Benedict Bridgerton Regency Imagines || Benedict Bridgerton

Canvas

You find him in his studio, a glass conservatory he has co-opted for his artistic endeavours. He is barefoot and dressed only in black trousers and a white shirt, his braces hanging loosely around his hips, looking handsomely casual as he paints by candlelight, dusk settling in. It's then you spy his subject, the lovely arrangement of flowers you received from his family for your birthday last week. You wondered where the bouquet had disappeared to just now as you had wandered through your home—they previously had pride of place in your hallway.

"Stealing my birthday presents, husband?" you jest airily, leaning on the doorframe with crossed arms.

Benedict twists around and shoots you an apologetic smile. "Only the artistically meritorious ones, my love," he responds, amusement laced into his tone. "Join me?" he suggests, waving his brush towards the empty easel beside him.

"I'm not certain I have anything close to the requisite skills," you hedge. You have only ever attended his painting sessions as his subject or simply as a companion, mostly reading quietly nearby as he works—one memorable time, sitting naked upon his cock to provide the requisite inspiration. Your blood runs a little warm just at the mere memory of it.

"Art does not always need to be about skill. Enjoyment of the process is just as important, perhaps more so. Besides, I can teach you," he smiles, the corners of his eyes wrinkling beguilingly. He never fails to convince you with that look.

"Alright," you sigh fondly, straightening up and uncrossing your arms, "but you are not allowed to ridicule my attempt," you argue, waggling a finger as you walk over.

He laughs and leans in to drop a kiss on your cheek as you draw up next to him. "I would never!" he promises in a bemused tone. "Everything you need is right there," he nods to the supplies, "you have watched me paint enough times to know how to set up."

His confidence in your ability seemed a little unwarranted, but you'll give it a try.

___

"I cannot do this," you lament about ten minutes later, looking forlornly between the canvas and the spray of flowers, disappointed in your less-than-accurate rendering. All you have managed is some stems and a vague version of the vase, which looks uneven.

"Nonsense," he dismisses, "you are doing wonderfully for your first time, my love," he adds patiently.

You twist around with a knitted brow to look at him. "Benedict, please... your flattery is obsequious. This is... not good," you sigh, scratching your chin with the wooden end of your brush.

"Perhaps I can assist your efforts?" he offers, putting down his brush into a jar of water and placing his palette aside.

"Please..." you request gratefully.

A smile ghosts your lips as he rounds behind you, pushing you closer to the canvas, a hand landing on your hip under the arm you balance the palette upon, and the other curling around yours, holding the brush. His fingers are warm and soft.

"Now then," his voice is rich and rumbles right next to your ear, "the first thing is to start with the colour there is the most of on the object, and then you can start to add in light and shade... are you quite alright?" he interrupts himself as you fidget slightly.

"All is well," you reassure.

But it's a lie. The moment he stands close behind you, your traitorous body decides this is not an art lesson at all. No, it's something quite different. Readying itself for him with quite remarkable speed and absolutely no effort on his part. Quite astonishing, really. You attempt to listen as he sonorously explains the method involved and makes your selection on the palette and brushstrokes over the canvas. But you are half-listening and half-participating at best.