Chapter 42 The Artist's Carnal Desire (1)

• The loft smelled of turpentine and desire, a heady mix that clung to the air as sunlight streamed through the tall, dusty windows. Canvases leaned against every wall, some blank, others smeared with bold strokes of color—half-finished stories of the artist’s restless mind. In the center of the chaos stood Étienne, his broad shoulders hunched over an easel, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he dragged a brush across the stretched fabric. He was shirtless, his skin flecked with paint, muscles flexing with each deliberate move. The room was his sanctuary, a place where he could strip everything bare—his art, his soul, and now, her.
• Ji-Yeon stepped inside, the wooden floor creaking under her hesitant feet. She’d answered his ad for a model, expecting a quick gig—pose, get paid, leave. But the moment she saw him, all sharp edges and quiet intensity, her pulse quickened. He didn’t look up at first, just pointed to a stool draped with a frayed velvet cloth. “Take your clothes off,” he said, his voice low, rough, with a faint French lilt that made it sound like a dare. It wasn’t a question.
• She swallowed, her fingers trembling as she tugged at the hem of her blouse. The air felt too warm, too thick, as she shed her layers—first the top, then her jeans, until she stood in nothing but her skin, the sunlight painting her curves gold. Étienne’s brush stilled. He straightened, his gaze raking over her, slow and deliberate, like he was memorizing every inch. “Sit,” he muttered, but there was a hitch in his breath, a crack in his cool exterior that made her thighs clench.