1 comments/ 11712 views/ 0 favorites Fingerpainting Ch. 01 By: coloryourworld Cat sat in her spinning desk chair with her knees pulled up to her chest and her elbows propped on her knees. People told her she never looked comfortable sitting like that, but she didn't see why. Her name said a lot about her nature. While "Cat" was short for Catherine, Catherine Williams, she had the natural grace and light-footedness of felines. She was also standoffish and a little prickly at times, as well as well-groomed, adorable, and fun to watch. She was thinking. And she was somewhat depressed; nothing major, she just had the blues. That happened to her sometimes. She was an artist, after all. Is something wrong with me? Do I repel men I would actually get along with? It certainly seems that way. Why do I only meet guys who only want to sleep with me? It's like they all just want sex; none of them want me too. It was driving her crazy. All her friends from high school were married already and all but a few of her college friends were at least in serious relationships. It wasn't that she wanted to get married. She just wanted to fall in love. Could that really be possible? She had a reputation for being a cold-hearted bitch, but she'd earned that by exclusively dating jackass guys, most of them frat-brats, for the first three years of college. She refused to take the crap the guys dealt out and they, in turn, said some less than lovely things about her. She didn't really care what people thought of her though. The rumors didn't matter. It wasn't like they were really even rumors. She had actually done most of what people were saying about her, things just had a tendency to get dramatized. She was twenty-one and had never had a serious relationship. She used to joke about her two date limit on guys. That wasn't far from the truth. There had been two guys who had ever made it past two dates and neither made it past number four. She admitted she was picky. That was a good thing, in her opinion. And she didn't mind seeming rude for dropping dates so quickly. Why keep them on the line if she knew it was never going to go anywhere? She thought that was rude. Her problem wasn't that she couldn't get along with the male gender. In fact, she usually got along with them quite well. They liked her. They just didn't want to fall in love with her. She had always kept several close male friends. That's just how she was. She didn't think it was her appearance. While she didn't think she was model material, she always got enough looks, whistles, and unsolicited racy comments to annoy her. Her healthy level of self-confidence told her that she was, if not a ten, at least a seven. That always made her laugh. Her body was lean, but curvy. She was barely 5'6" and her height was all in her legs. She loved her eyes. She didn't care if her face wrinkled of if she went back to being chubby, she would still have her eyes. They were almond shaped and vivid blue-green; unless she was angry, in which case they were stormy steel blue and they were set off by dark naturally arched eyebrows. Her eyes did not need makeup, but she played them up with eyeliner and mascara in a dramatic fashion that would have looked trashy on a lot of people. It was not trashy on here. It was her signature. Her hair was the color of chocolate with sun streaks the color or caramel or honey. Cat's mind wandered a lot. She sometimes wondered if she should take medicine for attention deficit disorder, but she feared the medication would screw with her artistic inspiration. She was sitting in the chair trying to simultaneously think of a topic for her senior thesis, something to write in the essay to the law school she planned to attend the next fall, and something she could paint to take her mind off the other two. While those were all practical applications of her mind, and it would have been fantastic if she could have even gotten one of the three, her head had run off with her heart and was stuck on the topic of love. Everyone told her to just wait it out, she'd find someone. No one really understood her problem though. She always seems to have some guy with her, surely she isn't lonely, her friends thought. She had all but left the dating scene during the previous spring. She always knew the guy she was with was nothing but a filler. It wasn't even like she was hoping they would turn out to mean more. She had an incredible ability to read people nearly as soon as she met them, and it rarely, if ever, failed her. "Fuck it," she said and stood up from the desk chair. She padded across the room and flipped on the stereo. Some hard rock instrumental was in the CD deck. It fit her mood. She tried to relax and went through the motions of a few yoga poses. She did feel a little better when she was finished. She knew she really just needed a run. Or sex. But sex never meant anything and she knew it was because she never cared about the guy she was with. She was wound tight and that wasn't her nature. It was driving her crazy. * * * "Cat! Where are you? Are you ready?" Ande's voice made Cat jump. Ande shared an apartment with Cat and was also her best friend. "Yeah, I'm finishing up right now. Two more minutes, seriously." "It's not like you really need the makeup, doll" Ande said as she leaned against the bathroom doorjamb. "You look hot. The guys will be all over you." "Haha, we'll see about that. I suppose you will too?" Ande was bi and Cat was so free spirited she might as well have been. They joked about being lovers, but they both knew that would never happen. They loved one another as sisters and sex would just feel wrong between them. "Sweetie, if you want to make it to that club tonight, don't tempt me now." "Oh, come on. The club will be fun. Probably." Ande laughed. "Hun, don't kid yourself. You're not going out of style anytime soon. Especially not while you dress like that." Cat was wearing tight stone-washed low-rise jeans with a bit of a rip on one thigh, a black silk camisole that made her pale skin look even creamier than usual, and open toed black stilettos. Her hair was cut in layers a bit below her shoulders and was full and shiny, parted just to the right of the middle. Ande shook her head and muttered something about her looking like a magazine cover girl. Ande wasn't about to let Cat steal the spotlight. Her hair was long and chestnut, cut in a similar style to Cat's. Her eyes were so brown they looked black in dim light. She also lined her eyes and played up her lashes. She dressed for the evening in a short black skirt with a slit up one thigh, an emerald green halter top, and strappy black sandals. She was taller than Cat and a little curvier, but they were often mistaken for sisters. Both had the same full lips and twinkling mischievous eyes. * * * Not even two minutes after walking through the door of the club, Ande had already gotten caught up in the mix on the dance floor. Cat preferred the bar, though she did dance occasionally. The music was mostly hard rock and was fun to listen to even when she was just sitting. She took a stool toward one end of the bar, noticing how amazingly gorgeous the bartender was. He had dark hair that was a little long and hung shaggily in his face. His eyes were the same shade of brown as Ande's. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, but couldn't have looked better. She ordered a tequila sunrise and turned to face the dance floor. The bar was too busy tonight to even try to pick him up. She noticed that Ande seemed to have found her guy for the night; a nice choice, she had to admit. Cat laughed as she thought the guy probably assumed Ande was going home with him; the poor guy was mistaken. It wasn't that Ande and Cat didn't sleep with guys, they did, and frequently. They just tried to abstain from going home with drunk men and going home with sober men when they themselves were drunk, or any combination of the two. Just when Cat thought she was going to have to actually go out and dance to entertain herself, a man at the other end of the bar caught her attention. He was staring at her. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. She thought he either recognized her too or just liked the way she looked because he began walking toward her. Walking wasn't the appropriate term. Gliding, floating, anything like that would have been better suited. The man moved with incredible grace and confidence. She thought he must be an amazing dancer. She was so enthralled with his movement that she started when she realized he had stopped in front of her. He was tall; at least 6'2". His hair was either black or dark brown, Cat couldn't quite tell in the dim light, and long, thick, and somehow both silky and shaggy, like the bartender's. It just touched his shoulders. He resembled the bartender, only he was more striking. The bartender looked like an underwear model. This man would stand out anywhere. His eyes were crystalline blue and dark. The shade reminded her of the Pacific Ocean. They were topped with thick lashes and dark, expressive brows. His skin was tan, but not dark. His features were hard, but his full lips softened them. His body was lean and athletic but she doubted he played sports. He didn't look like the type. She suddenly realized when her eyes met his that she did not know him nor had she ever seen him before because if she had she would remember. He didn't say a word but held out his hand to her. She had no idea where he intended to lead her, but she took it. She normally was annoyed when guys tried to act mysterious. Now, however, she was far from annoyed. She got the feeling that this was not in the least an act for him. This was just who he was. * * * He saw her the moment he walked into the club. She was sitting at the far end of the bar, gazing out at the dance floor. She seemed to be watching someone; he was unable to determine who. At first he thought it might be her date, but her body language suggested otherwise. Something about her glowed. Or glistened. Or sparkled. Whatever. He didn't know what made her different from every other pretty girl, but something definitely did. He hated dating. He hated shallow people, especially women, because they possessed the ability to steal his heart and smash it. He hated clubs. He thought he had made peace with being alone years ago. He hated being alone. That was why he was in the club. He liked the music they played and there were a lot of people. He had gone a few times, just to sit and watch people be people. He never intended to meet someone there. She just stood out. He was hesitant at first, because she might be just like every other girl he had ever dated, but he knew he would be furious with himself if he never saw her again. When he noticed that her gaze had shifted from the dance floor to himself, he felt a little more courage. It was more than a little. Something about her gaze drew him toward her like she was a magnet. He didn't even consider that words might be necessary to communicate with her. He held out his hand. To his amazement and delight, when he realized that he hadn't even uttered a hello, she took it. Her hands were incredibly soft and her nails were immaculate. She wore several rings, quite a bit of jewelry all over her, in fact, but it was all tasteful and didn't seem excessive. Though he hadn't spoken with her yet, she radiated enough personality and life that, though her body was small, she could accommodate more jewelry, eyeliner, and crazier clothes than most women. He wasn't quite sure where he intended to lead her, but since he had her hand, he thought he should think of something quickly. He noticed the tables in the balcony above the dance floor. * * * She followed him up the stairs into the balcony. It seemed he wanted to talk. At first she thought he would want to dance. Maybe later. She didn't really care where he took her. She was completely intrigued by this enigma of a man. "Evan" he stated. "Cat" she replied. She was amazed at how comfortable she was with him. Although they didn't know one another at all, she was entirely at ease and the lack of conversation was not at all awkward. He had stopped in front of a tiny café table by the glass panel window. She had never been up in the balcony and the view of downtown was breathtaking. He guided her into one of the chairs and he sat down facing her without letting go of her hand. She smiled at him, entirely genuinely, and thought she saw his eyes light up. Surely not, she told herself. He can't like me that much. Not yet. She wasn't sure why she thought that. After all, she liked him more than she could fathom and for no certain reason she could figure out. They seemed to have some sort of crazy deep connection. It was like they completely understood one another. What in hell was in that tequila sunrise? "Forgive me" he muttered, and it took Cat a moment to comprehend what he said for no sooner than the words left his mouth, he leaned across the table and cupped the side of her face with one hand and kissed her. She was so shocked at first she opened her eyes and stared at him, but didn't pull back. His eyes were open a bit, to catch her expression, she supposed, but as soon as her body relaxed he closed them. She did the same. She had never felt a kiss like that before. In fact, it was as if she had never been kissed ever before. He pressed his soft lips so hard into hers, it made her lightheaded. Soon, she felt his pressure ease and his lips part. She parted her lips as well and accepted his tongue. She sucked quickly on his tongue, slid hers into his mouth, and nipped his lower lip. She swore she felt him swoon. He pulled back gently, but not so far she couldn't feel his hot breath on her cheek. He pressed his lips to hers again, light and sweetly this time. Evan stood up, even in the dim light she could see his face was flushed. She smiled at him again. He leaned in close to her and whispered, his hot breath on her ear and neck made she shiver, "the downtown art gallery, nine p.m. tomorrow." He still had her hand in his from when he had first taken it at the bar. He lifted it to his mouth, lightly kissed it, and let it slide from his. Then he disappeared down the stairs and through the crowd with that captivating ease of motion that she had noticed when he first approached her. Cat was smitten. And perplexed. He was an enigma; she had not been wrong in that assumption. However, she was one too. She had wanted to fall in love for so long. Maybe this was her chance. Fingerpainting Ch. 02 Cat couldn't get Evan out of her head. She had been trying since the moment he walked away from the café table the previous night. "Damn" she muttered as she stood up from the kitchen table in her apartment. She walked to the refrigerator to get chilled water. She leaned against the cabinet and stared at the drawing pad on the table. The beginnings of a cityscape were apparent. The foreground was entirely erased. She often used either herself or Ande for the model of any woman in her art and her dad, because his features were the masculine manifestation of her own, or her friend Jake as the model for men. Because she both had the images of these people ingrained in her mind and pictures of them were scattered about the apartment, sketching them did not require their actual presence, except in the case of herself, which was convenient because it allowed her to work whenever inspiration struck. What was disturbing her was that when she sketched the male figure into the cityscape she, without being aware of it until after the fact, placed Evan hand in hand with herself. She futilely tried to convince herself that it was Jake with longer hair, but it was obviously Evan. She shook her head and glanced at the clock. It was nearly seven and since she planned to take him up on the "downtown art gallery, nine p.m." she needed to get dressed. * * * She pulled into the parking garage near the gallery a few minutes before nine. She usually ran a bit late, and a few minutes at these gallery shows never mattered in the least. She had dressed in a simple black cocktail dress. It was strapless, form fitting, and mid-calf length with a slit over halfway up one thigh. She also had on her favorite strappy stilettos, which happened to be silver. She fluffed her hair one last time in the rearview mirror and touched up her lipstick, which really didn't add any color to her lips but provided a nice shimmer and the illusion of even greater fullness. She got out of her car and walked out to the sidewalk. It was chilly out, but still not cold, as she strolled toward the gallery. It was a nice night for this late into the fall. The sky was clear and if she hadn't been in the middle of downtown, she was sure the stars would be breathtaking. She was hopeful that she and Evan could go for a walk later. * * * Evan stood in the entryway of the gallery. He was fidgety. And nervous. It annoyed and disconcerted him that she was doing this to him, already making him crazy. He had only met her less than twenty-four hours ago, after all. He knew nothing about her. In fact, he had no idea whether or not she would even show up. She hadn't explicitly said she would. Something in her eyes and smile was confirmation enough for him though. Something about her manner had also told him that she would actually know where the downtown art gallery was and would be comfortable in this setting. He was the one who wasn't exactly comfortable. Maybe she would want to take a walk. Or anything else. He had to put in an appearance, but he was already anxious to leave. At least the paintings were interesting tonight. And the punch was decent. He had dressed to impress, not that it took much for him to look good. A black Armani suit never diminished his appearance though. His hair was loose and hung somewhat in his face. He didn't wear a tie. Only a black button down dress shirt with the top two buttons left open. He paced back and forth in the entryway. He glanced at someone else's watch. Almost nine. He hoped, more than he had hoped for anything in a long time, that Cat would walk through the door soon. When he saw the angel in the black dress saunter or float or strut or however it was that she seemed to magically move to the door, his breath caught in his chest. He was sure he saw her eyes light up when she saw him as she walked into the gallery. He didn't want to get his hopes up too much. "You look amazing," he said when she was close enough to hear him. When she reached him, she cupped his face in her hands and placed the most amazingly light, sexy kiss he had ever experienced on his lips. Then she hooked her arm around his waist and said "Well, while we're in here, we might as well look at the paintings." He laughed and put his arm around her. She seemed so small, physically, especially standing with him, but her personality and attitude made her presence stand out. As they walked from piece to piece around the gallery, Cat's discussions of the various techniques and styles, along with the appearance that she was completely at home in the gallery, convinced Evan that she must be seriously into art. He was curious of what kind. "What do you do?" he finally blurted out, while she was admiring the way the artist had blended some paints. She seemed a bit startled, but laughed and told him. "I'm a senior in college. I'm going to the law school here in the city next fall. I paint. I draw. I am an artist, but law is how I will pay to live. I've been a freelance writer, a bank teller, a waitress, and a few other things. Now, how about you?" "I'm an architect. An architect who has been really lucky." He was sure she wondered what he meant by that, but she didn't ask. Perhaps she already knew him better than he knew himself. He sensed that she could read him like a book. He looked down into her eyes, gave her a crooked grin and kissed her hard enough he had to pull her to him. When he stopped, she licked her lip a bit and gave him that smile that made him feel like he was melting. "Let's get out of here," he whispered in her ear. His voice was husky and low. She shivered, grinned at him again, batted her eyelashes, and he pulled her closer to his side. I'm not going to be able to hold up against this for very long, he thought warily. It wasn't like he wanted to though. He already knew that the minute she made a move, he was all hers. He wanted to put more work into it than that. He hoped she would at least wait and let him romance her a little. * * * Cat loved the way Evan looked at her. It was like she was beautiful and intelligent and like he already knew everything about her. Maybe he did. They seemed to have some bizarre connection. She looked up at him as they stopped along the railing of a little bridge in the park. He was smiling. Well, not smiling exactly, but a little grin was tugging at the corners of his mouth and his eyes were twinkling. He looked so kissable. He glanced down at her and caught her eye. He slid his arm around her back and turned her to face him between himself and the bridge railing. He wrapped his arms completely around her and held her tightly for a moment, then lowered his head and breathed deeply on her neck just below her ear, his lips nearly grazing her neck. She breathed in sharply and pulled Evan more tightly against herself. She had never felt this way about a man before. He literally took her breath away. Pressed so closely against him, the bulge in his pants left no doubt how badly he wanted her. She wasn't going to keep him waiting long, but they had barely talked on the stroll from the gallery. She wanted to get to know him a bit better before she slept with him. The way she felt around him made her think that it wouldn't matter what order she did things; he would be in her life from now on. "So, Evan, do you have more to your name than that?" His laugh was disarming. She had noticed that sometimes he could look a bit withdrawn and somber, but every time he looked at her or smiled or laughed, every trace of cold was gone from his face. She didn't mind if he could be withdrawn or that he might have some problems being friendly. Not that he had, thus far. She sensed that he could be that way though. She could be an ice queen herself. She was sure her emotions and such would cause him much more trouble than his would incur on her. "Yes, I have a whole name. It's Evan Quentin Grey. I'm guessing your question was really asking me who I am. Perhaps not, but I think I'll tell you some things anyway. I'm an architect, but I've mentioned that. I design eco-friendly buildings that are both functional and, of course, eye-catching. Like that art gallery." Cat nodded and tightened her hold on his waist. He continued. "People tell me I act like a quarrelsome old man. Maybe I do, but you make me feel like I'm floating on a cloud. I don't think that sounds like a quarrelsome old man talking. I dislike football and pop music. I also dislike people who are fake, hypocritical, or liars. I do like sunsets and snowboarding, though I think I would prefer dancing with you to anything in the snow. Oh, and I like dogs. Now, about yourself?" Cat laughed. "Catherine Bay Williams. Yes, it's a rather unusual middle name. I'm apparently an ice queen, but you seem to have warmed me up just fine. I also dislike football and pop music. I hate musicals but love operas. I like books. I draw, paint, and whatever else I feel inspired to do. You would enjoy dancing with me. Oh, and I like dogs." He laughed and mussed her hair. "You're quite the crack up, little one," he said teasingly. * * * Evan couldn't pass up an opportunity to touch Cat, or look at her, or especially kiss her. Her lips were so full and soft. Her kisses were always spontaneous and he never knew what kind to expect. They ranged from a feather-light brushing of the lips that felt like kissing a cloud, to an oh-so-hot French that nearly knocked him off his feet every time. "So, Catherine Bay, where would you like to go now? It's only eleven, that's an early night for me." Much to his delight, Cat ran her hand lightly down his back and in a voice that was somehow simultaneously soft, playful, and amazingly sexy said "Well, Mr. Lucky Architect, where do you live?" Evan laughed happily and spun Cat quickly around, dipped her backward over his arm and gave her a kiss. She stood up looking dizzy and giddy. He loved her smile. He was powerless against her every move and he had a feeling she wasn't even trying to seduce him. He wondered what that would be like. He hoped he was correct in his assumption that he would find out much sooner rather than later. "Well, little one, I'm parked about five blocks down the street. I'll take you there. I'll bring you back to your car when you decide you want it again. It will be safe in the parking garage." He hadn't been this happy in a long time. It wasn't just that he wanted to sleep with her, which he did, very much so, she just felt right. He could actually feel himself falling for her. He knew it was way too soon to call it love, but that was what he felt when he saw the twinkle in her eyes as they walked, arms wrapped around one another, down the street. They chatted idly about music, family, hobbies, and their pasts. She learned that he hadn't had a relationship, or even a date, in over two years, and that he had quite a past prior to that. He learned that she had a bad reputation, but really hadn't had sex since her sophomore year; she just fooled around a lot. He also learned, rather by accident, that kissing her neck made her melt. When he paused to do so on a street corner, the way she leaned into him made him think he may have to carry her. He nearly fell over laughing as he caught her expression when she realized that he owned a motorcycle, not a car. She didn't look frightened, rather, she looked more or less amused. "You're going to have to put me on it, Evan. I don't think this dress is going to cooperate. And I'm going to freeze; which means you'll have to work extra hard to warm me up when we get to your place," she said teasingly. She wasn't kidding about him having to put her on the bike. She was light as a feather though, so lifting her on was not a problem. "Here," he said, taking off his suit jacket. "I'll still warm you up, but I think you'll want this." He winked and gave her that amazing little crooked grin. He also handed her his helmet. She mumbled something about having helmet hair, but put it on anyway. He couldn't help but think how adorable she looked. * * * He rides a motorcycle! How hot is that, Cat thought to herself. She was so excited. She knew her eyes were twinkling. He climbed on in front of her and managed not to kick her. That must have been a bit tricky. His legs were long, after all. The slit in her dress did facilitate actually sitting on the bike, but was not adequate to help her get on or off. She didn't mind letting him pick her up, though it made her feel like a rag doll. When he was seated, she slid forward and wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as tightly as she could. He ran a hand slowly down her thigh, the one bare because of the slit, and sighed. She wasn't worried about getting too cold on the ride. Being this close to him had her quite hot. And wet, but he didn't need to know that just yet. His apartment wasn't far, but it was enough west across town from hers that he had the amazing mountain view. She laid his suit jacket over the back of his sofa and he handed her a small throw blanket as they stepped out onto the balcony. She couldn't quit thinking about how badly she wanted to draw the view. Her fingers burned for a pencil. Then he kissed her. So much for drawing... and not sleeping with him tonight, Cat thought. She was still holding the blanket and he slowly took it and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him with the edges. He slid his arms around her and pressed her between himself and the balcony railing. He was staring into her eyes with the tip of his nose and his forehead touching hers. His eyes really were like the ocean; they looked so black but blue at the same time. She was amazed. She managed to get one hand out of the confines of the blanket and slid it around the back of his neck, pulling his lips down to hers. She pressed her lips to his, lightly at first. Then she parted her lips and alternated nipping and sucking his lower lip until he was almost panting. She took the hand that was still caught between him and herself and ran a finger under the waistband of his suit pants all the way across his front. With that, his breath caught and he scooped her up and carried her back into the apartment. She could see the flush on his cheeks even in the dark. * * * The bedroom was entirely dark. Evan shifted Cat's body and switched on a small lamp that was on a table near the door. It provided that dim light that doesn't let anyone see too much but is incredibly romantic. The room was, like the rest of the apartment, carpeted in a dark cream color and Evan had placed darker colored area rugs around. The decorating reminded Cat of her own. The furniture was all dark cherry stained or black iron. The curtains were light, but plantation blinds kept all unwanted light at bay. Black and white photographs and art prints hung in glass or black frames. The bedding looked lush and welcoming. It was primarily dark red, with layers of black and cream. Evan carried Cat to the side of the bed and lowered her onto it. Rather than lie back, or wait for him to sit next to her, she stood. He lowered his mouth to her neck and began laying delicate kisses from her ear down to her shoulder. She ran her fingers down his chest from his shoulders to his belt. Then she began to tug his shirt loose of his pants. He found the zipper on the back of her dress and undid it. She stepped out of the small pile of black satin and was left in a black lace strapless bra, matching thong, and the silver stilettos. He saw a flush run across her chest as he ran his hands over her shoulders, down her sides and around her waist. She began working on the buttons of his shirt and when she finished, slid it back over his shoulders. He shrugged it off and continued to stand relatively still with his hands on her waist as she unfastened his belt and pants. Fortunately, he had taken off his shoes and socks when they first arrived, because she disliked the sight of dress socks and boxers. Nothing could have made him unattractive, in her opinion, but she grinned at the thought that he was as vain as she was. She licked her index finger and slid it slowly down the center of his chest, stopping at the waistband of his boxers as she bent down to slip off her shoes. She could see the bulge of his erection and grinned up at him. As she stood up again, she ran a hand up the inside of his leg, from his ankle up to mere inches from his package. "You're toying with me," he said with a grin. "Of course. But you love it. Don't worry; you'll get your turn." She backed toward the bed and climbed onto it backwards, gesturing for him to follow. It wouldn't have mattered what she had done, he felt like a puppy on a leash and she was right, he loved it. She reached for his shoulders and gently pulled him down on top of her. He put one knee between her legs and the other on the outside and braced his upper body above her. He lowered his mouth to hers and nipped at her bottom lip, then slid his tongue along the side of hers. He lowered his mouth further and laid kisses along her neck and chest. He sat back on his heels and slid his hands behind her back to unfasten her bra. She arched her back to accommodate him, which only made her look more delicious. He tossed the bra into the floor, gave her an adorably wicked grin and slipped her thong off her hips. She worked it the rest of the way down and kicked it off. That only left his boxers. She was having the time of her life. As he braced himself above her again, she ran her hands along his back and shoulders pulling him closer into reach of her lips. She wanted him so badly and she wanted him as close to her as he could get without smashing her. She ran kisses and little nips along his shoulders and neck. She swirled and circled her fingertips lightly, tracing little designs all over his back, chest, and arms. She slipped her hands down his sides, feeling the heat of his body. His breathing was so ragged she almost laughed. Someone's having a hard time controlling himself, she thought. She quickly hooked her thumbs in the waistband of his boxers and slid them down. He eagerly helped get them off, his excitement causing a bit of difficulty. She gently rolled him over on his back because she wanted more access to his body. He's going to remember this night for the rest of his life, she thought when she saw the look in his eyes. He was smiling. Not a little grin, but a broad, boyish smile that made her want him to take her right then. Not yet. With the way he makes me feel, he deserves anything I can give him. I'm never going to forget this either. She grinned back at him and knelt, one knee between his legs and one to the outside. She lowered her lips, first to his, laying feather-light kisses and then playfully nipping at his lower lip. She moved down to his neck and chest, her hair brushing his skin, running her fingers over his nipples and then down along the lean lines of his stomach. She sat back on her heels and slid a hand around his hard member. His body was visibly shaking as she lowered her mouth to him. She licked the length of him, then took all of him into her mouth, sucking briefly. She noticed the white knuckled way he was gripping the sheets and decided she better not mess around too long because he might not be able to last. She continued to hold the base of his member and swirled her tongue around the head. She ran her hands up his chest again as she lay down next to him, kissing him hard on the mouth. Evan could hardly breathe as he climbed on top of Cat. Sweat was beginning to glisten on his chest. She smiled. She ran her fingers through his hair. He kissed and licked his way down her neck and chest, taking each hard nipple into his mouth. Her soft moans urged him on. Her skin was as soft as silk and so creamy he couldn't believe it. He continued licking and kissing down her stomach to inches above her slit. He ran a slightly rough hand over a breast then down her side, tickling her stomach. He looked into her amazing blue-green eyes with those dreamy lashes while he slipped a hand between her thighs and dipped a finger into her. He thrust it in and out a few times, rubbing her clit with his thumb. He loved the way she squirmed beneath his touch and pressed into him like she couldn't get enough. Her mouth was open and her breathing had gotten heavy. Fingerpainting Ch. 02 She hadn't noticed that he had shifted backwards on the bed until she felt his mouth on her lower stomach, then her thigh. She gasped loudly when he ran his tongue the length of her slit then sucked her clit between his lips. She could barely keep still on the bed. When he felt her thighs quivering, he shifted back up on top of her and kissed her neck as he slid into her. Both of them gasped. The sweet heat built quickly with each deep, slow thrust. She lifted her hips to meet his each time. He could barely keep control of himself, but it was not long until he felt her body shaking and she muffled her cries against his neck. He let go and she felt a warm flood as he kissed her and his moan was quieted by her lips. * * * They lay tangled with one another for a long time, kissing and touching, while the sweat cooled on their bodies and they regained the energy needed to move. Eventually, Evan rolled off Cat and pulled the blankets back for her. He kissed her and walked out of the room. She wasn't sure where he went, but she went into the bathroom and cleaned herself up a bit. She walked back out and sat on the edge of the bed to wait for him. Soon, he came back in with a plate of strawberries dipped in sugar and two glasses of ice water. "Out of champagne," he laughed as he handed her a glass. He set the tray on the night stand and flopped down on the bed next to her, looking nothing less than content. He took a strawberry from the plate and fed it to her. She laughed. They talked about lots of things but nothing important while they finished off the strawberries, then fell asleep snuggled together. Just before they dozed off, Evan kissed the back of Cat's shoulder and murmured, "I have to go to work for a while tomorrow, but I'd really like it if you were still here when I came home." Cat just squeezed his hand and smiled, thankful that she didn't have class for the next few days. She was totally falling for him. Fingerpainting Ch. 03 It was nice to be able to spend the day grooming, being artistic, and cooking. Cat had just finished taking a pan of cinnamon buns out of the oven and flopped down on the sofa to lounge and think for a few minutes. She had no idea what time Evan would be back. It was still early in the afternoon, so she probably had a little while. He had left her a key and she had wandered the neighborhood around his apartment, going into little shops of various sorts until she had a small supply of grooming items, clothes, other necessities, and baking ingredients. She had no clue whether he liked cinnamon buns, but thought it was a good possibility. At any rate, she loved them. As she waited, she suddenly realized that she had been in the best mood she could remember. That was puzzling. Why would acting like a housewife make her happy? Some sort of bio-engineering perhaps? She knew she would never be happy just cleaning and cooking... but if there was art too... It was a possibility. The shocking thing was, that particular possibility had never occurred to her. She had never known a man she wanted to take care of. She had never stayed in a house and felt comfortable and, well, loved. She didn't want to get her hopes too high for this relationship, but... She found a sketchpad and pencils she had purchased earlier and set to work taking her mind off thinking about the future. A bit after six o'clock, just as the sun was going down, Cat heard keys jingling in the door lock. She pushed herself up off the floor, where she was sketching a print of Nike of Samothrace, and wandered over to the door. Evan looked stunning even coming from work. He was dressed nicely, though he was slightly ruffled by now. He wore charcoal pants and a red wine colored button down shirt, with the top buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up to the elbow. His dark hair was tied into a tight knot at the back of his neck, but a few strands had come loose around his face. His five o'clock shadow made him look rougher than she had seen him, but it was so sexy that she had to concentrate considerably not to jump him then and there. He grinned when he saw her and the adorable boyish quality made her feel completely melted inside. * * * She had dressed in distressed boot cut jeans that fit her booty more perfectly than she could have imagined possible, and a loose black off-the-shoulder angora sweater. She had left her hair in soft curls and they waved around her face and shoulders giving her a certain untamed look. He liked it. A lot. She looked amazing and he smelled her own vanilla scent and... cinnamon? He was starving and would have to ask soon, but there were more pressing matters. He pushed the door shut behind himself and slid an arm around Cat's back and under her shirt, taking a moment to enjoy the cool silkiness of the skin on her back, and the warm softness of the skin on her tummy. She smiled, and leaned into him, purring softly as he nuzzled into her neck and kissed her ear, then cheek, and finally lips. She returned his kiss with slightly open lips, nipping gently on his lower lip until he let her tongue glide past his. He pulled her tighter to himself as she kissed passionately, eyes closed. She let a hand wander from cupping the side of his face, down his neck, over his muscled chest, down his side, to cup the firming gift in his pants. He guided her slowly backwards to the sofa, unfastening her bra under her sweater as they went. When the backs of her knees bumped the sofa, Evan stopped and held Cat around the waist, just looking at her face. Though always beautiful, it held the potential to look harsh and cold. Now however, it was glowing and open, and wonderful. He kissed lightly on her forehead, eyelids, nose, cheeks, lips, and chin. Then he moved to her weak spot; the side of the neck, from her shoulder all the way up to and including her ear. He began by kissing lightly, up and down. Then, he kissed harder, and sucked the skin a little. Finally he bit gently up and down her neck, and then firmly held that one spot where her pulse showed through between his teeth and lips. She swayed into him grinning, whimpering, and her eyes looked dreamy. He pulled her sweater off over her head and her bra fell to the floor with it. She reached to un-tuck his shirt, but he caught her wrists and began kissing her chest, from the collarbone, down, between her breasts, to her bellybutton. When she seemed unlikely to resist, he let go, unfastened her jeans, and slid them over the swell of her bum and hips. They fell the rest of the way to the floor and she stepped out of them as he lowered her to the sofa. He cupped each breast, taking care not to touch the nipples and massaged gently. When she began to squirm, he began kissing and licking the swell of each and around to the sides of her ribcage. She managed to undo the knot his hair was in, but stopped there. He lightly stroked up and down her tummy and sides with his slightly rough hands and then moved down to her hips and thighs. She parted her legs without prompt and he stroked her slit as he took a nipple in his mouth, alternating between licking and sucking. She moaned like a porn star as he dipped one, then two fingers, into her. She was warm and incredibly wet and he had to fight himself not to jerk down his pants and take her. Had she looked at his package, she would have seen that men can get a little wet too sometimes, and this time it showed. He knelt between her legs and kissed from her bikini line to her lips, then licked the entire length of her slit, then pulled her clit into his mouth. He sucked hard for a second then went back to teasing all the folds with the tip of his tongue. She was panting. He wanted her so badly he could hardly stand it. He teased until she was on the verge of coming, then stopped. She grabbed him by the hair and pulled his mouth to hers, kissing and licking until she had gotten all her wetness from his lips. She unbuttoned his shirt as quickly as she could manage with the distraction of him nuzzling her neck and breathing sweetly dirty nothings in her ear. He shrugged it off and she moved to his belt and pants. They were easier to remove; buckle, button, zipper, and down they went. She kissed a line from his lips down his jaw, shoulder, chest, stomach, over to the little cut line up near his hip, down to his thighs. Then, oh, then, she moved to her favorite part of all. She licked and kissed and softly massaged him, relishing the soft smooth skin, and the incredible warmth and hardness of his member. She licked and kissed the length of him, taking a great deal of time tickling the skin just around the head with the tip of her tongue, which nearly sent him into convulsions. Just when he was panting and moaning enough, she took all of him in her mouth at once, which was no easy feat. She went slowly, taking him in, and sucking as she drew back. She loved the feel of his soft and firm head on the back of her throat and then sliding silkily and wet over her tongue and between her lips. She kept it up until he was trembling all over and he gripped the edge of the sofa cushions so hard his knuckles were white. Abruptly, Evan stood up, scooped Cat up and bent her over in front of him. She grabbed her ankles and he plunged into her warm wetness. The initial sensation nearly overcame them both, but soon, Evan found a sweet and hard rhythm. He grabbed her hips and pulled her toward him so hard he feared he would hurt her, but her cries and moans said nothing of pain. She was loving every minute. He reached with one hand around the front of her and rubbed her as he continued to move in and out. She came with a breathless cry and a rush of her own liquid down her thighs. Her sounds and the way her muscles tightened around him when she came were too much for him, and he finished too, with one final thrust and a growl low in his throat. For a moment they both stood there panting, tingling, a bit numb, and not sure what to do about all the fluid trickling down Cat's thighs. Finally, Evan scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom. They took a quick shower together, having a great deal of fun soaping up one another and splashing around like children. * * * After they had dried off, Evan decided that he was far too hungry to put off the cinnamon scented question any longer. "So, little one, what smelled so heavenly?" "Cinnamon buns. Do you like them?" "Like isn't the word I would use." "Oh. I suppose I should have asked. I can make something else if you'd like..." "Love is far closer to the word I would use." "I see," she smiled and tossed a throw pillow at him. "There's a homemade pizza ready to put in the oven too. I just wasn't sure what you'd want on it." "Better watch out, cutie. I could get too used to this to let you leave." She didn't know what to say to that because she wasn't ready to admit what she had been feeling all day, which was that she wanted exactly that. So she just grinned, gave him a big hug, and turned the oven on. * * * Evan doubted Cat had any idea how close to the truth what he had said about not wanting her to leave was. He had thought about her constantly since the night they met. He wanted to get her out of his mind but he couldn't. It wasn't any fun at all to be head over heels for someone when they weren't just as head over heels for you. Well, he said he wanted to get her out of his mind... What he really wanted was for her to miraculously declare undying love for him; that way he could think about her all the time and not have to worry about throwing his heart out to get smashed again. He had told himself he wouldn't let that happen ever again. And he had done a good job of it too, for two years. However, now, he just wasn't that determined to avoid heartbreak at any cost. Not when that cost was missing out on Cat Williams. He couldn't believe he had fallen so hard. Not so quickly anyway. And he wasn't even sure what it was about her that made him... dare he say it... love her. Well, he couldn't tell her that yet. Not until he was absolutely sure. Being wrong would just make things awful. Deep in his heart and soul, however, he knew he wasn't wrong. He was surer of it than he had been of anything his entire life. Now, the matter was just hoping she felt about him like he did about her. * * * Cat perched herself atop a cabinet in the kitchen while waiting for the pizza to finish cooking. Twenty minutes can seem like a lifetime when you're starving and trying not to look completely love sick. She kept stealing glances at Evan while he glided around the kitchen setting out dishes and napkins and making drinks. He really was beautiful for a man. He had just pulled on a pair of jeans after their shower and the muscles in his upper body were really spectacular. It wasn't like they were particularly large; it was that he was so big and they were so well formed, that he looked like a classical Greek statue. Maybe the spear bearer Doryphoros. At any rate, he was fantastic eye candy, with his damp hair, which she had determined was the deepest shade of chocolate, hanging down over his shoulders. She sighed wistfully, hoping that he would be ready for a second or third round later in the evening. She wasn't normally a nympho, but he certainly had turned her into one. She wished she knew how he felt about her. He was completely unreadable and he didn't talk much. He certainly loved to touch and kiss her, and he smiled a lot. And when he held her he didn't do it half heartedly. It was so...caring. And protective. And loving? Certainly not. Why... how could he possibly? No. She wouldn't even allow herself to think such things. She would just end up falling way too much and getting hurt. But wasn't this what she wanted? Someone to come home to? Someone to say 'I love you' to? Someone to say it back and give you hugs and kisses and do wonderfully naughty things to you in bed? Yes. Yes, damnit, it was exactly what she wanted and now she was afraid to take it. Then Evan looked up from the table at her and smiled, and it was so warm and genuine and made her so warm and fuzzy that she decided then and there to jump even though she was afraid. Terrified, more like it. She would go for it with all her heart, because, really, that was the only way to do anything right. And this might be the chance of a lifetime. Fingerpainting Ch. 04 Evan laid back on his bed with a sigh. He was exhausted, stressed, and he missed Cat. He hadn't seen her in over a week. At least she would say more than two words when he called now. He wasn't quite sure what he'd done to piss her off, but he was sure that she would tell him. He guessed it had something to do with him being inconsiderate of something. Sometimes, it was easy to forget she had feelings. She rarely showed them. He didn't feel like things were going so well between them at the moment. However, something about Cat made him unwilling to give up. It had only been a month, but they connected deeply. She was a spicy little thing and she warmed up the cold spot in his soul like no one else ever had. He drug himself off the bed and into the next room and sat at his keyboard staring at the sheet music he had been working on. Some of Cat's sketch paper and pencils were still at the drawing table by the window. He hoped that was a sign she didn't intend to stay gone too much longer. His dream a few years ago was to become a musician. He hadn't quite given up. There was an amateur night at a club on New Year's Eve. Cat had talked him into auditioning with his electric guitar for a time slot and to his surprise, he'd gotten one. That left him with a month to finish his set. In the middle of an intro knocking interrupted his train of thought. Who could that be? It's, what... almost midnight. Probably the neighbor wanting me to pick the lock to his front door again. Still can't believe he asked me if I would do it the first time because he thought I looked like a criminal. I guess I do, at least when I haven't shaved. He padded through the apartment to the door. He looked through the little security window, but didn't see anyone. Puzzled, he opened the door just in time to see chocolate brown and caramel streaks atop a tight black leather jacket disappear down the staircase. He heard her boots on the concrete and it removed any doubt he had left that it was Cat. Despite the cold and his relative lack of clothing and footwear, he ran out after her. "Cat! Wait!" he yelled after her as he tried to catch up. He had always thought he was quick until he met her. She stopped but didn't turn around. Only when he put a hand on her shoulder did she turn to look at him. What surprised him more than anything that had just happened was the shimmer of unshed tears in her darkly lined eyes. At that moment he didn't care what the problem was or why she had been avoiding him or the fact that he was barefoot and shirtless in twenty degree weather; he wrapped both arms around her and pulled her tightly to him. He felt her shaking and knew she was trying not to fall apart on him. "Hush, hush sweetheart. It's ok. Whatever it is, it's ok." He didn't loosen his hold on her, only rocked slowly back and forth. A few moments later, she took a deep ragged breath and pulled back from him. She dabbed at her eyes with the edge of her shirt sleeve. "Shit. You're going to get frostbite. Umm, can we talk?" Evan didn't say anything, just took her hand and led her back up to his apartment. * * * She felt horrible about what had been going on and his kindness shocked her and made her feel even worse about it. She wasn't used to guys caring about her. It puzzled her. That was the whole problem. She had quickly found out that, though she wanted a relationship, she didn't know how to have one. She was scared. What had drug her here was how much she cared about Evan. She had never felt like this about anyone before and she didn't want to lose him. He looked sleepy and a little ragged as he pulled her onto the sofa with him. He tried to hold her to him but she pulled back. She felt guilty for what she had been doing to him and didn't want him to comfort her while she apologized; that just seemed unfair. He looked hurt as she slid a little farther away from him and she decided that she had to start talking fast before she did any more damage. He looked tough, but he was actually pretty sensitive when it came to her. "Evan, I'm so, so sorry. I don't know where else to start. That's almost all I have to say." She looked at her feet, then at the wall. He stared straight at her, feeling a bit confused. "Why? I mean, I'm the one who..." she cut him off before he could finish. She wondered what he was planning on apologizing for. "Shh. No. It wasn't you at all. It was me." He tried to cut in but she motioned for him to stay quiet. "I want to try to explain. It won't make sense because it's stupid. I'm not trying to say it's an excuse, because it's not. It's just what I was feeling, even though it's wrong. You know I've never done this before. You know, cared about someone. Or especially the someone caring about me part. It confuses me and it makes me nervous. What makes me more nervous is how much I like being with you." "Why does that make you nervous?" he said, still confused. "Because... because it will hurt more if you leave." "I'm not planning on it." She sniffled, still trying not to cry. "Ande told me I was just scared. That I was trying to push you away or something. Like I thought it would hurt less if you left now rather than later." "The curse of living with a psychology major." He laughed and she finally brought her eyes to meet his. "Why are you so understanding? I don't get it. I act like a bitch and you're sitting here looking like you're just glad to be talking to me." "That's kind of how I feel." "Fuck you. I love you." The statement took Evan completely by surprise. Not the first part, but the last part. And the fact that she put the two together. "I love you too." Finally, she let him drag her onto his lap. She curled up in the nook under his arm. He bent his head forward, his hair brushing her cheek and neck. He looked into her eyes for a long moment then leaned down to kiss her. She opened her mouth willingly and accepted his tongue. They broke apart when both needed to breathe. She leaned forward and gave him another light kiss before snuggling back up to his chest. He held her there until she fell asleep, truly happy to be with her again no matter what her reasons for leaving had been. It scared him a little that she was so afraid to let herself fall in love, but he found hope in the fact that she had opened up to him. Usually, the two of them communicated well without words, but sometimes things just needed to be said. He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He laid her down, leather jacket, boots, and all, then curled up behind her and held her. She woke up a couple hours later and realized they were both still wearing what they had been all night. She gently squeezed his hand and turned to kiss him. He woke up a bit and smiled. Geez, I wonder if he knows how that sleepy little grin makes me feel. Probably. I'm such a pushover. She sat up and took off her jacket and boots, decided it was enough, and spooned him again. * * * The next morning Evan woke to the wonderful smells of breakfast. He stretched and got out of bed initially confused by why he was wearing blue jeans. He padded into the kitchen and kissed Cat on the neck as he wrapped his arms around her. "Morning, baby." Her voice was still low and sexy and sleepy sounding. She was wearing the same clingy off-the-shoulder long-sleeve t-shirt and jeans, now stretched out and riding low on her hips, she had been and her hair was a mess. He could barely take his eyes off her as she shuffled around the kitchen gathering plates and forks and such. She hadn't taken her eyes off him much either. She thought he looked good with bed head. And that sleepy look made him more delicious. She was trying desperately to work up the resolve to wait until after breakfast to take him back to bed. "What are you trying to bribe me to do, Sweetheart?" He grinned as he said it. "It's a make-up breakfast. And I woke up hungry." She winked at him. "And to think, I was only holding out for make-up sex..." he trailed off he kissed her again. She divided up the pancakes, scrambled eggs, and bacon as he poured glasses of orange juice and heated the maple syrup. Both sat down and ate happily. Cat's appetite amazed Evan sometimes. She was tiny, but occasionally she could put away a lot of food. Breakfast was always one of those times. He always had a healthy appetite. Especially for her. After they finished eating, they did the dishes together. It took ten times longer than it should have because Evan kept stopping to kiss or tickle Cat. She didn't mind; it was more fun that way. As soon as the last cup was put away, she turned to him, gave him one of the French kisses he loved so much, and tugged him toward the bedroom. He didn't take much coaxing, or any at all. When he growled low in his throat and she saw that wicked grin forming as he ran his hands under her shirt she knew she was in for a very long and wonderful day. * * * Cat had gone to the studio and Evan had been trying to read a book all afternoon, but people kept interrupting him. He had just picked it up again after talking to his cousin on phone when someone started knocking at the door. He grudgingly stood up and went to answer the door, again expecting the neighbor. Instead it was Cat's roommate with the lovely brunette hair, Ande. He couldn't help but notice how much Ande and Cat resembled one another. They weren't actually sisters in a biological sense, but they said they were and certainly looked the part. "Well this is a pleasant surprise! What brings you here?" Cat, Ande, and he had spent a lot of time together and he found that he always enjoyed Ande's company. She looked like the kind of girl that could get a guy into a lot of trouble, but she was as friendly and down to earth as any girl he had ever met. "You and my sis. What else?" She laughed. "Ok. I'm all yours." "When's she going to be back? This could take a while." "I don't know. She didn't say. She's usually gone until after dark. You know that." "Yeah, but she has a better reason to come home early to you than she does to me." "Aww, you flatter me." "Pish posh. You're so vain. You know I love you." She smiled. If he weren't totally taken with Cat he thought there would be little to stop him from trying something with Ande. "Ok... so what's the deal with the little one. I know you didn't come here just to say nice things to me." "You're definitely right about that." There was the smile again. Her laugh was just as endearing. He definitely thought she was attractive, but he was beginning to think of her more as a sister. "Well, things are going better than I thought they would. You know she's new to the relationship thing. She was, like, the best bachelorette ever. She never got attached, never had her heart broken, never acted like she wanted more than fun. Then she met you." "You say that like it's bad." "I don't mean it that way. She's scared. I think you know that. She probably even told you. Sometimes the girl's an open book then the next minute she closes herself off from the world." "I've noticed. I thought it was just me. Because I was new to her or something." "Not at all. In fact, you open her up more than anyone ever has. Even me. I've tried, but damn, she can be cold. You should see her with most of her family. It's like they don't even know her. Hell, most of them don't at all and don't even try. She's pretty much the stereotypical 'black sheep,' if you will. There are a couple who let her just 'be.' Her dad and one of the grandpas, I think. You know, they just expect her to be her and for her to let them just be them. They're really close. Then there's me. That was all she had. Until you." "Ok... I guess I'm dense, but I don't see where this is going. I mean, she's never really told me all that, but I had kind of thought it was that way..." "Where I'm going is that I'm asking you to be patient. She really does love you. But you know that too. Don't forget it. It might take her a really long time to get used to love and all that." "I'm not going anywhere." "Mr. Stoic. Didn't even crack a smile at any of that. She'll kill me if she finds out I told you all this. She has a lot of 'emotional issues,' but I guess everyone does. Hers are just getting ready to drive you crazy. Don't forget about me. I've known her a long time and seeing the two of you live happily ever after is pretty freakin' important to me, so whatever you need, don't hesitate to talk to me." "Thanks. Umm, I won't. Really, I'm glad you told me. Like you said, sometimes she'll tell me anything and then sometimes she won't give me anything." "Yeah, she's hard to get to know in some ways, but if you are just with her and don't worry about the details, her personality shows through so much it's like you've known her forever." "That's one thing I love so much." "Well... I don't want to push my luck at her not finding out that I'm meddling, so I'm out of here. Later, amigo." "See ya." "Oh, tell her to call me tomorrow or something. Not tonight, I have a date or whatever." "Will do." He smiled as she basically skipped down the steps and out to her car. Well, it's good to know she cares that much. Now, back to reading until the little one gets home. I have some fun in mind.