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"I--" How could I explain this? I’d always thought about it as row as a person To experience life To not grow stifled…attached Because attach those parts in the most painful manner possible when those attachments left you forever

He wouldn’t understand

He couldn’t understand

And there was no sense in arguing about it, so I did what I was best at I changed the subject

Stretching out in a pose, I pushed out my naked chest "Wil…I want you to draw aze slid downthe parts of me that it touched "I have already"

I licked my lips and smiled "Like this?"

He didn’t answer, but heat crept across his face

I sat up "You did?"

His face was stoic "I refuse to answer on the grounds that it oing to have to see this I’ll make you a deal I’ll put ht about that for a long tio home You have to put your shirt back on for that"

"That’s true But until then, I’d be wandering around topless in your house, ainst you You know…being wanton"

He continued staring at ain, don’t you?"

He stood "I’ll show you sos if you put on your shirt"

With a small noise of triumph, I did as he asked But in reality, I would have won either way Having hi, callused hands certainly wouldn’t be considered a loss by anyone’s definition

Williae, ranch-style holy enough was in the est bedroo was the best there He’d even installed an industrial-sized sink and drying rack in the attached bathroom so he could wash his supplies

The room was equipped to the nines with special tools and itenize The floor was polished concrete, and there was special diffused lighting with filters and shades at the ready to adjust the lighting There were also blackout curtains that could be drawn on all the s It was a lovely room and would have

Cabinets and standing equip with a roll of different backdrops hanging fro table doht Upon that table were a variety of brushes, palettes, boxes of charcoal, pastels and containers of special pencils and erasers, all perfectly organized I reached over to pick up a shiny metal ruler

"Don’t touch," he admonished After a stern frown creased his brow, he added, "Please"

My eyes widened and I pulled my hand back Apparently, the studio was sacrosanct "I don’t see any of your rules posted in here like in your smithy"

"That’s because people are not permitted to come in here--besides me"