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All characterizations, plot lines, backgrounds and details belong to the author. Plagiarism is theft. No copying or reproduction of this work in any language is permitted without the express written authorization of the author. Thank you. March 2010.

A million thanks to my wonderfully talented beta, xrxdanixrx, You rock sister!

Thanks to all who are reading and reviewing. As always, let me know what you think.

Here we go EPOV…

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EPOV

Chapter 4

As the sun streams in through the skylight in the loft, I wake and realize I'm still in my clothes from last night. I don't even remember going to sleep. Oh fuck…maybe I dreamt the whole thing.

I launch out of bed and race down to my studio, releasing an audible sigh of relief. The first canvas is covered, the remnants of my fevered pursuit evident all over the floor and walls behind it.

I run my fingers over the kaleidoscope of colours that bleed together, before standing back and cocking my head to the side.

This is good. Very good. It's electric and exciting, filled with emotion and promise. I smile to myself and begin the clean up process that I should have done last night.

A half an hour later, the brushes are washed and I return them to dry in their holders.

I decide to take a much needed shower and turn it on, waiting for it to warm. Taking in my appearance in the mirror, I'm a total wreck…more disheveled than normal, if that's possible. There are paint splatters all over my face, my arms, my hands, even in my hair, and I smile knowing that this is a sign that I'm finally on the way back.

I let the pulse of the shower beat down on me as I drift back to last night. How can one simple encounter have such a dramatic impact on my life?

I cringe about what I said to her, but in my defense, how the hell could I have known? Still, the look on her face will haunt me for a long time. Disappointment, bitterness, shock, sorrow, regret. All there, laid out for me, and now on the finished canvas.

I know I need to make this right. She's ignited me again for the first time in months, and as much as I know I'm an ass, I do owe her an apology.

As I think about her beautiful face, her sad eyes, I get lost. I don't even realize I'm pumping my cock until my hand hits the wall of the shower as I steady myself.

I imagine what she would feel like beneath me, her hair slicked back from the shower as she takes me into the back of her throat. I come harder than I have in months as the shower runs cold over me.

This is what I've been reduced to by this woman. Whacking off like some pathetic seventeen year old with a high school crush.

I turn off the shower and dry my hair with a towel before wrapping it around my waist and heading to the closet to get dressed for the day. I'm not at all looking forward to meeting Jane this morning. She's been on my fucking case for months, hounding me about when I'm going to have something else for her to sell to her band of privileged snobs.

I know I shouldn't complain. The fact that they have money to burn and want to spend it on me should be flattering, but somehow, it makes me feel cheap, like I'm just some gun for hire. I'm fairly certain they don't even appreciate the work. They just want whatever the latest and greatest is hanging in their offices or their party rooms, so they can try to impress their disgustingly rich friends.

But, despite all of this, I gather my coat and head out to meet her. Maybe I am just an art whore after all.

xxxxxx

Fuck, I hate waiting. Jane is late…again, and here I sit, my leg bouncing off nervous energy, because all I want to do is get back to the studio and start painting again.

I finally see Jane saunter in, all fresh from a fake and bake session. She's died her long hair platinum blonde again, probably because she somehow got it in her head that I like blondes. She scans the coffee shop before offering me her best attempt at a seductive smile. She slinks across the café and sinks into the chair across from me.

"Edward, you're looking well," she purrs at me.

"You too, Jane." I try to sound sincere, and it almost works. I motion to the cup in front of her. "One cream, two sweeteners, right?"

"You remembered. How thoughtful of you." She pushes her sunglasses to the top of her head and stares back at me as I suppress the vomit that's starting to rise in my throat.

What the hell was I thinking when I decided to fuck her? Yeah, right, I wasn't thinking. I was completely shit faced and feeling sorry for myself and she was all over me. At least, that's what I remember.

"How's your little problem coming along?" She raises her eyebrows at me. God, she's a bitch, but she's also the first art dealer who bought my collection and put me on the map. She knows people and without her, I'm well aware that I may still be some starving artist. If I'm being honest, right now, that thought isn't unwelcome.

"Actually, I had a breakthrough last night." I smile from behind my coffee cup.

"You did?" Her face lights up as she stares at me in disbelief.

"Yes, I did. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Actually, I was starting to wonder about you, Edward. It's been almost a year since I've had anything new to sell." She looks at me disapprovingly.

"I'm aware of that Jane," I say acidly.

"So, tell me about it." She takes a sip of coffee and waits.

"It's a work in progress." She looks at me skeptically.

"Don't worry. The drought is over. I can feel it." I smile at her and she relaxes slightly.

"Good. How long?"

"How long what?" I ask, knowing exactly where she's going.

"How long before it's done? I have people calling wondering if you've dropped off the face of the earth, Edward. A timeline would be nice."

"Fuck, Jane. I don't know! It takes as long as it takes. Isn't it better if I keep people waiting?"

"Depends on the people," she says, cocking her head to the side.

"How about I let you know once it's ready?"

"OK. What triggered this amazing breakthrough, anyway? I'm curious." She flashes her eyes at me and I recognize that look. She's got her sights set on me and is moving in for the kill. Oh, fuck.

"Actually, a woman," I admit. Her face takes an immediate downturn.

"Oh, don't tell me one of your trashy conquests is your muse, Edward." She rolls her eyes at me.

"She's not a trashy conquest, Jane. I've only just met her," I mutter.

"Ah, she's holding out on you. Interesting strategy. I'll have to remember that." She twirls a piece of her hair between her fingers.

"You know, Edward, if you're feeling neglected, or need to let off some steam, I'd be more than happy to help you out. I wouldn't want your frustrations to get in the way with your creativity." She leans forward and strokes her fingers across the back of my hand. I recoil immediately.

There's a time when I probably would have taken her up on her offer…as disgusting as it sounds to me right now. Actually, if I remember correctly, she was a pretty decent fuck. She's a bit of a freak…or maybe that was Jennifer? But now, that's the last thing I want. I also know I'm walking a fine line with Jane. If I piss her off too much, she could make things difficult for me, to say the least, so I say the only thing I can.

"I'll keep that in mind Jane." She looks satisfied with my answer, for now, and smiles back at me.

We finish our coffee and I promise to call her next week to give her an update. I breathe a sigh of relief as she disappears out of the coffee shop.

On my walk back to the studio, I make a calculated call. The little gem of information that Emmett gave me last night is golden. Bella works with Rose at The Foundation, and so I use my mobile to find the address. I try to imagine the look on Bella's face when she gets flowers from me; it's unexpected, mysterious, fascinating. This shit has worked before for me too many times to count. I mean what woman doesn't love flowers?

I arrive back to the studio and stand in front of the completed canvas. It's dried now and I carefully cover it with white muslin. This is the way I work. I know this is going to be a collection of pieces, but I don't want any of them distracting me as I work on the next one.

I turn back to my paints, and still my hand over them. Closing my eyes, I reach for three colours blindly and smile as I squeeze them out onto my pallet.

Standing in front of the massive blank white frame, a thousand thoughts run through my mind. The possibilities of this journey are endless, but the roads to travel to my destination all point in a singular direction.

I close my eyes and imagine her standing in front of me, the sorrow on her face washed away. Happy, beautiful, mine.

I work feverishly until night falls and exhaustion takes me over the edge into brilliant dreams of her.

Chapter End Notes

Up next, BPOV and a run with Jake…

Let me know what you think! It really does make a difference!

Update should be by end of the week.