Arthur doesn’t move a muscle until we hear the sound of the front door open and close. I don’t move at first, either. Only once we’re certain Ezra is gone does he turn to me, but I’m already shaking my head and turning to pick up the drawing pad with the half–finished portrait on.
“Iris-”
“You’re ridiculous,” I say, setting the pad back on the easel “Getting jealous like that.”
He bristles slightly. “I’m sorry. I’m an Alpha. It’s in my nature, and despite everything, you’re still… my mate.”
My cheeks heat a little at the reminder, but I shake my head again. “Get a grip on yourself next time. Ezra just wanted a portrait done to give to his girlfriend. If you consider that sexual, then you’ll be furious to find out that I drew fully nude men multiple times in college.”
Arthur clears his throat. “You have?”
I nod, glancing at him. “Yes. It’s common in figure drawing. It’s good to draw the body uninhibited by clothes, so that you can get a good grasp of the skeletal and muscular structure. I’ve drawn nude women, too.”
“I see,” Arthur says, peering out the window where Ezra is currently climbing into his car. He looks back at the drawing on the easel, observing quietly as I touch up some of the linework. “You seem really good at it.”
“Hardly,” I snort. “Figure drawing was never my strong suit, and this is just a rough sketch. It’ll look much better with paints.
“I disagree,” Arthur says, taking a step closer. “It really looks like Ezra, even without color.”
I tilt my head to inspect the drawing. “You really think so?”
Arthur hums and points at the line where the neck meets the shoulder. “You even got how his left shoulder sits higher than his right.”
Despite myself, I can’t quite help the way my cheeks flush ever so slightly from the praise. I glance up to see that Arthur is no longer looking at the drawing, but rather at me now. Blushing even more deeply, I quickly turn away, busying myself with putting away my charcoals for the night.
“Look,” Arthur says, taking another step closer, “I am sorry. It’s just been so long since we’ve been together, and my wolf gets on edge around you. Couple that with you spending time alone with a shirtless man, and
“It’s fine,” I chuckle, waving my hand. “I probably should have warned you first, anyway. He is your Beta.” Arthur pauses. When I turn, he’s staring at the drawing once more, and his face is more contemplative. I suddenly feel a little bad for agreeing to draw Ezra shirtless without warning Arthur, knowing fully well just how jealous an Alpha wolf can be with his mate. No amount of tension between me and Arthur can change that biological fact.
Finally, I clear my throat. “Let me make it up to you,” I say, “A small favor.”
Arthur looks up at me with surprise. “Why should you be the one to make it up to me?”
I shrug. “It’s not entirely your fault that you Alpha males are emotional wrecks,” I tease, smiling slightly. Arthur doesn’t smile back, although I think I can see his lips twitch a little in that direction. “Besides, you went to the trouble of having those nanny cams set up today. And you saved Miles‘ life last night.”
For a moment, Arthur hesitates. I think he might decline my offer. But to my surprise, he gestures to the portrait.
“Can you do one of me?” he asks.
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Chapter 89
I blink, surprised. “You really want one?”
He nods. “Fully nude isn’t a requirement,” he adds.
My face heats, and I quickly look away again. “Um… Yeah, can draw one of you. I can do it tonight, if you want.” Arthur’s eyes light up ever so slightly. “It’s a deal. After dinner?”
“Sure. After dinner sounds good.”
With that, Arthur brushes past me, announcing that he ordered takeout food for dinner tonight and that he has a surprise for Miles, something that makes Miles cheer excitedly from down the hall. I bite my lip, staring at the half–finished drawing of Ezra sitting on the easel.
It’s just a portrait, I tell myself. But there’s no denying the tiny rush of excitement I feel over the thought of drawing Arthur shirtless.
