The Model Woman
One morning I was riding the train on my way into the bustling city and found myself enjoying the view out my window. The rhythmic beat of the train’s wheels had lulled most of the passengers to sleep I noticed as I looked around. Trying to take advantage of their last chance to catch a few more winks before the onset of what ever calamities may be in store for them in the coming hours of the workday. Not all slumbered during the mundane transit and as I observed my immediate surroundings I could see some were perusing the daily papers at varying levels of intensity or using some form of technology to get and early start on work. My morning entertainment was watching the spectacular piece of performance art playing out across the visible horizon outside the window of the train. Traveling somewhat west the sun was rising from behind me and was painting the western edge of sky in hues of pinks and purples in ever changing intensities and dotted with specks of white and soft blue tinted clouds.
Off to the right was the moon which was setting into the horizon and it was plain to see its three dimensional orb shape amidst the purple sea. I couldn’t help but gaze in awe at the colorful display nature was putting on seemingly just for me as the rest of the passengers seem preoccupied with something more important. I couldn’t imagine anything that couldn’t wait a few minutes while one enjoyed such a rare and beautiful event. Ordinary buildings became purple castles with shimmering golden windows as the sun transformed the landscape with every degree of its arrival above the horizon. As the moon sank into the soft blue edge of space beyond the horizon it was fading faster into the sky than it was sinking out of site and with the suns rays ever brightening it was a fitting colorful farewell as dawn arrived with its full brilliant light. A few minutes later the moon was gone not having the brilliance to compete with the morning sky and the world was back to is proper colors and hues with the sunrise fireworks only a memory now. I sat in silence among the sleeping and unaware and simply enjoyed the live painting evolving and reinventing itself right before my eyes. How many times would you get the chance to witness such a spectacular event in even a lifespan of many years I pondered? How many days would be too cloudy or simply slept through I wondered. I tried to contemplate the odds of catching such a brilliant display when all the elements would be in place for such a show but mostly I watched in awe as nature revealed its mighty beauty. I felt small and insignificant when I thought about the size and magnitude of the bodies involved but I looked at it as a good omen too and felt grateful to have been a witness.
Being an artist I see things a little bit different and I felt fortunate for the unique way I am allowed to view the world. My creative brain sees things visually and gives me different insights into everything around me and at times can provide me simple pleasures just from observations of my everyday surroundings. This morning the surroundings were putting on a spectacular show, bravo I shouted out in my head. When looking at any subject be it a masterpiece or a simple sketch or an ordinary object we may use everyday it’s important to look at it as many ways as you can. Art it to be enjoyed but it also should make you think or feel or both depending on the artists intent. Step back and absorb the entire piece form afar then look at its parts and how they interact with other aspects of itself and each time you look you might find new insights or ideas. Try to see what the artist is trying to tell you or what emotions or ideas the artist trying to convey or stimulate. Creativity has its own language but not everyone will understand or appreciate it and this morning few were aware enough to appreciate a simple sunrise. Now the sun was fully above the horizon and the outside world was awash in its bright yellow light I smiled and felt grateful having caught such a beautiful display.
While it is my goal to do nothing else but paint what I want whenever I wanted the reality of life is that strategy usually doesn’t pay the bills as well as steady employment does. So when I’m not in my studio plying my craft I’m here in the city painting apartments or houses. Unfortunately my largest source of income right now is painting walls and not something in the truly creative realm but hey it was a paying gig. Truth be told I was having trouble choosing my subjects lately as I wanted my art to stand out and perhaps reflect myself in a sense and I wasn’t sure if my art or my persona were on the same page let alone that easy to define. It takes a while to develop ones style and area of expertise and if you don’t know what that is it takes even longer. But it’s an ever evolving process which can be wondrous at times and frustrating at others. Impossible altogether, if I couldn’t pay the rent, so here I was on my way to a more mundane but necessary endeavor.
Today’s job was a few rooms in someone’s apartment in a small brownstone in a particularly eclectic part of the city. I felt the creative vibes oozing into me from the wealth of fantastic talents that have historically gravitated to this area as I walked through its midst to my destination. I had at one time considered living here to be amongst the large community of creative minds that inhabited this village like area but it wasn’t the safest of neighborhoods back then. In recent years the crime has been controlled and like all up and coming areas the more affluent began to move in. Today these dwellings are way out of reach for the income of the average starving artist but one can dream. I would give my non painting arm to live here in a flat with a big sunny studio and a successful gallery business close by. Waking up each day to see how many million dollar commissions I could turn down because I was too busy. I did say it was a dream right? My more realistic goal was to make a decent living with my craft and to be respected for my works and the nitch I’ve carved out for myself. Now if I could only figure out what it was that I would be famous for I’d be on my way.
Eventually I found the brownstone whose address matched the small slip of paper in my pocket so I climbed the short chunk of stairs and rang the bell. I try not to make much of first impressions because often people can have many more layers than the obvious one on the surface. Then again some people can surprise you and simply be one dimensional. When the door swung open there to my surprise was an attractive woman, a little older than me, and her hair was tied up tight in a bun at the back of her head and although dressed in somewhat casual attire there was an air or stuffy ness about her. Her clothes were obviously all brand new giving the impression of wealth or a phobia about getting comfortable in old clothes but I couldn’t be sure. Anyway this was only a job and not a psychological interview so introduced my self and she invited me in and ushered me over to my work area. In the midst of a large living room empty of furniture was my pile of my supplies and tools for the job. Quickly I surveyed the areas to be painted. One large living room and adjacent hallway and small foyer all free of furniture or wall hangings. She wanted a faux finish in the big room which was a three step process that wasn’t going to be so hard and I mentally tried to calculate how long it would take me to finish and get back to something I’d really rather be doing like working on my latest sketch.
Actually I wasn’t in that much of a hurry to get back since I seemed to be having a mental block for my creative endeavors lately. It’s difficult to say the least to be a standout in an over crowded field and for a while now I’ve been changing directions and ideas constantly still searching for that theme that would ignite and excite me into producing a large body of unique works. Sure I’ve sold my share of still life’s to help earn some money but it’s hard to show your passions in a bowl of fruit and there’s a more steady income in the painting of walls than canvas and so here I go again I sighed to myself. We chatted about her expectations of the rooms and as I set up to get to work she told me more about her plans for each area and what kind of furniture she was getting and her decorating ideas. Her sense of color and decorating sense was impressive combining functionality with an artistic flair and I said I’d love to see it finished which was the truth as I often only see things to halfway point before the painter is no longer needed. She smiled and said in an excited tone that it was quite possible that I get to see it completed since there were several rooms she was planning to do over and we both got a chuckle form that. As I got ready to start she excused herself and headed off to another room to take a call and I thought it was funny how her outward appearance juxtaposed the style of her home and I found that glimpse into some of her layers quite interesting.
Without anymore distractions I got right to work and tapped off the moldings and trim and had most of the room covered in the base coat before she returned and asked if id like some coffee. I said sure in a bout 10 minutes ill be done with the base coat and have to let it dry for while before I put the color layers down. Perfect she said ill start a pot and she whisked off to the kitchen. By the time I finished the small foyer I could smell an enticing coffee aroma wafting through the air and it was getting stronger by the second. Wit the last dabs of the primer coat applied I turned as she came out and asked of I was ready for a coffee break and to my luck I was. I thought she’d just bring me a cup but she invited me back to the kitchen and show me a seat at her kitchen table which I thought was a nice thing to do. Very quickly she made me feel like I was a friend doing a favor rather than a hired hand painting her house she was that charming and disarming. When I noticed my coffee cup was nearing empty I felt a twinge of disappointment as I knew when it was finished I’d have to get back to work and end out little chat session which I was enjoying immensely. Sipping the last drop I got up to get back to work and we kept on talking as I returned to the work area and even as I got ready for the next phase of the finish we kept up the conversation.
During our coffee we didn’t really cover the reasons why we both were still living alone but it was obvious to me she was need of some human contact other than work related and I don’t necessarily mean in the physical sense either. I was all too familiar with working long hours and getting so busy you barely have time to sleep let alone just converse with other people or friends. When you finally do get to strike up a good conversation you realize how much you miss talking to someone and I sensed that same feelings from her. There was the possibility she was interested in me too but I really didn’t see myself as potential date material in this instance it was easy to see we were from very different worlds so to speak. She was affluent and seemed to be quite together but a bit rigid I thought. I saw myself as a struggling artist with no clear direction painting houses for extra money. Even if she was impressed with my artistic abilities and personality I felt that wasn’t enough to sway an impressive woman like her. All of a sudden I felt my shabby painting clothes were a tad dingy for this job.
All that aside I thoroughly enjoyed talking to her and she seems genuinely interested in how I would ply my craft and I was more than happy to explain. I show her this sponge technique I was going to use and the theory behind blending the two colors and she seemed amazed how simple it was and yet how it yielded such dramatic effects. She made light of how if she had done it wouldn’t look as nice being she had no artistic ability. I said well you must have some because you know a good paint job when you see one and we both chuckled at that. Her laugh was hearty and natural and she touched my arm a lot while talking or making a point and it was disarming to say the least. I let her try the sponges and she go the technique pretty fast and quickly commented that I was over paid. I laughed and said the sponge technique anyone can do that’s why you’re getting charged for a regular painter it would be much more for my rate as an artist. Right away she asked me if I was kidding that I was an artist and of course I told her I was and she seemed highly intrigued. She asked all she asked all kinds of questions about my schooling to my styles and tastes and was impressive with her knowledge of the field. She admitted to being a collector of some fine pieces and even showed me the few she had hanging in her office and on the side waiting to be hung in the freshly painted rooms. I was surprised at the variations in her tastes and she had a collection worth a nice piece of change too I thought to myself.
Personally I chose a more bohemian lifestyle and could never afford such a variety of professional works. I wasn’t complaining mind you, each of our choices had its advantages and drawbacks but I was happy in my choice and didn’t think I could change no matter what the motivation. But it would be nice to be surrounded by so many diverse and beautiful works. I gave her my thoughts on a few of her pieces not wanting to seem like I was an expert giving a tour but more observations through the artists eyes in what I hoped were articulate interpretations of the pieces. She had a strong grasp on the works as it was but I managed to add some of my own perceptions and insights to what she already knew of them. When I got back to the walls she asked me about my current works which I was dreading somewhat since I was in a creative funk but I did my best to be honest and yet evade the question. Of course she was too smart for the redirect trick and I had to confess my situation resulting in my regular attendance on the house painting payroll. She seemed to sympathize with my trouble and offered a few ideas but didn’t have that magic wand to help me but promised to think about for me.
We had spent so much time talking about and looking at her possessions that I was way behind my schedule and since I was getting paid by the job my hourly wage was shrinking rapidly as the hours left in the day. I really didn’t mind the extra time today for the company was quite good and the more we chatted the more I didn’t want to finish all that fast. When I finally did finish the job which included cleaning up my supplies and peeling the last of the tape off the floors and trim I noticed it was just after five pm. I was thinking about how much this nine to five stuff stinks when she came back in and game me kudos on a job well done. The walls came out great not that I had any doubt, but she was impressed and elated with my work. She asked my if I wanted something to eat before I left and I said I couldn’t but she insisted saying she was going to go down the block to eat at a small Thai place and let the paint fumes clear our while she dined and she insisted I join her.
Feeling my stomach rumble I thought it a good idea but I couldn’t help feeling funny walking into that take out place and dining with her at the smallish tables they had off to one side. While we ate our meal on the shinny white Formica it was kind of like eating in a brightly lit fishbowl with the huge floor to ceiling neon decorated glass front of the store. The floor was a bright shade of blue like the colorful gravel you’d find in a fish tank and they even had some fake plants scattered about. The deep fryer was bubbling briskly in the back round completing the imagery as it sounded like a tank filter. I will admit that after a few minutes of good conversation she made me feel a lot more relaxed which I enjoyed more than the food. Once again she brought up my painting and I tried to dodge the subject but it seemed to be her nature to be helpful so we brainstormed while we dined and she tried to give me ideas to get me over this mental block. I played along half to amuse her and half because I was getting desperate to change the situation myself. By the time we were finished eating we covered dozens of styles and ideas and we both didn’t feel any were that one good idea I was looking for. I was feeling tired from the long day and she seemed to be also and for a few moments we just stared out the window silently thinking and people watching. After a while she spoke and I thought she was going to say it was time for us to get going but she sighed started to think aloud.
She said that looking at her refection in the glass reminded her that she had always wanted to have her portrait done but hated how stiff and formal they looked. Why would anyone what to portray themselves so differently from how they really are she pondered. A lot of people do provocative portraits I said posing in lingerie or in nothing at all. She laughed and said even if she felt comfortable doing that it’s not something that she would want to hang in her living room for family to come by and gawk at. And again she added, that’s not an accurate depiction of who a person really is unless of course they spend the majority of their lives lounging around half naked in sensual poses. I could feel my mind reeling and churning as I was thinking hard about what would be the median between a formal and an erotic painting. I asked her what pictures of her were displayed in the house now and she said she did have a favorite picture that was taken back in her college days. It was of her laughing and wearing a school sweatshirt that was big and baggy but you could tell it was comfortable and see how happy she was at the moment the picture was taken. An idea went off in my head like a light and I couldn’t believe how simple yet unique of an idea it was it if I could make it work. I said id like to try something, id like to do your portrait but in that shirt in an informal. It would make it casual and fun and still be a portrait but like a natural portrait.
She as instantly as excited about the idea as I was and said she would love it. I said I would do it for free too since she was my test subject but she would have to come to my studio, which was really just a sunny area of my apartment dedicated for working but it had great lighting and would do the trick. I gave her directions and we sat a time for Saturday morning which was enough time for me to do some practice some research and hopefully enough time to clean up the joint. I had not done portraits in a long time but I wasn’t worried about my ability to capture my subject onto canvas but I did have some feelings of anxiety about this whole idea. I wasn’t sure why but part of it might have been her enthusiasm for the project and her high expectations adding pressure to the task. I had an idea of what I wanted in my mind but that doesn’t always translate to the canvas every time. The last few days I had done a lot of research by looking at classic and more informal portraits and well as photographs both professional and ones I had of friends and family. I was looking for what made them personal and more endearing to the casual observer. I came to the conclusion I would have to set the stage using posture, facial expressions, clothing and surroundings to add depth and substance to a piece.
With the appointment time approaching I busied my self in work till she would arrive by getting my palate and supplies ready. I checked my canvas and made sure it was ready for paint and before I knew it the doorbell rang. I peeked in the mirror several times to check my own appearance and felt pretty good about it. For the special occasion I bought a new shirt to wear one with a collar too which didn’t look bad at all I thought. I welcomed her in gave her the quick tour which was about all one can do in a small apartment. I made some coffee and we sipped at my work table and I showed her some ideas I had in mind and she really was excited to see how it would turn out. She decided not to be staring back into the painters’ perspective but to be captured simply enjoying one of her favorite quiet pastimes which was sitting on a couch and reading a favorite book. Of course she brought it along too with that favorite sweatshirt so both could be captured in oils forever.
I took a digital snapshot for position and for color reference and after we settled on a pose we thought was best I stepped back to take it all in. satisfied with all the elements I could control I got right to work. I sketched quickly so I could start layering paint before the sun would have a chance to move much. With my charcoal lines to guide me I started to apply paint in various colors shades and thicknesses. I left some of the back round a neutral as I was going to add in some aspects of her place and passions later once I had the colors and lighting of my subject exactly as I wanted. After about and hour I had a really nice base to the painting and my pallet was a blur of several colors all blending in towards the center. Since I could use my pallet and my photographs for reference and my artistic license to finish the piece I no longer needing my live model but the more I painted her the more I wanted her to stay.
We conversed continuously while I worked and the more I learned about her the more I thought her a fascinating subject both inside as well as out. Simply sitting there one could see the complexity of her personal composition exquisitely revealed in her posture and poise. There was as touch of rigidity yet it was softened by her beauty and delicate features. It was quite charming the way she tucked a leg under and kept a slight pout to her lip while she read which revealed an inner child beneath the façade of her full grown exterior. Delicate hands had a gentle grace to them as they cradled her favorite book or whose fingers dangled down to toy with the pages before turning. There was a wisdom and beauty to her face put there by experience and kept youthful by her defiance of the passing of time aided in part by wearing that old sweat shirt. Sunlight framed her face by creating natural highlight in her hair especially at the edges where it was thinnest and I tried to capture every golden reddish twinkle I saw. Now her hair was more relaxed and was hanging down now and although it was worked into more of a style than when I last saw her it was freer flowing with a hint of wildness to it. The softness of the style allowed the eye to see the beauty of her features and not be influenced by a more conservative design.
I thought she was attractive in so many ways and the more time I was permitted to stare and study her features the more detail I noticed and the more it mixed into my feelings about her. Whenever she talked her face had so many expressive nuances which were quite distracting and I tried to capture some of them in the painting too. Sometimes her eyes twinkled and smiled at me and sometimes they appeared to be looking through me as if to discern the fibers of my character. True she was easy on the eyes and that enticed my physical being but I really liked her personality as well and that affected me most of all. My practical mind quickly tried to diffuse any ideas I had of a romantic adventure by resorting to making a list or reasons against such an undertaking by laying out all the reasons it was a bad idea in articulate and concise arguments. I thought about how different our lives are and wondered if the dichotomy of our worlds would allow for anything more than just an ill fated fling at best possibly leaving us both worse off and lonelier than when we started. Sometimes getting a taste of heaven is worse than ever knowing it at all.
While my logical mind took the con argument my physical persona attacked from the pro view by dreaming up sensual visuals and imaginary feelings of countless possibilities. For instance what it might be like to kiss her or to hold her tight against my body and feel her hold me back with equal passions. I wondered what the everyday life with her would be like from simple dating to Sunday mornings sleeping in and making breakfast for each other. It was an interesting debate going on in my mind and I enjoyed the possibilities but there was also the chance that she wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me beyond this portrait or more painted walls but I pondered the possibilities none the less. I needed to think about this more and tried not to let my emotional confusion interfere with my creative endeavor but in the end I think it helped. With my mind embroiled in a mental duel against itself I slipped into a creative trance. I wasn’t aware of the passage of time or even if I was breathing. My body was on automatic as my mind focused on the task before me. While I was working nothing else existed other than the canvas and my exquisite subject. I worked intensely on the painting without a single outside influence and slowly the masterpiece began to slowly reveal itself. I don’t know if you could call it a work of love but my feelings influenced the piece almost as much as my artistic skills did and was immensely pleased with how it was shaping up.
After quite a while of sitting for me I told her I had enough between what was on the canvas and the reference photos to complete the work and she was free to move around or leave if she had anything else she wanted to do this afternoon. I left it up to her as part of me would have enjoyed her company while I continued working and part of me wanted her to leave so I could think and work things out in my head. Excitedly she jumped up and ran around behind me to have a look at what I have done so far and was elated with the progress. Leaning on my shoulder while looking over at the work I could smell her perfume as it wafted around me and I could tell it was perfectly applied so as not to be over powering but to be a fragrant enhancement of her own lovely scent. Its sweet delicate presence made me euphoric with each deep breath of it I sampled. Snapping out of that sweet scented fog I quickly asked her some questions about some of the back round elements so I could change the focus of my mind from lusty thoughts to something I was more familiar doing. Although the painting was very nice at this point there was still quite a bit if work ahead where I would add layers of light and shadowed effects to get the images to really pop out of the canvas and change it from an ordinary illustration to a more photo realistic impression of my charming subject.
While I continued to work she made some more coffee and spent time looking over some of my previous works and nosed around my apartment perhaps looking for insights into who I was by seeing what books I may have read or by what foods I kept in my pantry. It could be she was just pain nosy or bored too but it didn’t seem so. It did seem the more I worked on her image the more it was working on me and my first impression of her and I started to see her in the same gentle light with which I was trying to capture her in with my brushes and oils. I felt tireless as I worked and the hours flew by from the thrill I was getting from creating and in part too from the company. Lunch was way over due when I decided to stop mostly because she took the liberty to have something delivered and she knew I needed a break. I could feel a physical and mental exhaustion creeping into me as soon as I stopped. Being in that creative zone for so long I was oblivious to aches or numbness or fatigue and now it all was catching up fast. I plopped onto the couch and although I was tired I was also elated because I felt I finally found the niche I was looking for which was portraits in the natural state.
She called them handmade photographs and they were exactly that. A crafted snapshot of my subjects as they would have appeared in everyday life captured forever on canvas. Who ever gazed upon this piece many years from now would not only know the model was beautiful but successful and intriguing. I could easily see future admirers studying the picture and how they might wonder who the beautiful subject was. like many a painting if the artist has captured their subject with passion the image can make one ponder so many questions like who they , both artist and focus of the piece, or how it came to be that that particular portrait was painted at all. We wonder what their lives were like and what kind of person they were or what it might have been like to know them intimately. I hope someday people would look at my work here and be aware of the effort and painstaking approach I took to creating this image and in much the same way view her with the same adoring vision I had.
There was a slight chance my own daydreams where clouding my judgment here as I was no longer impartial about the painting or its focus of attention. None the less I was very happy with the progress so far and told her I had to work a bit more on it but I could bring it over in a few days as soon as I felt it was finished. I explained that I like to leave a piece for a while and come back to it to get a fresh perspective before declaring it done. It would also giver me some time to think about what was going on with my feelings and offer at least one more legitimate chance to see her. Over the next few days I looked at the painting from different angles and multiple distances and found aspects I liked or didn’t and basically finished it up all the details I felt needed more work. The more I looked at the piece the more I thought about her and it was kind of nice coming home each day to see her sitting there waiting for me even if it was only on canvas.
I decided I would take a chance and test the dating waters to see if she was open to me being more than just her house and portrait painter. I had countless arguments in my head why I should or should not and finally my mental lawyer won the case for intimacy. I took some high quality pictures of the painting for my portfolio and called her up to make arraignments to drop it off and of course she was too busy till the weekend but that was fine. I thought that would allow me more time to test the waters of compatibility and there were no curfews on the weekends. I found myself out shopping Saturday morning getting some newer clothes to wear and a new pair of hiking shoes which I always wear but for some reason I felt compelled to upgrade my current comfortable yet dingy looking pair. I even had my hair cut and by mid afternoon I felt like a shinny new penny. For a long time now I was never really cognizant of my appearance and while I was never mistaken for a homeless person it might have been a borderline call if I was looked like I was employed or not. Now all of a sudden I felt a strong urge to look as good as I could within my budget of course. I packed her portrait in my travel case and with great anticipation I went to make my delivery. I was going to drop off the painting too.
I definitely had some nervous energy flowing through me when I got to the door and I rang the bell with zest accordingly but I’m sure she would never mention if she noticed the extra dings. I was mentally prepared to turn up the charm and press my case to see what that’s cards may hold but when the door opened I was knocked for a bit of a loop. Once again her appearance was different and nothing at all like I was expecting yet it was a welcomed surprise. Now her hair was totally let down left to run wild and free and she was wearing a beautiful Indian Batik blouse with amazing intricate needle work and patterns on the front. It accentuated her ample chest and hugged her hips and flowed like a waterfall over her curves. There was an equally beautiful skirt continuing out from beneath the blouse and the effect was stunning. I never imagined she would dress this way or that she would carry off the look so eloquently I was suddenly rendered speechless while I tired to drink her all in. I was hoping she was doing something of the same as I had gone to great lengths to upgrade my appearance for her too. Well great lengths for me that is but it was a big deal ask anyone that knows me. She did say I looked great with a nice kiss on the cheek and a big hug which didn’t last nearly as long as I want it to but what I found to be even more surprising was the gaggle of friends that were in the house. As I stepped inside they all seemed to know who I was and why I was here and that really threw me again. Apparently she was having an unveiling party for her portrait and I was sort of the guest of honor. So much for pursuing any amorous avenues tonight I thought, the small crowd would keep things platonic.
She did seem to look me over for a second or two and I felt there was surprise and approval in her reaction but she quickly spotted my painting case and got visibly excited and ushered me into the back bedroom where she had a frame ready for it and small easel to display it on. I was still kind of in shock and kind if angry about the surprise but more so that it might ruin my chances to start anything more tonight. My anger didn’t last long as her excitement was contagious and I felt like I was giving a child a much wanted toy. I pressed the frame over the top leaving a gap so the edges of paint beneath would still dry and gently laid it atop the easel for her. Elation beamed from her she was so happy at how it looked she turned and gave me a big long hug. It was a wonderful few seconds holding her tight and slightly rocking side to side. I could feel the warmth to her and her body smelled sweetly of jasmine and I took a deep breath to commit it to memory. For a moment we stood there almost arm in arm and I looked deep into her eyes for some twinkle that perhaps she wanted something more like I did. There was nothing more I wanted to do right that moment than to pull her to me and kiss her with all the passion I had in me. I didn’t really want to let go but I didn’t want to seem over anxious too so when I felt her pull back I released her too. It may have only been a few seconds but we kind of looked at each other closely still semi touching neither speaking and my heart skipped with the possibilities.
After that slightly awkward moment she whispered a thank you and turned back to look at her painting. For the second time tonight I was left without the capacity to speak coherently and it was still early. Thankfully in her excitement she didn’t notice my incapacity and was busy looking the piece over absorbing all the details she could before she carefully draped a piece of silk over it making sure not to touch the still drying paint and saying she would unveil it a little later. All of a sudden I remember the bunch of people I saw on the way in and I started frantically thinking up excuses as to why I had to get going but she quickly grabbed me by the arm and whisked me out to front to meet all her guests. She introduced me to each person one by one introducing me as the artist I was telling you about, which was ok I thought as long as she was talking about me it had to be a good sign. As we got close to the table where all the potables were on display she fixed me a drink of my choice which I sorely felt I needed and once she saw I was ensconced in the midst of conversation with a small group she was off like a butterfly flittering around the room from guest to guest.
And so for the next few hours I was stuck in a party with nobody I knew and somewhat the center of attention while the object of my desire was floating in and about the house serving food or drinks or infusing conversations and being a gracious host. Awkward as it was I made conversation with just about everyone there and they all quizzed me on my work and made pleasant small talk. I did have this curious feeling that at times I was being grilled or tested by her closer acquaintances to see what kind of person I was as much as what kind of artist. I thought this another nice sign that maybe they had the impression that there might be something more to our relationship that just painter and model. Quite a few of her colleagues were very knowledgeable about the arts and it helped with conversation as we chatted about some of the other collected pieces in the room. I did my best to keep myself entertained and truth be told there were quite a few interesting people there so it was rather enjoyable. I did get the opportunity to observe her in a social setting and she was as fascinating to watch as she was to paint.
She was attentive to every guest and it was obvious she was well liked by everyone in the room. I couldn’t help being a tad jealous when I would see her chatting with some of the other male guests at the party and not knowing much about who they were or their intentions. I wondered if any had an advantage over me or who would be my fiercest competition for the lady’s hand and mentally compared them to myself. There didn’t seem to be a stand out rival but she did hug some new arrivals longer than she did me and longer than I thought necessary but I didn’t see any evidence for anything more than just friendships. Then again I didn’t see anything really conclusive for my case either. But I did find the lack of a truly special friend here encouraging and it kept my hopes up while I bided my time and enjoyed the party. Her friends seemed to be really good people and were a lot of fun and it was kind a nice feeling to be the center of attention if only for a night.
Not until after she had served fantastic platters of delicious foods and countless drinks and finally coffee with desserts did she bring out the painting still covered in the silk waiting to be revealed. I kept to the back of the small crowd as I already knew what it looked like and if it didn’t go over well I could easily back up and make a quick exit. Of course she made a small toast to everyone who came tonight and one to me for doing the piece making any idea of a quiet escape all but impossible. With a short introduction out of the way she then flipped over the silk to reveal my work and she again called it her natural portrait. Part of me wanted to take this moment of distraction to run but I also was intensely curious about the general reaction and wanted to see what people thought of my work and of the idea. There were a few quick responses but most took time to really look at it which I thought was nice and without much fanfare everyone seemed to really like it and expressed their approval and happiness for our host. Well that went as well as could be expected I thought and went to refill my wine glass. I picked a nice looking red and thought id try half a glass and poured for myself. Taking a sip and thinking it was quite nice and thought I should have poured a bigger glass. When I turned around the crowd was slowly turning its focus from the painting and one by one I watched as they all turned and were all stating to stare at me. I felt like a deer in the headlights as they started to ask me a lot of questions almost all at once along with plenty of kudos for my work. Now I really wanted to run for the door as I saw the crowd collapsing in on me.
Coming to my rescue she stood beside me and helped answer a lot of the questions about where I got the idea and the process of creating and inspirations and with her next to me I felt a lot better about being the center of attention. It wasn’t long before someone broke the ice and requested a similar portrait of themselves and asked what I would charge. I started to think about how long it took me to do the piece and how much I would make if I was painting houses for that long plus expenses and maybe a little more for my trouble. In seconds I had a nice figure in my head and thought it would be much better than painting houses but before I could utter my asking price my gracious host once again came to my aide and offered a number three times what I was thinking would be a nice amount. Without batting an eye the prospective client said perfect and gave me a number to set up an appointment. I was in shock and tried not to let my mouth hang open as I made arrangements for my first commissioned piece in quite a long time. By the end of the evening I had half a dozen orders with several more offers possible via word of mouth and this was just a small party.
As the party wound down I found my self talking with an elderly friend of our host about quite a lot of subjects and she was profoundly insightful on many topics and possessed that worldly knowledge with a humility that only a vibrant long life can bring. Aside from her intelligence I also thought she was charming and really sweet and her admiration for our hostess was obvious and sincere and she offered me some interesting insights too. Just before she left she confided in me that it was somewhat obvious as to the object of my desires tonight as no mater who I spoke with I managed a pleasant conversation but it was apparent even without the painting it was easy to see I was only had eyes for one here tonight. But she smiled with a look of reminiscing and said that it was wonderful and thought the two of us fit together nicely. She also said that she noticed an tangible difference in our gracious hostess in the last week or so and although she didn’t know the cause she had her suspicions. Tonight it seemed she was decidedly different in both physical and emotional appearances and with a great big smile she told me that what ever it was that I was doing I should keep it up. I was a good influence she beamed.
Yet another twist bestowed upon me this evening and I tried to absorb the weight of what she was implying. I tried to connect the dots so to speak and not really knowing her more than a few days I tried to see if there was really a change or some temporary aberration. Fact was I really couldn’t tell I just didn’t know her that well but even I noticed some small changes since I first arrived here for work. Initially she struck me as an atypical corporate type. Well dressed, well groomed and well off the pulse of the world outside on the street. Her place had a classic conservative appearance and location but she was changing it to quite a more eclectic style. In fact that’s was brought me here in the first place to change the boring paint scheme to a more uninhibited décor. I did spy some influences that might have been a direct result of contact with me like that new copy of a CD on her stereo which was one of the ones playing while I was painting her portrait. Also I saw there were new copies of some books I bet she saw while exploring my place but it could all be coincidence too. I wasn’t sure but either way it just added more fuel to my thoughts of pursuing her more aggressively on a romantic level.
One of the funny constants about parties is once one person breaks the ice and decides to leave almost everyone else sees the opportunity and follows the trend. I was finishing up a glass of wine deciding if I should hang around and try my luck or maybe she would be too tired from hosting a party to even think about anything else but crashing into bed. I thought about drifting out with the flow and try again another time but before could move she promptly grabbed me and put me to work handing out coats. It seemed as if I might never get my chance tonight as her efficient side was keeping me busy all night and now she was putting me to work. Even after the last guest had been handed a coat and seen to the door she asked me to help put some stuff away and then hang her picture for her too. I wanted to put away the rest of the wine, right into my glass but id probably have to take the empty bottle to the recycling bin or who knows what next. In truth I was more frustrated that I’ve been waiting all night to make a move and for quite a few hours now and I’ve been thwarted at every turn. On the positive side I was getting points for helping to clean up and to put her place back in its proper order. I kind of enjoyed spending time alone with her as I didn’t know if this would be my last chance or not so I made the best of it and enjoyed her company.
Finally she got a hammer and picture hangers and asked me to hang her portrait and I thought this was my final job for the night and all it would take was a few seconds. So I thought. I didn’t anticipate holding it up in several locations, some multiple times till my arms felt like they we going to fall off while she decided where the perfect spot would be. After many prospective places she finally settled on a wall in her bedroom in between an armoire and a small sitting chair. I carefully measured the height and centered it on the wall and nailed two support hangers and carefully hung the picture up. Standing back she admired it in its final location and was so happy she was absolutely beaming making it worth all the effort. As I was thinking if it was really ethical to put the moves on a woman while working in her bedroom she came up close to look at the painting again and was standing so close I was getting high from the scent of her sweet perfume again.
She said she loved the smell of the paints while they were still wet and thought it was a sensual smell. Nodding towards the picture I said that it had quite a few sensual elements too from the exotic flowers to the beautiful subject. Turning to face me she asked me if I really thought it shows a sensual side of her. I could see her staring at my eyes and my face as if weighing the truth behind my words. Of course I said softly while looking directly back into her eyes. Unable to blink while she stared back into mine and with all the daring I could muster from inside myself I risked it all and went for broke. In what I hoped was my sexiest voice I spoke to her letting my feelings pour forth after being pent up all evening. I find that the poise and pose of the subject hints of deep sensual undercurrents beneath the calm innocent exterior. I see deep, powerful and moving energies patiently waiting for the right person to come along and free them. Shyly softly and coyly she probed me further and asked me if I liked the subject. Never looking away I kept my eyes locked with hers and hoped my inner passion came across visually as strong as my words. Helping to telegraph the weight and truth to the feelings behind the words. Very much so I said and I think she is quite beautiful. She blushed and looked away for a second and then her eyes met mine again and now they blazed with an intensity I’ve never seen before and it thrilled my entire body. My being ached to grab her and press her body tightly into mine and kiss her hard and long like a scene from a Hollywood movie.
At that moment I truly did believe her the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to look so intensely eye to eye and it magnified her loveliness and its mesmerizing effect on me. My eyes know your exterior thoroughly from capturing it to canvas and it would make my heart very happy to know your heart just as intimately I whispered as I laid it all on the line. After that all I could do for few a breathless moment was to let my eyes bask in the glowing radiance of her gorgeous face as she seemed to be doing the same with mine. She whispered back to me and said you are beautiful too and I would be just as happy to let you know my heart as well and she gently touched my face with her delicate fingers. I could feel my face smile and flush with heat from her words and gentle touch and as our faces moved towards each other I saw her eyes close as we drew intimately close. I closed mine as well letting every other sense in my body experience her kiss too. For the rest of my life I when ever she kisses me some part of me will always remember that amazing emotion and power of that first kiss.
Like many first kisses it was soft and sweet and perhaps a bit awkward but it was memorable none the less. I had no doubt it was the first of many more to come. We kind of bumped together at the lips since we both weren’t looking but at least our mouths were right on target. Her lips were silky soft and tentatively I kissed them as gingerly as she kissed mine but as fast as fire spreads through a dry forest so too did the passions inside us and they drove us madly onward. Natural progression took its course and sweet tender kisses bloomed into their more passionate derivatives. Our tongues met and it sparked up the voltage between us as we tasted and danced with our mouths and the most powerful primitive urges set our bodies a blaze. The harder we kissed the harder she grabbed my body and the stronger I pulled her into mine. Sometimes you don’t realize how hungry you are till you take that first taste and your entire beings focus is solely on getting more sustenance. It was exactly how it felt when I got a taste of her sweet luscious lips. Up until that moment I hadn’t realize how much my body and more so my soul had missed the loving touch of another. My essence had been denied attention for so long I had forgotten how wonderful it truly was. In one explosive shining moment my heart and soul was awakened with a passion of an intensity I’ve never felt before and while we were interlocked at the lips I immersed myself in the rapture.
Id like to say we fell to the bed and made love for hours and hours and that it was utterly amazing but in reality it was not quite so glamorous or epic. The stuff of legends it may not have been but it was tender gentle and an incredibly beautiful encounter ill never forget. Far from a well orchestrated ballet It was more like taking lessons for free style interpretive dance. At times it was clumsy and awkward and yet still moving and breathtaking. Her wonderful body gave me great sensual pleasures and yet as much pleasure as I took I felt a compulsion inside to ensure she received an equal level of sensual attention. We were exploring and learning about our sexual selves as much as we were each others in a naked crash course right here in the bedroom. Her body was as beautiful as I imagined it to be with a perfect balance of softness and strength. It was silky smooth fit nicely into my frame and smelled sweetly of her intoxicating perfumed scent. She had daubed that now familiar perfume on her neck belly and thighs at some point earlier in the evening and I got a contact high from rubbing my face over her body as I kissed and nibbled it and breathed in her mingled scents. I could feel her sampling my cologne also as it was mixed with those musky sweaty pheromones that were now oozing from my body. So many new and wonderful experiences were almost overwhelming our acute senses heightening our pleasures. We had fumbled getting off our clothes and yes we were awkward and hesitant with out positions during out love making as we tried to consummate our new union but it was still a thing of beauty. A masterpiece in its rawest form which left us breathless exhausted and our bodies humming with happiness.
Part II
We fell asleep contented and spooned together under the blankets and every so often I would awake just enough to be aware of her soft body as she kept hers pressed it into mine for warmth and to keep us connected. In the morning gentle sunlight started to bathe the room while the soft sounds of a quiet Sunday morning slowly woke us. It took a frantic moment to recall where I was and then I remembered the sensual events of the previous night. I still had to peek over at her on my side to make sure I hadn’t imagined the whole thing or if it was a wine induced dream. I was stunned at the way events had unfolded in the last twenty four hours. Elation and disbelief fought for control inside me while I digested these turns of events which were more than I could have ever asked for. I had started out hoping I would get a chance to ask her if she wanted to explore the possibilities of being something more than acquaintances never once thinking it could come this far this fast. I hoped this wasn’t just a fling for her and from what I knew of her she didn’t seem the type but I wondered how she would react to what transpired in the sober light of day. I felt her stirring so I gently rolled over wrapped her in my arms and we hugged ourselves awake silently except for a few purrs of satisfaction from the both of us. I could feel her smelling me as she buried her face in my chest and I thought that was really cute and a good idea too so I inhaled the remnants of her perfume in her tresses imprinting this memory with layers of touch sound and smell.
I could see how it was entirely possible to stay in bed and simply cuddle for hours on end it felt that good with her body wrap into mine. The silky smooth skin of her legs gliding between and over mine was driving me crazy and was awakening a sexual hunger inside me that was as strong as the morning hunger for food that I usually have first thing in the morning. It was a hard decision to make but as much as I wanted to ravage her body again I wanted the chance to talk and sort out exactly where we were and where we were going with this. I’ve been on my own for a while now and it was nice to be physical with someone but I enjoyed what we had in the non physical sense too and I wanted to have both aspects of our relationship and not just for one night. If last night showed me anything it was how much my soul missed having its compliment. I didn’t think she would be anything less but I had to be sure. Having had a taste of what the sweet life can be I wasn’t going to settle for less now I wanted it all.
I asked if she would like some breakfast and she replied with the question and a smile and asked if she had to leave my arms. Only briefly from my touch but never for a second from my thoughts I whispered and she hugged me quite hard before letting me get up. Since it was her place she had a silk robe to throw on but I had to wear my clothes from the night before and only after I tracked them all down. Somehow they ended up in a few different places and I had no clear recollection of removing them let alone where they landed . Sitting down in the kitchen I felt a little wrinkled and a tad overdressed for an intimate breakfast but it really wasn’t all that bad because she still looked at me with the same sensual intensity that was in her eyes the night before. We had tea and toast with a few kinds of jam in the sunny part of her kitchen and shared food good conversation and the company of each other like only lovers do. While we broke out fast I studied her face some more and watched her delicately eat sip tea and thought that even with her hair wild and tousled from a night on the pillow she still looked beautiful. We talked free and easy like we always have like best friends do. The only difference I could perceive now was that when we spoke it was mostly of things to be and in the plural sense. The future wasn’t about me it was about we and it made me smile inside and out.
Finishing her tea she said she wanted to jump in the shower and then she would give me a ride back home to get some fresh clothes. I was grateful I didn’t have to trek back on the train looking like I’d slept under one. On her way to the shower she kissed me long and sweetly saving up my kiss like a diver taking a deep breath before leaving the surface hoping it would last the length of a dive except for her it was the duration of a shower. Once again she surprised me at the speed of which she was ready and by how she dressed. Seeming less and less conservative each time I saw her this time she wore a vintage looking sun dress and her hair flowed wild and free about her face. The visible portion of her legs was quite shapely too and I wondered to myself if she would ever let me paint her au natural. The thought made me smile when I looked at her and she took it for happiness which it was too. After another pause for some tender kisses we were out the door and on the road. Her car was practical yet stylish and on the fast side. While she powered over the roads I occasionally rested my hand on the back of her seat and twirled a lock of her hair between my fingers. She would glance over at me from time to time and look at me in that way only a lover can. I could see happiness and contentment in her face that often mingled with a seductive element that made me warm inside. Being a Sunday morning there was no traffic and we arrived back at my place in less than half an hour. Stepping into my loft I felt at home again with that familiar odor of oily paintings in various stages of drying. It was funny I thought to myself, I had thought this place was perfect with its natural light its quaint location and size but now I could see it was missing one important element. Someone the come home to.
Making herself at home she explored my place once again while I showered and shaved and made my self presentable and after we decided on what to do with the rest of the day. Of course a big part of me wanted to bring her right to the bedroom and reenact the events of the previous night but a bigger part of me wanted to experience the non physical stuff as well. There was a lot to like about her and yet there was so much I didn’t know and I wanted to avoid getting caught up in a physical only relationship. For the rest of the day and as often as we could I wanted to be a couple and do things that couples did and see if our relationship would blossom or fizzle. We hit the sidewalk arm in arm and took a hike through a local park and shared parts of the Sunday paper at a small coffee shop. After that I took her by a friend’s gallery which was closed but a lot of his works were visible from the window and that part of town where it was located was really a great place to explore. We talked almost the entire time with never an awkward silence just this wonderful ebb and flow of our conversation. I made her laugh often and she really understood my humor and was equally quick with the wit. Each hour we talked layers upon layers of ourselves were unveiled and it made her that much more intriguing.
That night we had dinner in a quaint café and even though the sun was still fairly strong for the early evening I lit the candle on the table anyway for added ambiance. Before last night we had had some great conversations but now I can see how it had been restrained. Now on the other side of the intimacy wall we felt a certain level of comfort with each other. Being intimate freed us to open up more and we started to have a deeper and deeper connection on a mental level. It was easier to get to know the real person behind our faces without the hindrance of the usual walls and defenses. We simply talked and joked or just walked quietly like we did before but with the mentality of a couple now.
After we meandered our way back to my place and I said I wished she could stay but I understood that we both had to work the next day. We kissed good- by as long as we could without offending the neighbors and I asked her to call me when she got home to let me know she made it safe. That got me another kiss and I think if I really pushed she would have stayed at least as long as I kept up the kisses. When she called to tell me she made it all the way safe and secure I was instantly mellowed by the sound of her voice. I felt pangs of withdrawal and wished she was next to my lonely body. We talked on the phone for hours though it seems like only minutes. When we finally said goodnight I was very tired and very contended inside and drifted off to a deep peaceful sleep.
The next few weeks were hectic for both of us as we tried to continue this commuter romance which was not such an easy task. I was still painting houses a few days a week and after work and I was doing some of the portraits that I had commissioned at the unveiling party so free time was at a premium. Business was booming and I would have enjoyed it more had it not cut significantly into my time with her but it did make the time we spent together all the more precious. Between her contacts and the growing popularity of my works I had accrued enough work for several months or more and that’s after she had me to raise my fees again. I enjoyed the entire process of creating these new perspective paintings immensely and as each image was as unique as its subject. I thought the process was a fascinating interview with each of my subjects as I tried to get to know them and their personalities a little more in depth to try to incorporate it into the final painting.
Each person had their reasons for having their likeness captured on canvas and each had eclectic objects or clothes they wanted to be immortalized with. This kept the work fresh and interesting for me too. Painting bowls of fruit gets boring fast. I could see my own style coming through and evolving with each piece I completed. After several months I was enjoying a quiet notoriety enough so that I gave up the house painting and focused on portraits full time. Besides the commissioned works I was doing some themes of my own with models to keep in my studio as samples for prospective clients as most of the commissioned pieces went to private homes. One day I was asked by a fellow artist how I became to be so successful and the only answer I could tell him was that I found myself the perfect muse; smiling at me he knew exactly what I meant.
Time flies when you’re having fun and before I knew it we were coming up on a year of being a couple and it was the best year of my life so far. For our one year anniversary she rented a small gallery in the downtown area where I would be showcased amongst my peers and highly admired contemporaries. Besides from being nervous and excited I was also at a loss as to what I could do for her to show her how much she meant to me as well. One idea I had was as much a gift to myself as it for her was to paint her again but with a much more erotic brush. I know her modesty would never let her sit for a nude even though I thought her body a work of art itself. Perhaps she would pose for something about halfway point or maybe should I say half dressed. While I waited for the right time to propose such a challenge I enjoyed dreaming up several provocative poses and the ensuing lovemaking that surely would follow such an erotic task.
I had some free time in the week before the opening of the gallery and our one year anniversary so I headed out shopping for a few special gifts. One of the stores I passed had quite a selection of erotic lingerie and inside I saw exactly what I wanted. This weekend I would give my gifts and propose my ideas so I made arrangements for her to come to my place that weekend. Friday morning I had an appointment with a gentleman whose portrait I was just starting and all morning I could hardly focus on my work. My mind was drifting to lascivious thoughts of the evening to come and the later it got the more excited I became. In the afternoon I ran out for some supplies not for painting but to create a masterpiece of a dinner. I’ve always thought cooking was an art form too and was glad I didn’t have to make a living off my culinary skills. non the less I did manage to make a nice meal and my timing was pretty good too as everything was all ready about ten minutes after she arrived. We had a nice meal accompanied by some nice wine as we caught up on our events of the last few days in which I omitted my shopping spree but I had just cause. After dinner she went to my work area and tried to peek at my latest work and while she was expecting to see my days progress but instead all she found was a blank. Puzzled she looked at me and I pointed to where I had the latest hung off in a safe place and said that’s what I did today this blank is for tonight.
Maybe it was my mischievous smile that made her nervously suspicious so she asked in a wary tone what it was that I was going to paint tonight. I took a deep breath and confessed my wishes and said that I wanted one more special piece for the gallery opening. Something slightly different from the works I’ve produced so far just different enough so that it stands out from all the rest. There were other subjects that I’ve covered before and the collection would be fairly diverse but I wanted to paint something truly precious to me. Closing the space between us I reached out to caress her and to hold her close not only to emphasize my point but also because I simply loved to hold her. I looked at her face and smiled a soft sexy smile and told her I want my own portrait of you I asked but not just any portrait.
I wanted one that would be created and influenced by my love. A masterpiece that captures the sensual person that’s beneath the surface are and the one I know and love. I want to pay homage to your fabulous body and I caressed it for added emphasis while I continued. Its beauty is timeless and classic and I would be honored to immortalize it on canvas captured through my eyes with my loving hand. I softly stroked her face and kissed it while she absorbed what I was asking. I wasn’t sure how much she shared my enthusiasm for this but I knew she understood what I was talking about. I knew she saw the human body as a work of art I just wasn’t sure if she saw her own that way or how much she would be willing to reveal.
I leave it up to you I said how much you feel comfortable revealing but first you have to open this and I reached behind my table and brought out the package I had bought earlier. I think she was kind of stunned to be asked to pose au natural and perhaps too shy to really do it but I kept my hopes up that she would let me and this gift might help too. She was nervously untying the ribbon around the box and she kept mumbling she wasn’t sure about doing this as she would never have thought of doing something like this before she started dating a painter. When she took of the lid all she was able to utter was a soft oh my. Inside was a satiny black velvet robe that was unbelievably soft and warm and it was as a sensual experience just to touch it. She rubbed it along side her face and purred as the velvety softness thrilled her skin. Go put it on I said, I want to see you in it. She game me a sexy smile as she thought about putting it on before saying ok and continued rubbing it along side her face as she walked to the bedroom to slip it on. While she changed I decided I wanted to view her in more appropriate lighting so I lit a several candles around the room and turned off all artificial lighting. I didn’t need bright light to work just the right light.
My heart was racing with excitement from two sources. One was the pure erotic element of her wearing something sensual just to please me and the other was in anticipation that she might let me paint her in some state of undress and it all made me warm and flushed. My heart raced up another gear as I hear the bedroom door open and I tried not to blink so I wouldn’t miss a slink or glimpse of a slender leg or curve when she walked. It appeared she had nothing on beneath but she had the sash tied around her waist and her hands stuffed into the oversized pockets and it seemed she was kind of hiding inside the robe. One step at a time I thought and despite trying to hide in the fabric she still looked like a ravishing beauty. The robe fit her perfect I thought, not too big and not too small. It didn’t overpower her curves or show too much leg. It left a lot to the imagination and yet hinted that what was beneath wouldn’t disappoint. Her hair flowed around her head with that just brushed sheen and softness enhancing her stunning appearance. I’m sure she could sense my approval by how I was looking and smiling and she gave a shy coy slightly embarrassed smile.
I kissed her softly on the lips and pulled her into me and with a sexy undertone I said maybe I was going to be too busy to paint tonight as I undid the knot on the sash of the robe. When the robe parted I slid one hand around her waist to the small of her back and the other caressed the front of her body while my mouth danced with hers. Between soft sensual kisses I told her how beautiful I thought her body was and spoke of how it drove me wild inside as my hands caressed her curves from breasts to hips. I could hear her purring like a kitten for me and as I nuzzled her neck and shoulders she spoke softly in my ear about how she wanted to be my model but she couldn’t do it nude. I said I wouldn’t ask her to do anything she didn’t want to I just wanted to capture the beauty I knew and had the pleasure to touch and the blessing to be able to love. With her fears eased about what I wanted or what would make me happy she relaxed and held me tight and we hugged for a few long moments.
it was a hard decision to make as I had to choose between working on the painting or letting the passions get the best of me and dive into her sensually adorned body. I realized if I didn’t get started tonight id never have enough free time to complete the piece for the gallery opening and I had made sure there was an empty spot there for this one. I had to get the bulk of it done tonight or I’d have a huge lighted area in the gallery with no painting. I had to chose work tonight no matter what my libido screamed. I set her lounging on the couch and posed and re posed her until I found a pose I liked. I thought it invoked a sense of sexual confidence and power and showed off some of her most attractive features. There were a few times when we clashed about how much flesh would be visible and I exposed as much as I could and all the while she kept readjusting my work to cover herself back up.
Once I would get a pose I like I stepped back to take it in and by the time I turned around I’d find that she tensed up and lost the look I wanted. Even when we agreed on the level of skin showing I kept staring and thinking about what it would look like in the end and I felt there was some element missing that I wanted there but couldn’t put my finger on what I was looking for. I didn’t feel that eureka moment when I looked at everything I’ve done so far and until I got that I would keep tinkering with the pose. I broke down the scene in my mind and studied what lay before me and I thought she was still too stiff with her pose and her smile seemed a nervous one rather than sensual and inviting and I thought I knew of the perfect remedy to get her to relax. I decided to disrobe myself and perhaps seeing me sans clothing she might finally relax and reveal that sexy side of her I love so much. I must have had a mischievous look about me as I peeled off my clothes because I could see her squirm while she watched me undress.
When I came close to the sofa to tuck my cloths out of sight she reached out and caressed my dangling slightly puffy paint brush. She said I couldn’t get this close and not let her have a small sample and so grabbing me by the only handle available she pulled me closer. It just so happened that the way she was lounging on the edge of the couch left her head at the perfect height for easy access as I stood next to the couch and she took full advantage. Since I had absolutely no willpower to resist I let her have her sample and more. I was already slightly swollen from before when I kissed and fondled her body before and from staring at her velvety enwrapped body during the posing process. Now directly in her hands and mouth I was growing by the second. It was a tremendous turn on to not only have her pleasurably handle me but to see her excitement with my body akin to the thrill I got from hers. Every aspect of my body drove her crazy from my scent or the heat that radiated from my engorged muscle to the feeling of having me swell inside her mouth.
Not only was it the most intimate way for her to give me pleasures but the sensations of suckling on me and having my stiffness fill her mouth made her as hot as she was making me. She purred and moaned around my length while she devoured me from tip to base and all the way out again over and over till I was left standing on my toes. One hand softly stroked my thigh and the other added to the sensations but squeezing my pouch or trailing behind her lips for added friction. My hips matched her sucking rhythm and I made sweet love to her mouth with her propped up on the pillows and cushions. My loins were humming like a high tension line and the faster she made me pump the more voltage I felt coursing through me. The harder I pumped the more turned on she became and she was getting tremors inside herself especially when I bottomed out in the back of her throat.
Sometimes I pulled all the way out and she would gasp a big breath of air and then moan like a baby does when you try to take away its bottle. Who was I to deny my baby I thought with a smile. I just had to pause occasionally lest I get too primed and loose control before I can really have some fun. She drove me wild with her mouth and she urged me on to thrust myself deeper and harder into her throat and I readily complied. More and more I had thoughts of pumping even harder and deeper into her supple accepting hips and if she ever let me get there I would run free like a wild animal. The more she wriggled beneath me the more of her long luscious body that was revealed to me from under the robe and I would run my hands over every part I could reach. The softness of her squirming flesh or the silky softness of her hair running through my fingers electrified me to new heights as much as the tantalizing vision of her fabulous torso hips and slender legs stretching out beneath me. Those legs looked so inviting that after while I could stand it no more and I had to have them wrapped around me puling me in with wild abandon.
Ignoring her soft protests about not taking away her toy I moved down and climbed atop my velvety wrapped beauty. Arms and legs were quickly accommodating as I move in close and just as amenable was her soaking wet portal of love. By now we were intimately familiar with each other in the carnal sense and both of us were attentive lovers. There was no more clumsy fumbling or shyness about asking for or taking what we wanted. When our bodies blended together it was passion at its most fervent and we lost ourselves in these moments as often as we could. This time was no exception except for the abundance of energy we seemed to have. I slipped inside her soaked body and the warmth radiated outward and enveloped my whole being. My hips seemed to have a mind of their own and quickly I found my pace which increased faster exponentially. Sometimes I would pause deep inside and she would pick up where I left off thrusting me back with her hips sliding up and down on my length as I held it out for her as if we were taking turns.
I felt her legs driving me onward setting the pace for speed and power till I was bucking into her quite hard. Every time I slammed home we sunk into the soft cushions of the couch which had a springing effect and I felt like I was dribbling her hips like a basketball. She was almost screaming as she begged me to pump her harder and harder, faster and faster keeping up that bouncing resonance of our hips to which I obediently complied. I could feel sweat dripping off my me making my body slip over hers and there was a cooling effect of her creamy secretions on my sack and any place that happened to be covered in it and I felt like I was covered in it below the waist. I knew at this pace I couldn’t hold back much longer no mater how much I wanted it to last. Fortunately I knew her sounds and cues now and knew exactly how to speed her over the edge to meet me. I shifted forward changing my thrusting attack from pure penetration to a frontal assault where my shaft would be gliding past her clit as it disappeared inside her.
The combination of that rubbing and plunging was always too much for her and it was only a matter of time before she exploded for me. The timing would be almost perfect as I was feeling my launch sequence counting down deep inside. With her audible cues and frantic bucking of her body beneath mine I knew without a doubt the peak of pleasure was upon us and I let my orgasmic rocket leave the launch pad. With gasps and screams of delight she bucked and thrashed beneath me as I kept up my plunging attack and didn’t stop till every drop of liquid love I had to give was expelled deep inside her and I was truly into orbit. The passionate fog we had been lost in was beginning to clear as we caught out breaths and we giggled in between kisses while we tried to cool down after being put through our amorous paces. All of a sudden it was too hot to stay atop her as my body felt it was smoldering inside.
I would have like to remain like we were still intimately connected in so many ways but it was just too damn hot. I got up off the couch and went to get us some water to help cool us down and replenish some of the sweat we just worked so hard to expel. Walking back I looked at her lying there looking up at me on the couch and I heard eureka go off in my brain. Looking at her lying there I recognized the missing element I had been looking for in my earlier poses. Perhaps from the heat or exhaustion or both but I saw the perfect dimensions I was trying to envision earlier but couldn’t put my finger on. Half uncovered now her velvety robe was sexily draped along and over parts of her body almost like I had set up previously. Her hair was wild and tousled around her head and her arms were draped one over her head and one hanging off to the side both telegraphing a level of physical exhaustion.
Only real difference now was the expression on her face which spoke volumes more than before. Earlier she looked nervous wary with a forced or nervous aura about her. Now there was no more vanity no shyness and no inhibitions holding back her sensual persona and in her eyes I could see the confidant loving lust and look of approval she had for me. The perfect picture of contentment and satisfaction was lying there in all her glory right in front of me. I gave her a drink of cool refreshing water and after she collapsed back into the soft cushions and she still had that impish look about her. I adjusted her robe just a bit more for effect and to suit her modesty and rushed back to my canvas to sketch and capture the moment. My legs were like lead still weak from our recent encounter but the passion to capture this moment drove me on despite my exhausted state. I don’t know if this portrait would be defined as my masterpiece but there would be no doubt as to where I got the inspiration.
When we finally had the galley opening I was thrilled and nervous like I’ve never been before but with her by my side I felt a quiet confidence too and in the end it was like one big party. Again she secured several more commissions for me and worked the room like a professional hostess. At the end of the evening all that was left were crumbs of cheese and crackers, empty wine bottles and a small group of our closets friends and family members. I gathered them around and thanked them all for coming and gave special thanks to my favorite model for making it all possible. I didn’t have anything prepared but I had been thinking of this moment for a long time now and had a good idea of what I wanted to say. I spoke from my heart and let the words pour forth like and just like all my paintings come together layer by layer I wove a small speech for everyone. There was no doubt as to who I meant or who I was talking to.
All eyes in the room were on her as they listened to me and my eyes looked directly into hers halfway across the room. Behind every successful artist is their inspiration I continued and their shelter from the storm. Their well of love and their creative muse. It was not more than a year ago when I found my muse and nothing has been the same since. When I had doubts she eased my fears. When I was alone she was my company. When I needed to be loved she came to me. She came to me I said with a beaming smile. She came to me and I loved her with all my heart. When she kissed me I knew I wanted to kiss her forever. I knew I wanted to make her cry, tears of happiness. I knew I wanted to make her mad, with love. I knew I wanted to make her happy as happy and elated as I am at the simple mention of her name or the sound of her voice or the light of her smile. I knew I wanted her always at my side as my support, my better half, my true love. I knew I wanted to touch her heart like she has touched mine. To share the joys of being truly in love. To not only understand the definition of a soul mate but to experience the wonder of being a soul mate as well. I know I have to ask of her one more thing. To wear this ring and make the dreams come true that I once thought never possible.
Trying not to let my hands shake too much despite being in front of our close group I managed to produce the small box I had gone shopping for not too long ago. I dipped down onto bended knee while I held it out for her. Never did I have a doubt she wouldn’t say yes but until she did I feel that nervous energy coursing through my body as I awaited conformation. With eyes wet with happiness she looked at the ring and admired it for a moment as it twinkled in the light. She was stunned by the impromptu proposal never expecting such a bold move on a night that was supposed to be all about me but she quickly recovered to hold out a delicate and somewhat shaky hand for me to slip the silvery sparkling token of my devotion. Of course she said yes and hugged me so hard it hurt. When we kissed it was magical and moving and she telegraphed a myriad of emotions and feelings to me. It said yes, thank you and I love you now and forever all in one gloriously short embrace. One of those kisses you remember for the rest of your life and it drew applause from the crowd. The emotions were so strong inside me I found it difficult to speak. I managed to utter I love you too and that I’ve never been so happy in my life.