Dorian Gray (portraitof) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-03-06 18:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, dorian gray, vanessa ives |
Who: Dorian Gray and Vanessa Ives
When: Backdated: End of February
Where: Dorian’s home
What: Dorian decides to show Vanessa his portrait
Rating/Warnings: Mostly Family Friendly.
Status: Complete
Having Vanessa over for dinner had become a common occurrence over the last few months to Dorian’s pleasure. His infatuation with Vanessa had begun to change into a feeling that he hadn’t felt for anyone in a very long time, but he didn’t want to voice it just yet. He hadn’t actually been in a real relationship before and wanted to be sure of his feelings before he actually said those particular words to Vanessa, because the last thing he wanted to do was say something he didn’t really mean when it came to Vanessa. There had been others in the past that he’d said many things to just to get what he wanted, but Vanessa was different. Vanessa was like no one he’d ever met before.
That evening after dinner, Dorian had suggested that they take a bath before heading to bed, not that he thought they’d go to sleep right away of course. There were many bathrooms in Dorian’s house, but the Master bathroom was by far the nicest and that was where they were. The clawfoot tub was filled with bubbles, which were slowly dissipating and there were candles lit around the room, which were supplying the only light and of course Dorian had opened a bottle of champagne.
Dorian was behind Vanessa, his hands under the water and moving along her thighs, hips and stomach as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
The same things were running through Vanessa’s mind too, she was almost positive she was in love with Dorian but was hesitant to say the words. She knew his reputation both here and in the dreams and while she hoped his behaviour with her meant she was different it was sometimes hard to believe. She didn’t think there was anything special about her, not before the dreams anyway. Now she had these pesky visions and gifts from the dreams to contend with though they were offering little help with her love life.
But this kind of evening made her want it for a long time to come. Having eaten a lovely meal they were now sharing a bath which she had to admit she always loved. It was intimate and sensual and very very enjoyable.
She let her own hands trace patterns on his legs where they bracketed her under the water, she was completely relaxed. “Mmm I do believe this is the best way to end a day” she said softly, turning her head to kiss his chin.
Dorian smiled and lifted one arm out of the water to reach over for his glass, “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” He took a sip of champagne and set the glass back down, “I thought it would be a nice way to relax and unwind after dinner.” He kissed her shoulder once again, his hand that was still under water rested low on her stomach. Not too much had happened in Dorian’s own dreams lately except that he was clearly pining for Vanessa after she’d rejected him, which he was glad was not a thing that had bled over. He wasn’t entirely sure what he would do if Vanessa rejected him in the waking world.
Vanessa herself was currently being hunted by a new threat in her dreams, which she was wishing would take a break but sadly it did not seem likely. So she cherished these nice relaxed times even more. She understood why she had rejected Dorian in the dreams but here she could not imagine doing so. It would hurt far too much. “An ingenious thought” she smiled tracing a pattern on the hand which rested on her stomach.
“I know a few other things that are good for relaxation as well,” Dorian’s voice was low as he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, his hand sliding a little lower, slowly. He by no means wants to exhaust either of them just yet, but that didn’t mean that they couldn’t have a little bit of fun before they reached the bedroom.
“By all means do show me those” Vanessa said shifting a little in the water as those hands worked their magic as always.
After their bath and ‘relaxation’ they dried off and Vanessa pinned up her hair and slipped into a silk robe. She tended to sleep naked with Dorian but it was a little much for her to walk around his home naked and she liked the feel of the material against her skin.
Dorian’s hands were only one of the many talented parts of his body, but he was saving other things for later and once he’d finished with the task at hand they’d finished their bath and climbed out of the tub. Dorian also slipped on a silk bathrobe, not that the people who worked for him around the house had never seen him naked before of course, but there was something he wanted to do before they retired to bed and walking around naked for this certainly wasn’t practical. “Before we go to bed, there’s something I’d like to show you.” He said, turning and holding out his hand for Vanessa.
“Oh?” she said raising an eyebrow as she took his hand and moved closer, “What is it?” she asked as she followed him.
“You’ll see,” Dorian hadn’t intended to do this tonight or ever really, but he felt that if he could show his portrait to anyone, it was Vanessa. He only hoped that it wouldn’t scare her away or anything. He didn’t have a hidden place to hang it like in the dreams so instead he’d put it in the back of his closet for the time being. Leading her back into his room, which was only the next room, he headed towards his rather large closet and opened the door.
He hesitated a moment before turning on the light and leading the way towards the back of the closet.
To say that Vanessa was intrigued was an understatement but she didn’t press him, she’d find out soon enough after all. When they entered the room she wondered what could be in here she hadn’t already noticed until he opened the closet and turned on the light. “You’re hiding something in your closet?” there was a joke in there somewhere but it didn’t seem like the time for it.
“You could say that,” Dorian knew how strange this probably looked, but it wasn’t as if he could just hang the portrait anywhere. Reaching where he’d stowed it, he lifted one edge of the sheet he’d draped over it and turned to Vanessa, “I got this not too long ago from the dreams.” Pulling the sheet off the portrait, he turned to Vanessa to wait for her reaction, hoping this hadn’t been a big mistake.
It was strange and yet not and even before he revealed the painting to her she could feel it, the power in it was distorted but strong. “Dorian” she breathed, her entire focus was on the painting, and the poor creature in the painting who she knew to be the man she loved, how incredible it was. “A painting can capture an eternity” she whispered, recalling the words he’d spoken in the dreams as she reached out as if to touch it but stopped just short.
Dorian watched silently as Vanessa took in the appearance of the portrait. She hadn’t run away screaming, so that was certainly a plus. As he watched her reach out towards it, part of him wanted to stop her, but instead he simply watched her and nodded when she spoke, “Indeed.” He suspected that they all had their secrets, in the dreams, and this was his. “You’re not bothered by it?”
She didn’t touch the painting itself, instead her fingers brushed the frame. A flash of images ran through her mind but nothing tangible enough to hold onto, her gifts weren’t developed enough yet here. “I don’t think so” she said looking at him then and moving her hand to lay it on his cheek, “I’m not leaving if that is your concern”
Dorian’s eyes followed the movement of her fingers along the frame then flicked back up to her face as she spoke, a small smile lifting the corners of his lips, “It’s certainly a lot to take in. A lot to be aware of.” He hadn’t intended to do this tonight, but for one reason or another he’d felt it was the right time. “I’m still not sure exactly how it’s affected me.” In the dreams any injuries he sustained or sins he committed would transfer to the portrait, leaving him eternally youthful and unmarked.
“It definitely is. There’s a lot of power within that canvas” Vanessa told him, “I can feel that” she moved to wrap her arms around him. “We can find out together” she promised pressing a kiss to his lips, “You aren’t alone Dorian”
Dorian, in turn, wrapped his arms around Vanessa and kissed her back, which felt a little surreal; as if the painting were watching them. And in a way it was. “I have to say, I’m happy that you didn’t run screaming from the room. Not everyone would be so accepting of something like this.” Dorian hadn’t realized until now how much he hadn’t wanted to deal with the portrait and what it might mean on his own.
“There are things about me that aren’t all sweetness and light and so far it’s not sent you running” Vanessa reminded him, “Maybe we’re exactly what the other needs, someone to see and accept the darker parts of ourselves that may or may not follow us here from the dreams”
“I think you may be right,” Dorian said, moving one hand up to stroke the back of her neck lightly, “And on that note, I believe we should go to bed.” While Dorian could spend hours staring at the painting, right now all he wanted was to put it away and spend the rest of the evening devoted solely to Vanessa and not think about the portrait.
“I believe you are right” she said against his lips kissing him lightly and letting her own fingertips stroke his nape before trailing them down his arms and taking his hands to lead him from the closet and towards more pleasant thoughts and actions.