Portrait Chapter 6

Stretching, Kathryn moaned as every muscle in her body thanked her for the release.

"Could I offer you a massage?" a teasing female voice sounded behind her.

Spinning around she tried to cover the painting her body.

"Anika, out!" she growled.

"Well, if you make it worth my while.. Hey!"

Kathryn pushed Anika out of the studio and closed the door behind them.

"Darling, I told you, no peeking."

Staring down at the refined beauty, Anika murmured, "I was serious about the massage."

"I am not going to turn one down. I feel every bit of my 50 years after that marathon painting session. I am happy to say though that I finished! Ha-le-lujah!"

"That's wonderful!" Anika exclaimed, tugging the tired woman along to her bedroom.

At the first touch of her oil-scented hands on Kathryn's bare shoulders, obscene sounds of pleasure came from the artist's throat. Anika had to bite her lip not to say moan in return. This woman's voice was pure sex. That was just all there was to it. Anika had poured a warm bath for the tired artist and was now massaging her shoulders as she lay on the bed.

"Oh, that sooooo good," Kathryn mumbled, and proceeded to gently fall asleep.

Smiling tenderly at the sleeping woman, Anika kissed her forehead and tip toed out of the room, closing the door lightly behind her.

* * *

"Coffee!" Kathryn sniffed the air. Following the scent like a bloodhound, she turned the corner in the mall, and spotted the coffee shop.

Trying to act very nonchalant the blonde suggested Kathryn order for them while she looked for a restroom. What she actually needed to do was run back to the jewelry store and get that necklace without Kathryn being any the wiser.

Having made her purchase, Anika rushed back, took a few deep breaths, then entered the coffee shop.

"That took a while. Long queues? " Kathryn queried while happily sipping on her favourite beverage.

"Mhmm. Long queues. Good coffee." Well, it was okay but the ecstatic sighs Kathryn gave with each sip elevated the status of the coffee to nectar of the gods. She found it very hard not to stare in rapt fascination each time her lover sniffed, then swallowed the black liquid. She had even caught their barista staring a couple of times already. After one long happy moan, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Kathryn! Would you cut it out with the x-rated soundtrack already. You are turning on our server. And me."

Eyes wide, freezing mid-sip, the artist made a startled noise. "I beg your pardon?"

"Darling, I know you love your coffee, but you sound like you are being made love to each time you swallow."

"I do NOT!" Kathryn huffed, but a pleasant tingle filled her chest at Anika calling her darling,

"Yes. You DO. It's very sexy and very distracting." Seeing the unbelief in Kathryn's eyes she contineud, "Don't believe me? Try making eye contact with..what was the barista's name again.. Thomas?"

Glaring at Anika, Kathryn slowly turned her eyes on Thomas and saw him guiltily looking away.

"Oh. my. god." Grabbing Anika's hand, she laughed. "Let's get out of here. We need to go get ready for tonight anyway."

Hand in hand, they made their way out of the coffee shop, leaving Thomas to stare after them with puppy dog eyes.

* * *

"Ladies and gentleman. It is time for the unveiling. If you would please come closer?" the MC announced.

The crowd's excited whispering died away as Sten Johnson took hold of the material draped over the painting. With theatrical flare, the scifi author twirled it away from the canvas. Seeing the awed appreciation in faces before him, he finally turned to look too. He had to quickly close his mouth. It had dropped open at the sight before him. The applause that filled the hall was well deserved. Very well deserved. There, draped over her ship while the stars streaked past, was his star ship Captain brought to life. Even though he could see Anika had been the model, the final product also didn't look remotely like her. It was..genius. Seeking out Kathryn in the crowd he made eye contact and mouthed the words, "thank you." Then he addressed the crowd again.

"I believe the artist, Kathryn Janeway, deserved that hearty applause. Here is the talented lady herself," and with that he pulled Kathryn to his side. The applause started all over again.

"As the late night tv ads say, 'but wait, there's more'." A few twitters erupted here and there. "Meet Anika Hansen, the model for this wonderful work of art."

If Kathryn's smile slipped just a little, nobody was the wiser. They also didn't hear the warning she whispered in Sten's ear- stick to the painting or else - above the applause as Anika approached them.

Pulling Anika to his other side, Sten stood there with a wolfish grin at the thought of having the two women attached to his hips, but he behaved. The cameras flashed for a few seconds, and then it was time to mingle.