Juniper looked perhaps mildly chagrined to be separate bodies again; and although he smiled subtly in response to Cory's lifted brows, he turned to the side and shook his head, sending nervousness spiraling through Cory's stomach--was he putting too much pressure on arriving at nudity? Going too fast? What if Juniper got cold feet--would he trust that it was okay to stop where they were, that a drawing in boxers would be plenty intimate enough, if that's what was comfortable?
But before Cory could strategize on how to gracefully offer Juniper an out, Juniper returned his gaze to Cory, searching not for an out, Cory thought, but simply to be held. Cory regrounded himself again, shifting his stance to feel sturdier than he'd felt a moment before. Perhaps he had rushed the gesture toward the boxers, just slightly, but they were both catching up, bashfulness and nerves both passing through before Juniper's thumbs at last hooked into the hem of his boxers and began to pull down.
Cory exhaled long and slowly, his eyes following the fabric as it slid over hip and pubic hair and phallus, welcoming his gaze. He couldn't deny that he took a decidedly sensual pleasure in tracing the shape of Juniper's length, the details of his present state of arousal, the ways that his pubic hair pleasantly framed it. Juniper let his boxers simply fall the rest of the way to the floor and stepped out of them. He stood up tall, fingers of one hand tracing his hipbone while the other hand drew Cory's gaze up to Juniper's lip where thumb caressed along the lower edge.
A sweet phantom tingle danced over Cory's lips, relishing the recent kiss still buzzing between them. Juniper returned his gaze to Cory's, and Cory felt a gentle heat wash over his skin. The gaze was simply curious, if Cory had to say; a delightful sort of well, here I am; what do you think of me? Cory smiled warmly, basking in the great honor of the moment as he let his eyes wander, touching again on Juniper's lip and following his neck down to collar bone and then shoulder, then tracing the uninterrupted line down waist over hip to phallus, and finally admiring the fluid curve of hip into thigh and down the rest of the leg. It was utterly indulgent to see the human form unencumbered, particularly bared just for him.
Cory returned his gaze to Juniper's eyes, contemplating a thank you, but in the end he just let a warm silence fill a breath between them, hoping his smile conveyed all that was needed. Besides, it would be one thing if Juniper had bared himself simply to be beheld, but Cory had every intention of giving Juniper the gift of an artwork in exchange, which he was now itching to get to.
"Go ahead and make yourself comfortable," Cory nodded gently toward the couch. Perhaps the sheet could have been draped a bit more artfully, but it would perform its hygienic role just fine, and Cory could adjust it once Juniper was settled--or even just fudge the details in the drawing; he certainly knew cloth well enough.
"I'll gather my supplies," he added, and then pivoted to go do just that. He headed to the drafting desk at the back of the studio by the window, offering a crooked smile to the abstract he'd been working on before Juniper's arrival. He left the drawing there, subtly on display, before grabbing a large clipboard that was tucked next to the desk, a few fresh sheets of paper, and the charcoal and eraser to carry back to the seating area, curious how Juniper ultimately arranged himself.
Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
If reading Cory correctly, Juniper experienced warm and authentic delight radiating from not just his smile but from the whole of his soft stance as he beheld Juniper, having been given complete permission to look. For a long while, Cory looked everywhere but Juniper's eyes, his gaze waterfalling slowly from lip to neck, neck to collarbone, collarbone to hip, thigh, calf.
Only then did Cory meet Juniper's eyes, that honeyed warmth still beaming from his smile, the softness of his face, the open curiosity of his expression.
"Go ahead and make yourself comfortable," Cory said with a nod toward the couch. Had there not been a substantial hesitation between Juniper's reveal and the verbal direction, they might not have maintained the tender chemistry between them, but Cory had been slow and gentle, contemplative and warm. This was simply another strand in the web of connection they were weaving together, not a dismissal, not a severing.
"I'll gather my supplies," Cory added almost as an afterthought as he pivoted toward his desk. Juniper took the opportunity to take a deep breath now that he was no longer being watched, and afterward, he picked his boxers up off the floor. Folding them neatly, he placed them to one side of the existing clothing pile.
That done, Juniper stood in front of the couch for a few moments, and he had the dizzying sensation that a lifetime had passed between when he had stood up from the couch and now as he returned to it--nude, kissed, and flushed with arousal.
He potently recalled the visual of bringing the chocolate strawberry brownie to Cory's lips, staring down at the plate of them still on the table, barely touched. With that memory fresh, Juniper contemplated the couch itself, now fitted--mostly--with a sheet. Juniper tugged on one corner to pull out a wrinkle and tucked some of the loose fabric in between the cushions to make the drape look more intentional. Juniper wasn't sure whether Cory planned to draw the sheet as well, but surely it didn't hurt to be particular.
It was only when he had finished with that that he realized he had been putting off the real decision--how to place himself to be drawn. Not knowing how long Cory wanted to take with the drawing, Juniper determined quickly that he needed a comfortable position to maintain. It depended on the couch, then, he decided, and sat down promptly, closing his eyes to focus on how his body wanted to move. The plush interior of the couch formed well to the contours of his body, which gave him an exquisite number of options.
The first position he tried was to lean with one elbow on the armrest furthest from Cory, one leg bent up on the couch and one touching the floor with his hands folded together. It was interesting, but Juniper had the impulse to look off in one particular direction in the pose, which, while there were many knick-knacks to look at, might not hold his attention for long.
Next, he tried lying down more fully on the couch with his legs open, one leaning up against the back of the couch and the other flat on the seat. His arms mirrored his legs, propped up on the armrest behind his head with his body angled toward Cory. In this pose, Juniper had a much wider view of the studio and could even comfortably close his eyes without fear that it would ruin the aesthetic. Just as he considered whether the pose was too vulgar, what with his groin on full display between his spread legs, Cory began his return. Deciding that the position was comfortable and cavalier enough to be interesting, Juniper chose not to move. If Cory wanted something different, then Juniper would be open to direction, but otherwise? He was right where he wanted to be.
Only then did Cory meet Juniper's eyes, that honeyed warmth still beaming from his smile, the softness of his face, the open curiosity of his expression.
"Go ahead and make yourself comfortable," Cory said with a nod toward the couch. Had there not been a substantial hesitation between Juniper's reveal and the verbal direction, they might not have maintained the tender chemistry between them, but Cory had been slow and gentle, contemplative and warm. This was simply another strand in the web of connection they were weaving together, not a dismissal, not a severing.
"I'll gather my supplies," Cory added almost as an afterthought as he pivoted toward his desk. Juniper took the opportunity to take a deep breath now that he was no longer being watched, and afterward, he picked his boxers up off the floor. Folding them neatly, he placed them to one side of the existing clothing pile.
That done, Juniper stood in front of the couch for a few moments, and he had the dizzying sensation that a lifetime had passed between when he had stood up from the couch and now as he returned to it--nude, kissed, and flushed with arousal.
He potently recalled the visual of bringing the chocolate strawberry brownie to Cory's lips, staring down at the plate of them still on the table, barely touched. With that memory fresh, Juniper contemplated the couch itself, now fitted--mostly--with a sheet. Juniper tugged on one corner to pull out a wrinkle and tucked some of the loose fabric in between the cushions to make the drape look more intentional. Juniper wasn't sure whether Cory planned to draw the sheet as well, but surely it didn't hurt to be particular.
It was only when he had finished with that that he realized he had been putting off the real decision--how to place himself to be drawn. Not knowing how long Cory wanted to take with the drawing, Juniper determined quickly that he needed a comfortable position to maintain. It depended on the couch, then, he decided, and sat down promptly, closing his eyes to focus on how his body wanted to move. The plush interior of the couch formed well to the contours of his body, which gave him an exquisite number of options.
The first position he tried was to lean with one elbow on the armrest furthest from Cory, one leg bent up on the couch and one touching the floor with his hands folded together. It was interesting, but Juniper had the impulse to look off in one particular direction in the pose, which, while there were many knick-knacks to look at, might not hold his attention for long.
Next, he tried lying down more fully on the couch with his legs open, one leaning up against the back of the couch and the other flat on the seat. His arms mirrored his legs, propped up on the armrest behind his head with his body angled toward Cory. In this pose, Juniper had a much wider view of the studio and could even comfortably close his eyes without fear that it would ruin the aesthetic. Just as he considered whether the pose was too vulgar, what with his groin on full display between his spread legs, Cory began his return. Deciding that the position was comfortable and cavalier enough to be interesting, Juniper chose not to move. If Cory wanted something different, then Juniper would be open to direction, but otherwise? He was right where he wanted to be.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Cory kept his gaze light as he returned to the seating area with his supplies, not wanting to interrupt Juniper's process of getting comfortable. The man seemed fairly settled, though, and with each step closer Cory drew, his eyes grew just a touch bolder taking in Juniper's pose. He had laid himself low onto the couch, relaxed and open. Cory was delighted; he'd been prepared to gently cajole a more sustainable position from whatever Juniper had initially posed, but as he took in the gentle lines of Juniper's open legs, his torso resting upon the couch, his neck leisurely reclined, Cory thought he might not need to. Juniper's arms might eventually get tired, butterflied by his head as they were, but Cory could start there, and he estimated he'd have plenty of time to capture them.
A subtle self-consciousness stirred as Cory realized he'd come to a stop a couple of paces away from the couch, apparently a good vantage point to take in the post Juniper had settled into. Cory first glanced at the chair, and then walked over to it, turning back toward the couch from that angle. He knew without sitting down that this would not be the view he wanted. There might be a certain appeal to it: some interesting foreshortening challenges, highlighting Juniper's legs and--Cory felt a fresh bloom of warmth as his eyes touched Juniper's erection, and the sheer openness of Juniper's pose sank a layer further into Cory's awareness, sparking an elated cascade of delight across his skin. Juniper was doing absolutely nothing to hide any part of his body from Cory, no modesty or self-consciousness constricting the pose. He felt deeply moved, his eyes almost watering as he affectionately felt the weight of it.
Drawing in a slow, deep breath, Cory set his supplies down on the chair and then gently dragged it over the floor to be more square with the couch, though he did keep it just enough off to the side to retain a small, playful shade of interest from the previous angle: Juniper's phallus would remain closer to the foreground than his face, but only just, and the contents of the coffee table could be in frame if Cory felt the whim to include them.
Thus satisfied with the new angle of his seat, Cory regathered his supplies and settled in himself, drawing his feet up into the chair to one side and positioning his large clipboard over his knees in front of him, his off-hand elbow resting on the chair. He made his first mark - a light, wispy capture of the general line of Juniper's torso - and then another, beginning to block out the overall shape of the pose.
A subtle self-consciousness stirred as Cory realized he'd come to a stop a couple of paces away from the couch, apparently a good vantage point to take in the post Juniper had settled into. Cory first glanced at the chair, and then walked over to it, turning back toward the couch from that angle. He knew without sitting down that this would not be the view he wanted. There might be a certain appeal to it: some interesting foreshortening challenges, highlighting Juniper's legs and--Cory felt a fresh bloom of warmth as his eyes touched Juniper's erection, and the sheer openness of Juniper's pose sank a layer further into Cory's awareness, sparking an elated cascade of delight across his skin. Juniper was doing absolutely nothing to hide any part of his body from Cory, no modesty or self-consciousness constricting the pose. He felt deeply moved, his eyes almost watering as he affectionately felt the weight of it.
Drawing in a slow, deep breath, Cory set his supplies down on the chair and then gently dragged it over the floor to be more square with the couch, though he did keep it just enough off to the side to retain a small, playful shade of interest from the previous angle: Juniper's phallus would remain closer to the foreground than his face, but only just, and the contents of the coffee table could be in frame if Cory felt the whim to include them.
Thus satisfied with the new angle of his seat, Cory regathered his supplies and settled in himself, drawing his feet up into the chair to one side and positioning his large clipboard over his knees in front of him, his off-hand elbow resting on the chair. He made his first mark - a light, wispy capture of the general line of Juniper's torso - and then another, beginning to block out the overall shape of the pose.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper could hardy help but track Cory's movements as the artist returned from gathering supplies, and he felt Cory's gaze migrate up the length of his body. Briefly, Juniper closed his eyelids and took the deepest breath he could without moving his torso, wondering desperately what Cory thought of him laid out like this. Was it too much?
But, when Juniper opened his eyes again, Cory's expression was lit up with what Juniper thought might be approval, and somewhere deep within Juniper, there was a stir and then a settle that coaxed a deeper relaxation into Juniper's muscles. He felt, absurdly, all at once, like a tamed lion, though he stifled the urge to chuckle at the image.
Then, there was little left to do except witness the artist at his work. Juniper could see Cory positioning for the perfect angle and recognized the distant, puzzling stare as one that he himself had worn many times when assessing his stock or choosing a new set of curtains. He imagined, as the lounge he and Mr. Kade were creating became more of a reality, that there would be plenty of time for more of that.
Now, though, Juniper was the subject matter, and he wasn't accustomed to being looked at so intently or being so vulnerable. He was almost grateful when Cory turned his attention to moving the standalone chair more in front of the couch and the coffee table. That done, Cory wasted little time getting himself settled, and it was a pleasure all its own to watch him fold himself into the chair, tuck his feet, and place his large clipboard over his knees. Juniper's length pulsed as Cory's attention returned with charcoal in hand, though the relaxation he felt from earlier eased his rigidness even there.
Cory's gaze darted from Juniper to the page, from Juniper to the page, as he began to drag his charcoal in neat lines, and Juniper's eyebrows lifted in wonder. Somehow, it had almost been too beautiful to believe that they might actually arrive here, and certainly, at the museum, Cory's overture this direction had felt like little more than an errant fantasy. Still, the two of them had made it real, and there would be artwork to commemorate it. For a moment, a wave of melancholy crested over him as he realized there would not be anyone to whom he could show the final product. Juniper swallowed the emotion down, though, noting that there was beauty, too, in holding a secret with another man. He would keep this art somewhere he could revisit often, its clandestine nature necessarily imbuing it with a sacred air.
It was a strange form of worship, perhaps, but Juniper could hardly see it as anything else. What was life for if not for basking in the wonder of moments such as these? He suspected he would remember this for the rest of his life, and as the artist in front of him continued to draw, Juniper felt more and more comfortable in his own skin as though his body were made for exactly this moment.
But, when Juniper opened his eyes again, Cory's expression was lit up with what Juniper thought might be approval, and somewhere deep within Juniper, there was a stir and then a settle that coaxed a deeper relaxation into Juniper's muscles. He felt, absurdly, all at once, like a tamed lion, though he stifled the urge to chuckle at the image.
Then, there was little left to do except witness the artist at his work. Juniper could see Cory positioning for the perfect angle and recognized the distant, puzzling stare as one that he himself had worn many times when assessing his stock or choosing a new set of curtains. He imagined, as the lounge he and Mr. Kade were creating became more of a reality, that there would be plenty of time for more of that.
Now, though, Juniper was the subject matter, and he wasn't accustomed to being looked at so intently or being so vulnerable. He was almost grateful when Cory turned his attention to moving the standalone chair more in front of the couch and the coffee table. That done, Cory wasted little time getting himself settled, and it was a pleasure all its own to watch him fold himself into the chair, tuck his feet, and place his large clipboard over his knees. Juniper's length pulsed as Cory's attention returned with charcoal in hand, though the relaxation he felt from earlier eased his rigidness even there.
Cory's gaze darted from Juniper to the page, from Juniper to the page, as he began to drag his charcoal in neat lines, and Juniper's eyebrows lifted in wonder. Somehow, it had almost been too beautiful to believe that they might actually arrive here, and certainly, at the museum, Cory's overture this direction had felt like little more than an errant fantasy. Still, the two of them had made it real, and there would be artwork to commemorate it. For a moment, a wave of melancholy crested over him as he realized there would not be anyone to whom he could show the final product. Juniper swallowed the emotion down, though, noting that there was beauty, too, in holding a secret with another man. He would keep this art somewhere he could revisit often, its clandestine nature necessarily imbuing it with a sacred air.
It was a strange form of worship, perhaps, but Juniper could hardly see it as anything else. What was life for if not for basking in the wonder of moments such as these? He suspected he would remember this for the rest of his life, and as the artist in front of him continued to draw, Juniper felt more and more comfortable in his own skin as though his body were made for exactly this moment.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
After the first few strokes, Cory felt an itch in his throat--should he spark conversation? Would Juniper be bored simply lying there? He didn't really want to speak, though, much less labor his mind over what to say. Instead, he brought his gaze up to Juniper's face, letting his hand sketch out the contented lines of the man's lips, the contemplation in his eyes, the subtle awe of his lifted brow.
Cory's throat relaxed, and he cradled a sweet warmth in his chest as he let his attention shift to sketching out legs and indulging in a moment of fixation on hips, defining their shapes a little more concretely than the rest of the pose thus far. He made just a gesture of a mark around Juniper's phallus, his eyes too shy to linger just yet, but enjoying a brief visit before darting up Juniper's torso. He captured the next layer of definition of Juniper's stomach, his ribcage, his chest, and then slowed into the shapes of Juniper's arms, recalling his intention to capture them before they got tired. He still had time, but he'd still been in surface-level mark-making, and he was ready to sink deeper, to start playing with light and shadow in addition to shape.
Cory's movements slowed and grew smaller, more controlled as he traced the outlines of Juniper's triceps, elbows, and forearms framing his head. Then, he relished the details of Juniper's biceps and deltoids and the supple shapes of collar bones and underarm hair. Setting the charcoal aside, Cory used his fingers to smudge his marks, softening lines and filling out shadows, still focused on Juniper's arms and in particular where they blended with his chest. It was, if Cory was being honest, a delightful place to focus his attention.
Cory's throat relaxed, and he cradled a sweet warmth in his chest as he let his attention shift to sketching out legs and indulging in a moment of fixation on hips, defining their shapes a little more concretely than the rest of the pose thus far. He made just a gesture of a mark around Juniper's phallus, his eyes too shy to linger just yet, but enjoying a brief visit before darting up Juniper's torso. He captured the next layer of definition of Juniper's stomach, his ribcage, his chest, and then slowed into the shapes of Juniper's arms, recalling his intention to capture them before they got tired. He still had time, but he'd still been in surface-level mark-making, and he was ready to sink deeper, to start playing with light and shadow in addition to shape.
Cory's movements slowed and grew smaller, more controlled as he traced the outlines of Juniper's triceps, elbows, and forearms framing his head. Then, he relished the details of Juniper's biceps and deltoids and the supple shapes of collar bones and underarm hair. Setting the charcoal aside, Cory used his fingers to smudge his marks, softening lines and filling out shadows, still focused on Juniper's arms and in particular where they blended with his chest. It was, if Cory was being honest, a delightful place to focus his attention.
Re: Cory's Art Studio (Cory & Juniper, Part 3)
Juniper watched Cory, curious about the artistic process as a way to distance himself from the anxiety that might creep in if he thought too much more about being naked, being drawn, being vulnerable. Still, when Cory's gaze drifted to Juniper's face, Juniper felt the urge to look away as though it was, in fact, impolite to stare at someone who was, in turn, staring at him. And maybe that was true--after all, Cory was the one busy at work with something beautiful, and Juniper was simply being something beautiful. Or attempting that.
Instead, he allowed his eyes to roam the studio--the high ceilings, the brilliance of the light streaming in from the far window, the partially completed paintings stacked one behind one behind one. Juniper enjoyed imagining Cory in various places around the room as his fingers flipped through his own artwork to find what to work on next or perhaps with a mug in his hands as he stared out the window considering his next commission.
He found that, with every image, the wonder Juniper felt only grew--what was once a tentative sapling now felt a forest between them. What were they doing, playing at not doing this lightly? Did they have any right to hope that this would blossom and fruit into something lasting? Juniper supposed they had as much right to that errant hope as any couple might, regardless of sexual preference.
Juniper shifted his arms slightly to seek more ease, but seeing Cory's movements out of his periphery brought his gaze back. While Cory's attention still darted furtively between Juniper and the page, Cory's hand was more subtle, having perhaps passed out of the sketch and into the details.
Then, all at once, Cory set aside the charcoal and touched his fingers directly to the page. The moment it happened, Juniper's length jumped from its relaxed state, and there was no way he could hide it. His body ached to squirm around the spontaneous reintroduction of desire, and he did perhaps constrict several muscles in his stomach and legs as he closed his eyes to contain his embarrassment. But, behind his eyes, what he found instead was an imagination of the visual from over Cory's shoulder, watching Cory's fingers press and smear shadows along the two-dimensional form of Juniper he was creating.
Perhaps Juniper should have known that charcoal would involve Cory's fingers directly--there had certainly been enough smudges on his hands from earlier--but Juniper had assumed the stick of charcoal had left the residue, not that Cory would have his hands in the art like a baker kneading dough. Except, this was more delicate than that, more precise, and Juniper opened his eyes to witness again Cory's fingers as they danced along the page. Juniper took a deep breath, this time allowing his belly and chest to expand because he genuinely needed the air.
Instead, he allowed his eyes to roam the studio--the high ceilings, the brilliance of the light streaming in from the far window, the partially completed paintings stacked one behind one behind one. Juniper enjoyed imagining Cory in various places around the room as his fingers flipped through his own artwork to find what to work on next or perhaps with a mug in his hands as he stared out the window considering his next commission.
He found that, with every image, the wonder Juniper felt only grew--what was once a tentative sapling now felt a forest between them. What were they doing, playing at not doing this lightly? Did they have any right to hope that this would blossom and fruit into something lasting? Juniper supposed they had as much right to that errant hope as any couple might, regardless of sexual preference.
Juniper shifted his arms slightly to seek more ease, but seeing Cory's movements out of his periphery brought his gaze back. While Cory's attention still darted furtively between Juniper and the page, Cory's hand was more subtle, having perhaps passed out of the sketch and into the details.
Then, all at once, Cory set aside the charcoal and touched his fingers directly to the page. The moment it happened, Juniper's length jumped from its relaxed state, and there was no way he could hide it. His body ached to squirm around the spontaneous reintroduction of desire, and he did perhaps constrict several muscles in his stomach and legs as he closed his eyes to contain his embarrassment. But, behind his eyes, what he found instead was an imagination of the visual from over Cory's shoulder, watching Cory's fingers press and smear shadows along the two-dimensional form of Juniper he was creating.
Perhaps Juniper should have known that charcoal would involve Cory's fingers directly--there had certainly been enough smudges on his hands from earlier--but Juniper had assumed the stick of charcoal had left the residue, not that Cory would have his hands in the art like a baker kneading dough. Except, this was more delicate than that, more precise, and Juniper opened his eyes to witness again Cory's fingers as they danced along the page. Juniper took a deep breath, this time allowing his belly and chest to expand because he genuinely needed the air.