Spirit Bound - Christine Feehan [79]
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him to her. “I can’t believe I haven’t known you all my life. This feels brand-new, and yet as comfortable as an old shoe. It’s a little scary how much it feels so right being with you.”
Behind her back, Stefan lifted his hand to inspect his fist, scarred and calloused with training and fights. Part of him expected his flesh to be transparent. He hadn’t been real since he was a boy and now, his blood flowed hot and his mind contemplated a life in this home with this woman, a daring dream. He didn’t deserve a woman like Judith. There wasn’t much good in him, but he’d fight to his last breath for her and he’d do whatever it took to make her happy.
“I know it has to feel like the devil showed up at your door and maybe he has. I just know this is right, Judith.”
She pressed kisses along his jaw and then stepped back. “Come on, before we start something all over again.”
“I’m willing.”
She laughed. “Me too, but unfortunately, I had to ask Airiana to work in my store for me and she has something she’s doing so if we’re going to eat, we have to eat now and I’m truly starving. Besides”—she sent him another mischievous smirk—“I want to see just how good a cook you really are.”
Stefan let her take his hand and lead him toward the door. He inhaled deeply and took in their combined scents. The room smelled like both of them now, sin and sex. He was the sin and she was the sex. Smiling to himself, he followed her out the door into the hall. Directly across from the kaleidoscope studio was another door. She pushed it open and stepped back.
“I have this smaller bedroom down here just in case I stay up all night, which is often, and I just crash down here.”
“Another bedroom for us,” he murmured appreciatively and was rewarded with her laughter.
The room next to the bedroom was another bathroom and shower, no tub this time, but the room itself was spacious. He was beginning to realize Judith liked everything as open as possible. She closed that door and moved on to the next door, which was quite a bit down the hallway, on the same side as the kaleidoscope studio.
“This is where I both paint and do my conservator’s work.”
Stefan stepped inside before she could close the door. There was Judith in this room as well, he could feel her. This studio was very organized, a complete contrast to the happy chaos of the adjoining room. Once again, the double French doors led out to a garden and banks of windows invited sunlight, but the resemblance ended there. The ventilation was paramount here, due to the chemicals she used and she had several exhaust fans overhead as well as windows positioned to provide a cross breeze with the doors open. He could see the studio had been well thought out.
A small refrigerator stood in one corner and he raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
“I wrap my palette full of paint in plastic and freeze it to prevent drying out.”
“I’m going to learn a lot from you.” He studied the paintings she had in various stages of treatment and drying.
“Do you like to paint?” Judith’s face lit up. She obviously loved what she did and anyone who cared that much, would want to share her love of creating.
“I play around with it, but I’m not that good. I find it soothing.” He had never told another human being that either. He painted, and then destroyed the canvas immediately. A man living in the shadows couldn’t afford to leave anything that personal behind.
He studied the exquisite silk kimono displayed on the wall opposite the French doors. The way the easel was set up, she clearly faced that beautiful garment.
“My mother’s,” she explained and there was love and reverence in her voice. “I like to keep her close to me. Out back, I have a Japanese garden and some of the plants I brought here with me, I actually dug them up from my mother’s garden before I sold the house and planted them here. If I ever move, I’ll take them with me. I have her tea set and a few other things. Part of my childhood was spent in Japan and then