I glanced at the clock on my desk, glad the day was almost over. It was a Friday afternoon after a slow week and being more than caught up with the workload, I decided to get out of there and get a jump on the weekend. Earlier in the week, I'd come across an article that piqued my curiosity. There was a gallery showing in town at the museum. A photographic exhibit of erotic art that had sparked controversial reviews, even in this cultured city. Pornography has always been a big turn-on to me. Mostly I enjoy reading it, using my imagination to bring the characters to life, but the movies and the magazines drive me wild as well...I'd been horny since reading about the exhibit and had let it build up, just for the pleasure. Just thinking about it was enough to make my pussy wet.
I wasn't necessarily looking to pick someone up. If no one interesting crossed my path, that would be OK too. Sometimes I prefer it. Masturbation is my fetish and it's a game that I enjoy playing. Teasing and flirting with people is a real stimulator. I love to watch them squirm and in the last few months, the game has progressed from simple flirtation to outright exhibitionism. It has started to become an addiction of sorts, seeing just how far I can take it. I will blatantly flash someone just to catch the expression on his face or the hardness in his pants. One of these days I'm going to get myself in trouble playing this game but I just can't help myself. It arouses me more than the actual act. My current fantasy involves women. I was always curious and lately it was becoming harder and harder to ignore the feeling.
I worked my way through the exhibit slowly, thankful that the crowd was small. The photographs were tasteful and arty, nothing at all like what I had expected or had been exposed to in the past. Mostly a study in black and white, they were displayed as a series. All seemed to be playing out individual stories, connecting the participants in a sensual way that strongly aroused my desire.
"Interesting work, isn't it?"
Enthralled by one particular photo of a young woman, in obvious blissful distress, I didn't at first hear the woman who had come up behind me.
The photograph that had me so captivated was one of a pretty, young thing, over the knees of an older man. Her skirt was hiked up around her waist and her panties pulled down around her ankles. His left arm was holding her securely on his lap, his right hand high in the air above her exposed bottom. The look on her young face, so yielding, and that of pleasure on the disciplinarian's was the essence that the photographer had wanted to capture. It was remarkable.
I was startled when the voice behind me spoke again, "Intriguing, yes?"
Turning around, I found myself looking at a woman about 10 years my senior. She seemed friendly enough, dressed impeccably.
"The way Francis is able to combine the pain and pleasure of an experience. Two seemingly paradoxical themes, each expressed at the same time."
I hadn't realized what it was that so caught my attention about this particular print. I agreed, it was the paradox I found intriguing...
"Hello, I'm Laura, are you an admirer of the genre?"
"I've never seen an exhibit quite like this before but I'll admit I find it most fascinating. I'm Kathryn, a pleasure to meet you."
Moving on to the next photo, the same characters involved. The man was standing though, facing slightly to the side; she curled up a bit on a pillowed sofa. It was amazing, the shared expressions, a kind of silent connection. Contented yet still hungry. Again, that paradox...
Laura moved a little closer to me then. Perhaps it was the art, perhaps the woman but I felt my pulse quicken. This might turn into an interesting afternoon yet...
"You know, I have been following this artist's work for quite some time. I have several works that have never been displayed before, private commissions. If you would like to see more, and have a bit of time, I don't live very far away."
The feeling that had been working its way to crescendo in my mind was now betraying my body. I felt sure that Laura could tell my breathing was just a little deeper and I even thought I saw a slight smile on her face with the last rise and fall of my chest. Pretending to glance at my watch and knowing what the answer would be anyway, I agreed.
Prudently, I decided to follow Laura in my own car. It gave me a chance to think. Maybe this was an innocent meeting, the finding of a new friend, someone to finally share an intelligent conversation with... Or maybe, almost hoping, something more. Laura was really quite beautiful. Tall and dark featured she carried herself confidently.
Before there was time to overanalyze or back out of anything, Laura pulled into the driveway and parked. I pulled up along side.
"I'm really glad you decided to come" Smiling now, a glint in her eye, " I promise you won't be disappointed." I had to agree, no matter what happens, I probably wouldn't be disappointed.
I followed her to the front door, and naturally, as a guest, I followed a step or two behind her. The key turned in the lock, the door opened into her home and I entered a world I would come to love, and to crave, and to need.
"Please, Kathryn, make yourself comfortable." She left the room for a moment then. Her home was beautifully decorated with striking photographs. Pictures of far way, exotic looking places. A lot of them were black and white images. They seemed a bit familiar somehow... I heard music then, a gentle drumbeat coming from hidden speakers.
When she returned she held two glasses of deep colored wine. "Its Merlot, I hope you like it." I accepted it with thanks; I needed something to calm my nerves.
"So tell me Kathryn, what was it that you found so intriguing at the exhibit?"
I told her my curiosity had led me there. I admitted to her though, the sexual arousal I felt is why I stayed.
"I know what you mean, let me show you the photographs I was referring to." I followed her lead to another room. Adorning the walls were matted and framed pictures like the one's at the gallery. It was her, Laura in almost all of them. In some, she posed alone, some with other women. All of the portraits were of a carnal nature, many of them with a definite darker flair. For some reason those were the ones I felt more drawn to...
"What do you think?" she asked. I stood in awe at the beauty of the women in these photos. The way they so obviously delighted playing to the camera and to the person behind it. I was also just as sure of the desire with which the photographer lovingly captured these images. I took a long sip of wine, swallowed, but before I could respond...
He came out of the bathroom, steam billowing around him. Not bothering to dry off first, he quickly belted the black, terrycloth robe about his waist. I was completely taken by surprise! Seeing my astonishment, Laura quietly laughed and took my elbow.
What a absolute striking presence. I couldn't turn away. His hair was wavy, falling past his shoulders. Dark and thick in his youth, but silvering now, perfectly streaked as he combed strong fingers through the tangles. The rivulets of water dripping down his neck, his chest, his muscled calves. His chest and shoulders were broad and fanned out from his waistline. A silver beard, neatly trimmed. The hair on his chest was thick and curly, as the robe, so loosely tied, allowed me to see.
He reminded me of my high school principal. Authoritative and strong, he had been a man compared to those cute but fumbling, skinny boys. Try as I might though, I was just never bad enough to gain an audience with him.
I wondered why Laura hadn't warned him that there was company? For that matter, why hadn't she told me we weren't alone?
With a definite knowing glance between them, he said in feigned shock, "Well, Laura, if you had told me you were inviting someone over for lunch, I would have dressed more appropriately." They shared a laugh, I wasn't so sure...
"Oh, don't be such an ass, my love. This is Kathryn; we met at the exhibit today. I thought I would show her our privately commissioned works. I think she will like them." "Kathryn, this is Frank, my husband."
He seemed to sigh then, eyeing me up and down. "I think she will do just fine, even better." Turning toward Laura, "Once again my dear, you have chosen the subject well."
I wondered what that meant...
"So then Kathryn, I take it you are an admirer of my work"
Did he just say MY work? Finally getting the picture, my heart skipped a beat. Maybe I should have been frightened at what was an apparent set up, but that skipped heartbeat was not in fear. No, it was in excitement and anticipation.