Chapter 12

Silver’s POV

I was shocked when Elliot suggested I use him as his model. After the fiasco last night, I was going to ask him again to model for me.

When Leo brought me some of the paintings I left at my father’s house, I was surprised when I saw the painting of Gavin in the middle of them. I remembered painting it a couple of years ago when we first met. It was meant as a gift, but I was too nervous to give it to him, so I hid it in my closet.

My cheeks flushed at the thought of my father finding it. However, knowing how popular Gavin was around our packs, especially with women, I figured this painting would go well at the auction.

I spoke to Mariah, the head chef, earlier today while she was making lunch, and she mentioned that I should just ask Elliot once more to be my model.

“He might surprise you,” she had said just as she poured me a bowl of beef stew.

Mariah was a wise middle-aged woman who had worked for the Crown family for a long time. As Elliot previously mentioned, she was one of the best cooks in the region. She was not only the head chef at the mansion, but she was also in charge of the kitchen at the packhouse. She had employees that cooked the food at the packhouse though, and she would often go back and forth between the two places.

Mariah also owned a couple of 5-star restaurants that she would often check on and work at between her busy schedules. She was the busiest woman I knew. She travels around the packs often for work, which means she gets most of the gossip up front.

Because she worked for Elliot’s family for so long, she also knew Elliot better than anyone. I enjoyed talking to her while she cooked.

“Elliot might seem thick-skinned at first, but once you break through the surface, you’ll be surprised to see his soft interior. And I think he might have a soft spot for you,” she said, winking at me.

I blushed at her words.

I wasn’t sure if I believed them or not, but it was nice to think that Elliot might feel some sort of way towards me. Mariah knew that this was a marriage of convenience, as did Beta Leo and Gamma Erik.

My mind shifted back to the present moment as I stood in front of Elliot, wide-eyed at his suggestion.

“Are you sure?” I finally asked him, feeling suddenly breathless.

Instead of answering, he started to unbutton his shirt. My heart nearly leaped into my throat as his abs were revealed to me. He slowly slid his shirt off his body and placed it on the chair on top of his jacket.

“Do artists usually have nude models for painting? Do you like that?” He asked, his eyes never leaving mine.

He slowly reached for the belt on his pants before I snapped my mind back to reality.

“That’s good enough!” I said quickly. “You can sit down over here.”

I guided him over to a chair, forcing him to sit; my fingers brushing across his shoulders, sending shivers throughout my body. His body visibly tensed from my touch and his eyes shifted to meet mine.

Clearing my throat, I turned away from him before my cheeks turned too red.

I grabbed a blank easel and my watercolors, along with my stool, and positioned them in front of him so I could get to work.

I walked over to him and showed him the pose I wanted him to do before returning to my seat and getting to work. With a racing heart, I grabbed my watercolor and paintbrushes and started to paint.

The room was quiet as I concentrated.

After a short while, I fell into a comfortable pattern, and I felt more in my element. Elliot watched me, his eyes dark, and his face curious. I wondered briefly what he was thinking; his eyes were fixed on my features, and I tried not to notice it, but it was difficult when half of this job was to examine his every feature.

“You haven’t gotten dressed,” he pointed out, noticing my thin tank top and shorts.

I shrugged.

“I figured I was going to spend the day in the studio,” I told him. “What would be the point of dressing up for just myself?”

His jaw ticked, but he didn’t make any more comments on my attire.

I was very aware of Elliot watching my every move and occasionally I would make eye contact with him before returning my attention to the painting.

I had to keep looking at him for accuracy and each time I did, his eye would darken just a little.

“How long do you need to be staring at me?” He asked. “Because this is torturous.”

His voice was sultry, and my cheeks flushed.

“All night,” I answered, my voice dropping to a mere whisper.

He swallowed his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“I’m starting to regret my decision,” he murmured, his eyes scanning my body before he met my gaze.

My heart skipped a beat and my face felt hot. I turned my attention away from him, trying to avoid his gaze now.

He chuckled lightly as I bit my lower lip.

The rest of the night felt like an eternity. The painting started to come together nicely; I just needed to do a few finishing touches. I wanted to really capture the elements behind him, including the curtains placed for decoration. I wanted to somehow incorporate the red curtains with the backgrounds and make them blend with the roses falling at his feet.

“Okay, I’m going to change your position so I can capture the elements of the curtains behind you,” I told him as I approached.

He watched me earnestly and just as I reached him, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into his embrace, sitting me on his lap. I gasped at the sudden movement as his arms wrapped around my waist and I was enveloped in his warmth and scent.

“The night is now over. We are already half dressed. How about we do something else instead?” He asked, his voice dark and husky. “I think I deserve an award. Don’t you think?”

A hint of gold outlined his blue eyes, and I knew his wolf was at the surface. It made me wonder if it was his wolf that wanted me, or if it was Elliot.

His lips crashed into mine and I melted in the embrace, unsure of what else to do. As soon as our lips made contact, thoughts of everything else disappeared. He kissed me hungrily like he had been starving all night.

I ran my fingers across his smooth body and tingles erupted on the palms of my hands. He moved his hands up the insides of my tanktop and I didn’t stop him from removing it. Exposed to him, he teased each breast with his lips and teeth, causing them to pebble from his touch.

He removed his pants, kicking them to the side, and then in a quick motion he removed my shorts. My heart raced as he lifted me off the ground, making me wrap my legs around his wide waist, and then pushed me against the wall, his lips never leaving mine.

His kisses were filled with a desire that seemed foreign to me. I had never been ravished in the way that Elliot was ravishing me. It was almost like he couldn’t get enough. It was a primal need that almost bound us together and intensified with each kiss.

A low growl escaped his throat, and I knew it was his wolf taking charge of the moment.

I panted and yelled out his name as I came undone around him, falling limp in his arms. My legs shook and quivered as my pleasures skyrocketed and took me to new heights. My release was enough to push Elliot over the edge as well because soon he was joining me and moaning out my name as his lips found mine once again.

Exhaustion took over soon after and I found it difficult to keep my eyes open. Elliot lifted me into his arms and carried me away from my studio and up the stairs of the mansion.

“I need to finish my painting,” I murmured sleepily, my head resting against his shoulder.

“You need to rest,” he retorted. “You can finish your painting later. For now, it’s time to sleep.”

I was too tired to fight him, so I allowed him to carry me into our bedroom and place me in the bed. I closed my eyes, feeling his proximity as he put the blankets over my form and then slid into bed beside me.

He didn’t cuddle me though and I couldn’t keep the disappointment from surfacing in my chest. I wondered if this was just sex to him, or if there was something more going on between us.

As sleep took over, a small voice echoed in the back of my head saying, “Mark him…”