3. Koi
I was rushing to Chelsea’s art studio. I recently agreed to attend her sessions twice a week.
She was the only person outside of my family who knew how much I loved painting, drawing, and sculpting.
The last couple of weeks, we had painted natural landscapes.
She told us last week that this week, we would have a surprise.
I pulled into the parking lot only to circle it and pull back out. The parking lot was crowded tonight, and there were no empty spaces. I forgot that she was having an art show along with the regular classes that were being held.
The building where Chelsea hosted her events and classes was an old, converted warehouse.
There were several loft apartments upstairs, and downstairs was her space for classes and events.
She had two large open spaces where she held special events.
Then there were four smaller studio spaces, where classes were taught each night.
She often filled in when one of her instructors called out, or sometimes she just chilled at the back of the class.
I found off-the-street parking and hopped out of my car. Grabbing everything that I needed, I jogged down the sidewalk back to her studio.
I prayed that it wasn’t too late for me to get inside.
She usually locked the doors at seven. The liberal arts department held an urgent meeting this evening after classes ended.
They were discussing eliminating programs and what our options were.
They hadn’t informed the students yet because no final decision had been made.
They implored us not to discuss with anyone the details shared in the meeting until they had the opportunity to inform the student body.
When I arrived at the door, I tugged on it to find that it was locked. I pressed my face against the glass doors and tried to peer inside. The music was loud, and I could see people moving on the other side of a translucent wall, but I could not see any details.
Sighing, I turned and rested my back against the door before I removed my phone to try to call Chelsea.
I doubted that she would be able to hear her phone ringing.
She generally turned it on vibrate whenever she held classes or events.
I hoped that her phone was on her body and not lying in her office or purse.
When she did not answer, I sighed and ended the call. I really needed this release tonight. Not that I couldn’t do the same thing at home, but I needed the vibe and atmosphere of Chelsea’s studio. I needed to be surrounded by other students and become inspired. Today had been stressful.
I noticed a few missed text messages from Chelsea that had come in earlier. Just before I opened them, I heard a sound behind me. I pushed off the glass door and turned to face it.
“Hey, Koi,” Cecil, another student, greeted me after opening the door.
“Hey. Thanks for opening the door for me. I tried Chels, but she didn’t answer.”
“She’s moving between the class and the showing.”
“I figured as much,” I stated, hitching my bag up my shoulder.
“I doubt if anyone would have heard you out here knocking. I happened to be coming back from the restroom and saw you propped against the door.”
“Thank you,” I repeated as I followed him down the long hallway lined with paintings and to a room at the rear.
I stepped into the classroom behind Cecil.
There were twelve tables positioned around the room, with two students at each table.
I briefly saw someone at the front of the room out of the corner of my eye as I maneuvered through the room.
We were having a human model tonight. That had been her surprise.
I found my table in the third row, where I normally sat, and placed my bag on the floor. I hurriedly unpacked it since I was already late for class. When I settled in, I finally looked up at our model.
Surprise coursed its way through my body, and my face flushed with fever as the model’s piercing gaze met mine. It was none other than Mr. Salem Gates. For a moment, I could not breathe.
Chelsea came behind me and wrapped her arms around me. She kissed my cheek, and I relaxed in my best friend’s embrace. She didn’t know it, but she grounded me in that moment.
“So glad you could make it. I thought you wouldn’t come after it got so late.”
“I needed to be here tonight, but this, Chels. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I hinted at it,” she whispered loudly. “Did you not check the four text messages that I sent to you?”
“I didn’t have time. They called an emergency meeting for our department after work,” I whispered back.
“Well, you’re here now. That’s all that matters. Isn’t he fine though?”
“You should have told me. Why didn’t you blow my phone up until I answered?”
She smiled. “I thought he might be a nice surprise. I was shocked when he showed up for an interview last week. All I could recall was how enthralled you were with him. You went on and on about how his tongue?—”
“Shh.” I shushed her harshly when I noticed Salem’s gaze upon us. He wore a cocky smirk, and his gaze said he knew what we were talking about.
“My bad, but you can thank me later.”
“It’s not that simple, Chels,” I whispered.
“Why not?”
“He’s my student.”
“Oh shit,” she replied loudly, looking between Salem and me. “Well, have fun with that,” she whispered again as she patted my shoulder and then disappeared from the class.
I glanced up at Salem, sitting on the stool with one arm resting casually on his thigh.
The man’s body was truly a work of art, and not just the tattoos that decorated his beautiful canvas.
The bulging muscles, the beautiful color of his dark skin, and the structure of his body were all works of God Most High.
Salem had one foot on the top rung of his velvet-covered, cushioned stool. His other foot rested on the floor. And his third foot? Well, let’s just say it hung very well.
It took several minutes before I moved past the shock of seeing Salem on that stool, but once I did, I focused on the task at hand. Class was over, and I almost tripped over my own feet trying to pack my things away.
“You’re in a rush,” Juliette, a student who I shared the table with, commented.
“Oh, yes. I’ve got papers to grade tonight before an early class in the morning,” I lied.
I just wanted to get the hell out of dodge before Salem or Chelsea hemmed me up. I knew that she would tease me mercilessly, but she, of all people, had to know why this situation was not good for me.
I grabbed my things and headed for the door, but Chelsea stopped me.
“Honey, I just wanted to apologize. I had no inkling that the man was one of your students. How the hell did that happen? I thought you said you didn’t share any personal details.”
“I didn’t. It was just fate,” I muttered, using the same words that Salem spoke to me at the beginning of the semester.
“How are you handling this? And why haven’t you shared this little detail with me? He’s been in your class for an entire semester, and you failed to say a word.”
“Honestly, I was trying to put the entire situation out of my mind. When he showed up on the first day, I told him that it wouldn’t work.
He promised that it would, and he’s done everything in his power to prove me wrong.
I had almost forgotten that something happened between us,” I explained, toying with my bottom lip nervously.
“What do you mean, almost? Did something happen again?”
“No! I mean, no. He’s been so well-behaved throughout the semester that I almost questioned if anything had occurred between us or if it were a figment of my very overactive imagination.
But then these last few weeks, he started dropping innuendos and looking at me in ways that set me on fire.
When I recall all the things that man did to me throughout one night, I’m at a loss for words, Chels, and now this. ”
“Again, I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t know.”
“It’s not your fault. But let me get out of here, okay? I don’t want to run into him.”
“All right. Take care, babe. I’ll see you Thursday?”
“I don’t know. Is he going to be here?”
“Yes. Some people didn’t finish their sketching tonight.”
I sighed dramatically and nodded. “Well, I’ll let you know.”
“Okay. Be safe, baby cakes,” she stated as she hugged me, and we kissed each other’s cheeks.
I backed out of the studio, using my butt to push the door open. I headed down the sidewalk and rushed to my car, only to find someone leaning against it.
“Salem.”
“You don’t get off that easily.”
My shoulders dropped, and he pushed off my car. Salem ran his hands up and down my arms. “Relax, baby girl.”
“What are you doing, Salem?”
“Checking on you,” he replied, gripping my chin.
“That’s not what I was talking about. Why are you working here?”
“Modeling is something that I do on the side. Anyway, I could tell you were rattled in there tonight.”
“If anyone got wind of this, or what happened before?—”
He covered my mouth with his, and I almost dropped my art bag.
One hand clutched the strap of my bag tightly, and my other hand went to his shirt and gripped it between my fingers.
I found that I couldn’t pull away, nor could I lean in.
I just stood there, lost in his rapturous gaze and demanding lips.
It was only seconds before my mouth yielded to his lips’ urgent demand.
When I opened my mouth for Salem, he took control and led the way.
I had no choice but to follow his commands.
The way he stared into my eyes as he kissed me felt hypnotic.
I couldn’t close my eyes if I wanted to.
A fire that had been quietly smoldering suddenly flared to life with a combustible spark.
I wanted this man so desperately. Damn. Why did he have to be my student? When he pulled back, Salem stared into my eyes.
“Why’d you kiss me?”
“Didn’t want to hear the shit that was coming out of your mouth. Look, li’l mama. I don’t know how much longer you think I can hold out. But all that shit about waiting till graduation is out the door. Now get ya ass in the car and head home.”
He released me, and I stood there in a daze. People skirted around us, going to the cafés and bars up and down the street.
“Now,” he demanded.
I did as he ordered and started the ignition.
Once I was secured in my car, Salem walked up the street and tucked his hands into his pockets.
He jogged across the street as I pulled away.
I struggled to get my brain to work again.
And when it finally did, I drove home in silence with my heart thudding out of my chest.