating my reaction.
He whips around quickly and stares at me.
“What?”
My stomach sinks further.
He hates them.
He thinks I’m no good.
Oh my God, I’m the biggest loser.
To think I could be an artist.
The paintbrush falls from my fingers and thumps on the floor. Louis must see my face because he places the canvas down on the table carefully beside him and rushes to me.
“No. Don’t you dare retreat again, Emily.” He grabs my shoulders, stopping me. “Did you do all those paintings?” He motions with his head behind me.
“Yes,” I squeak out.
Louis lets go of me and rakes his hand through his hair.
“Emily. Fuck. Emily… they are amazing.”
Huh. Did I just hear him right?
“Never, ever, ever, believe anyone who tells you that you shouldn’t paint. These are…” he rushes back to my canvases and points to them, “… these are magnificent. They are just as good as any known modern artist out there at the moment. They should be in a gallery. Why are they not in a gallery?” He is so excited that he’s flicking between English and French.
“You need to paint more. I need more.” He throws his hands up, then comes rushing back over to me. Louis picks me up and swings me around the room making me squeal. “You’re brilliant, Emily. Brilliant.” He kisses my face, my cheeks, and then my lips.
I’m so caught up in his enthusiasm. “Really?” I squeak out with a tiny bit of self-doubt creeping in.
“Chérie, yes.” He nods. “In fact, I want these two.” He points to my first two canvases. “I want to hang them.” He picks them up. “Come… come now.” He stomps off while I jog to try and catch up. We go back along the rocky path and enter the house. He’s on a mission to somewhere, and I’m just following behind, utterly confused. He stops in his long white hallway where some of his paintings hang. He takes them off the wall and hangs mine instead.
He stands back and admires them. “Look… look at your work.”
I take a step back and try to see what he’s seeing. I push all the negative thoughts from my mind and look at what I’ve achieved, then finally a smile forms on my face. “See? Now you see what I see.” He smiles at me. “You’re amazing, Emily Chapman.”
Tears begin to threaten as he pulls me into his arms, and I let them fall. “Thank you.”
“It’s what any partner would do.” I look up at him. “You’re mine, Emily.” He looks down at me. “I’m not letting you go. Not now. Not ever. Okay?”
I simply nod, the tears falling down my cheeks. They are happy tears for once.
“Okay.”
And with those few words, I’m all his, and I don’t want him to let go of me either.
31
Louis
“How’s it all going with Emily at the house?” Daniel asks.
“Amazing,” I tell him. My brother bursts out laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“Are you pussy-whipped.” He chuckles. “You sound like you’re on cloud nine.”
“One, fuck you, and two, I am. I am so fucking happy.”
“I’m happy for you,” Daniel’s tone turns serious as he speaks. “I think Emily is the right fit for you.”
“She is. I’ve never felt like this before. I thought what Elisabeth and I had was love. But this… this is something different. It’s easy, effortless, it’s just natural.”
“I’m glad to have my brother back.”
“You’re just happy