HIS FOR THE TAKING

"OPEN" sign was switched to dark. Ava watched through the streaked glass as the bustli

reasy purgatory always inspiring a mix of admiration and envy in Ava. Now it was just her and Len, the miserly o

having her body so brazenly violated...it was all too familiar. As she stared blankly at a dried ketchup stain

trinsic nature of her own beauty, that delicate vulnerability that inspired both wonder and rapacious hunger in the human spirit.

y their clothing layer by layer, baring them in unflinching detail with deft brushstrokes until they were frozen in immortal vulnerability. How many times had she lost herself

anvases were a domain where she was utterly in control, playing god over these fleeting

ootsteps of Len approaching from the service corridor. The diner's paunchy

led in that signature outer-borough snarl of his. "Or you actually got som

of those big emerald pools, the way they could effortlessly transfix and disarm even the brusqu

red in obvious annoyance. "Wha

een them, never breaking that piercing green-eyed gaze. "Len...I was just hoping

u need a g*ddamn babysitter now too? Ain't my job to hold every h

p. Len visibly wavered, all bravado melting as he raised a meaty paw to pinch the bridge of

crumbling studio alone tonight-not after being so brazenly pawed and degraded just for serving some entitled douchebags th

n would never let actual harm befall one of his "girls." Misogynistic baggage aside, he still operated by a perv

while Ava followed a few paces back, pulling her thin hoodie tighter. The neon ha

to toe in a way that made her deeply self-conscious. Then, with unexpected ten

know you got a whole world of hurt behind those baby greens. You're too pretty for your own go

stunned silence as Len regarded her in a way she'd never quite seen before

Len abruptly straightened up, fixing his face into its trademark sneer as he spun on his he

of affirmation were simply protective instinct...or something darker, more predatory. She shivered despite hersel

k-up. She fished some rumpled bills from her apron and scurried up th

Ava paused, brow furrowing. The e

muttered darkly, mentally bracing herself for a confrontation. Av

tered futon in his paint-splattered vintage trousers. His brooding, chiselled features were conto

ic about watching another artist in the throes of pure, unbridled creation. She couldn't help but drink in

d sigh, she finall

alette. His face stretched into a broad, boyish grin

flared, all traces of affection evaporating as fury took its place. "Do

ng at the instinctive wince that flickered across his features. "Give me back my spa

"Shh...Baby, I know we've been going through some stuff lately," he purred in that gruff baritone that used to make Ava go

ou dare start with this manipulative shit again, Malcolm! Every time you 'get your head straight,' it's only a mat

re times than she could count. "Mmm...You know you love it when I'm a little toxic, Kitten," Malcolm rumbled, his voice taking on a

k hit the wall with a dull thud. She opened her mouth to explode wi

thy, intoxicating blend of paints and musk radiating off him in waves. Despite

Malcolm's hand slowly trailed down Ava's trembling form, past the curves of her hips to grip her firmly. "It's the

ght off the impulse to surge forward and recapture that sinful taste. She was utterly hypnotize

est, using the very last vestiges of

ull lips as his iron grip tightened, immobilizing her

n, frenzied kiss, all resistance and inhibitions evaporating as Malcolm effortlessly overpowered her. His broad h

mpletely by this irrational, toxic soul mate. But it was a feeble whimper drowned out in the maelstrom

*