I overslept again and was late for chem lab. I hurried down the aisle between the rows of workbenches to the one I shared with Eric, my lab partner. He must have rummaged through his backpack for his lab notebook and was replacing the contents. I noticed a tiny bit of sewn cloth. "Is that a thong swimsuit?"
"Hi, Linda." He looked up and smiled. "Yes, it is."
We'd done other things in life and returned to university in the geology program at Sonoma State last year. We were older than our classmates and had taken several classes together. "It would leave little to the imagination, but I'd like to see for myself. Do you wear it at the pool?"
"Sometimes." He paused, considering what to say next. "I wore it by the pond in the commons for a drawing class yesterday."
I was speechless. Eric could see my confusion and whispered. "I've been a figure drawing model for the past ten years. Last semester, one of the professors wanted to do a nude Plein Air session by the pond. Some passers-by complained, and this time I suggested wearing my thong would solve the problem."
"We've had classes together for over a year. Why didn't I know this already?" I fancied him, and the thought of seeing him pose nude sent sparks everywhere.
"I don't mention it since most disapprove. I only tell people I trust."
Did he tell me he trusts me? Oh, God, more sparks; then the professor walked in. "We'll continue this conversation after class."
I fumbled through the lab experiment. When we finished cleaning up, Eric nodded to the door. In the hallway, he said, "If you weren't teasing, I model at Oakmont community center tomorrow evening. It's an open session, and you'd be welcome to sketch. I won't be wearing the thong, though." He flashed a devilish grin.
Heat rose from my neck to my face. The thought of seeing him in the buff was appealing, and I tried to control my breath. "It might be interesting, for academic purposes only, of course." I could feel the pink glow on my face. "What time?"
"From six to nine." Three hours of Eric naked on stage sounded fun.
"I'll be there. I have a sketchbook, too."
"Great. I'll introduce you to Janet, the group leader. I've mentioned you to her, and she'd like to recruit you to model."
"What? What? I'm a big girl and too tall. What? Nobody wants to look at my naked body. What?"
"Aside from being beautiful and sexy, you have a presence, an attitude that commands attention. Artists would love drawing you."
In three hours, I went from mildly flirty over a swimsuit to standing naked on the model stand and being thoroughly examined by a group of total strangers. The thought was horrifying; and very exciting.
"You can tell from how I dress I don't want people looking at my body. I can't imagine standing naked in front of artists or that they'd want to draw me the way they must enjoy drawing you." But my body betrayed me. My nipples hardened, and I regretted my haste this morning; I wasn't wearing a bra. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't notice.
His eyes lowered a fraction of a second, and my hope vanished. "I've noticed your clothes, but your body says you're conflicted."
I blushed crimson and had to look away. I forced my arms to my sides and didn't cover up. "Conflicted feelings, the story of my life."
"If it's any help, I felt the same when I started, scared and excited."
"It would be different from my normal Tuesday. I'll consider it."
He reached to tuck my errant strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm a guy and completely clueless, but what do you call your hair color? I'd guess 10R 4/6, Munsell reddish brown, but I'm a geologist, and that can't be right."
My ear tingled where he touched me, and I could barely whisper. "Chestnut works for me."
"Well, don't think too hard." He smiled and glanced down again. "I'll tell Janet you might show up. I don't have any classes tomorrow, so I hope to see you there. Bye."
"Bye, Eric. If I can't make it, have fun."
I stood there a few moments, watching him turn and walk toward the parking lot. I daydreamed of posing with him while walking to my next class.
Excited anticipation clouded my thoughts driving to Oakmont. I was so flustered I missed a turn and arrived twenty minutes late. I calmed myself in the parking lot and pushed ahead.
The community center was larger inside than it looked outside. Luckily, posted signs provided directions, and I soon stood in front of the closed studio. After a few slow, deep breaths to calm down, I quietly opened the door.
The model stand was off to the left against one of the short walls of the rectangular room. An equal mix of twenty women and men stood at easels or sat on drawing benches, filling three-quarters of the makeshift studio. Eric held a standing pose, his body twisted, arms outstretched, and his back to me. He was taller than my five feet, ten inches, and had a swimmer's body, toned muscles but not bulky. No tan lines.
I turned to find a chair, but an older, silver-haired woman sitting near the door looked up, "Linda?"
"Yes. Janet?"
She stood and extended her hand. "Yes. I'm so glad you made it. Eric told me you might visit and consider modeling. It's been so long since we've drawn a couple, and seeing how gorgeous you are, I hope you will."
"Well, Eric invited me to see how it all works. He piqued my interest, but it's frightening. Nobody wants to draw my big body."
She put her hand on my forearm. "Oh honey, you're stunning. We like to draw all body types, but I understand your hesitance. You like seeing Eric on the stage, though. Wouldn't it be exciting to get familiar with him while having all these appreciative artists as chaperones?"
I blushed, "Am I so obvious?"
"What's not to like? I'd jump up there with him if I were twenty years younger. You'd make my day if you'd model for us. I take my vicarious thrills wherever I can."
"Eric said he talked with you about me?"