Cared by Twin daddies

Chapter 39

"That piece certainly shows promise. But it needs more. It lacks fluidity, it seems rigid. I would sum it up by saying it needs more heart, less inhibition." Belton Davis was the critic and mentor who always tried to help young artists at the annual community art show. It helped when they actually had talent. With gray hair and steely gray eyes he had a distinguished look and despite an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, he had not added much to his waistline.

"Thank you Mr. Davis. But just how can I do that? I thought I was putting my essence into the art. I see the fluidity aspect, but I am not sure how to address the other concerns you have. Could we discuss this more at a later time? I know your studio, it isn't far from me." Jenny Carney was glad to have the feedback, and wasn't about to miss an opportunity to get free advice from an expert to move her hobby forward.

"That would be fine, but I must warn you that my methods are, shall we say, a little 'unconventional'. But they achieve results for those who are serious about their art." Belton watched her eyes as he talked. Her blue eyes looked into his and didn't blink or look away. He handed her a card with his direct contact information and thought to himself "She will do. Yes, she will do very nicely." As he walked on.

Jenny was at least twenty years his junior at eighteen, but she did feel a connection beside the art. She was breathtakingly gorgeous with an innocence about her which could make a pious man sinner.

A few days passed and Jenny picked up the card with Belton Davis' information and dialed her phone. No surprise, it was a recorded message which ended with a shrill "beep" for the message. "Hello Mr. Davis, this is Jenny Carney, we met at the...". She was surprised when a voice picked up mid sentence.

"Yes, Jenny. This is Belton, and I am very happy you gave me a call to discuss your artwork. Ideally I would like you to bring a few examples and visit me. Would next Tuesday work for you? Say in the afternoon?" Belton sounded like he looked. Distinguished with a very neutral accent.

Jenny paused. Tuesday would work, but she hesitated while she thought. She always overthought things, for once she decided to just go for it. It was free advice, and good advice at that. "Yes, Tuesday will be fine. I will bring some pieces, and I am looking forward to it."

"As am I, Jenny. Until Tuesday." Belton hung up his phone and smiled.

Tuesday arrived and Jenny had assembled several examples of her art to show to Belton. She hoped he would become the mentor that could help her move from a hobbyist painter to a professional. She dressed in "business casual" to be safe. She didn't want to be too casual and definitely didn't want to overdress. Was she overthinking things? Probably, but that was what she did. She took a deep breath and decided she was ready. Two hours early, but better than being late.

Just after one she pulled into the lot, the gravel crunched beneath her tires. Her car was the only one outside the studio, Jenny figured that Belton just walked over from his house that was visible about a hundred yards behind with a path connecting the two buildings.

As she opened the door to remove her portfolio, Belton Davis came out of the studio. "Hello, Jenny. Welcome. Can I help you? The portfolio looks a little awkward, I can grab it." Chivalry was not dead, at least not here, anyway.

"Yes, thank you. I never turn down help, in fact that is why I am here." Jenny decided to be assertive. Put it out there right from the start. "You offered some guidance, and here I am." They walked into the studio.

The windows and skylight made the room a very well lit venue to display paintings. There were lights, but they weren't needed on this day. "I'll let you arrange your works and then we can get started. I'll be back in just a few moments." Belton pointed to the easels around the room and the disappeared through a rear door.

Jenny found it interesting that there were no examples of Davis' work. He may have moved them out for her or perhaps they were in the back room where he had gone. She hoped he would show her some of his works as well as critiquing her. In a few moments she had set the five paintings on the available easels. Another deep breath and she was ready for him to return.

"Let's see what you have brought." Belton breezed into the room. Jenny stood almost at attention, like it was an inspection. "Please, relax, I just want to look them over. Then I will see what I might be able to offer."

"Thank you." Jenny did let down a little. But it was a little unsettling to have another person review her work. She put a lot of herself into each work. She hoped he could tell that. "If you have questions, please let me know."

After a few quiet moments which seemed to Jenny like hours, he spoke. "As I said before, you show promise. I see a personal investment that is crucial to any good art, but a bit rigid. Perhaps we can get you to 'loosen up' a bit. Don't be afraid of making a mistake. Some of my best aspects started with an 'Oh, s**t' moment."

"Easier said than done for me. I tend to overthink things. Fear of a mistake can freeze me. But I'm getting a little better with that." Jenny actually felt better just saying that, and he had hit the area she most wanted to work on. She hoped to become a little less reserved and more spontaneous in her life, not just in her painting. "Any specific suggestions for how to do that? What works for you?"

Belton looked at her paintings and paused. He turned to her and his gray eyes seemed to look right through her. "I can show you a few of my works and a bit of my process, but what works for me may not work for another. You need to find your own system. Follow me into my workshop." He walked into the room where he had gone while she had set up her works.

The room smelled of paints, wood, solvents and a myriad of scents that came with any working artist. There were several canvases in various stages of completion, a still life, a country scene, a cityscape, but a human figure caught Jenny's eye. Still in the early stages it appeared to be a female figure and a nude. In the center of the back wall were two beams about ten feet long and crossed in an "X". They faced the windows that looked back to his residence.

"I had mentioned when we first met that my methods were a bit unorthodox. A suggestion I would have for you would be to become the canvas. Be part of the painting, immerse yourself. That is function of the items you see here." Belton waived his hand around the room before having it come to rest on the wooden "X".

Jenny felt her cheeks flush slightly. She had wondered about the piece, and had even thought it looked like a framework large enough to hold a person. "I, uh, I see." Stammering slightly she met Belton's gaze. "Can you explain a bit more? I mean what exactly is involved?"

"In a broad sense, it is about trust. To be more precise it is about letting go of some of your inhibitions and being open to some different experiences." Belton's voice was low. It was calm and reassuring. "And I see the question forming, yes, it is s****l in nature. If that is a concern, then perhaps you need another mentor to assist you further. I am far from the only resource available. And certainly there is no need or expectation to decide now."

Jenny's head was spinning a little. "So what you are suggesting is that by participating in this, this 'exercise', it can make me a better artist? I appreciate that I have time to think it over, but what would we do? Can you provide some specific details?" She looked around and found a chair and sat down. It felt a little like being in class, but she was the sole pupil.

"Certainly." Belton began to instruct his student. "And the sessions can vary greatly depending on the person or need, but for you to 'become the canvas', I am suggesting that literally. Just as with a painting, you will be mounted on a frame, this "X". Then I will proceed to paint your body, allowing you to feel what the painting feels when you apply the paint, and you experience the whole process."

"I'm sorry if I ask too many questions, but I want to be sure I am understanding this." Jenny had to admit she was surprised at how intrigued she was with the possibility of this lesson. She was not a stranger to s*x, but it had typically been of the vanilla variety. This was something new to her. "I would be restrained, correct? And completely naked? Would there just be you? And again, I'm sorry for the questions."

Belton smiled as he listened. Clearly Jenny was a novice. He very much looked forward to initiating her into the practices, often what these new people lacked in experience they more than made up for in enthusiasm.

"Yes, you will be restrained, I want you to know how the canvas feels on the frame. As for being naked, usually that is the case, but we can make some concessions. Would you feel more comfortable if you kept your panties on? If so, we can work with that. The paints are body paints, so they do wash off, and they are hypoallergenic." His voice was very matter of fact, not sensational at all, nor was it bored. Or boring.

"Would the session end with s*x? I am just curious. I'd like as much information as possible to make my decision. And to prepare for it. I must say, the idea does have me intrigued." If by 'intrigued', Jenny meant excited, she would be more accurate. She was feeling a little giddy and a bit warm. She could feel herself moisten slightly and the urge to be touched was strong. "I am fairly open, but do have some limits. Not really interested in multiples or anal, but the idea of being painted does fascinate me."

"Much of it hinges on you, Jenny." Belton stood closer to her. The pupil/teacher relationship seemed even more appropriate. "I would say that s*x would be involved, the specific form depends on the moment. Although you will be restrained, you still have some say. 'No' does still mean 'no'. As I said before, a key element is trust. Also spontaneity. I can't be too specific because it depends on where the situation takes us."

"Well, you have given me a lot to consider. Is this a good time for you? If it is, perhaps this Thursday would be good for our next session? I can let you know a definite 'yes' or 'no' about becoming your canvas by Thursday morning if that works for you." Jenny couldn't believe she was hearing herself making the arrangements so calmly. She did leave herself some room to back out, but it sounded almost like she had decided to go through with it. That was so unlike her.

Belton looked at her with a deep stare and consulted his phone. "Yes, that will be just fine. And you can always email me or call if you have questions. But let's go back and take a closer look at the items you have brought. I want to look them over." Jenny followed him as they returned to the main room.

Thursday morning came and Jenny knew she was at the point of no return. But instead of feeling nervous or uneasy, she had a sense of calm, something unusual for her. She had confidence in Belton, as well as trust. She decided to go for it and went into the bathroom to shower and prepare for the meeting.

The gravel crunched under her tires as she pulled into the studio lot. Hers was the only car, and as she looked around, she saw a note tucked in the front door. She got out of the car and went to the entrance where she saw her name on the note.

"The doors open, come in and go to the back room. Remove as much clothing as you wish, I will be there momentarily. Belton." His handwriting was not the easiest to read, but the message was clear.

Jenny walked in and went through the studio to the work room. It was warm which felt good after the crisp air outside. She set her bag on a chair and slipped off her coat. Her eyes fell on the frame, the large wooden "X" that dominated the room. She smelled the air, the scent of linseed oil and paints filled her nostrils. She sighed and began to undo the buttons of her blouse.

The clothes came off, blouse, shoes, pants socks. Jenny folded each on a chair, waiting to hear if someone, hopefully Belton, entered. She felt like she was being watched, but there was no one around. "Silly, just being paranoid" she said out loud to herself. She stood in the middle of the room facing the large wooden "X". The wood looked smooth and polished and the leather restraints for the arms, legs and waist all looked supple and soft.

As she looked, she reached and undid her bra, adding it to the pile and returned to the middle of the room wearing just her panties. She still felt watched, but was getting comfortable with it. Or rather getting less uncomfortable with it.

Jenny stood in the middle of the room and looked out the window at the pastoral scene. The farmhouse was set under a broad tree and looked peaceful in the sunlight. She felt more comfortable and lowered her arms to her side and continued to wait.

A few moments later Jenny heard the outer door open and she turned and again crossed her arms covering her breasts as Belton entered the room. "I apologize for the delay, I was finishing a phone call. I am glad you found my note. Are you comfortable? Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm quite good, thanks." Jenny was surprised at how calm her voice was. Inside she was anything but calm, her heart raced and she felt her breathing increase. "Should we begin? Where do you want me?"

Belton looked into her eyes and began to tell her what the plan would be. "In a moment I will secure you to the frame, and here are the tools I will use for the painting." He pointed at the wooden X and then to a tray of brushes laid out on the work table. "Here, feel them." He held out his hand to Jenny.

Jenny stepped forward and uncovered her chest as she accepted his hand. Belton looked at her and smiled at her small but toned breasts. He led her to the table and placed a brush in her hand.

"Feel the smooth wood handle, then the stiff bristles. There are many sizes, each has it's own texture and purpose. You will see in a few moments." His hands were firm and calloused from years of working with the frames, canvas and general farm duties. Despite the roughness, there was a gentleness in the touch.

Belton continued. "Remember I said this is about trust? Well, I see you have trusted me enough to come here, but is there more trust to offer?"

Jenny wasn't sure what he was getting to, but she answered. "I suppose so. Do you mean do I trust you enough to mount the frame and be restrained? Yes, I do."

Belton stepped closer. "That is part of it, I would also like to blindfold you. Depriving you of one sense heightens the others. Can you trust me on that level?"

Despite feeling her cheeks warming and turning red, Jenny responded by taking Belton's hand and moving to the frame. There were small rests for the feet and she stepped up onto one and then the other, feeling the smooth wood behind her. "Yes, I can. Make me the canvas."

She raised her arms, the wood beams slanted back a bit and Belton secured the wrist cuffs. They were lined with lambs wool and felt good on Jenny's arms. The waist belt similarly was cinched and finally the ankles. She could move a little bit only a few inches. He produced a black satin mask and paused. "Are you certain?" His voice trailed off.