| In every art, there is an artist or a painter, and every painter has its MUSE, to copy, to improve and to gain ideas from their intellectual beauty.

The story meets Lorenz Hwei, A famous painter from Germany, with his dedicated and talented hands, many people admire him but nothing made his heart flutter more than meeting Iris Murette, Iris was the most gorgeous muse he had collaborated, her beauty shines like a porcelain, he sees her differently and as a true definition of ART. But deep behind the sweetness carry a terror that is hidden behind a wall of certainty... Will art still paint a picture or a sweet revenge? |

Like any normal evening in Iris's studio room, the breeze of the wind outside reflects the earie tension coming to her dark room, footsteps carry as Mr. Roger approach the closed door in her studio, his posture neutral and carrying a worried expression.

"Ms. Murette, I have some client again for you to hold, he's good at art and had studied it for years, he's respectful,, and you might be interested on working on this noble man after such a long break... His name is Lorenz Hwei, perhaps you've already heard this man well?"

Mr. Roger glance as he stands besides the door.

Inside her room stretches with silence and then she spoke...

"Lorenz Hwei?..."

Iris murmured the name softly in her lips...

"I'll think of it Mr. Roger..."

Mr Roger glance with a relief sigh understanding with a nod and walks away, footsteps fading occasionally.

MOMENTS PASSED.

Inside her room, Iris straighten her posture and throw something in the corner

making a loud thud echoing thought the studio room.

small pills scattered along the floor.

Days passed

Iris finally visits the studio of Lorenz Hwei, she found herself in the same usual habit.

She clutched the thin silk of fabric that hides the delicate curves of her body as she remain neutral.

Not long enough as she waits through the corridor, Lorenz finally emerged from the hallway and look around until he saw the lady in his own eyes, he paused briefly noticing her beauty across the room.

Iris didn't say anything at first and she let hwei organized his brushes and cantle as he finally spoke...

"Ms. Iris Murette I presume?"

His voice was gentle as Iris nods and pose herself in the couch for Lorenz to capture it.

Lorenz noticed how professional she was despite the lingerie she was wearing, he glanced at her again then finally started painting with his delicate hands.

He paints her with passion he cannot understand, each brush strokes carries detailed and precise visuals.

Hours passed as he finally set his brush aside and carefully adjusted his canvas.

Iris spoke.

"May I take a break for a second?"

She ask, her lips parting briefly.

Her tone was gentle and soothing as Lorenz responded with a respectful nod.

Iris sat in the corner and brushes her hair, her beauty almost flooding around the room, her presence affecting Lorenz's perspectives, he knows this woman is different from those muse he had met.

"May I bring a coffee or some drinks for you?"

Lorenz asked as Iris firmly looked at him with surprise and amusement.

"A Painter like you shouldn't give anything to a muse like me, It's a tradition..." She spoke neutrally.

Lorenz almost looks sad as he analyze what she mean, she's not rejecting kindness but following how the act had always been, he reply with a nod after.

Iris stand up and go back to the same spot she was posing as Lorenz continue to trace the shading of his art while he look at her beauty.

Not with lust but with an admiration he couldn't explain.

The moonlight passing through her form making the scene mesmerizing to him, a faint smile lingers in his lips.

An hour passed with earie silence and an unfamiliar resonance, Lorenz finally announced his finality of his work as Iris sat from the couch where also the reference had been.

"I'm finish painting you" Do you wanna see it from your own eyes perhaps?" He asked.

Iris paused and nodded with a reply as Lorenz showed his masterpiece to her.

Iris's eyes widen slightly as she saw how majestic the art was and how her beauty carried the blank canva into a detailed artwork.

Iris touches the canva as she looks to it deeply as if it's the first time she was painted.

"Such a skill of you Mr. Lorenz, I believe you set a boundary for me, I'm pleased and impressed how you handle art..." She simply spoke with softness.

Lorenz grim with a proud smile as he named it "THE MOONLIGHT'S DELICACY"

He made the moon as an inspiration because it reminded him Iris's porcelain beauty and how she dominates even in a dark room.

Lorenz clutched something on his pocket and handle a piece of invention in an envelope to Iris.

"May this gorgeous muse infront of me don't mind inviting her this weekend?" Lorenz asked with almost a playful tone.

"My pleasure..." Iris spoke.

Lorenz smiles widely and was already excited to see her again during the event.

After that, Iris made her way and drive back to her studio while Lorenz gently admired his art once again as he placed it in a special place only for his masterpieces.

Days passed, and the event finally started in the evening as famous and elegant guests arrives including Mr. Roger which is Iris's manager and other painters and muses from other countries.

Lorenz's painting are organized around his studio and decided to choose the "MOONLIGHT'S DELICACY" as the special art for the event.

Occasional whispers from guests are heard when a sudden glamorous lady entered,

Her beauty almost blurring out towards the crowds eyes and her gown almost stealing all the guests attention.

And there she was, the awaited muse In the event... Ms. Iris Murette.

Iris walked confidently around the studio's carpets, Lorenz was talking around with fellow famous painters until he finally saw Iris.

His jaw almost dropped as he saw how majestic she was in the gown and her natural beauty unmatched. Lorenz excuses himself and approached Iris with a respectfully greeting.

"Ah ... Ms. Murette!" He bows.

"Good evening...I have been waiting along for your arrival"

"Good evening... The event is doing well..." She spoke.

He nodded in agreement and ask permission to follow him, Lorenz took her to his Delicate collections where guests also had been gossiping since they arrive and saw the delicate masterpiece and the muse behind it.

He took her to the VIP section where only special muse and painters are allowed,

he sit her down carefully.

"What would you like to drink Tonight, Ms. Murette?" he asks with a curious tone and asked...

"I want to know your taste either way..."

Iris chuckles slightly amused by his curiosity and finally spoke...

"Grape wine with a minty flavor please..." she spoke softly.

Lorenz was almost surprised by her exquisite taste.

"I'd like that minty flavored too..."

As the night passes to something private,

Iris and Lorenz made themselves treats as both of them enjoyed, Iris's occasional chuckles and smile made Lorenz's neck turned bright red but he keeps his tone and posture straight.

"So...tell me more about your self Ms. Iris, what made you became a professional muse?" Lorenz asked.

He sees how gorgeous she is at every angle and can't stop noticing her gentle personality.

Iris chuckled slightly.

"I have never expected I'll be in this job,,, but ever since I was a girl my parents had always been supportive and wanted me to be a muse, they were always happy and proud seeing their daughter majestic and independent in both way...what about you? Why did you become a painter?"

Lorenz glanced at her long before answering

"We're almost the same...but different, my mother had always been supportive of me too unlike my father...she always think I'm the best painter in the world and she takes pride of it, since she died, I wanted to show her that she's right about it, I seek improvements for years...and meet other muses from other countries...but you? You're different then them" his words almost a whisper on the last.

Iris listened to him silently with understanding in her expression as she smiled.

"Hmn am I?" She asked casually while she drinks her wine.

..."If I ever fell into a blank canvas again... I'm sure you'll always be my inspiration"...

...He stares with passion....

^^^"And every brush I'll stroke to it, I'll pour every single determination...perfect just for you"^^^

...He says lovingly....

Iris stared, her eyes wide slightly as she processed his words.

"But I am muse Mr. Hwei, and you're a painter" She spoke "I only exist for you artwork...not for your heart.."

Lorenz stare at her with intensely.

"Nothing will happen if I break that rule it right?" he spoke with determination.

Iris stare quietly, she doesn't know what to respond to whatever he feels.

Then, Lorenz leaned down to her close, his stare intense as he tried to kiss her softly, but before he could do, Iris stopped him.

"You can't..." she spoke, her eyes vulnerable.

Lorenz stare with understanding and straighten his posture.

"My apologies...Ms. Murette"

Iris understands and continue their meal together.

Hours passed as it turned passed midnight, The two of them shared glances before they left along and saying goodbye respectfully.

The midnight wind outside changes something softer as Iris finds an unfamiliar flutter in her chest despite her rejection to him earlier ago, a comfort place she can be in without the act of her job being as a muse but also a hidden terror she had been hiding along...

She glaced at the building one last time before driving away.

Weeks had passed since that grand event, their bond had grown and continue to spark each day.

Her guard felt down when she finally sees how Lorenz was true to his words and she was comfortable around him.

Iris became Lorenz's muse and every single moment without fails they keep doing the same habits and respecting both their spaces.

...Lorenz painting Iris in his canvas until his paint ran dry and his brush turn into mess....

...Lorenz taking her to cafes as their fans greet at them genuinely....

...Lorenz also convinced Iris to treat his studio also her own home so she wouldn't have to be tired changing places everyday....

...Their bond wasn't just any muse or a painter would do......

...But more deeper than the ocean itself....

Between their growing bond together, Something is lurking behind corners.

Mr Roger would call Iris many times because a lot of painters from other country also wants her to be their delicate muse.

But everytime he'll call Iris would always refuse for a while and had made her decisions.

"Ms. Murette! You have to understand that these clients are looking forward to your cooperation!" Mr. Roger said on the phone firmly.

"These are important Ms. Murette you have to think well!"

"Mr. Roger...we have talked about these weeks ago, I'm taking a break for a while..." She said back firmly while clutching the phone.

Before she could hang up, Iris heard a word from him that made her gasp.

Mr. Roger didn't contacted her after that and Iris had avoided it completely too, like he dissapeared our of nowhere after a storm and she is always alert for the next.

As months passed, Lorenz occasionally held Iris more often and put gentle kisses on her cheeks, admiring her natural beauty and uniqueness.

Lorenz hug her tightly from the back of her waist as he kissed her neck saying..

"you're beautiful just the way you are, my muse you are mine "

Iris flustered as his genuine compliment and smiled at him warmly.

Weeks turned to months Like a tidal wave as their bond became stronger, Not for being a muse nor a painter.

But as lovers...

Meanwhile Iris's studio felt empty without her usual presence and Mr. Roger haven't really contacted her yet since that day but she has no doubts in her thoughts despite what she had heard.

She only knew that's she's free being herself when he's with Lorenz, and she finally find her true comfort.

One peaceful night and the moonlight caressing them both, Lorenz didn't even realized he kissed Iris deeply while cupping her cheeks under the moonlight as the paintings and canvas surrounded them both

"Iris" His voice husky. "You're so beautiful my love"

The kiss was deep and not desperate,

he finally pull back and pants while he looks at her flushed skin apologizing before he spoke with passion.

"I love you"

He said it with a gentle and loving tone, Iris looked at him, really looked at him and declared how she loves him too.

Tears well up from her eyes.

Her beauty doesn't fade,

but her heart blooms over.

Lorenz's eyes widen slightly as he heard it from her and hugged Iris so tightly it almost hurt.

.

.

.

The night passes on and they find themselves in a soft feathery sheets.

While Hwei caress her body gently and firmly through the moonlight.

Lorenz waited for her to relaxed and finally made love to her, he looks deeply at her eyes as he watches her face form with pleasure that sends a shiver down his spine.

He sees it well, the real her, Iris's High pitched sounds and the musky scent from the night spread across the room and as Lorenz finally spills himself inside her that made both of them groan as her nails digg and clench to him.

He made a promise

But is it last?

He will love this woman forever like he owns her, and only roses with chains will separate their bond.

The clock hits midnight while Iris felt into slumber in his arms, Lorenz can't stop but look at her deeply while he continue his loving confessions between her unconsciousness through whispers.