137. Mind in the Gutter

Somin and Teho

Teho walked up to his usual spot and put down his laptop and tablet. Watching Somin still leaning against the counter, holding her forehead.

"Should I order dinner?" he asked and walked close to her to get water. "No wine when we're alone, right?"

He wanted to assure her he'll not push further now, when they stayed here unattended.

"Don't wanna make a stupid mistake," Somin whispered.

"Ya, if you feel uncomfortable around me I can go away," he offered, a bit confused himself, leaning next to her, facing her.

"Please stay," she corrected herself. "I like your company, it's just..." She dared to look at him. "... I don't know."

Her fingers pinched the bridge of her nose. "If I get another day of doing nothing, I'll be showing blank papers on Wednesday," she sighed and he offered the cold water.

"What's the burning issue, if I may ask?" Teho said softly.

Somin looked at his gorgeous eyes. "Everything." She gulped the water down.

"Mainly the fucking figure assignment, I rather paint literally anything else." She still played with her bracelet and he noticed the new accessory.

"Do you wanna paint.." he started and she made an X with her elbows.

"Don't, please no, I'll paint myself in the mirror." The spark in his eyes told her anything she needed to know, about what was coming her way.

"Are you sure? I can model for you," he offered a warm smile.

"No, no, no, no... not a great idea." She moved a bit further from him, feeling an even greater pull towards him, wanting to lock the flat and have her way with him.

His loose white shirt with an oval neckline was exposing his pronounced collar bones and the very unfunctional bandana in his hair only accentuated his prettiness. Teho caught the movement of her eyes.

"I don't wanna have hair in my eyes." He smirked.

So why is it in the middle of your head? Somin's inner voice asked, moving her head in disbelief.

"Can you stay further away, please," she asked, touching her lip subconsciously.

"Sure." He smiled, seeing her obvious fight. "Like I promised, I'll be good. I have to finish my order, it's due in a few hours and I can't afford to lose them."

Can you catch my drift, Somin? He reveled in this tension.

...

She gulped in vain, turning away and bringing the big mirror from the bathroom. Putting it against the sofa, where she could be a bit hidden from the glaring stare permeating from the armchair corner. She turned the coffee table sideways to make an obstacle and separate her space from his. She returned briefly to get a pink polish and Mia's foam for toes.

Maybe I'll do my nails later.

Somin changed into shorts to have naked legs and into a tighter crop to see her arms and curve.

Teho watched her with utmost interest from behind his laptop, a segmented view making him excited beyond imagination. She quickly dunked after emerging from her room, so he couldn't inspect her any longer. His glare was hungry to see the timid paintress in very different, very skimpy attire.

"You don't have to make me feel like a perv," he said. "I know figural painting, we had the classes too, you know, right?" he said a bit hurt.

"I've had to go through the traditional talent exams as you," he reminded her.

"Then don't feel like that, simple," she retorted as she tried to relax.

"Why do you have to build the bunker though?" he asked.

"Better safe than sorry." She smiled his way.

"Again, making me feel like a sleazy uncle," he snickered.

"Shush," she said his way and positioned her desk with sets of new paper next to her.

And I'm the horny one here. He sarcastically smiled to himself.

Coming up with an interesting perspective she drew while looking at the mirror, feeling her palms sweating even though her skin had goosebumps. Hearing funny coughing from the armchair corner.

"It looks uncomfortable to draw this way," he said nonchalantly while using his tablet to retouch the ordered photos.

"Don't you have money to lose soon?" she shot at him.

"I'm starting to have a hunch I'll probably lose them anyway. I find it hard to focus here." He hinted at his emotions.

"We can't have that happen, can't we? I don't have a part-time job to keep feeding you," she joked. " And I'm sensing Mia rather let you starve."

"Fair point," he said.

"Shush." She locked eyes with him through the table's legs and he nodded. Somin's stomach fluttered seeing him having obviously flushed cheeks, being aroused and flirty.

"You can open a window if you need to cool down," she dared to flirt back.

She was comfortable in her hideaway but her drawings ended up crumpled aside each time she tried. The hands kept denying access to her brain and every stroke she made was terrible. The forest-themed bracelet sang on her wrist as she moved.

"I don't want you to catch a cold," the smooth voice purred.

"I don't want you to catch any ideas," she pushed back.

"I'm afraid it's late for that as I already have too many of them."

Somin stayed quiet and changed her pose. I should make him leave, but I don't want to.
Her mind was split and indecisive, walking to the fire to get burned.

Her hands worked, but the desired outcome was nowhere to be found. Her head was spinning and this really honest and open flirting kept destroying her focus. She gave it another 30 minutes and gave up.

"Ugh, I'm so fucking tense," she let out before changing into leggings and a baggy shirt.

"These are good for nothing." The angry girl put the table at its original position and recycled another set of paper, gulping down a glass of water in the process, while the soft laughs from the armchair filled the room.

"Something's funny?" she barked.

"Nothing, I have the utmost understanding of your state of mind," he answered playfully.

"How's your work going?" she asked.

"Slowly." He eyed her. "Let me see the previous outfit," he demanded cockily.

"No way," she said, going back to lie on the sofa, straightening her sore back.

"Yes, way." He couldn't be denied.

"What's the plan now?" he asked while she stretched.

"Waiting for dinner, doing my nails, and reading. There's no point in trying to paint, I'm not gonna have a stable hand tonight." Somin sighed.

"I have pretty stable hands, you know I'm trained and patient from shooting."Hhe kept going.

"And there I was thinking you'll be worse drunk," she said back, her own body aching, her cheeks blushing.

"If I was drunk we wouldn't be talking," he said, leaving that hard hitter to sink in. "I'm really holding myself back because of you.

"You're so thoughtful and respectful," she said sarcastically and sighed again.

"I think I'm gonna ban you from here," she mockingly enunciated.

"I'm quiet," he chuckled and watched her, in between his work. "My friend," he added playfully.

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