The day could not be more perfectly beautiful. Rosalind spread out on their blanket in the grass, basking in the warmth of the sun and the perfect company. Lauren was laying on her stomach, tying clover stems together to make a crown for herself. Rosalind turned her head to watch, a smile playing over her face. After the winter and their exams the women had been quick to pack a picnic basket the moment they were released for spring break. It was good fortune that the sun was shining that day. If there was a heaven Rosalind imagined it would be no more perfect that this day and moment.
Lauren sat up and placed the crown of flowers on her head, smiling brightly at Rosalind. "Does it suit me?" She posed playfully, like the women on the posters for musical shows of dubious moral quality. It was charming, Rosalind decided. Lauren was a beautiful woman, with hair the color of rich earth and eyes that matched the grass around them almost exactly. Lauren had many suitors, and most seemed to be of high quality. Sometimes Rosalind was just a little bit jealous of that. Whether she was jealous of the attention Lauren received or of the attention she gave Rosalind did not dare to contemplate. It was bad enough to be jealous at all.
Rosalind sat up as well, crossing her legs at the ankles and nodding at Lauren. "It does. You look beautiful, as always. Will you be going out with Thomas tonight?" Rosalind had to admit that she liked Lauren's primary suitor. He was a serious man with a good head for math which made his accounting classes a good match for his personality. She liked that Lauren was dating someone with a good head on his shoulders. Lauren was the first woman Rosalind had met that she felt she could truly call a friend and equal. She deserved a fine man and appeared to have gotten one.
Lauren shook her head, pouring out the last of their shared bottle of wine between their glasses. "No. He is returning to Scotland for the holiday. His sister is expecting and he wants to see her again before the child is born." She picked up her glass and sipped her wine, smiling softly. "The care he shows for his sister is quite charming, I think. It bodes well for his prospects as a husband."
That was the only point of difference between Rosalind and Lauren. Rosalind saw no reason why Lauren would want to commit herself to anyone before her career even began. Lauren saw no reason for Rosalind to hold herself so aloof from all the men in existence. It was a subject they tended to avoid. For Lauren to mention it now signaled to Rosalind that it was weighing on her mind. "Perhaps it does. You'll finish your studies, I hope." There was no sense in trying to talk someone out of marriage. Rosalind just hoped her friend would make a sensible choice about timing.
Lauren thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. He will want to have a home before we marry, so we will both have ample time to finish our studies." She took a drink of her wine and Rosalind couldn't help but let her gaze linger on those beautiful red lips as they became stained dark with wine. "Rosalind, they way you go on about you act as though I will die if I am married before I have my degree." Lauren's tone was teasing, but her expression was somewhat serious.
Rosalind nodded and sighed a little. "Do you feel that you would not? I can't imagine letting anything get in the way of my goals, not even love." iEspecially/i not love when it came down to it. Physical charms and the occasional exception aside men seemed an unreliable sort. Of course, she'd thought women were irrational and ridiculous until she met Lauren. She assumed her attitude would change when she met someone adequate for her needs.
Lauren sighed softly but said nothing for a moment. She finished her wine and motioned toward Rosalind's glass. "You hardly drink, you seem to take no pleasure in anything other than food and studying. Perhaps you should got out with Franklin? The poor man has been nothing but kind and gentle toward you and he'd quite handsome."
Rosalind blushed a little when she thought about Franklin. What Lauren said was true. He was quite intelligent on top of all those glowing qualities. He too had green eyes and the most deliciously large hands. He played guitar quite well. Rosalind tried not to make it obvious, but was was careful to always be in a position to watch his hands when he played. Sometimes she thought about what they might feel like strumming her body rather than the instrument's, but she couldn't bring herself to talk to him. She didn't know if it was a lack of sincere desire or confidence.
Lauren giggled a little. "Rosa, he'd come if you called. When the break is over we simply must take tea as a group. Perhaps he will bring his guitar and you can sing with him." This time Lauren's teasing tone matched her mischevious expression. "Or did you think I wasn't listening when you began singing in the shower after his impromptu concert when we last studied together? I think he'd admire your voice."
Rosalind laughed, pressing a hand to her chest as though she could contain her mirth. She felt good when Lauren joined in. They laughed together, then sat in companionable silence, each smiling at the other. Rosalind nodded after a moment, taking a deep breath. "I suppose I could stand for that, though I may rely on you and your darling to keep the conversation going."
Lauren smiled brightly, squeezing Rosalind's hand. "Oh, I knew you weren't as cold as you pretend! Of course. We'll be happy to hold your hand while you take your first baby steps into the realm of femaleness. I promise it's not as wretched as you've been led to believe." Lauren giggled again, smiling brightly at Rosalind. "Just imagine how nice it would be to have another physicist to talk to all the time! You'd be able to work with him. Two minds are better than one when puzzling out a problem." Lauren's cheerfulness colored every word. It was pleasant to hear and the picture she painted was not one that Rosalind minded overly much.
She considered the prospect. Spending all day in the laboratory, teasing apart the secrets of the universe. Going home after work and sharing a meal with him, talking about what they'd discovered. Feeling those hands on her back, in her hair, on her breasts. . . Rosalind closed her eyes, imagining it for a moment. It was also pleasant to indulge in the feeling of arousal that fantasy brought. She trusted Lauren to see her in this state. The young, beautiful woman wouldn't mind seeing Rosalind savor such a line of thought.
He would have callouses on his fingertips. The rest of his skin was probably smooth and pale, like her own. She wondered what it would be like to be in bed with him, to be full of him, their bodies twined together. She shivered lightly and opened her eyes again. Her imagination was as vivid as ever, and she ached in places no other person had ever seen or touched. She licked her lips and took a small sip of wine. "You make a good argument." Rosalind conceded, once the mood had passed.
Lauren just laughed, shaking her head in wonder at her friend's foolishness. "Rosa, you might have missed him if not for my assistance. Aren't you lucky to have me in your life?"
Rosalind smiled at Lauren and nodded in agreement. "I am. You've been the best companion and friend I've ever had. I am pleased and proud to know you."
The women smiled at each other again, before settling onto their backs to look up at the clouds. Lauren mentioned when she found a shape she liked in them, but Rosalind was focusing on the shape her future might take. If she could inspire such need in herself with just the thought of a companion it might actually be wise to look closely into the matter. Perhaps her parents had a point after all.
The afterglow of sex was perhaps as addictive as the act itself. Robert groaned softly as he turned to face Michael, examining the man's body for the hundredth time. It wasn't just that the sex was incredible, it wasn't just that he found himself almost constantly wanting to be close to the older man. What Robert liked best was laying in bed after the fact, discussing the wonders of the universe with his teacher and friend. He was careful not to examine his feelings for Michael. If he looked too deep he might find something that bothered him. Lovely as it was, this could only ever be an illicit affair. They could both go to jail for the glorious, sensual act they had committed together. It was frightening when they were apart, but Robert cared not a whit when they were together.
He moved closer to his teacher, stroking his fingers down the man's back. Michael turned and looked at him. The heat of his gaze felt like a comfortable weight. Robert sighed softly, wrapping himself up in a blanket. "You're quiet," Robert noted. He was used to more talking, but Robert thought they could maintain a companionable silence.
Michael nodded, stroking his fingers over Robert's face. "I want to remember this moment. The school year will be over in a couple months. I'll miss your face when you return home."
Robert smiled, relishing the attention. He chuckled a little and sat up, still wrapped firmly in the blanket. "I thought of that, sir. I had a question to ask. More of a favor, I suppose. I would like to sketch you, if I could. I want to remember this moment as well, and I can think of no better model for a picture." He smiled at his teacher, feeling foolish and breathless with hope that his teacher would say yes.
Michael mulled it over, then gave Robert a wicked smirk. "Have any self-portraits? We could do a trade. One of you for one of me."
Robert laughed a little, shedding the blanket so he could retrieve his sketchbook from his valise. "A few. It's difficult to get a mirror to reflect properly, but I could not ask for a more patient or commited model." He handed the book to his teacher, hoping the older man would appreciate his talents. It was a huge moment of trust for him. He had many secrets and failures wrapped up in that book.
Michael's face took on a stoic, thoughtful expression as he flipped through the book. Robert watched him, eager and breathless with the desire for approval. There were many nudes in there. People were his favorite thing to draw and he'd gone to many classes revolving around the subject. He was confident in his ability to draw the human form, though there would always be room for improvement. Truthfully he felt that each new thing he learned made him like his previous pictures less. He wondered what his last portrait would look like. He hoped it would be of someone he loved.
Michael stopped, blinking at one picture in particular. "Strange pose." He noted, looking at Robert with a smirk. "What were you thinking of when you posed for it?"
Robert blushed when he looked over at the pad. It was a picture of himself he'd done in front of a full length mirror. He was standing, hands at his side (what a tricky beast that pose had been to capture adequately), his chest out, shoulders back, and cock erect. He'd done that drawing a year or so ago, but it had already taken on the quality of old art, which is to be laughed at and learned from rather than admired. "A classmate, sir. We ran track together. I thought often of the view I had when I ran behind him. I made my worst times in races with him. I cared more about the scenery than the goal." He looked away, before he started apologizing for his mistakes. The hands were too large, the chest flat looking, the erection had a strange perspective which made it seem to list much more toward the right than it did in truth.
Michael tore the picture out of the book, nodding in approval. "Is that where those legs come from?" He slid a hand up Robert's thigh, making the younger moan moan in pleasure. Robert was still tired, but he thought he would be prepared for another go by the time they got around to it. He spread his legs further, allowing his teacher better access to both his legs and genitals.
"Yes, sir. I ran and did the long jump, along with other sports as a youth. I was very active." He closed his eyes as Michael's fingers slid over his cock. Being touched like this while he was so recently spent made it strange. It was both highly erotic and incredibly personal. He felt reassured that he meant something more to Michael than a tight arse and eager mouth.
"I bet you were." Michael said, smirking widely. His hand withdrew from Robert and he settled back on the bed, propping himself up on his elbows. "I want to be erect in my portrait as well. Perhaps you could assist me?"
Robert licked his lips, chuckling softly. "It would be my pleasure to suffer such for my art." He slid onto his knees, watching the older man as best he could as he lowered his face down toward the thicket of coarse hair that surrounded the older man's cock. He was as silent as possible, listening for the telltale sound of groaning that would inform him when he was being most effective. He'd feel the reaction against his lips and tongue, of course, but he wanted to experience this in the full spectrum of sensation.
It took many such moments to get the portrait underway. They walked a line together. Michael could not stay hard for overly long without discomfort, but he could also only climax a finite number of times in one day. Robert set himself to the task with great enthusiasm. He hoped his teacher would be pleased with the results.