Black Rays

CHAPTER 31

"Don't move...
"What?" Seb froze looking at the young lady sitting behind the painting board with her painting brush and inks.
"Why?" He asked again staring at the coffee cup that was just an inch away from his lips.
"That's a perfect pause for a portrait " she said as she busied herself with the painting.
"You didn't tell me, I should have dressed up or put on something else!" He sounded grumpy and that earned him a playful laugher from her.
"No, your pajamas are beautiful. Black is the perfect colour for your skin." She continued painting "and by the way, have ever been a model or something of sort? I think I have seen your face somewhere!"
He chuckled trying not to shift even an inch "I was a model for a small company when I was in campus. A two year contract."
"You are one lucky bastard, aren't you? How did you do it?"
"My friend William took a photo of me when we were at the coast for a vacation and posted it. It set the internet ablaze. The next thing I knew is a man coming to my apartment to drop a business card. It was a good proposal with good money, I could not refuse!"
"Do you have the magazine with you?"
"Of course I do " he chuckled "I was so excited to be so famous and all that. Walking around the city and seeing my face on the billboards was just amazing"
"You must have loved the attention, mm?" Monica tilted her head to glance at him. He chuckled feeling a bit embarrassed.
"A little, if I wasn't wiser I think I would have married a gold digger" he said laughing at himself recalling the times when ladies would swam around him taking snaps and others proposing marriage to him.
"It's really funny how women can suddenly love you"
"They loved what you had. There are two different versions of women, those who will love you for who you are and those who will love you for what you have." She explained simply.
Seb squinted his eyes, watching her paint carefully as if she'd get a reward afterwards. He almost grinned, if only he wasn't the object.
"And which category do you fall?"

She suddenly looked up holding his gaze for a few seconds then went back to painting as if he hadn't asked her a question.

"Done!"
"Already?" He asked in surprise
"Of course, come on and check it out!"
He quickly rushed over to look at the art she was keenly working on. It was so real, so beside... Just perfect.
The colours blended just fine and the contours of his face looked even better in the painting.
"You can definitely change water into wine"
She laughed smacking his shoulders playfully "don't flatter me, it's not much of a big deal!"
She grinned at the portrait, it had been long since she painted again and Seb happened to be her first human object to paint. He was one luck dude, she didn't fancy painting portraits but Seb was one good looking guy who couldn't miss anyone's eye.
She smiled gently tilting her head to look at him. Her heart leaped to her throat when she found his face so close to hers. Her heart rammed against her ribs mercilessly, his face up close was wrecking her highly erected walls. His cook breathe with a distinct sweet scent of coffee was even more intoxicating than the cool scent of him. She swallowed fighting the urge to wet her lips that felt so dry at the moment. Her eyes dropped from his deep brown hypnotizing eyes to his slightly parted lips that were so close. Just how bad was the idea of tasting those...
Seb suddenly turned his head, shifting his gaze to the large slide doors that were open letting in the wet morning air. He tried to breathe, to forget the wild thoughts that were running in his mind just a second ago. He almost hated himself for thinking like that.

"It's not a good idea!" He whispered huskily standing up straight.
"Beautiful talent there, can I keep it?"
"Of course" she nodded standing up and taking a step away from him least she'd Ponce on the man and regret her choice later on.
"Thank you...

Sebastian ran his hand through his short hair, he grabbed the glass and emptied it in one gulp. Liquor wasn't his choice of drink when he wanted to forget and numb his conscience. But he had gone too far, he had made the worst choice in his life.
The two men sitting before him glanced at each other nervously. Since Seb showed up in the pub an hour ago, all he did was drink and drink without saying a word. Of course they knew something wasn't right, he'd behave so If he had done something wrong or regretful.
Rocky leaned closer to William nudging him with his elbow to air their thoughts.
William nudged Rocky back, waging his brow towards Sebastian who wasn't even aware of what was happening around him.