The Art Project in Victorian Era
Her curves were gleaming and sparkling against the rays of the sun that penetrated through the window pane. She lay there, motionless and empty of cares. As for I, from behind my art stand, I sat there, erect on my stool, shyly glancing ever so often from behind the wooden stand.
"Well, Mr. Parish, are you blushing?" She teased me. She lay there on the suede divan chair. Her arm flung behind her head a she lay her back against the curve of the backrest. She lay on her side facing me; her poise deliciously accentuating her figure and her voluptuousness. Her dark skin flawless and alluring. Her skin supple and full, like a ripe fruit glistening under the caresses of the sun rays. Her beauty was one to admire, and an envy to most that wish they were as just.
Clearing my throat, and preparing to answer, I didn't dare look at her now. For if I did peek around the protection of the drawing stand, she would see her suspicions were right, and that I was truly mesmerized by her beauty far beyond the professional boundaries of our short relationship. I wanted her, but I kept it hidden as best I could.
"Yes, you are beautiful," I answered. "But if you continue to distract me with your uninhibited tongue, care to know now my depictions of you on paper will never be just as beautiful as you are in real form. Hold your tongue, unless you speak for a break or a question of my work."
I responded in a lower tone, to accentuate my need for authoritarianism. In this moment, I needed a reason stop myself from acting on my impulses in expressing my desire for her. If she knew it or not, I didn't want to jeopardize anything. But she was not without knowledge of her charm and her beauty. She obviously knew if she really wanted, she would have me. I knew that regardless of my efforts to remain unmoved by her seductiveness.
I loved my job. As an artist, I would paint people and see them in ways not many did. It was a privilege I never took for granted. I worked hard for it.
My customers paid by commission. They all found out about my services through word of mouth. In the beginning of my career, and straight out of the Art Academy, it was a struggle. In those days, I lived vicariously off of wine, bread and cheese which are cheap and always readily available these days. I had gone without meat for a year, before I served enough clients to afford it. Eventually, the female customers were more than the males. I started off doing portraits, then fully clothed, full figures.
The relationship with my customers had always been professional. Because most were married and of privileged backgrounds, I kept my repertoire clean. Though I have had a few encounters already with the females whom wanted more than a picture of themselves, I had to be a gentleman and plead with them that. Even though they were beautiful, I would not fulfill their carnal needs. And if that didn't work, I told them I was from a strict religious background. That helped them step back and take that as a firm 'no' in regards to my response toward their advancements.
But Ava was different. She was the daughter of a rich businessman. And she had a mystery and magnetism I never saw in anyone else. I was surprised she was still single.
When Ava showed up, she took my breath away. A rare, dark beauty with black locks of hair that frothed neatly over her brow line. She started coming to me for a month and my experience working on her portrait was quite a surprise! Because, little did I know, she was going to be different than my usual customer.
"You are John Parish, I presume?" She extended her lace glove hand outstretched for me to kiss.
"The one and only, milady," I replied confidently as I gently kissed her small, gloved hand.
She smiled. "I understand you are remarkable with the representation of the female figure and I can trust you have a keen eye for all details to exemplify beauty.
"I do not think you need any more exemplification, if that is what you are implying, milady," I added, smiling at her warmly.
She chuckled softly, "I see you do not lack boisterousness. May I also add that you have never done a portrait like mine."
"I sincerely agree with you."
She was the loveliest creature I had ever seen. Her ravishing beauty, her natural flair was of a goddess picked from the cloud of Heaven and bestowed upon the wretched beasts of Humanity. I could not help but admire her.
Immediately, she had set her parasol down against the corner, and picked at her gloves to remove. Then her wide-brimmed hat. Her dark curls frothed even heavier when she bore no headdress, making her look even lovelier. Wilder, even.
I looked at her in amazement when she started to undue her buttons, "Are-may I ask-?"
"Of course you may. But first, I need your help. Don't worry, I am over eighteen." She motioned for me to help her undue the top buttons of her dress. I couldn't but obey.
After I undid her buttons, she flung her dress on the back of my chair. After that, her corsets and petticoat were off and on the chair within seconds. All I could do was watch in shock. I had never had a woman undress in front of me before! Except in art school. Usually women were so timid about their bodies. This one carried herself with confidence and didn't mind her nakedness and vulnerability in front of me, a stranger! I was in awe.
And there she was, standing there in all her glory. Her beautiful, hourglass figure a stunning revelation of God's artwork that I was so blessed to recreate on a flat canvas.
I gawked at her, not realizing how long I had been staring at her perky and toned figure; her beautiful sex and her rosy nipples gleaming. Her sweet perfume now penetrating my nostrils. She smelt of honeycomb and jasmine. I could not help but get a bit aroused with her standing there, vulnerable to my stare.
"You see, Mr. Parish, I wish for you to paint me nude," she explained.
"I figured that is what you wanted, Milady. But I don't paint nudes," I explained, almost flustered.
She laughed, "I have brought extra coin for your troubles...Will it be troublesome, sir?"
