Perfect Storm

19- Ian

As I entered Tawny's place, the aromas of mud, swamp, sulfur, and other smells of the earth were carrying through the air. And the further I walked in, and how the earthy scents continued filling my senses, like a curious dog determined to learn the smell, I lifted my nose and sniffed. "What's that smell? Do you have a leak somewhere?"

Tawny set her keys on the counter, turned around, then pointed over to the table by the couch, chuckling. "No. To keep my mind off my father, I dug out my pottery wheel, clay tools, and paint, and then I made a variety of things to add some additional character to this place," she said, surprising me.

My brows lifted, and I quickly turned to face the table covered with vases, flower pots, and little figurines such as dogs, cats, bears, deer, and more. Then, feeling intrigued to see what Tawny made, I walked over to the table and started picking up the clay sculptures one by one, closely looking at each one.

They're very detailed, painted perfectly, and they were made as a professional had made them.

"I'm impressed," I said in awe as I studied the detailing of one clay sculpture in particular—me.

I turned around, smiling, and lifted her recreation of me when I was in my swimming trunks. The day she hung out with Jason. And the day she claimed I was spying on her. "You missed me that much?"

She walked over with her eyes on the sculpture. "I did miss you not hanging around here, trying to pick a fight with me. But that's not why I made this," she said, her eyes flickering up to mine.

I lifted a brow after dirty thoughts immediately filled my brain. And as she looked at me, I noticed a salacious look in her eye. That look tells me my thoughts could be very well true. "Oh? So why did you make it then?"

I know she won't admit to what I think is her reasoning for sculpting me. But after questioning her about it and seeing her facial expressions change, my gut tells me I'm right. I'm also enjoying how her face suddenly turned flush. She knows I know. And she's embarrassed.

I fucking love it.

She bit her bottom lip, shrugged a shoulder, then, with her teeth still attached to her lip, she grinned. "As you already know, I like a good challenge--"

I held up my finger, cutting her off. "All except for when it comes to having disciplined sex."

"That's a different kind of challenge," she retorted, the tops of her ears turning redder.

"How do you figure?"

"Because that type of challenge has to do with torturing my body—something I'm not used to... but don't worry," she added, grinning. "I think I'm getting used to it, and soon, I have a feeling that I may be the one begging you to test my limits to the extreme."

Now she really has my attention.

And she also has my right-hand man's attention.

"Oh really now..." I quipped.

She tried looking serious, but that didn't work too well. There's one thing I've learned with Tawny—she's not very good at hiding her emotions at times. And as I stood there studying her beautiful face, I noticed the corners of her mouth twitching, and they were trying to curve upward. But then she realized a smile starting to form, and she changed the subject.

Of course, she would...

"Anyway, as I was saying before, you interrupted me. Since you were away and I didn't have you to do everything I could to piss you off, I felt desperate for a challenge. So I decided to test my artistic abilities and made a human. It just so happened to be you."