Free The Master & the Muses by Amanda McIntyre

curve of my neck.
    I slipped from his grasp. “The light is waning, Mr. Rodin.”
    â€œI have asked that you call me Thomas,” he said with quiet firmness.
    â€œAll right, Thomas. Still, if you wish to do more this afternoon before I leave—”
    â€œOh, yes, my muse. I would love to do more.”
    â€œI’ve no doubt you would, Thomas. Do you think I am so innocent that I do not know your reputation?”
    He looked at me curiously. “I think you pretend not to know how you affect me, Helen.”
    â€œI do think, Thomas, that you have found your inspiration much too easily in the past.”
    His smile grew wide. “Aha! My innocent little muse has a cunning side, as well.”
    â€œI am not worldly, it is true, but I do know a rogue when I see one.”
    â€œA rogue?” He held his hand to his heart. “Woman, you wound me with your words far too romantic for a man like me. A man, as you say, of my reputation.”
    â€œPerhaps I should take my leave for the afternoon.” I turned away and he grabbed my arm.
    â€œMy apologies, Helen. I had no idea that my affections would be repulsive to you.”
    â€œYou are not repulsive to me, Thomas, nor are your affections. But do not think that because I am here, you may take advantage of the situation.”
    â€œI see. You are a woman who prefers to be wooed, is that it?” He stepped around me, blocking my escape back into the studio.
    â€œI am a woman with needs, innocent though you think me to be.” I faced him.
    His gaze narrowed and he took my chin between his fingers.
    â€œThose dark circles—your complexion is pale. Helen, what is the matter? What ails you?”
    His immediate change in topic and manner scattered my thoughts.
    â€œI am not sleeping well,” I admitted.
    He pulled me into his embrace and laid his cheek on the top of my head.
    â€œYou must learn to trust me, Helen. When you are unhappy, I am unhappy.”
    â€œI don’t see myself through your eyes, Thomas.”
    â€œThen I will have to do better at showing you how important you are to me.”
    He smoothed his hands up and down my spine, and I welcomed this tender gesture. “You have been good to me, Thomas.”
    â€œI could be much more, Helen, if you’d allow.”
    His concern for my health prompted me to admit my worry regarding my employer. “I cannot keep lying, Thomas. I fear I will lose my job, or worse, Madame Tozier will go to my mother and ask her about my health.”
    He frowned. “Neither she nor your family realize that you’ve been posing for me?”
    I sighed. “Not everyone is as enamored of the brotherhood as you may like to think.”
    He chuckled. “You needn’t remind me.” His eyes drifted over my shoulder as if deep in thought. “Then we shall go see this Madame Tozier and teach her to adore the brotherhood,” he said finally.
    I laughed softly. “Do you honestly think that you can make a difference?”
    â€œGo get dressed. I’ll order us a carriage.” He smiled. “Oh, wait, do you need any help?” he called after me.
    â€œI can manage getting dressed on my own, Thomas, thank you,” I tossed back, but the smoky color of his eyes, the intimate way that he had touched me, lingered in my mind. As I dressed in his bedroom, I looked around, trying to get a clearer picture of my mysterious employer. He lived in an unkempt state and I often wondered if he hired a maid to come in and tidy up after him, but I had never seen one when I was there. I assumed that he ate out, as I’d not seen a cook either. He seemed, however, to have an endless supply of tea, wine and raspberry scones on hand. His bed was unmade, the sheets rumpled, and my mind flashed with the image of Thomas sprawled across it, his nude body draped with a careless covering. Need welled inside me. Having once tasted the precious honeyed bliss, my