Strawberry Wine (17 page)

Jason leaned down and softly brushed her lips with his own. “You already
are
a work of art.”

Alli smiled against his lips. “Okay, Picaso. Let’s do this - but don’t give me three boobs.”

Moving quickly before she lost her nerve, she slipped out of her clothes and settled herself on a pile of cushions Jason had set up near the door. He positioned her at an angle, resting an arm on the seat of an old wooden chair. “Are you comfortable? Can you hold that pose for a bit?”

At Alli’s nod Jason stepped back and studied the scene. He silenced the animal urges Alli’s naked body inspired in him, and focused instead on the different planes of her body. Grabbing his sketch pad he began scratching out fluid lines, bringing them to life with texturing and shading. Soon he became lost in the rhythm of his work.

Alli was a good sport. She stayed as still as possible, and waited for Jason to finish roughing in a sketch before moving her limbs to get some blood flow going. When he decided he was ready to commit to canvass, Alli chose to pose lying down. The strong scent of the oil paints wasn’t unpleasant, and the soft music Jason had put on in the background made Alli drowsy.

Alli wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but she slowly became aware of a warmth pressing against her back, and strong arms enveloping her. She blinked blearily and opened her eyes to Jason’s mellow smile. She stifled a yawn. “How long have I been out?” She asked.

“A little over an hour.” Jason nuzzled into her neck, causing goose bumps to run down her arms and legs despite the warm afternoon. She rolled over to face him, delighting in the feel of his skin against hers. He ran his hand down her back, over her hip, and up her stomach, settling on a breast. Dipping his head, he flicked his tongue over her nipple, watching it rise to attention.

“Mmmm.” Alli softly threaded her fingers through his hair, and lay back to give him better access to her body. He trailed kisses down to her navel, then lower, causing her to jump at his hot breath tickling through her tight curls. Softly nudging her legs open, his tongue lapped gently over sensitive skin. Alli gasped. She raised up onto her elbows to look down her body at the top of his head. His eyes met hers over the mound of her pubis. He held her gaze to judge her reaction as he delved a bit deeper with his tongue. Alli arched her back with a sharp intake of breath, melting back onto the cushions.

Alli lost the ability to form a coherent thought. It felt as if warm silken butterflies were trapped between her legs, sending vibrations of pleasure throughout her entire body. She didn’t feel the least bit shy or inhibited as she cried out Jason’s name and dissolved into a boneless mist.

He moved back up the length of her, resting his head in his hand, and watching her as she slowly came back down to earth. She smiled shyly, pulling him down to kiss her. Feeling bold, she draped a leg over his hip, the new position causing his erection to fall against her warmth. She felt his member jump, and pressed into it the tiniest bit. The slickness of her arousal helped shepherd him into her opening.

“Allie...” He moaned, unable to complete the thought. She pushed against him a little more, and pressed down on his lower back in encouragement. Little by little he inched inside of her until he was deeply embedded in her silken depths.

He pressed his forehead to hers and began a slow rhythm. His first gentle thrusts made her aware of residual tenderness from the recent loss of her virginity. She moved against him, meeting him thrust for thrust, and drawing him deeper into herself.

Her climax was slower to build this time, her flesh still buzzing with the memory of his tongue. When she came it happened in waves, each one more intense than the last. Every wave seemed to heighten her sensitivity, and each time she thought surely, this is the most she could possibly stand, but he kept moving in a steady rhythm, steam rolling over each of her spasms until finally, they shattered together into a million tiny pieces.

* * * * *

Doug regarded Jason contemplatively. Something had changed in him. He seemed more relaxed. Moony-eyed even. He took note of the traces of paint on his friend’s hands as Jason lifted his beer to his lips.

“You painting again?” He asked with interest.

Jason followed Doug’s gaze to his tell-tale hands. “Yes, actually I am.”

Jason’s easy manner was unusual for him. Doug found it unsettling. Not bothering to be subtle, he sniffed and squinted into Jason’s eyes, evaluating their level of clarity. “What are you doing?” Jason asked in amusement.

“I’m trying to figure out if you’re loaded or not.”

Jason chuckled. “What, pot? You think I’m smoking pot?”

“Well, I’d certainly be surprised, but you’re definitely on
something
. What the hell is going on with you, brother?”

A big, relaxed smile spread across Jason’s face. He laughed as it only seemed to further Doug’s consternation.

“It’s Alli.” He said by way of explanation.

“Your neighbor? I thought she broke things off with you.”

“No, we mutually decided to-”

“Yeah yeah, mutually decided, blau blau blau. Whatever. How did you get from ‘mutually decided’ to love drunk? Jesus Christ, was that a
giggle
?” Doug shook his head in disdain.

“I can’t help it, man. You’re right - it’s like I’m on something. This girl, she’s incredible.”

Understanding crept over Doug.

“Oh, I get it. This is afterglow. You’re still enjoying the after-effects of nineteen year old tail.” Doug raised his glass in salute. “I knew you’d hit that. I would have lost respect for you if you hadn’t.”

Jason shook his head good-naturedly. “No, it’s more than that. Alli is something special. You know me, Doug, and you know I don’t say this lightly, but I think Alli just may be The One.”

Doug stared at Jason in disbelief. “Now I
know
you’re on something. It’s just the sex talking, man. If you loosened up a bit more and partied like you used to, you’d remember that it’s
all
good. There’s nothing this chick has that half a dozen other tight little pieces of ass don’t have too.”

Jason just shook his head at Doug, seemingly in pity.

“You’re scaring me, Jase. This is crazy talk. You’re way too young to be thinking about settling down. Think of all the trim you’ll be missing out on!”

Jason rolled his eyes at Doug’s vulgarity. “I’m not proposing, Doug. I’m simply explaining to your simple minded self that I am in love.” Jason stopped Doug from jumping in. “Not in
lust
- something you are all too familiar with, but
love
. And it’s great, but it’s terrifying at the same time. So shut up, and pretend you’re happy for me, and buy the next round.”

Alli was filled with apprehension as she entered the gallery for her sitting. She had been dumbstruck when Greg had informed her of the appointment. He had misinterpreted her reaction to mean she was thrilled at the prospect of having her portrait painted by a favored local artist.

After she had recovered from the initial shock of Greg’s gift, she couldn’t believe her luck. Why hadn’t she thought of it herself? Commissioning Jason for a custom piece was as good as forcing him to listen to her. A captive audience! Of course, it wasn’t like he needed the money, and he doubtless would have refused her even if he
did
need a job. She supposed she should just be thankful that Greg had somehow managed to facilitate the whole thing. It was bitter irony, that.

Emiline was at her post when Alli came in. “Hello, I’m here for a sitting...”

Emiline’s eyes sparkled with good humor. “Hi! Alli, right? He’s expecting you.” Emiline gestured to the stairs. “It’s been a while, huh?”

Alli wasn’t sure she had heard the girl correctly. “Pardon?”

Emiline flashed her a sheepish smile. “I recognize you from your paintings. It’s been a while since you sat for him.”

Alli didn’t quite know how to respond to that. This girl had seen Alli’s painting? Alli could feel a hot blush scald its way up her cheeks. “Yeah. It’s been a long time.” Was all she could come up with to say.

“You look just the same. I would have recognized you anywhere.” Emiline looked a bit star struck which only made the moment all the more awkward.

“Yes, well... Jason’s a very talented artist.” Alli figured that was a more diplomatic thing to say than what she
wanted
to say, which was
Where exactly did you see my painting, and is it currently on display for all the world to ogle my naked form?
Alli left Emiline and headed up the stairs toward the studio.

Jason was arranging a chaise under one of the skylights when Alli entered the studio. He immediately went rigid. He straightened to his full height and turned to face her fully. “I can’t do this right now. I have a client coming in.”

Alli just stood in the doorway, saddened by his cold tone, but unwilling to let it daunt her. “I am the client.”

Jason was rendered momentarily mute by this piece of information, his brain quickly making the necessary connections to deduce that Alli was in fact Greg Stone’s fiancé. He hoped he was able to adequately mask the gut rending pain that sudden knowledge caused him. “So I assumed correctly. You are engaged then.”

It was Alli’s turn to be flabbergast. “
What?
No. I’m not engaged.”

Jason cocked a brow at her in disbelief. “Greg referred to you as his fiancé. Or, rather, soon-to-be fiancé.”

Alli scowled at this revelation and answered a little testily. “Well, I’m not.”

Setting her purse on the ground by the door, she entered more fully into the studio, joining Jason by the chaise. He watched her approach with a wary energy about him. “You’re using him.” He said flatly. It was a statement, not a question.

“We’re using each other.” She rejoined sharply. Something flashed in Alli’s eyes and Jason couldn’t deny that Alli had changed. She wasn’t the naive young girl he had known so well. She was different. Harder. Jaded. The thought saddened him a bit, then he steeled his resolve not to fall under her spell again. She was jaded now? Well, so was he.

They stood like that for a tense beat, staring each other down. Finally Jason broke the silence. “Why are you with him?”

Alli looked away then back. “Because it’s easier.”

Jason could see her eyes taking on a glassy sheen, but no moisture was visible pooling in her lower lid. He couldn’t stop himself from asking his next question, though he told himself the answer made no difference to him. “Do you love him?”

She didn’t hesitate to reply. “No.” Her voice was soft but firm. It was a simple statement of fact, as if he had asked her if she liked eggplant or wool sweaters. He stifled the feeling of weightlessness that took over his body at her answer.

Jason ignored his common sense that was screaming at him to end the conversation. Like a painful tooth he couldn’t stop poking with his tongue, or a loose thread he couldn’t help but yank, he asked, “Why not?”.

“He has an unforgivable flaw.” Her answer incited him. He had never given Greg much thought. He knew Greg’s mother quite well, as they were both heavily invested in the Urban Youth Foundation, but he had only met Greg twice. Even knowing so little about the man, Jason pitied him. If Greg loved Alli even half as much as Jason had, then her failure to return the feeling would no doubt cripple him. No man deserved to be used that way. “What is his flaw? Is he too rich? Too handsome? I mean really, Alli, what makes the poor bastard so undeserving of your love?” His voice was harsh - practically a sneer. His eyes were narrowed and judging.

She never broke eye contact with him. Her answer stopped time. “He’s not you.”

All the air went out of Jason’s lungs. Suddenly he was having an out of body experience, and he watched from above as he slowly raised his hand and cradled Alli’s jaw. She stood rapt, her chest rising and falling rapidly with quick breaths. He was back in his body again as he watched her pink tongue dart out to moisten her lips. Her eyes were wide and staring, her lips parted the slightest bit. Jason leaned in, mesmerized. He was so close they were breathing in each other’s exhaled breath.

“Ah, epic light, mate. That’s going to be perfect. I never would have thought to put the chaise under the skylight, man.
Tight
.”

Jason reluctantly moved back away from Alli to a more professional distance. “Alli, this is Reggie. Reggie, Alli. Reggie helps with load-ins in exchange for studio space from time to time.” Reggie touched the tip of his very worn newsboy cap. He looked to be a cross between a character out of a Charles Dickens novel and a free lovin’ hippy. His smile was genuine, and bright enough to light up even the darkest corners of a room.

“Hello Reggie. Nice to meet you.” Alli returned Reggie’s smile, amazed at her ability to act as if this friendly young man hadn’t just interrupted a climactic moment she had been waiting for for the past six years.

“You too, pretty lady.” Reggie turned to Jason. “Hey mate, is it alright with you if I do a little splash?” Alli was intrigued by the question. She didn’t have long to wonder what he meant, because at Jason’s nod, Reggie proceeded to set up an easel atop a large tarp spread across the floor at the far end of the studio. He then opened several containers of various paint colors, ranging from pints, to gallons, to five gallon buckets. After everything was arranged to his liking, Reggie turned on his ipod and began dancing with his loaded paintbrushes, splashing paint against his canvass in a very Jackson Pollack way. Before long Reggie’s canvass was alive with colors.