Hey everyone, I’m back and this is a short story to start it off. For those of you that are still here and waiting for me to come back, thank you. For those of you that left while I was gone, welcome back. I hope that you and any new readers that come will enjoy my writing and enjoy this story.

Please leave Comment below!

The Artist and The Model

She could feel his eyes on her, his gaze different from all the others. The room was filled with men, watching her. Taking her form, her shape, her essence. All with the goal of making something beautiful from her. 

She only had to sit still and let them.

Her naked flesh hidden by a silk cloth. She watched as their hands moved with paint, charcoal and more. 

But she knew the moment that he stepped into the room that it would be difficult. His eyes were on her, watching her as he moved to take a seat. His steps were so light on the hardwood floor that she barely heard them.

Then he was there, drawing her just like all the rest. Different from all the others. He watched her with an intensity that made her heart race like a stallion. 

She glanced at him once and then otherwise ignored him. Why did he make her feel so? No other ever had before.

He was handsome as some of the other artists were. Dirty blonde hair, a lean body of muscle. His eyes were the deepest of blue like the sea far from land.

Verena forced the thoughts away from her mind, she was there for a reason. She was there for a job and nothing more. There was no reason to be full of thoughts for a man meant nothing to her. None of them did.

She knew to guard her heart from all men. Had been taught the lessons to do so from a young age. She had taken her lessons well and none would break her shield.

Hours passed as she sat there, his eyes never looked away. Not even to look at the page beneath his hands.

“We’re done for the day,” Master Dewain called out.

She stood then, as the men began to put their tools away. Some of them had painted her, others had drawn her like the man. 

He was still watching her, still drawing her as she gave him her back. It was time to dress and leave. Her work was not done for the night.

Her dress was simple and serviceable, it would hide her. It would allow no man to see her form beneath. Her waist long hair was braided and forced to take the form of a bun. 

With the use of her veil, she looked nothing like she had. It was an armor that would keep her safe from all. No one wanted a plain and dull woman.

That didn’t change the fact that she wasn’t either. She only hid herself until needed, like when she was draped in only a bit of silk cloth.

The material was finer than any she had ever touched and she loved the feel of it on her skin. The thought of making a dress from it was a fanciful one as well as foolish. She could never afford it.

With the cloth in hand and fully dressed once more, she went in search of Master Dewain.

She found him with that man at his side. His eyes on her the moment she walked towards them. It was like he knew that she was there, coming to him before she did.

It was unnerving as it was…flattering.

There was no chance that he knew it was her. None of the men had ever guessed it was her once she was dressed. Only the silk could ever give her away, even then they all thought her a servant.

“Master Dewain?” she interrupted gently, her head bowed.

Master Dewain was a big man, a strong man and he expected her to never look him in the eye. It was only proper after all, that didn’t change the fact that he could be a brute. 

To even attempt to look him in the eye would invite things that she had no desire for. He was one of the few that saw beneath her armor.

She felt Master Dewain’s eyes on her and held out the silk for him to take.

“Introduce us, Dewain,” ordered the man at his side.

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was as handsome as he had been in the room. Only now she could see him all the better.

His hair was a pale blonde like those of the gifted nature. His eyes were now a deep blue that almost looked black in the flame lit room. His clothes hide nothing of his body beneath them unlike hers. They were also a finer material than she would normally see among the artists.

“The Woman’s name is Verena, Quin but I already told you that. If you’re interested in buying her for the night, good luck, she’s tight fisted with her body.”

Her cheeks burned with Master Dewain’s words.

“I have no interest in that at the moment,” Quin informed. “I would, however, like to hire her for more modeling at my home.”

“No thank you,” Verena replied without hesitation.

He wasn’t the first man to want to hire her for more modeling. Usually, it was an attempt on their part to get her into their bed.

That intensity appeared in his eyes once more, determined to have his way. “You won’t do it even if I pay you more than you would be here?”

“Quite right, I apologize if this is rude to one such as yourself, Messer. But gold is not worth the loss of my beloved’s affection,” she lied.

A glance had her seeing the bold smile on his face. She knew that he didn’t believe her for a moment. Still, she bowed to the two men and turned to leave.

“You don’t look like a liar but then, you don’t look like a beauty right now, either. You hide yourself well, Verena.”

She turned then and stared at him openly, bold of what might happen. A smile appeared on her lips, transforming her as she knew it would. It only took the right smile to show what she hid.  “It’s a talent, Messer. One I hope to never show you again.”

She turned back and headed for the door as fast as her feet could. Her words were somehow both true and false. She had a talent for hiding but she was unsure if she never wanted to see him again.

“I doubt your hope will bear fruit,” he called after her before she disappeared into the street.

If you liked this then please tell me in the comments, I would love your input…maybe there will be more to this first meeting in the future.