Cassie was a little apprehensive. She’d received an email from her vacationing neighbors saying that as thanks for Cassie minding their two dogs, they’d arranged for her favorite artist, Nils Stellansson, to paint her portrait. Nils was scheduled to arrive this afternoon.

Cassie knew Nils painted mostly nudes. Not that she was a prude, far from it, but would he expect her to pose in nude? As the time for the appointment approached, Cassie waited at the entryway. Maybe he wouldn’t show up. Maybe the email had been a joke. The dogs, Elizabeth and Charles, picked up on Cassie’s nervousness and paced the hallway. “If Nils does come, you guys better behave,” she warned them. “Otherwise...”

Before she could think of “otherwise,” the doorbell rang. It was him! Nils. A nice-looking man. Reddish hair but a friendly white beard. Twinkling eyes. Kind, sensuous lips. Grinning. Holding out his hand. Taking her hand and kissing it.

Cassie trembled.

“So pleased to meet you,” Nils said.

“So pleased to meet you! I love your paintings. Oh gosh, I’m gushing. Sorry. Sorry. Um, come in. Um, or do you need help carrying your paints and brushes in from the car?”

“Not necessary. I won’t be needing paints and brushes today. I do the painting in my studio. Today I do the study of you with my eyes.”

“Oh. I didn’t know. I’m not experience in these sorts of ... So, um, how should I... ? What should I... ? How do you want me?”

“I understand it’s to be a family portrait, yes?” Nils replied.

Cassie wrinkled her brow in confusion. “Family? Well, I’m watching the neighbors’ dogs. I suppose they’re ... Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce them. This is Beth, um, Elizabeth. And this is Charles.”

Nils patted the dogs’ heads. “Charles and Beth. They’re very handsome. So they will be with you for the portrait, no?”

“You mean... ? I don’t know. That sounds ... Um...”

“One on either side might work. With you sandwiched between. How about this chair here?”

“Oh, sure, I guess. I mean I don’t know how still they’ll sit.”

Nils directed Cassie to sit in the chair, and he guided Elizabeth and Charles into place. “Just relax,” he told Cassie. He smiled a reassuring smile. “It will all be over in an instant.”

Trembling on the inside, Cassie said, “I’m trying not to move. I guess I’m really nervous. Should I... ? Do you want me to... ?” Again Cassie couldn’t quite come up with a graceful way to finish her questions.

“Beautiful,” Nils said. “You are a beautiful, beautiful subject. Thank you.” He spread his hands and bowed.

“You’re done? Already? That was...”

“Quick? Painless?” Nils patted Elizabeth and Charles on their heads, kissed Cassie’s hand, said he’d call Cassie when he had something to show, and now he must get to work, and let himself out.

Nils was gone, yet Cassie’s anxiety failed to abate. If anything it grew stronger. “That was strange,” she said to herself. “So strange. Maybe he didn’t want me nude because he didn’t like my body. I won’t worry about it. I won’t. I’ll just...”

Her nervous energy wouldn’t go away. She paced. She took the dogs out for a run on the beach. She showered and had a cup of tea. She stretched out on her bed and tried to read. She gave that up and masturbated. At first she couldn’t come. But then she imagined the painter Nils watching her. “See what you missed?” she said aloud. “My pink nipples swollen with ... My pink pussy all open with ... My fat little clitty erect as k-k-cock. My finger frigging like f-f-f-fuck. Oh Oh Oh! See what you... !”

After orgasm, Cassie calmed. She turned onto her tummy and fell into a long deep sleep.

A little more than a week later she received a telephone call from Nils. She’d all but forgotten the portrait session, such as it was. In the meantime her neighbors had returned and reclaimed their dogs, and Cassie’s life had returned to normal.

“Can I drop by to show you what I’ve done?” Nils asked.

The appointment was made for the next afternoon. This time Cassie was at ease when Nils arrived. He was carrying three canvasses wrapped in paper.