touch me,” he snarled.
“But you’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not. Let me help—”
“Fuck, Olin.” His head tipped downward, unable to look at me. Unable to fight the draw that still hummed between us. “I need you to leave. I can’t...I can’t do this.”
My heart fell to the floor.
He sounded exhausted.
Cross.
Confused.
“Tell me who did this to you.”
He laughed coldly. “It’s nothing I don’t deserve.”
I reached for him again, my fingertips begging to touch. “Gil...”
“Stop. Just...fuck!” He growled with rage and backed away. His thick eyelashes framed impossible pain. A blue streak of paint mixed with the red blood on his cheek.
Straightening his spine, any lingering sign of weakness or historical affection vanished, slipping into irritable stranger, placing a mask of snow upon his features. “I don’t know why you’re here, but you need to go. I don’t want you here. I asked you politely to leave.” His body tensed, bracing himself to be cruel. “There’s the goddamn door. Use it.”
Gil had always been a conundrum. A loner at school. Sweet with me. Horrible to me.
No matter how he’d treated me, I’d always tended his wounds.
Today is no different.
Squaring my shoulders, I said, “I can’t leave you in this state.”
“You don’t have a choice.” Our eyes collided and tangled.
In one stare, every gate and wall I’d built from him hurting me came tumbling down. “Gil, I...where have you been? I’ve wondered so many times—”
“Don’t.” He tore his gaze away, struggling with the familiarity between us. The sensation of homecoming. The connection that refused to break, no matter how much time had passed.
“I just want to understand.” I stepped closer.
He backed up, succeeding in shutting away his emotions and staring at me with heavy disgust and belittling dislike.
The wind that’d shot inside uninvited, swirled around my legs and up my skirt with icy fingers. I shivered, partly from the draft and partly from the frost now glittering on his face.
“Get out.” He bared his teeth. “Now.”
“But...I came for the interview.”
“Interview?” His eyebrows shot skyward. “You think I’d interview you?” His laugh was a vicious thing. Forced and brittle, cruel and callous. “You’ve wasted your time. There’s nothing for you here.”
I winced. I couldn’t help it.
He was here.
As long as he was here, there were a million reasons why I should stay.
Us.
There is no more us.
Remember!?
“I-I didn’t know it was you.” I swallowed. “The job opportunity. I didn’t know you—”
“And I didn’t know it was you. Otherwise, the offer to be interviewed would never have been given. Your email address wasn’t in your name.”
“I know. I don’t like to advertise my personal info. Wait—” I shook my head, doing my best to keep him talking. The longer he spoke, the more his anger cracked. “How did you become a body painter? I mean you were amazing at art in school, but—”
“Stop it.” He winced, licking his lip where a split oozed and swelled. “Enough, Olin. This is over.”
“Why do you get to decide it’s over?” I kept my attention on his hands, unable to meet his stare. “Why did you get to decide it was over seven years ago?” My question sliced my throat on its way out. Spiky and poisonous, something that I’d wanted to ask since he disappeared.
“Stop.” He swallowed hard, washing back excuses, answers, maybe even pleas for forgiveness. Any sign of regret at breaking my heart remained hidden as his green eyes turned lethally black. “Get out. You’ve been here too long already. I want you gone, do you hear me?”
I stepped backward, my legs obeying the bitten command.
I’d always looked up to Gil. Always been terribly dazzled. Always been hopelessly besotted.
He thought I hadn’t noticed him before that day in the corridor, but I had. I’d been blisteringly aware of him sitting behind me. Of the way he chewed his pencil when solving questions. Of the way his hands transformed mundane into magic.
I should’ve known he’d choose art.
Someone with his talent would always be recognised.
But despite his fury, despite my desire to scurry out of his vicinity to nurse the hot wash of tears, undeniable questions swirled in my mind.
So many years.
Such a long eternity.
How had we gone from teenagers to this? How had time stolen our happily ever after?
Staring at him, catching the strain in his face and the worry lines by his eyes, I didn’t see an older, wiser version of the boy who’d made me cry. I only saw so many mistakes and a whole chest worth of heartache.
“Gil—”
“Don’t.” He barked. “You’re on private property. Your invitation has
The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 1 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 2 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 3 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 4 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 5 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 6 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 7 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 8 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 9 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 10 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 11 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 12 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 13 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 14 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 15 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 16 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 17 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 18 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 19 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 20 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 21 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 22 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 23 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 24 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 25 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 26 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 27 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 28 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 29 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 30 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 31 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 32 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 33 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 34 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 35 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 36 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 37 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 38 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 39 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 40 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 41 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 42 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 43 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 44 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 45 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 46 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 47 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 48 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 49 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 50 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 51 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 52 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 53 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 54 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 55 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 56 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 57 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 58 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 59 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 60 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 61 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 62 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 63 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 64 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 65 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 66 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 67 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 68 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 69 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 70 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 71 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 72 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 73 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 74 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 75 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 76 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 77 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 78 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 79 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 80 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 81 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 82 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 83 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 84 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 85 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 86 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 87 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 88 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 89 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 90 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 91 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 92 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 93 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 94 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 95 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 96 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 97 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 98 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 99 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 100 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 101 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 102 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 103 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 104 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 105 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 106 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 107 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 108 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 109 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 110 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 111 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 112 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 113 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 114 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 115 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 116 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 117 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 118 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 119 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 120 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 121 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 122 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 123 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 124 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 125 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 126 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 127 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 128 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 129 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 130 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 131 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 132 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 133 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 134 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 135 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 136 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 137 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 138 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 139 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 140 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 141 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 142 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 143 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 144 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 145 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 146 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 147 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 148 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 149 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 150 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 151 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 152 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 153 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 154 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 155 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 156 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 157 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 158 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 159 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 160 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 161 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 162 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 163 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 164 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 165 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 166 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 167 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 168 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 169 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 170 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 171 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 172 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 173 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 174 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 175 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 176 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 177 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 178 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 179 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 180 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 181 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 182 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 183 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 184 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 185 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 186 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 187 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 188 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 189 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 190 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 191 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 192 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 193 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 194 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 195 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 196 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 197 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 198 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 199 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 200 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 201 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 202 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 203 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 204 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 205 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 206 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 207 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 208 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 209 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 210 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 211 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 212 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 213 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 214 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 215 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 216 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 217 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 218 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 219 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 220 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 221 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 222 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 223 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 224 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 225 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 226 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 227 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 228 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 229 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 230 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 231 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 232 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 233 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 234 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 235 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 236 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 237 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 238 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 239 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 240 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 241 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 242 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 243 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 244 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 245 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 246 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 247 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 248 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 249 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 250 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 251 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 252 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 253 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 254 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 255 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 256 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 257 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 258 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 259 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 260 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 261 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 262 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 263 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 264 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 265 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 266 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 267 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 268 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 269 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 270 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 271 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 272 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 273 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 274 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 275 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 276 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 277 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 278 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 279 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 280 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 281 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 282 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 283 The Finished Masterpiece Boxed Set - Pepper Winters - Page 284