CELINE bit her lip as she marveled at the sight of artworks under the canopy. People from Villa Verde gathered to witness what this traveler could offer. His name was Gareth, and he traveled from one place to another to flaunt and sell his masterpiece. He was a man in his late forties to early fifties, tall, muscular, energetic, and very charismatic. Celine had never seen a man like him before.
Ernest brought her there, and she did not regret it. Gareth had paintings of nature, animals, rare jewelry, and erotic sketches of a woman. She heard him say that anything inspires him to make art.
“Can’t choose one?”
Celine jumped at the deep voice beside her. She glanced, and her heart skipped a beat. It was him. The man of the hour. Gareth.
“Y-you’re…”
“You are?”
“C-Celine. You’re, um, you’re amazing!” She glanced at his hand and long fingers around his glass of wine. “You have skillful hands. I’m sure you make a masterpiece out of everything you touch.”
“And you’re beautiful.” Gareth smiled.
Celine could not help blushing.
“Do you want me to make you a masterpiece?”
“H-huh?” Celine swallowed and brushed her hair.
Gareth swallowed.
“I’m Gareth.” He offered his hand.
Celine bit her lip as she took his hand. Gareth held it tight and brought it to his lips, sending shivers all over her body. She was left breathless when he finally let go of her.
“H-how long are you be staying in town?”
“I usually stay only a week or two. But Villa Verde is such an enchanting place. I felt like I belonged the first time I set my foot here. I might stay a little longer than that.”
“What about the people?”
“The warmest,” he remarked before taking a sip of his wine, his eyes not leaving hers.
She felt butterflies in her stomach. How could someone she just met make her feel that way? Celine could not resist him. She wanted to know him more. She wanted him to make her a masterpiece.
“I want to know how you make these beauties,” she said, gesturing at the artwork. “I’m always fascinated with things like this. Do you mind showing me how you make them?”
“Well, you’re irresistible, so how can I say ‘no?’”
Celine could not help giggling. The feeling was mutual.
“YOU’RE smiling from to ear since this morning. You’re my friend, Celine, but you already look annoying,” Marinel remarked while Celine was humming as she sorted the dresses on the rack.
Celine stopped and giggled. Marinel was at their stall. Their stall was just across theirs, so they would usually hang out together when not busy at the market.
“Did Ernest already ask for your hand in marriage?” Marinel asked, her eyes wide.
“What? No!” Celine said. She turned to her friend. “Have you seen the exhibit outside the market yesterday?”
“Well, I caught a glimpse.”
“You saw the artist?” Celine grinned.
“From afar.” Marinel shrugged.
“He was so charming. He said he’s staying for a little longer. I can’t wait to see him again.” She sighed dreamily.
“You like him?” Marinel raised an eyebrow. “But you’re with Sir Ernest already.”
“That’s why I want you to keep it a secret. Besides, I just want to be friends with him. I was just simply admiring his talent.”
“I’m not sure about it, Celine. You won’t like it when Sir Ernest gets mad. It happened before.”
“Marinel, he won’t get mad if he does not find out. Simple.” Celine rolled her eyeballs.
“Miss Celine!”
A young boy appeared at the stall. It was Jeno. He was holding a folded, thick paper.
“What is it, Jeno?”
“Some man told me to give this to you.”
Celine accepted the paper with curiosity. She thanked the boy, and he ran off.
“What’s that?” Marinel asked.
Celine shrugged as she had no idea. But when she carefully opened the paper, her eyes widened in delight. It was a rough sketch of her, and at the bottom of the paper, a familiar place and time were written. Her heart jumped in delight.
“I think I’m going to close early.”
“Let me see that.”
Celine playfully hid it behind her.
“No, you can’t.”
CELINE found herself standing outside the door of a small villa, behind the most popular inn in Villa Verde. It was getting dark. She was late, but that was because she dressed up, making sure Gareth would find her attractive.
She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Once again, her heart skipped a beat the moment it opened, and Gareth appeared, smiling expectantly.
“I’m sorry, I’m late.”
“Forgiven.”
Celine glanced behind her before going in.
“That was a lovely sketch,” she said as soon as the door closed.
“I can’t get you out of my mind, so I feel like I have to see you sooner. I’m glad you liked it.”
She glanced around the small living room. There was a canvas near the window.
“You’re doing another artwork?”
“Art is life to me.”
“What are you doing this time?” she asked enthusiastically.
“I don’t know yet. I’m waiting for my muse.”
“Can I become your muse?”
Gareth stared at her in amusement.
“Did I hear it right?”
“Those sketches of a woman you made, who was she?”
“She’s my wife.”
“Oh.” Celine paused. She was too attracted to him that she forgot to ask if he was married or not.
“When she was younger… and alive,” he continued in a low voice.
Celine stared.
“We did not have a child, unfortunately. So here I am, living my life on my own terms. I like traveling from one place to another. It makes me forget that no one’s waiting home for me. Can I get you a drink?” Gareth walked toward the kitchen.
Celine followed at once.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“If you want to be my muse, I will require you to strip. Is that all right with you? You’re going to show me everything.”
“And then you’re going to make a masterpiece out of me?” she asked, panting a little.
“You already are a masterpiece, Celine.”
“You can do anything you want to do with me.”
Gareth grabbed two small glasses and poured a whiskey.
“I’m bad at declining invitations, you know,” he said. “Please sit down.” Gareth followed her with his gaze. He was making her conscious but not uncomfortable. It was like he could see through her, and her clothes were not useful anymore.
Celine sat and grabbed the glass. Her hand was slightly trembling from the tension. It was overwhelming. Maybe a little sip would fix it.
But she was no great drinker.
“Oh. It’s bitter,” she said with a frown as she put the glass down.
Gareth chuckled.
“You should have told me you prefer another.”
“It slipped my mind.” She cleared her throat. “So… where do I start?”
“Celine…”
“I know I could trust you. It would be an honor to be used by you. I’ve never seen someone as… as intriguing as you, Gareth.” She pressed her thighs together. Now she was wet for him.
“Then, stand up and turn around,” he commanded in a cold voice.
Celine blinked.
“You heard me.”
“Y-yes.”
Celine stood up and moved away from the table and faced the living room.
“Go stand in front of the wall and undress.”
Celine was panting hard when she began to pull her dress up. She was not like this when she was stripping in front of Ernest. It felt like the first time. Celine felt shy. Now when she only had her underwear left, Celine took her shoes off.
She felt the chair move and heard Gareth’s heavy footsteps. She felt like her knees would give in as he came closer. She could feel his hot breath against her back and shoulder.
“Tell me, Sweet Celine, who was the first man?” he whispered.
“E-Ernest.”
“Oh, that man. Who else?”
“No one else. I had no choice. My family was in huge debt. He was my only hope.”
Gareth held her shoulders and made her face him. His eyes roamed her body with pure desire. He gently pushed her against the wall.
“Forget about him even just for tonight.”
“Y-yes.”
Gareth dipped his head and claimed her mouth.
“TELL ME you don’t regret it.”
Celine smiled as she glanced at Gareth’s face. He made love with her in the kitchen and ended up on his bed. The night was still long.
“You don’t regret it, too, do you?”
“I can’t remember the last time I made love hard like this. Until you came along, Celine.”
“Me, too. I never thought I would enjoy it this much. Every time I sleep with Ernest, I feel like I am only paying him with my body. I did not know how to break free from him. He was my friend first. But now, I just feel like I was doing this out of business.”
“You promise to forget him even just for tonight.” Gareth gently cupped her face and kissed her.
“I-I’m sorry. I could not help it.”
“So, you like older men?”
“Not exactly. I like men with experience, and you don’t look old to me. You’re actually… better than everyone else.” Celine buried her face on the curve of his neck. “I’m starving.”
Gareth chuckled.
CELINE woke up. She did not find Gareth beside her but a piece of sketch instead. She picked it up, and her heart fluttered at the sight of it. It was another sketch of her, sleeping, her hair covering almost half of her face.
Celine got up, tears welling up her eyes. Gareth, that man…
She quickly went to the shower and put on the shirt she found in his closet. When she went out of the room, she smelled the scent of coffee in the air. She went to the kitchen in quiet steps and found Gareth in front of the stove, shirtless.
Giggling, she hugged him from behind.
“Good morning.”
“Hungry?” he asked.
“For you.”
Gareth laughed heartily.
“YOU LOOK amazing in my shirt. Do you know that?” Gareth whispered as he stood behind her. Celine was slicing some fruit beside the sink.
“Really?”
“Yes. It makes me go crazy.”
“G-Gareth…” Celine jumped and arched her back as he slipped his hands under her shirt. He began to stroke her waist, her hips, and up to her breasts. “Oh, Gareth…” She put the knife aside and grabbed the edge of the sink.
“I can’t get enough of you, Celine. What did you do to me?” Gareth kissed the curve of her neck as he squeezed her breasts hard, eliciting a whimper from her throat.
“T-the breakfast…”
“Can wait.” Gareth’s hand slipped between her thighs, making her part her legs. His fingers found her silky folds.
Celine moaned as she felt the intrusion, making her hot and wet at the same time. She found herself gyrating her hips, taking him deeper.
“Can you feel that?” he said as he pressed his erection on her. “That’s how bad I wanted to take you right here, right now.”
“If you don’t take me right now, I will go mad…” she begged.
Gareth pulled her shirt up to her waist and replaced his fingers with his engorged manhood. He rubbed it against her entrance, lubricating it, as Celine whimpered in delight.
“It’s so good, oh…”
Gareth grabbed her waist, bent her down, and began to enter her. Everything felt new to Celine. All these sensations that Gareth was giving her. She felt like a different woman.
She was moaning and begging for Gareth to take her harder and rougher. Celine could not believe she was asking for it. When it came to Ernest, she was submissive all the time.
She had known Ernest all her life. But why did she feel like Gareth knew her more than anyone else in the world?
“Come for me, Celine!” he roared.
“Gareth! I-I’m… oh!” Celine convulsed as she exploded with orgasm.