Blank Slate

Chapter 87 - Payton Taylor

Flynn's art studio was really Flynn's apartment and it was only a few blocks away from Nezesaussi. I wouldn't classify as it being in the bad part of town like Christopher had implied, and it was miles better than wherever Ezra had walked to last night, but it wasn't the ritzy part of the city either. Flynn led me up two flights of stairs and unlocked a deadbolt before letting me into his apartment. 

It was a large studio with floor-to-ceiling windows that I could see would let in great light during the day. Flynn had a bed neatly made up in the corner across from a small kitchen. The rest of the open space was filled with art easels displaying incredible portraits of different people. There must have been at least three dozen completed pieces around the room, and I only saw a few landscapes scattered in with the multitude of faces and bodies looking back at me.

"Wow," I breathed out. I walked over to one that illustrated Evie dancing on the top of a shipping container and I could almost feel her energy coming off the canvas. Behind it was a face of an old Korean man with deep creases on his face and an expression that held such sorrow that I was surprised the painting didn't start weeping tears. "You are really good," I murmured under my breath while surveying his work.

"I am glad you think so," Flynn said and I looked over to see that he was setting up a huge lamp that had a large square head. He then placed a stool under the lamp and looked up at me. "I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to paint you." 

I remembered the first time Flynn had told me he would paint me and I thought he meant without my clothes on. I scanned the room again and did see a couple of nude portraits. I didn't think I was ready for that.

Flynn must have followed my train of thought because he was quick to reassure her, "Don't worry. Nothing scandalous. Mostly I want to capture your face. You always look so brave and strong, but sometimes your eyes reveal a vulnerability I am hoping to capture." Vulnerable sounded a lot like weak, and I didn't know if I should be offended or not. 

I was not weak. I was in control.

I was standing across the room from Flynn and when I didn't walk over to him, he stalked towards me while raking his gaze up my body. I flashed back to all the times he had touched me over the past hour and felt my stomach do a low flip that left me a little breathless. He didn't stop moving towards me until he had backed me up against one of the windows and then bent down and took my mouth in a deep passionate kiss. He wasn't hesitant or asking for permission this time. He was taking control of this moment and I couldn't do much but melt against his strong chest.

Flynn reached up and pulled my hair tie out of my hair and then grabbed the back of my head to deepen the kiss. His tongue worked to fully claim my mouth while his free hand skimmed down my side and left a trail of fire in its wake. After another intense moment, Flynn pulled back and stepped away from me. I swayed slightly without him supporting me and braced a hand against the wall to steady myself as I took several ragged breaths.

"Perfect," Flynn stated in a gravelly voice. "I want to paint you just like that. Keep thinking whatever you are thinking." He then walked over to me and lightly grasped my shoulders and led me to the stool he had set up under the large lamp. I was still reeling from the kiss and followed where he led me. Once I was sitting on the stool, Flynn bent and gave me another heart-stopping kiss before retreating to a workstation a few feet away. He quickly picked up a pencil and started sketching on a fresh canvas for a few minutes before he picked up a palette and started squeezing paint onto it.

I thought it would have been boring to sit and pose for Flynn, but his eyes would flick to my body every few seconds and it felt like he was caressing me with every look. The fire behind his eyes only increased as he continued to paint me, and I had the urge to kick the stool aside and demand that he touch me again. I didn't have to wait long to get my wish. I didn't know how much time had passed but Flynn gently set down his palette and took two big steps towards me. He bent and grabbed me by the waist and I wrapped my arms around his neck as he stood and started kissing me once again.

We continued to kiss as Flynn slowly walked towards the bed in the corner. When he reached the bed he carefully bent forward and supported my back as he lay on his bed before straightening and looking down at me with the same heat in his eyes as before. He kicked off his sandals and reached back to pull off his shirt all without breaking eye contact with me. I was breathing heavily and hungrily drank up the sight of Flynn's bare chest. He had a massive dragon tattoo that wrapped around his torso and was breathing fire over his shoulder. I moved up onto my knees and scooted to the edge of the bed so I could reach out and lightly trace the intimidating creature.

The moment I touched his skin he let out a low hum that resonated deep within my core. I wanted this. I wanted Flynn for this one passion-filled night. I wanted to forget my past, my troubles with the team, and my uncertainty with my future and just have one night to experience drama-free consensual intimacy. 

No one was hurting me. I was in control.

Flynn slowly reached for the hem of my shirt and I understood that he was asking for permission and I nodded my head. Once he had pulled the garment from my body, I reached back and checked the safety on my Sig Sauer before stretching out and placing it on the bedside table. Flynn took advantage of my new position to pull off the knee-high leather boots I had been wearing, and then crawled up the length of my body before crushing his mouth to mine once again. Flynn pressed his body down on top of me and I reveled in the skin-to-skin contact.

Flynn broke our kiss and moved his mouth down my jawline and then over to my neck. When he used his tongue to swirl a spot right behind my ear I let out a throaty moan and thrust my hips up towards his. I used my nails to trace up his back and Flynn let out a moan to echo my own. He started moving down the length of my body. First sucking and kissing down my neck and then along my collar bone only to continue down until he reached the fabric of my bra. He used his free hand to gently massage one breast while testing the other with his exploring lips. When he started lightly pinching my nipple through my bra I felt like he had a direct line to my clit and prayed that he wouldn't stop.

I was swimming in so many hormones and intense sensations that I didn't react when the door was kicked in three men came running into the room. My mind was still processing the change in situation when a big burly guy grabbed Flynn by the waistband of his jeans and pulled him off of me. The men were standing on the side of the bed with the bedside table that held my Sig, but I chose to roll away from them rather than reach for my weapon. I needed to figure out what the fuck was going on and assess the best way to proceed before I started putting bullets in people. 

Besides I still had my ankle piece.

The men seemed to be more interested in Flynn, which made sense since they were in his apartment, and the man that came around the bed to grab me clearly thought I was harmless. I had two plays here. I could either play the part of the scared girl until I got a better understanding of the situation or I could take out Mr. muscle number two right now. 

The problem was that the bed was still between me and Flynn. If I started fighting, then Mr. muscle number one might shoot Flynn with the gun that he was currently pointed at his head. I made a snap decision and started backing away from the guy approaching me with my hands raised as I cringed away from him in fear.

I was going to find out what was going on and get a better position before doing anything.