Within the Frame

I had never really been one for paintings but something about this one spoke to me.

It could've been the man's smokey gray eyes or the way he looked at you through hooded eyes with a lowered head. Like he knows something I don't...

I'd ended up at the auction only because my boyfriend, Tim, had dragged me here.

He enjoyed the sophistication of the events, dressing me up like a pretty doll, and wearing his own expertly tailored suits and perfectly tied cravats.

Cravat. I almost giggled to myself. It seemed such a strange word for modern days.

The auction was being held in some man's mansion. Tim knew him. I didn't. But it was quite lovely. White walls with a vaulted ceiling. Accompanied by a low hanging chandelier with diamond shaped bulbs illuminated the room in a warm glow.

The tinkling of glasses echoed in the large room. Waiters walked around offering everyone more wine and expensive hors d'oeuvres. Music which seemed far too old for the time played from a speaker a distance away.

The tables were covered in lavender laced cloths and everyone was beginning to sit down with their little numbered signs to begin the bidding.

Men were adjusting their suits as though they were preparing for some sort of battle rather than readying to raise their sign a few inches.

I nearly laughed. This wasn't my type of setting.

But Tim liked to take me places like this to 'show me off' he called it.

***

I listened to the jumble of murmured voices and masculine laughter. Women tossing little furs over their shoulders as they giggled in response.

As if they had any idea what the men were discussing.

I don't. I was willing to admit it.

These were the items that a museum had acquired a few years ago. But during recent renovations they had found higher valued items so were willing to let these go.

There were some shiny things that I barely paid attention to as I expected a roll of meat and cream cheese, assessing whether there might be some manner of fish eggs in there.

But eventually they lifted the painting, and I felt my whole body stand to attention and my gaze was drawn to see what they were presenting.

I was shocked at the stark colors of it. With a flat brown background, it made those gray eyes seem somehow brilliant. His black hair had a velvety sheen like a bird's underwing. I felt like I could walk up and reach through the painting to touch him.

He had a square jaw and a somewhat pointed chin. With high cheekbones and darkly lashed eyes, his face looked angular in a way that seemed to express the intensity of the man. He was leaned forward in such a way that I almost felt like he was preparing to speak to me personally.

"Tim..." I touched his forearm. Staring at the painting unable to look away.

"You want it, Sweetheart?" He asked.

I nodded dully.

"Then of course it's yours." He lifted his number and the auctioneer pointed at him and called out an exorbitant number, but I barely heard the interchange as other men competed with Tim.

If I'd managed to peel my gaze away, I might've noticed that nearly every woman in the room was staring at the painting the same as I was. Blatant lust on their faces.

***

I'd hardly noticed that Tim had won the painting. Other men apologizing to their forlorn wives.

"You'll have your painting, Marissa." Tim beamed at me.

He was always trying to please me. It was rather touching how hard he tried. He had plenty of money and was fine enough to get many women, but he enjoyed having me on his arm. Like a trinket he'd found in a small town and polished to be shown off.

I knew it was a matter of time before he'd lose interest in something shiny and new, but I'd enjoy the peek into the extravagancies for now.

And his willingness to get me things I desired was certainly appealing enough. But these facts weren't on my mind as the painting was brought out and handed over to Tim who took it and leaned it against my chair.

I found myself grinning unstoppably as it was lowered next to me. And as my gaze returned to the auction, I found myself absentmindedly stroking the top of the frame like a woman would a lover's hand.