Free Forever Black by Sandi Lynn Page A

his chin rested on my head. At that moment I didn’t care
that he saw me like this, I just needed to be with someone right now, and he
was more than willing to be that someone.

Chapter 14
     
    We
walked into my apartment. Connor shut the door behind him. I threw my purse on
the table and walked to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine.
    “Are
you ok?” Connor asked as he followed closely behind. I scratched my head, “Yeah,
I’m fine, do you want some wine?”
    “Ah
no, I really have to go. I have a meeting with someone.”
    I
rolled my eyes with my back turned to him because I’m sure his meeting had to
do with getting laid. I opened the bottle, poured some into a glass and turned
around putting one hand on his chest.
    “Thank
you Connor, I appreciate everything.”
    He
put his hand to my face and gently wiped away a couple of tears that were left
with his thumb. “I know you do, and you are welcome.”
    Fire
swept through my body heating every part that ached for him at this moment.
This was a side of him that was tender and gentle; a side I wanted to know
better. My heart started racing, and the butterflies fluttered around every
time he touched me. I was vulnerable at this moment, and all I could think about
was kissing him passionately. I restrained myself because I was not about to
ruin our friendship.
    I
patted him on the chest, “You better go to your meeting Mr. Black; it’s rude to
keep someone waiting.”
    He
managed a small smile, “If you need anything, anything at all, please call me,”
he said as he pressed his lips against my forehead.
    “I
will, now go have a good night.”
    I
shut the door behind him and sat down with my wine. For someone my age, I have
experienced death more times than I should have. I needed to call Peyton and
let her know what was going on. As I got up and reached for my phone, there was
a knock at the door. I looked out the peep-hole and saw Connor standing there.
    “Hey,
what are you doing here?”
    He
walked inside, “Pack a bag; you’re staying at my place tonight.”
    I
looked at him with a stunned look, “No I’m not. I’m staying home.”
    He
sighed, “Elle, for once, just once, please do as I say.”
    “I’m
not a child Connor, and frankly you cannot order me around, I thought we had
this discussion already?”
    He
walked over to the corner of the room where my easel was and looked at the
unfinished painting sitting on it. His tone changed, “I don’t think you should
be alone tonight after the news you received, and my place has a guest room. I
would feel better knowing you were not alone.”
    He
struggled with every word he just spoke; I now realized that he had a hard time
with emotions.
    “Ok
Connor, give me a minute.” He nodded his head never taking his eyes off the
painting.
    I
threw a few things in a bag and walked over to him standing by the easel. “This
is what you were drawing in Central Park, isn’t it? The bride and groom in
front of the fountain?”
    “Yeah,
I started painting it that night.”
    “From
what I can see, you are a very talented artist.”
    “Thanks
Mr. Black, now let’s go.” He smiled and took my bag from me; he was full of
surprises today.
    His
penthouse was breathtaking, from the marble floors in the hallway to the white
walls and 2 story windows. The living room housed a beautiful dark grey sofa, a
large square wood table in the center and 2 leather wingback chairs, in a soft
grey. Long curtains hung from the floor to ceiling windows as the marble
fireplace was the focal point of the room. Black and white pictures hung
vertically on the walls in groups of three with various city scenes from around
the world. He came up behind me as I was staring at the pictures.
    “Do
you like these?”
    I
smiled, “Yes, they are beautiful. Where did you get them?”
    “I
took them.”
    I
whipped my head around, and the look on my face must have amused him because he
started laughing.
    “You
took these?” I emphasized each