The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

“The most seductive thing about art is the personality of the artist himself.” (=

Paul Cezanne

Ive never thought of myself as explicitly beautiful. Pretty, maybe – if I was having a good day. But I had never seen myself

as a supermodel or even the kind of gir! that people looked twice. Growing up around tall, thin and chiseled people for most of my life might’ve had something to do with that.

However, as I stared at the art studio littered with paintings, sketches, and drawings of me, I couldn’t help but think I

looked beautiful in them. The artist had captured my likeness from every angle ~ there was a large oil painting of me

sprawled out in bed, a sketch of me smiling in the distance, and many more. Some of them were done in different styles

but all looked like candid moments, like the artist had been there and recreated them from memory.

Istared at a particular sketch of me staring down at a dinner plate. I recognized the food in the photo and the dress I was wearing. That had

been taken the night of the dinner party with Griffin.

Oh my God…he made these. He made all of them. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised that he was the artist. I

doubted that anyone else would consider me such an interesting subject, and now that I was looking closer, these were

all moments I’d shared with Griffin in the castle.

All I could do was stare in awe. What were you supposed to do or say in a room full of beautiful artwork…that’s of you?

He was so talented, it felt like I’d slipped into Van Gogh or Picasso’s private studio.

“What do you think?”

I whipped my head around. Griffin was standing in the doorway of the studio with intense eyes.

Td been so caught up in my analysis of the artwork that I hadn’t heard the door open behind me.

For a moment, we just stared at each other. There was an emotion in his eyes that I couldn’t recognize but I could feel

the tension in the air. ‘Was he nervous?

“These are of me,” I said, “You made these?” I already knew the answer but I needed to hear it from him.

Griffin nodded and that’s when I clocked the intense emotion in them. Vulnerability. He averted his eyes from me but

there was a dark blush coating his cheeks. I’d never seen Griffin act embarrassed or bashful as long as I’d known him,

the room full of artwork. “They’re beautiful,” I

talented…I just can’t

believe they’re of me.”

the room. Like he’d been gearing up for some

tell him that I hated

captured my likeness in a way that was even brighter than real life. The girl in the paintings and the sketches were supposed

more beautiful

said, and slowly approached

life beauty.”

at that remark — even if it

“How long have

and came up behind me, pulling me to his

if I’m being honest, being pressed against his toned, warm

in me.)

rubbing his hands up and down my arms, “But I’ve done it

been too busy with my duties as the heir and lacking any kind of

were only inches apart. His dark eyes were on fire

my heart go

this man

met you,” he continued, “From the second I saw you, all I wanted to do

position. You’ve been my living, breathing muse, Clark Bellevue. Even when you left me, I could see your

beauty mark

friendly reminder that if you’re not reading this book on

there to dive into the next chapter—it’s all free! My face was definitely on fire now and

what he was saying to me – I had never had anyone

He was igniting me.

twenty-four hours vanished.

me, and essentially kidnapped me didn’t

was just me and Griffin – the man who set my heart ablaze. Griffin,

just

together, I’ll

for as long as I live, little fox.” He was so close that

close, his eyes

They’re so full.

side of my brain could pipe up and tell me that

grand romantic gesture,

tall that I had to practically jump on my tip-toes to reach his lips, but as

pulling

And the kiss?

it was every magical, cliche description that you could use to describe

the kisses I’d shared with Aiden when I was sixteen. That was just two people awkwardly mashing their

was an excellent kisser. His lips were soft and firm against mine, and we seemed to find

Like we’d been made for each other.