The mood was extremely tense as he led me to his room. A small lamp provided just a little bit of light. He took out a medium-sized black box from the back of his closet. “I’ve never shown these to anyone before. My stepmother accidentally found them when I was moving out, but that doesn’t really count. You’re the first person I’m ever willingly showing them to.”
Leaving the box on his bed, Sevin walked over to the opposite side of the room and leaned against the wall. He crossed his arms and watched me as I opened the box.
My eyes widened. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but the reality was absolutely shocking and breathtaking all at once. Beautiful women of all shapes and sizes. Body parts were clearly and graphically recreated to perfection with fine details like pubic hair and beauty marks. The faces were mostly turned to the side or looking down. Some had their eyes closed. Some were more sexually provocative than others, but they were all tasteful.
“These…are amazing. You don’t use real models?”
“Yeah, right. I had loads of naked women stashed away in my old bedroom back home.” He pointed to his head with his index finger. “No, it’s all from up here. None of them are real people.”
“How do you do it?”
He gestured with his hands and my eyes followed their movement as he spoke. “I start off with a bunch of angles, one for her head, one for her middle and one for her hips and legs. I call that the framework. Then, once that base is drawn, I start drawing the actual shapes of her body. It’s hard to explain. I just do what I see in my head.”
“You’re incredible.”
“I’m gonna tell you a secret,” he said.
“Wouldn’t be the first.”
His mouth curved into a smile. “I haven’t drawn a single one since moving here.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve tried.”
“You just can’t?”
“You’re gonna think I’m crazy.”
“Too late for that.” I grinned.
“In order for me to draw one, I have to visualize the person. They’re not real people, but I have a clear picture of her in my mind. But ever since the day we met, I can’t see any other woman in my head except you.”
“Have you ever tried?”
“Tried what?”
“To draw me.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I honestly think it would be too much for me. Too real. And to be honest, I’m not sure I could replicate you.”
I didn’t really know what came over me. Seeing the dozens of beautiful images he’d created left me with an overpowering need. I was already drawn to him in so many ways already, and then to discover this amazing talent was overwhelming. I wanted to be every one of these women, the objects of his desire and passion. I wanted to see him create.
I knew why he was standing away from me. Because all of this—our confessions, his showing me his most intimate creations—ignited emotions that were too powerful. Tonight further solidified the fact that it was even more important to stick to my original plan to leave town. This attraction between us would continue to simmer until it exploded, destroying everything in its path in order to be satisfied.
If I couldn’t stand to hurt Elle, if I was going to be selfless and leave, then I at least wanted to take one piece of him with me.
I stood up from the bed. “I need you to draw me.”
CHAPTER 14
SEVIN
I stood there dumfounded and honestly didn’t know how to respond.
It wasn’t because I didn’t want to do it. It was because I wanted it so much that I worried about the aftermath. A feeling in my bones told me she was going to make the decision to run away from all of this, to leave home. Whether I said yes or no to drawing her tonight, either way, I would probably regret it.
More than anything, I was confused about what she expected drawing her to entail.
Still keeping my distance as I leaned against the wall, I repeated her statement, “You need me to draw you…”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I think they’re beautiful, and I want to see how you see me.”
The look of melancholy on her face was killing me. There wasn’t a trace of humor or even happiness in her request; she was dead serious. She wanted me to draw her, yet at the same time, something about that was making her sad.
“I told you. I don’t normally draw real people. The images in my head are self-created. I don’t know that how I imagine you would translate well enough onto paper.”
She shocked me when she said, “I could take off my nightgown.”
Never in a million years did I expect her to suggest that. “Why would you want to do that?”