Art of Temptation by Steffanie Holmes

Author:Steffanie Holmes [Holmes, Steffanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bacchanalia House

12

Ryan

Now that Alex had succeeded in securing her job back, we could move on to the second stage of our plan. We had to guard the exhibit day and night against Isengrim’s inevitable attack, and that meant both lycanthrope-proofing the gallery and finding some way to stay near the paintings at all hours of the day and night.

As soon as Clara was feeling strong enough to get out of bed again, I had her make up some protective charms containing wolfsbane and marigold – herbs that repel lycanthropes. Alex hung these around the gallery. They smelt fragrant, so she was somehow able to convince the docents they were potpourri we were using to disguise a bad smell from some leaking pipes, and no one moved them.

While Alex argued with caterers and wrangled photographers, I surreptitiously moved all our gear from the car into her office – camping mattresses, sleeping bags, food, candles, my laptop … I have no idea how I did it without raising any suspicions, but I guess gallery workers are so used to weird objects being shifted around no one batted an eyelid at a portable gas stove.

By the time Alex returned to her office, I’d completely stocked it for the night. That job done, we spent a couple of hours putting together press kits in the copy room. Well, Alex put together press kits; I kept trying to distract her with kisses. She’d dart away, grinning with delicious joy as she drove me crazy with lust.

As the hours wore closer to closing time, we both talked a mile a minute, darting around without finishing a single job, just giddy with anticipation and unable to sit still. I knew I should be frightened. We were about to break a million laws, aside from the fact that we were jeopardising Alex’ newly-renewed employment contract.

She didn’t seem too worried. Old Alex would’ve spent the evening pacing nervously, certain the plan was going to fail. But new Alex had drunk several pints of moxie. She’d even added a little stomp to her walk. I slapped her arse, and she pinched mine right back. She meant business.

I loved it.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the gallery, the sun moved closer to the horizon, painting the sky in beautiful crimson hues. The gallery shut its doors to the public at five, but with such a big exhibition only a few days away, everyone was working overtime. My stomach rumbled, and I thought of the gourmet delicacies Simon would’ve packed for us in the chiller back in the office. But we had to maintain the façade that we were leaving for home at some point, so I grabbed Alex and I chocolate bars from the vending machine in the hall and continued to work.

Matthew was one of the first to leave, grabbing his coat at around 6 p.m. He waved at Alex nervously through the glass. “Don’t work too late,” he said, his voice dripping with genuine concern. “We can’t have you under the weather again.

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