Gabrielle luxuriated in the steamy shower, basking in the warm spray as the soapy lather caressed her curves. She was preparing for an artistic adventure.
A free spirit, Gabrielle had always been drawn to art, studying techniques, exploring various genres and seeking out the more avant garde and experimental expressions in the art world. That's how she met Simone de Beauchamps, a rising performance artist. Gabrielle became Simone's friend, occasional lover - and muse.
As a performance artist, Simone received her inspiration everywhere. Gabrielle, as often as not, provided the spark of creativity. The simple act of watching Gabrielle biting into a juicy peach, overflowing with sticky nectar that dripped sensuously down her chin, sliding along her neck and into the gap between her breasts, was inspiration enough for Simone's journey into an ancient Asian art tradition in which Gabrielle would take center stage. The image of delectably sweet peach nectar on Gabrielle's body excited and stimulated her.
With a major art show coming up that would require a superlative entry, Gabrielle's would be the centerpiece. Her unveiling would be a show stopper. She could almost hear the patrons gasp already.
What Simone imagined was a rendition of the ancient Japanese art of Nyotaimori, a form of female body presentation where succulent sushi and sashimi is served from the flesh of a woman. In Japanese food culture, a model becomes a human serving platter for a delectable feast.
Simone envisioned heaps of fancy, colorful sushi specialties adorning the naked body of her muse as the as art show attendees not only viewed the exhibit, but also sampled the delicacies presented by Gabrielle, her museum piece.
As for Gabrielle, she was pleased to again be a part of Simone's work; although she had little idea what nyotaimori was all about. She knew she would be nude for Simone's exhibit, but it wasn't unusual for Gabrielle to be unadorned for her lover's works.
Finally stepping out of the shower, Gabrielle's skin was tender, delicate, smooth, soft and supple. The preparations had relaxed her. After immaculately grooming herself, Gabrielle threw on a silk robe and went to look for Simone.
Simone was busy too - in the kitchen - overseeing several chefs who were creating the sushi specialties that would become a focal point of her exhibit. A pile of perilla leaves exuding a slightly minty scent. Small bowls of rice vinegar, shoyu and sake were neatly arranged on a tray. Other trays held colorfully crafted sushi and sashimi concoctions - bits of rice and fish and vegetables and spices that melded together into a wide range of Japanese delicacies. Visually inspired, the sushi specialties would become the paints and pigments to create a masterpiece on Gabrielle's naked canvas.
Gabrielle calmly entered the kitchen, lovingly hugged Simone and waited for direction.
"I am at your disposal my sweet Simone," she said. "I hope I inspire you."
"You always inspire me, Gabrielle," Simone said.
"It's time to prepare you. Please disrobe."
Comfortable in her own skin, Gabrielle was not embarrassed to uncover herself in the presence of the chefs. Simone appraised her body clinically, running her hands along her sides and along her shoulders, gliding down between her breasts, gaining a "feel" for her muse's delicate skin.
Gabrielle reddened as Simone cupped her breasts, as if weighing them, and when she slid her thumbs over her pink nipples, causing them to stiffen and protrude. Gabrielle shivered from the inspection.
"If this is art, lead me to the museum," Gabrielle quipped.
Simone led Gabrielle to a waist-high table, instructing her to climb onto it and settle in.
"Make sure you are comfortable my darling," she said. "This is where you'll be for the next few hours. I promise you will enjoy today's performance."
After Gabrielle settled on the table, Simone prepared her by spraying her with a light mist of oil. Rubbing the oil into her skin made it shine delightfully. Simone was tempted to linger but she needed to complete her "exhibit" before the gallery opened.
Gabrielle's inhibitions vanished when she felt Simone's hands on her body. The slippery oil massaged into her slightly cool skin warmed her. Simone also had given her a healthy drink of a slightly sweet sake concoction that not only warmed her, but left Gabrielle feeling mellow and tranquil. The drink made her acutely aware of her body.
"I think you're ready now," Simone said. "Except for one last touch."
As Gabrielle lay prone and exposed on the serving table, Simone took a strip of white silk and dipped it into a fragrant, jasmine-scented bowl of water. After wringing out the silk strip, she placed it over Gabrielle's eyes, cutting off her vision and heightening her other senses in the process. Although the white material blocked her sight, it allowed light to seep through. It was as if she were floating, basking, in a white world and she was more aware of her nakedness, her glistening flesh, her sensitive nipples, her exposed and slightly parted womanhood.