WAVE

Chapter 35

Six Months Later

Picking up the excess of the red gown I'm tripping over, I rush through the hallway of the gallery exhibit. The guests are piling into the newly opened Museum of Fine Arts, having received an invitation of its grand opening since gaining a new museum director.

Genevieve Harding.

I can't help but grin, seeing my name on the front of the building I've been coming to since I was in college. It's surreal.

History paints the walls on either side of me.

My nerves are at an all-time high as I dash over the pristine floors, headed for the main hall. Andre, who has opted for a tuxedo tonight instead of his usual Levi's, informed me coming in that Tristan needed to see me immediately. I push open the glass double doors and come to a full halt.

"Oh...my...god."

Tristan is standing at the far corner of the room, dressed in a classic tuxedo. And beside him is Monet's Le bassin aux nymphéas, the painting I had hung in my old office—it's now in our apartment. Something about this version of it induces shaking in my hands.

My feet shuffle forward in heels that have suddenly become hard to walk in. My eyes scan over it, taking in the colorful hues. Heart pounding, I stop before it, tearing my eyes away to look up at Tristan.

"Is...is it—" My speech fails.

"Real?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Yes, it is the original."

"Oh my god," I repeat, gasping. It's more beautiful than I could have imagined. Out of all the Monets, this is the hardest to find. "This is one of the most expensive—"

I tear my eyes away from it, feeling a mixture of shock and awe as he gazes at me, an amused smile on his face.

"You didn't..."

"I did."

A cry of joy escapes my lips as I jump up and down towards him, embracing him tightly. "I can't even believe it. I can't believe you got this!"

"It's yours," he whispers, pressing his lips to my temple.

"Thank you, Tristan. Thank you so much... I'm totally freaking out right now." I pull back and show him my trembling hands, laughing breathlessly. He lifts them and presses his lips to each one.

"I mean to make them do that forever."

My teeth dig into my bottom lip as he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me in. I tilt my head up, unable to stop smiling even when he presses his lips to mine. My fingers smooth against his tuxedo, clutching the fabric tightly, holding him to me.

"I'm so fucking crazy for you," I utter, breaking away from his kiss with a gasp. His lips graze mine once more, his eyes scorching before they trail onto my cheek. I feel his teeth graze the soft corner of my jaw and shiver, unable to stop my mouth from gaping open, consumed by the pleasure.

His hand travels into my blonde locks, grasping a handful of them tightly. I moan as he tilts my head to the side, trailing his tongue down my neck.

"Tristan."

The sound of the classical music that the string quartet begins to play in the main hallway has my eyes opening wide within seconds. Tristan's breath is warm against my neck as he chuckles.

"Damn," I mutter as he pulls back, letting go of my hair. I giggle as he tries to smooth it back into place. "You've got me all flustered," I gasp, wiping my lipstick off of his mouth.