Page 23 of The Artist's Rival

“Because of me?” Tatiana laughs. “How so?”

Ellie goes to the easel holding her waterfall painting, turning it around to show Tatiana.

“It’s not my style. It feels aggressive and influenced by you,” she says, almost accusatory.

Tatiana gets closer to the roughly begun painting. Its vibrance indeed seems to resemble hers, but she feels slightly offended by the suggestion that her art is merely aggressive.

“Is that what you think about my art, Ellie?” Tatiana turns to look at her. “Solely aggressive, solely bold, maybe?”

Ellie sits down, tilting her chin towards the ceiling in an act of resignation.

“No, Tatiana, no, that’s not what I think. Why can’t we let this silly bickering go?” She returns to looking back at Tatiana. The abundant light colors her eyes particularly bright, making them gleam pleasantly from Tatiana’s face. Ellie smiles delicately.

“You look very pretty in this light,” she says. “Blooming.”

“Oh,” Tatiana blushes. She can’t believe how easily Ellie can get her to do that. “I’m still offended at how angry you are to resemble my style,” she add as she shakes fluttering thoughts away, still standing by the canvas. “I mean, the painting is nice.”

“Nice?” Ellie scoffs. “It’s nothing, and I don’t want it anymore. It looks like every brush stroke was made with strain, heavy, full of effort.”

Tatiana shakes her head. “I disagree,” she says.

“Ah, stop it.” Ellie gets flustered.

She gets up from the chair and joins Tatiana in inspecting the painting, hopeful to gain some new perspective that would save it in her eyes. Getting close, Tatiana’s scent swirls around her nose. She stands only inches away from Tatiana’s neck, seeing all the little unruly strands of red hair escape her band tied tightly around it, an endearing detail available only to those close enough. The strong, woody perfume overshadows the natural scent of Tatiana’s skin, but not entirely. Craving to feel the warmth of her skin against herself, Ellie stands even closer.

“What are you doing?” Tatiana asks, in a slightly teasing tone.

“Getting closer to you.”

The naked sentence pleasantly shocks Tatiana’s ears.

“Why?” she asks, turning around to find herself face to face with Ellie, separated by barely any distance at all. The tips of their noses almost kiss.

“Because I smelled your perfume,” Ellie licks Tatiana’s bottom lip gently, then continues, “and I felt I needed to feel more of you.” She gets back at licking, tracing along Tatiana’s lips.

Tatiana feels like she might combust there and then on the spot. She feels a familiar excitement buzzing between her legs.

“Oh yeah?” Tatiana’s hands run along Ellie’s thighs, all the way up to her ass, circling.

Ellie lets out a quiet sigh, almost into Tatiana’s ear. Hearing Ellie moan gets her off more than she imagined. She grabs her ass tighter.

“Yes,” Ellie nods, mischievous.

“Feel me then.” Tatiana’s hands find the pants’ zipper and pull it down. She slides the pants to the ground and spreads Ellie’s legs a bit further apart.

“What are you doing?” Ellie whispers, curious and thirsty for touch.

Tatiana slaps her ass lightly.

“Be patient,” she shakes her head. “I didn’t get much of you last time. I want to, now.”

She gets down on her knees in front of Ellie, pulling her pussy towards her face by holding her ass tightly. With Ellie’s underwear still on, she starts slowly licking it up and down her lips, feeling the material get moist on both sides. She puts more pressure, burying her face in between Ellie’s thighs.

“Spread them wider for me,” she asks. Ellie follows suit.

“Oh, you like being told what to do?” Tatiana grins into Ellie’s wet pussy.

Ellie shakes her head.

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