I glance at the window, the moonlight streaming in like a shaft of light illuminating just that one spot and it draws me to it. Surrounded by inky blackness, which is like a cover blotting out the whole world, nothing seems to exist beyond this inner sanctum. I’m safe. I know that. So, without thinking, I gradually begin to peel off my clothes and drape the soft, flowing robe around me.

Nico’s painting is etched on my brain, so I sit in the same pose, one leg tucked up beneath me, the other bent in front of me. Her hand lingered on her knee, her chin resting on her hand.

When he returns, he shows no emotion; no surprise. Instead, he’s looking at me with appraising eyes as one would any model. He dims the overhead lights even further, then approaches to slip the gown off my shoulders, exposing my breasts. Nico then adjusts the angle of my leg just the slightest fraction. The touch of his fingers on my skin is strangely comforting. I’m no longer Fern, I’m the form he needs so desperately to capture. I can see the intensity of his desire to do just that, as he grabs his sketch pad and pencils, and I know I made the right decision.

Then he begins to work. His eyes flicker over me constantly and it’s a gaze that I’ve never seen before. He’s in the zone and every little nuance matters. My fear that I would feel awkward is unfounded. The only fear I have is making sure I don’t move and become a distraction. Every little detail is dear to him and his brow is furrowed as he works, such is the level of concentration required. Each stroke of the pencil is crucial, as if it’s indelible and cannot be redone. He knows this sitting is my gift to him. It’s a night of intimacy I never expected to share with any man other than my husband.

Something deep within me, from my soul, connects with Nico in a way I cannot deny. It’s a feeling that I have never experienced before. I love Aiden and I’m loyal, but my feelings for Nico are confusing. I feel sorry for him, for what he’s been through, and I’m grateful for the way he’s inspired me as a mentor. But somehow in my head it’s all getting mixed up and I know it’s time to walk away.

Slowly buttoning up my shirt, the words begin to flow.