To the right is a representation of one of the Finn's paintings inspired by Nico's fabulous body.

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Chapter 21

Nico

Finn led me into the large room where his newest paintings were hanging.  I had no idea what to expect and I certainly did not expect what I saw.

"Um...I hope you like them...they're...well, they're you," he said as we walked in.

I was speechless.  I stood in the middle of the room and just kept turning around.  I felt like Finn that day when he discovered his paintings aboard Serenity.

"Are they okay? Do you mind?"  Finn asked nervously after several minutes.  I quickly looked over at his face.  He looked uncertain, scared, even a little sick.  I realized I had been so taken aback that I'd gone quiet and he was probably thinking the worst.

"They are absolutely brilliant...or...does that sound conceited," I laughed.  "I mean, your technique, the way you've portrayed them, the lines and color, the brush strokes...are masterful, astounding!  I'm sorry, you just made me speechless for a few minutes." 

Relief was visible on his face.  "So you don't mind...that I used you as my model."

"I don't mind at all, I'm flattered.  You made me look much better than I actually am anyway."

"Pffft, that's hardly true," he said with a grin.

The rest of the group soon joined us and were equally in awe of Finn's seemingly limitless talent.  He just gets better and better.  Chris and Finn went to one of the paintings and began to talk about his brush technique and I just stood back admiring his talent. It was a little embarrassing to see myself the focus of a whole series of works, but to have the love of your life look at you that way, was thrilling beyond belief.

"They're striking aren't they," Garrett said coming to stand next to me.  "I can't wait to see what the local art critics have to say, I think our boy is going to make a big splash in the L.A. art scene after tonight."

I quirked my eyebrow at, 'our boy'? But Garrett didn't seem to notice.

"I've pre-purchased one for my personal collection," Garrett continued.  "Perhaps you'd like to come see it, my collection that is, see where it will be hung after the show."

Garrett turned to me with a half grin and his eyebrows perked up with a questioning look.

Before I could answer, I felt slim arms snake around my sides and wrap around my middle.  "The doors are about to open Nic, will you come greet the guests with me?"  I turned around in his arms and draped my own over Finn's shoulders.  "I would be honoured to baby."  I gave him a quick peck on the lips since Garrett was standing right there, but it was enough to get the message across.  I guess in the few interactions I've had with him in the last few weeks, it may have appeared that Finn and I were only friends, but it was my intention to rectify that quickly.

We both turned to look at Garrett and looked slightly shocked and embarrassed, but quickly regained his composure.  "I'll go make sure the staff is ready."  He gave us both a brief smile and walked out to the front of the gallery.

The place was packed almost from the minute the doors were opened.  There was a mass of not only art critics and collectors, but many very prominent people from L.A. and the surrounding region.  Business people, a few highbrow celebrities, some local politicians, journalists.  I mingled with many of the businessman while Garrett introduced Finn to his many Art contacts.  Although we had no plans on hiding our relationship, we did play it cool just to avoid a lot of annoying attention. I let the public assume I was there as a fellow art connoisseur and acquaintance of the artist.  It would come out soon enough, but not tonight.  This was Finn's big night and I wanted the focus to be on him as an artist and his amazing paintings.

I greeted my friend Phillip when he arrived with his submissive Quentin.  Phillip knew I was no longer practicing the lifestyle, since I had sold all of my clubs, and having sold him my share of the L.A. one.  Ajax still owned his third, it being private and separate from our company, but we had agreed to divest ourselves of all the others we owned throughout the rest of the country. 

Phillip respected my decision and when we got together we talked about our other shared interests instead.  He was still a very good and valued friend.  We got to catch up as Quentin went off to talk to Benji and some of Benji's other friends from the club who had come with Rob and Gavin.

Rob I saw on a regular basis now, since our companies did work together, but I hadn't seen Gavin since I got back, so it was good to catch up with him as well.

"Nicolas, I have a friend I'd like you to meet," Rob said as he walked over with two very handsome men in business suits.  "Nicolas, this is my good friend Dr. Elijah Jamison and his older brother, who I only just met, Dr. Luke Jamison."

"Nice to meet you, Nicolas Salazar."  I shook their hands and talked to them for a bit.  It turned out Elijah was a prominent psychiatrist in the area and his brother Luke had just returned to take on a new position as Head of Surgery at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center, one of the best hospitals in this part of the country.  Both men had light brown skin, the same colour as the caramel Frappuccino's that Finn was now fond of, and short dark hair.  Elijah had soft brown eyes and a deep, but very calming voice that I'm sure set his patients at ease and his older brother was especially striking with the contrast of his greenish-blue eyes with his skin tone.

I found out later from Rob that Elijah was a Dominant that had trained under him, but his brother Luke was not in the lifestyle. 

"How did you hear about the show?" I asked Luke as Rob and Elijah spoke.

"I'm an avid art collector, my brother heard about the artist from a friend of, actually I think he's a friend of the artist himself.  Anyway, Eli suggested I come along.  He mentioned he was very talented and I've come to realize that's quite an understatement, I plan to purchase a few of his paintings for my new apartment.  Do you know this Finn Jennings?"

"Yes, quite well.  Would you like to meet him, I see him over there speaking with Juntado's curator, come, let me introduce you."

"I'd love to."

Elijah had excused himself to go speak with someone, so Luke and I walked over to Finn and Garrett.

"Finn, I just met someone who'd like to meet you."  Finn was already facing us and smiled as we approached.  "Finn this is Dr. Luke Jamison."

"Just call me Luke."  They shook hands as Garrett turned around.

"Nice to meet you Luke, this is Garrett, he's the manager and curator of Juntado."

Luke went to shake Garrett's hand, but Garrett seemed to be frozen, staring at the good doctor.  Finn chuckled and gave him a little elbow in the side.  Garrett's face went bright red and he quickly extended his hand.  "Sorry, it's very nice to meet you Dr. Jamison."

"Luke," he repeated with a laugh, "I'm only Dr. Jamison to my patients."  Finn and I gave each other a sly glance as the two of them eyed one another.

"Luke," Garrett repeated, beaming at the doctor.  "It's very nice to meet you, very nice indeed."

Luke had a few questions for Finn about the paintings he was interested in, though it was hard not to catch him glancing Garrett's way several times.  It was about as difficult not to notice the glances Garrett was giving Luke before he offered to assist him personally in the paperwork to make his purchases.  The two of them walked away in animated conversation while Finn and I walked over to another group of patrons.

Finn introduced me to his new advisor at U.C.L.A. who had arrived and then I noticed Jacob Green had also arrived with a guest in tow.

"I see you found someone to accompany you after all," Finn said with a smirk as Jacob approached us with a young man.

"Nice to see you again Finn."  He turned to me and nodded, "Nicolas.  This is my friend Johnathan."  Johnathan looked to be about Finn's age, a good looking kid with dark brown hair and eyes.

"It's nice to meet you," Johnathan greeted us with a big smile and warm, friendly eyes.  "I'm already a big fan.  The life paintings are my favourites, they're incredible."

"Thank you, they're my favourites too," Finn grinned.

"Who's your model, I'd love to meet him," he replied, stressing the word love.

"Sorry Johnathan," Finn chuckled, "my model is very shy and I promised him he'd remain a secret."

"Oh, that's too bad."  Jacob was smirking at the young man and I saw him pinch his ass causing the boy to startle and suddenly look down. 

After some more small talk, which I tuned out, not being too fond of small talk, Finn and I went into the main lobby to get some more champagne and try a few hors d'oeuvres.   "I feel like I've talked to about 100 people."  Finn sounded exhausted.  It had already been a long night.  I wish I could take him home, but it was still a bit early and it was important for the artist to be present on opening night.

One of Garrett's assistants headed our way with a group of people and Finn gave me a pleading look. 

"Just a couple more hours and then I'll take you home," I said quietly and gave his arm a quick squeeze.

"This is the only part of being an artist I'm not too fond of."  Finn put a smile on his face and turned around greeting the new arrivals.  He walked them over to a group of paintings and I watched as he began to tell them about the pieces.  I couldn't lie and say I wasn't full of pride; the shy boy was gone and in his place was a mature and responsible, professional young man.  And best of all, he was all mine.

"What are you grinning about Nico?"  Ajax asked me as he walked up.

"Just feeling very lucky, brother."

"You and I both," Ajax agreed as he watched Benji carousing with his friends.