Sorry for the slight hiatus, grad school is kicking my ass. But summer is almost here and hopefully, that will give me the time I need to finish this story, woot-woot. Anywho this was fun to write, Enjoy!
I walked into figure drawing, still on a high from the previous weekend. I still couldn't believe that Jace had chosen me. He could have had any girl in the school and yet he chose the art freak that would rather spend her Friday nights binging Star Wars than going out to a party. Hopefully, he knew what he was getting himself into.
I walked into the back room and grabbed a canvas for today's project. The class had spent an extended period of time on the curvier models, learning proportions and how to maximize the delicate details of the body. It honestly had been an amazing series of lessons. I had learned so much and my already impressive drawings were slowly becoming more realistic. I know, I'm so modest.
I grabbed my array of charcoals and sketching pencils before heading over to my seat smack in the front and waited for class to start. Mr. Garroway made his way to the front once everyone was settled.
"As you know, we have covered a number of techniques over the past few weeks and I am very proud of the progress each and every one of you has made. I know that a number of you have expressed concerns that you're not seeing any improvements. It is important to understand that progress will be slow, but even the smallest change can transform a piece completely. In my experience, the best way to truly see progress is by remaking a piece. So the next few classes we will be remaking the first full body sketches for all three of our models. Since we just finished working the average body type, we will start with the slimmer figure and then move to heavier, and finally back to average. Our model will be here in just a couple minutes so make sure you have all the supplies you will need and don't forget the techniques we have discussed."
As soon as Mr. Garroway was done, my cheeks flared red with the realization that I would have a very naked Jace in front of me. It had been awkward the last few times because of all the pent up sexual tension and our budding friendship, but this time we were actually together. I mean we had only been together for all of like four days, but that was still together. Before, it was sexual tension that was trying to be dismissed and wasn't even a possibility. But now, it was not only a possibility but an eventuality (if we stayed together of course). I wouldn't just be looking at the body of a random male, but instead, I would be looking at the body of an eventual lover.
I tried to conceal my flaming cheeks as I arranged and rearranged my charcoals. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the classroom door open indicating our model had arrived. I schooled my features into neutral. I was an artist. I was a PROFESSIONAL. I could do this. He was just another male. With the same body parts. The same anatomy.
But not the same rippling abs.
Not the same bulging muscles.
And certainly not the same….endowments.
The flame came back full force.
I tried to avoid looking at my new boyfriend while he undressed for the class to see. I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and anger that all these undeserving females (and males!) gazing upon the glorious body of my man. My man. That right, he was mine.
At that reminder, I felt a surge of pride and confidence take hold. With my newfound conviction, I looked up right into the golden orbs of said man. Or should I say, MAN. A small smirk twitched at his lips and he raised one eyebrow, almost challenging me. Well if you want to play it that way then challenge accepted.
"Alright class you will have two hours to complete your drawings. Use the time wisely. And with that begin."
Jace had taken his position against the stool, not exactly sitting but not exactly standing. It was the same position that he had originally stood (or sat?) in the first time I drew his body and the first time I learned his story. I set to work.
I started with a basic outline, creating the general shape. As my eyes slid to his abdomen, it became obvious that Jace was flexing. I looked up with raised eyebrows. His eyebrow quirked again.
Was he trying to embarrass me? Was he trying to turn me on? I mean it was definitely working but I certainly wasn't going to let him know that. Two can play that game. Under the guise of concentration, I slowly brought the pencil I had been using up to my mouth where I lightly bit on the end, making sure I placed a look of innocence upon my face. I watched as his eyes followed said pencil all the way from my paper to my lips. His mouth parted slightly and I knew I had him.
I wrapped my lips lightly on the end of the pencil, oblivious to the class around me, and sucked gently. He swallowed hard as he kept his eyes glued to my lips.
This could be fun.
I took a quick and subtle look to either side to assure that no one had caught our little interaction. Seeing many faces filled with concentration, I decided that so far no harm had been done. So what trouble could a little more fun cause?
I returned my gaze to the Adonis before me. We locked eyes, the heat in his glare evident. At that moment I chose to place one elbow on my legs and lean forward. To an outsider, it would simply seem like I was trying to get a closer look, but as I leaned forward I was simultaneously giving Jace an unobstructed line of sight down my shirt. I didn't have huge boobs but I tried to accentuate my assets by pressing my arms together slightly. Jace's eyes slid from mine down to my chest. He had to close his mouth to stop from drooling. I silently thanked the angels for making me wear a low cut top today and not one of my many t-shirts.
It took everything in me not to giggle. Jace shifted trying to hide a particular growing problem.
"Jace, try your best to stay as still as possible, please," Mr. Garroway commented.
"Of course, I'm sorry. Feet just got a little numb is all." Jace schooled his voice to sound neutral but I knew he was losing control.
Mr. Garroway nodded and went back to his book, oblivious of the sexual feud developing before him. To be fair it really wasn't a feud, this was more like a one sided torture. I mean sure Jace was standing there in all his nudely glory, and of course, it was a turn on, but the best turn on is one that requires imagination. One that doesn't give it all at once. The best turn on was a tease (take notes, ladies).
I tried to stifle my giggle, slightly unsuccessfully causing eyes to turn my way. I mouthed "Sorry" before turning back to my work. Jace's eyes alight with triumph. Oh, he thought he won? He was about to be oh so wrong.
I returned to my work, allowing the tension to clear. I had gotten pretty much nothing done but I truly didn't care, I was having way too much fun. When all of the other students were back to being fully submerged in their piece, I let the fun continue.
Keeping my head slightly bent over, I looked up. The heat must have been evident as his eyes darkened almost instantaneously. This time I slowly returned the pencil to my mouth, once again lightly sucking on the end. I pushed it through my lips just a little (I mean because even for a tease who wants to REALLY suck on a pencil lol). A small twitch of movement came from his nether regions. I glanced down and saw it had gotten the smallest amount bigger. Maybe not noticeable to some naïve soul but it definitely didn't go unnoticed to me. I smiled wide. He closed his eyes trying to compose himself, a light flush on his cheeks.
I didn't necessarily want to give him a full on stiffy in the middle of class, but toing the line and being in control sure was a lot of fun.
Once he opened his eyes they were back on me. Very slowly, I slid the pencil over my lips and across my cheek, tracing the path I wished his lips would go. Across my jawline and down my neck, I tilted my head back allowing him greater access to see the pencil's path. Down my neck, over my shoulder, across my collarbone, and ever so slowly down my shirt. I let the pencil move with the curves of my body (what little there was). Jace was practically drooling now. The pencil slid around the outer curve of my breast and under, tracing its outline.
It was right then that Jace let out the smallest of groans. My smile tripled. Oh, I had won all right. And now it was pretty evident. A snicker ran through the class. Jace's groan had drawn too much attention to his compromised state. As soon as he realized his mistake, any growth that occurred down below vanished. A bright red blush came across his cheeks.
"Jace, are you alright? You don't look so good. We can stop if you need to." Mr. Garroway's oblivious concern only caused the laughing to double.
"You know, I'm not really feeling the greatest," Jace responded, obviously eager to escape the spotlight and his growing embarrassment, "any chance we could finish this another day?"
Mr. Garroway wasn't too pleased with the idea of stopping as only half the class had gone by, but there really wasn't much he could do about it.
"Yes, yes of course. Alright, class, we are going to hold it here for now as our model appears to be under the weather" *cue snickering* "We will continue next class. Class dismissed."
As I began to grab my supplies, I caught Jace's eye. Not only was I going to pay for what I did, I think I was going to enjoy it.
I purposefully gathered my supplies in a snail like fashion, allowing the other students to trickle out. By the time I was walking into the supply closet, Jace was just finishing a conversation with Mr. Garroway.
I still couldn't believe I had done….all that… during class. I didn't know where the confidence had come from but I wasn't complaining. I mean sure it was something that I would have done without a blink of an eye before everything, but I wasn't the same girl as I used to be. Maybe that was changing.
Right as I had walked into the supply closet, Jace followed, grabbing me and spinning me around so my back was pressed up against the now closed door. How he had managed to close the door and position me this way without hurting me was impressive, and very much a turn on. With his arms against the door on either side of my head, I was trapped.
"Someone was very naughty today," Jace said, the strain and husk evident in his voice.
"I have no idea what you're talking about…" I said, playing innocent.
"Oh I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, but in case you need a reminder…."
His lips were suddenly on mine with a force and desperation that would have knocked me off my feet if I hadn't been leaning against a door. The kiss was deep and passionate and mind-numbingly good. He bit my lower lip slightly before sucking on it as I had done with the pencil. He pulled away just enough to bring his lips to my ear. "Do you remember now?"
"Mmmm...still nothing coming to mind, I think I might need another reminder."
His husky chuckle that responded caused a fire to burn in my core. Quickly, his lips were back on mine but they didn't stay there for long. Soon enough they were following the course of my pencil. Over my cheek, across my jawline, down my neck. Nipping and sucking and causing endless fires of desire to ignite all over my skin. My hands dove into his hair urging him to keep going, to not stop. His hand slid from above my head and traveled down to my waist. He closed whatever distance was between us, pinning me against the wall. Slipping a knee between my legs, his hands traveled down the side of my ass and back up to my waist, teasing the flesh beneath my shirt. I pulled at his golden locks needing something to tether me to reality.
He reached up and removed my hands from his hair earning him a whimper. He locked both of my arms above my head with one of his hands before returning to the assault at my waist with his other. His mouthed hovered over my mouth before he said: "Who's in control now?"
A shiver raked through my body. So he knew my game and, by the looks of it, he wanted to play. His head dropped lower and lower, down my neck, across my collarbone, and then slowly down my shirt. He was just about to graze his hand across my breast when something caught my eye.
"Jace, stop." My voice was strong and final that he released me and stepped away with a second thought. That was the biggest difference between Jace and Jonathan, but I didn't have time to appreciate it.
"Is everything okay? Did I do something wrong?" His eyes were dark and his breath was heavy but concern laced his voice.
"Look." I pointed over his shoulder.
He followed my finger and approached the object in question. Picking it up he said, "A sketchbook? If you haven't noticed, Clary, we are in an art supplies room full of sketchbooks."
"It's not just any sketchbook. It's my sketchbook."
It took him a second to understand but soon realization hit and he gazed upon the sketchbook as it suddenly was an endangered animal, could be dangerous but incredibly interesting. I walked over and took the sketchbook with unsteady hands, flipping through the pages.
"This is definitely mine." Even before I had opened it, I knew it was mine. It had the odd shapes that I had created when I was just a child, trying to create a new world where good fought evil with the help of beautifully intricate runes that gave them specific powers. The idea had been a bust, but the runes were so beautiful and stuck with me throughout my years. I drew them everywhere, in class notes, in bathroom stalls, and my sketchbook was no exception.
I flipped through the numerous drawings that represented my life. There was a photo of my mother drawn in bright colors, like her personality. There were pictures of bruised and broken hearts, angel wings, demons, and of course the occasional still life. On the last page, there was the drawing I had done of Jace's eyes. I had added details to it after that night, the first night, we spent together and truthfully the finished product was a masterpiece of strength and beauty. Jace quirked an eyebrow at this, but I just flipped the page. We could discuss my love for his eyes later. The following page should have been blank. I hadn't sketched anything else, instead, I had focused on perfecting the eyes, but when I turned the page, an image presented itself. To anyone else, this would have just been another sketch in the series, but to me, this was a threat. The page depicted a firecracker that was about to be dunked into a bucket of water. It was an odd image, drawn with unrefined talent, but it delivered its message all the same.
"Jonathan used to call me his 'little firecracker'. I didn't draw this image."
"What do you mean you didn't draw it? It's in your sketchbook isn't it?"
"I did all these other ones, but not this one. Jonathan did this; well more specifically Jonathan had someone do this. He couldn't even draw a stick figure well. He's trying to tell me he is coming after me and soon, he will 'snuff me out'. But it's more than that." Tears were coming to my eyes as I realized the gravity of the situation. "He also wants me to know that no matter where I go I'll never be safe. He stole this sketchbook from my room, the only place that I truly feel safe regardless of what is going on outside. But he took that from me, he wanted me to know someone had broken in, he wanted me to know that he took one of the most valuable things without even breaking a sweat. And now, by leaving the sketchbook here for me to find," my voice broke, "the only other place I feel safe, he wants me to know that he can come in, right under my nose, and take away my life without me even knowing it."
At that, Jace looked murderous, but also slightly confused.
"Jace this wasn't here when I got to class today. I came in here to get my supplies and this was not here. He must have somehow slipped in, in the middle of class when we were distracted and placed it, or he had someone do it for him."
The tears were coming full force. All thoughts of the previous tease and make out session was lost.
"Jonathan is coming for me and there is nothing I can do to stop him."
Dun Dun Dun...
Wooohooo. What did you guys think?! Let me know in the comments.
~UndeniablyPeculiar