Page 39 of Pink Ink

The muscle in his jaw twitches in frustration. He doesn’t answer for a while, and I’m left stewing that I’ve chosen the wrong thing to say.

“I’m deciding whether I’ve met her yet.”

I frown at the painting. It could be anyone. The image I have in mind will never be precisely the same as his.

“The King of Kings,” I say, referring to the name of the pig-headed king mixed-media piece that put him on the map when he was sixteen. “You should bring her to life like that.”

“Is that a suggestion or a critique?” He cocks a brow at me.

Maybe it’s bad that I’m enjoying this banter with him. When he’s not degrading me, his companionship is rather enjoyable. It helps that seeing him look like a man at his wit’s end makes him more relatable. Human, almost.

I lift a shoulder. “It’ll still be priceless either way you portray her. If you want my true thoughts on it, then I’d say that your talent is once in a generation. This?” I stare at the painting again. “Once you get her face right, I think it’ll be better than anything else you’ve ever created. I’d say you’d have outdone yourself, Mr. Shaw.”

When I look over at Maddox, his attention is on me, not the masterpiece in the making, looking at me like he isn’t sure whether I’ve lost my mind or, dare I say it, likeI’mthe art. It sets my skin ablaze.

I need to turn away to free myself from the trap he has me in. Nothing good can come from what’s happening.

But my body has other plans. I sway closer, wanting a taste of his depravity.

I’d love to spend a single day seeing how he views the world. I want to know what makes him pick up a paintbrush, or if there are colors he’s too hesitant to use because they don’t match the shades he’s given the universe around him. But I can’t, and I never will.

He’s my professor, and a legend in the art world. I’m just his student.

Maddox breaks the curse before I get the chance to understand the meaning behind the way his eyes darken more the longer they stay on me. The vehemence in his expression dissipates, replaced by the cold exterior he wears like armor.

“What did you want to see me about?”

“Oh, um.” I clear my throat.

Right, the whole reason I came here. The uninvited tour of his office has thrown me, and now I don’t feel like bringing up last night’s conversation.

I take a deep breath. “I’m sorry about how I acted earlier. You were watching out for me, and I took it poorly. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone around to look out for me or tell me what to do, so it was a bit of a shock to the system.” Kimi is more likely to get me into trouble than out of it. “However, I do appreciate your concern, because you’re right, what I am doing is dangerous.”

“Were,” he corrects. “What youweredoing.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I believe that’s not what I said.”

I take it back. I want nothing to do with his beautifully creative mind.

“It isn’t,” he says matter-of-factly. “That’s why I corrected you, since you will not be visiting any more crime scenes from here on out.”

Like a petulant teen, I cross my arms over my chest, face him square on, and speak slowly so he hears every word loud and clear. “I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing, and you have no say in the matter,ProfessorShaw.”

“The faculty would be interested in knowing.”

My heart stops for a second. I don’t understand why he’s pushing so hard. I should shut up, agree, then secretly keep doing it. But lying was never my strong suit.

He has nothing but audacity sometimes.

That’s fine. I’ll bite.

“Good luck convincing them.”

Shaw glares at me, though his eyes glint with amusement. “The police would be equally as interested.”

“Do I need a lawyer?”

The corners of his lips twitch like he’s holding back a grin. “I’ll mark you down for plagiarism.”