Portrait of Jealousy (The Art Models Club Book 2) (12 page)
Read Portrait of Jealousy (The Art Models Club Book 2) Online
Authors: Amanda Meadows
“
Careful, I don't want to step on you in these heels.”
Amber carefully climbed into the tub.
Hunter's eyes widened but he didn't say a word.
Once in the tub, Amber knelt so that the heels were tucked safely behind her.
“On your knees!”
Hunter sloshed water as he lurched in the tub and knelt in front of her.
Amber suddenly thought of the bracelet. She started to put it aside, but Hunter caught her eyes and shook his head slightly.
“
It won't hurt it to get wet?” she asked, concerned.
Hunter shook his head more emphatically.
“Okay, I'm going to put your head under the water so that I can wet your hair,” Amber said carefully. “I want you to hold your breath. I'll keep you under for a tiny bit. But if you need to come up just raise your hand and I'll let go. Understood?”
Hunter swallowed, his Adam's apple moving up and down. “Understood.”
Grasping his thick locks, Amber gently pulled Hunter's head until it was touching her breasts. She slowly slid his head down, listening as he took a gulp of air before she continued to push his head lower, making sure it was always in contact with her skin. She allowed herself several moments of contact, right between her legs, before pulling his head gently back up.
There was a towel warming rack right beside the tub. She reached over and grabbed a warm towel to dry Hunter's face. Glancing at the mirror she saw that her bra was soaking wet and now see through. As she turned her glance to Hunter, she saw that he had also noticed the condition of her bra.
His jaw was tight with tension. He gripped both sides of the tub so hard that his knuckles were white.
Hannah smiled and squirted out shampoo into her palm.
“Close your eyes.”
She methodically lathered his hair, digging her nails into his scalp to massage it.
Hunter murmured appreciatively. But he still had a death grip on the tub.
“
Okay, time to rinse again,” she said breathlessly.
Once again, she pulled his head along her torso, pausing at the very end to allow his head to press against her pelvis. She moaned, knowing that she could not tease Hunter much longer because she was so inflamed herself. She released him suddenly and he came up quickly, breathing hard.
After she had wiped his face, Amber decided it was time to get serious.
“
Stand up,” she said softly.
Hunter sloshed water as he scrambled to his feet.
“Now I'm going to wash you,” she said.
“
First, I'm going to wash as far down as
possible
. Then I'm going to wash up as far up as
possible
.”
Hunter clenched his hands by his sides, his eyes locked on her own.
“Remember that you will not touch me.”
Hunter nodded and sighed.
Amber lathered up her hands and firmly washed Hunter's taut body. She could feel his muscles twitching beneath her touch as he struggled to comply with her orders. When she finally got to his middle, she knew that he was approaching his limits as his body arched against her. She couldn't blame him. She was trembling and weak kneed herself.
Voice shaking, she gave her last command. “I'm going to get into position. And then I want you to come to me. I want you to show me how much you missed me while I was gone.”
Hunter licked his lips, waiting, as Amber sat down, wriggling out of her panties. She placed them on the edge of the tub. Staring deep into Hunter's eyes, she lifted one leg at a time so that each foot, still in heels, rested on the opposite sides of the tub. Then she waited.
Hunter lost no time sinking back into the tub. He slid forward, so that his pelvis was just above hers. Cupping her head, he moaned as he devoured her with a deep, frantic kiss.
The bubbles had disappeared with Hunter's soapy body so that Amber could see their limbs twining in the water. Her breath was jagged as Hunter lifted her slightly, so that he could suck at her breasts through the thin wet fabric of her bra.
“
Now! Now! Now!” Amber yelled, moaning and pulling Hunter closer.
He half fell on her and then they were joined, writhing and bobbing in the water, fingers tangled together, both mindful of nothing but the other.
When Hunter finally collapsed against her, Amber felt as though her whole body hummed. They stayed in the bath, only climbing out when the water grew too cold.
Then they wrapped themselves in warm towels and cuddled in the bed, talking well into the night. As she drifted to sleep, Amber realized it was her best Christmas Eve ever.
The following morning, Hunter insisted on taking Amber out for a fancy Christmas buffet at a ritzy hotel.
“
But I don't have anything to wear,” Amber objected, once she knew where they were going.
“
Maybe you should open your Christmas present first, then.”
Hunter led her into the living room.
A small, potted Christmas tree, decorated with twinkling blue lights and tiny red and white bows stood in on the coffee table.
“
Where did this come from?” Amber asked, puzzled.
“
I know it wasn't here last night.”
“
I had Caleb put it in his room so I could surprise you this morning.”
Propped up against the tree were a couple of brightly wrapped packages.
“Wait!”
Amber ran to her room and came back with her own small wrapped box.
“It isn't much,” she said, as she placed it beside the gifts with her name.
“
Baby, you could get me pair of athletic socks and I would be happy after last night,” Hunter said, hugging her from behind and nuzzling her neck.
“
That was the most incredible experience I've ever had.”
Amber blushed. Then she pouted.
“But I spent a lot of time picking out those socks. How did you guess?”
Hunter laughed and then made her sit on the sofa.
“Let me open my gift first. I need some clean socks this morning.”
Amber handed him the package and watched as he carefully untied the bow. He slid one finger under the first piece of tape and tugged gently.
“Um . . .Hunter?”
“
Yes, gorgeous?”
“
What are you doing?”
“
Opening my package?”
Hunter looked truly confused.
“Oh, never mind.”
Amber watched as Hunter meticulously removed the paper and set it aside. She bit her lip, hoping he would like the gift.
“Baby! These are awesome!” Hunter exclaimed when he saw the small pile of brushes lying in pale blue tissue paper.
He leaned over and kissed her before holding up each individual brush to inspect it and admire.
Amber watched him with an insane grin on her face.
“
But,” he said hesitantly. “These are insanely expensive. Please tell me you didn't get a credit card.”
“
Nope! Paid for in cash!” Amber bragged.
“
I've been working a lot of extra shifts at the store and saving up.”
Hunter smiled, obviously relieved. He gave her a long kiss.
“Then I'm going to enjoy them even more.”
When Hunter handed her his gifts, she grinned mischievously.
“Now this is how you open a present,” she said, ripping with gusto.
Bits of paper flew everywhere. Hunter laughed and backed away in mock alarm.
Inside the first box was a pair of black, knee-length, soft leather boots.
“
Oh, they're so lovely!”
She immediately took them out of the box and put them on, standing to test the fit. They were perfect.
Hunter patted the sofa beside him and held out the next box.
Sitting down, Amber gave him an excited kiss on the cheek and then tore into the next package. This one held a beautiful, gray, well-cut dress with half sleeves and a simple bodice. Just by looking, Amber knew it must have been terribly expensive.
“Hunter, this is a lot,” she said.
“
I love it but you spent so much money on me.”
Hunter smiled.
“What, this old thing? Got it on clearance at Macy's.”
He prodded her and pointed to his watch.
“Now, go and get changed quickly so that we aren't late for brunch. We have reservations.”
Amber stood and saluted.
“Yes, sir!”
Then she wriggled her hips as she walked to her room. When she returned, wearing the new dress that hugged her curves perfectly, along with the new boots, she found Hunter looking incredibly handsome. In fact, he looked like a model.
“Wow, I feel like we are playing dress up.”
Amber smiled. “You look insanely hot in that.”
Hunter tucked his hands in his pockets and spun around. His gray, fitted dress pants hugged his hips. A pin striped button down shirt, with the top three buttons unfastened, looked as though it was molded to his chest. He held a matching gray jacket over one shoulder.
He held the other arm out to her.
“This way, Miss Holloway.”
A half hour later, Amber caught their reflection in the mirrored hall of the hotel. She hardly recognized herself. She looked sophisticated and beautiful. For perhaps the first time ever, she felt worthy of Hunter. At least for this moment, Hunter was all hers.
When Hunter told her about the antics of Isabelle Lebas four-year-old twins, and her jolly husband who took care of them during the day, Amber realized how crazy she had been to suspect someone she had never met. Worse, she realized that she had not trusted Hunter, who had never given her any reason to be jealous.
Later, as Hunter admired her self portraits, Amber was able to look at them with fresh eyes.
“I can see how your emotions changed from portrait to portrait,” Hunter said, pointing out the differences in her brush strokes and paint colors.
“
Almost like you grew up a bit while I was gone,” he whispered.
“
Is that coming from Hunter the TA or Hunter the Lover?”
Amber tilted her head to gaze into those hypnotizing eyes, feeling herself falling into a spell.
“I think Hunter the TA just left town.”
Hunter wrapped his arms around her.
“But even in Paris, Hunter the Lover is always with you.”
# # #
Thank you for taking the time to read Portrait of Jealousy. Please consider leaving a review! - xoxo, Amanda
Want to know what happens next?
Shades of Deception
is out now.
The best way to know first about news and contests is to join my newsletter.
I host
exclusive giveaways
just for newsletter subscribers!
We will never share your e-mail with anyone.
Amanda has a literary soul and has been in love with books since her early childhood. Some of the first books she ever read were from her aunt's collection of romance novels. The library was a special place for Amanda where she'd escape into the many worlds created by authors. Today, there is always a stack of books on her bedside table and loaded onto her Kindle.
Amanda loves the arts and has been writing stories for almost as long as she has been reading. She has taken many creative writing courses and has published numerous works in children's and young adult fiction, nonfiction, and now setting on her journey writing contemporary romance. Art courses that Amanda took in college provide the inspiration for creating a world of new adult romance in The Art Models Club series. Amanda lives in Texas with her husband, son, and their family dog.
Sign up for Amanda's Newsletter
