Read Online The Muse by Nicholas Matthews - Free Book Online Page A

her. 
                Faith nodded and let him apply the ice pack.  “Can you hold it in place for a minute?” he asked.  “I'll be right back.”
                She grabbed the baggie of ice and winced at the chill.  “My face is going to look horrible.  Scratch that, my face already looks horrible.”
                “Not possible,” Gibson told her. 
                “It already looks bad,” she said.  “I can tell by how it feels.”
                Gibson thought about that for a moment and ran out of the room.  She could hear him rattling around in his studio for a few minutes.  When he returned, he was covering one side of his face with his hand.
                “What are you doing?” she asked. 
                Gibson laughed.  “Don't think I'm stupid or anything,” he said.  “I just didn't want you to feel bad about your face.  I thought maybe it would help if you had a little company.”
                When he took his hand away, a large streak of purple paint marred one cheek.  “We're twins now,” he laughed.  “You have a purple face, and now, so do I.”
                Faith laughed right along with him.  “You're too much,” she said.  “I still think the Body Snatchers got to you.  You aren't anything like the guy I thought I knew.”
                Gibson held out his arms in a Frankenstein pose.  “I'm coming to get you, Barbara!” he said, badly misquoting another old horror movie. 
                Faith squealed and rolled away from him.  Gibson laughed heartily.  It had been a long time since he had felt so good.  Then, he quickly remembered why Faith was in his apartment, and his smile faltered.  He wasn't supposed to be having a good time.  He was supposed to be taking care of her, not acting silly with her on his couch.
                “I'm sorry,” he said, going solemn again.  “I forgot why we came up here in the first place.  I shouldn't be having fun right now.”
                “Why not?” Faith asked.  “I am.  It feels good.”
                “I just don't want you to think that I'm glad about what happened to you.”
                Faith chewed on this for a moment.  “In a way, I'm glad about it.”
                Gibson looked confused.  “You can't mean that.”
                Faith smiled warmly.  “I do mean it.  If this hadn't happened, you and I might not be here right now.  I might have never seen the painting that you created for me.  I might have never seen the warm, caring side of you that exists.  I might not have gotten up the courage to do this.”
                Before Gibson could say anything or react, Faith had kissed him softly on the lips.  Gibson let his lips linger against hers for a while before pulling away and staring into her eyes.  All he saw there was acceptance and a smoldering desire, and that was enough to draw him back in.  He pressed his lips tightly against hers and wrapped his arms around her.  Faith dropped the ice pack and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him tighter to her as if to breathe in his essence.  Gibson sighed and let his fingers rake across Faith's back.  He moved to kiss her neck and then slid up to press his lips softly against her wounded cheek.  Faith sighed, then moaned breathlessly as he moved back to her neck.
                Gibson allowed himself a few precious seconds not to think, sinking deep into moment, never once considering what he was doing.  Then, he opened his eyes and noticed Faith's tears. 
                He pushed away from her, holding her at arm's length.  “I'm sorry,” he said.  “It's all my fault.  You were vulnerable.  I didn't mean to take advantage of that.”
                Faith shook her head.  “No, don't be silly.  I kissed you.  I