Cole's POV

She threw her head back laughing her lungs out. Apparently at something I unconsciously did while I was posturing for her. I was sitting near the blackboard on a wooden stool supposedly not moving as a model for her painting. The one I was assigned to by the biased jury for the yearly contest . Yeah biased ! Because Brad had a hand in it, he couldn't resist!

It's true that he was the reason for my participation in the first place, his uncle being a member of the school committee he could get me in easily . Assigning me to be Ivy's model is by all means a whole different kettle of fish. All I can say is that I went through some trouble just to get selected for the right one.

I, on another side learned from Brad this morning that the contest was important for her and I am glad I did what I did to get to her .Because as much as I would like to hide it or avoid it, I inescapably wanted to see her again.

***

Her voice echoed in the room filling it with an indescribable feeling. The way she did I just thought she's the most amazing creature I've ever seen . Though her laughter was contagious I felt my senses erupting from the inside . And before I realized what was happening to me I felt the adrenaline rushing through my veins and I was already imprisoned by her passion.

She leisurely diffused her perfume at every movement of her hand and all I wanted was to get closer. As if she drew me like a magnet; she hypnotized me with every move . She was simply mesmerizing .

Ivy had without further explanation discarded her work, I could not recall how I ended up inches far from her , how she stood there less of a step away from me and how I involuntarily held her arm . Hoping she would look into my eyes and tell me why she stopped painting. From the little I knew about her- thanks to her half cousin Brad- was that she had an amazing talent and so, she could easily win the painting contest.

So why would she stubbornly refuse to continue drawing ? And I really wanted her to win .

As in defense she put her palm to my chest getting half a step behind . I was too drawn to her dark eyes that I forgot I was too close . I felt her breathing under my nose. we were so close that I was able to breathe in her lilac fragranced perfume.

A strange feeling erupted from my stomach as she pressed her fingers against my chest. I instinctively cupped her hand that was almost shaking and her cheeks turned to a flaming red. She severed our linked eyes and nervously looked down avoiding me . Thus I squeezed her hand a little pressing it a bit more on my chest without moving.

" Look at me Ivy " I demanded , surrendering for a while to the feelings she stirred inside me while I could feel her hand burn at the touch of my skin, through the thin fiber of my shirt.

Ivy crisped at my words, as if afraid to make eye contact with me . It drove me crazy how she was avoiding my eyes .

"Look at me, please!" I pleaded one more time before she brought up her eyes , just as high as my mouth. I felt my heart ache when she looked down to the floor again, afraid to meet my eyes.

Was she afraid of me ? Didn't she know I needed looking into her eyes to keep me sane ?! I screamed inwardly

My body reacted to her touch ; as I lost half of my control over it already; I lowered my hand slowly down her wrist and brought her hand up to my lips. Her fingers paralyzed, she finally gave it up to me when I rubbed the tip of her fingers against my nose and placed a kiss on her palm.

She didn't move but my heart was already racing and my body wanted nothing more than to feel the touch of her skin once more. So I placed another kiss on her palm pressing it to my lips with my hand. I didn't even know what I was doing until she slowly moved her palm to my chin. She run her thumb slowly caressing my jaw line all the way up to my lower lip cupping my frame with her tiny delicate hand . As if contemplating a fire igniting in her dark eyes when they finally met mine.

I felt a hurricane swaying inside of me when she pressed her thumb slowly onto my lower lip. I could feel my skin burning at her touch. Her flesh so soft against mine. I licked the tip of her finger and I kissed it one more time before bringing her hand back to my chest. So she could feel what she was doing to me .

I released her hand now pressing on my chest. I wanted her to feel how she made my heart race I wanted her to feel that she was making me feel things I had never felt before. I wanted her hand to stay like that forever. I felt drowning in her eyes as she looked at me without a word. Her eyes were like a different dimension . and I guess I craved those eyes as much as I craved her and every part of her . I wanted to touch more of her badly , I lusted her more than I could ever imagined

I slowly brought my other hand to the nape of her neck, tucking her long dark locks behind her ear . I swear I could feel her shivers at my touch when I slipped my fingers through her hair, ow almost out of control. But her body reacted and she instantly closed her eyes in response. I leaned towards her and placed my forehead against hers. Hardly controlling myself when her nose brushed against mine. Damn it !

"Ivy " I groaned at her burning hand on my breast .

Can't she see what she's doing to me ? I could feel my heart racing under her palm, and a blazing fire burning under my flesh . I took a deep breath and damn , I reached out for her mouth . I enveloped her soft lips between mine in a kiss, She instantly dug her fingernails into my skin responding to my touch, and I felt like losing myself in her mouth. I kissed her as if my life depended on it . My life literally depended on it! I thought for a second that my heart had stopped beating ! As I tasted her mouth I slowly brought her body closer holding her waist and back between my hands effortlessly she closed the space between our bodies and pressed her lips to mine even more before slowly pulling away to catch her breath. And so did I.

I opened my eyes to see her eyelids opening up before she locked mine with a smoldering stare. As if she felt it too -all the lust I had for her and her touch- I looked at her swollen lips but she stepped back

" I'm sorry !" She murmured " I have to go"

And with that she withdrew her hands and so undid my grip. Then she turned on her heels and aimed fast for the door.