This week, Sunday Scribblings has prompted us to write about "Kissing." My first thought, was of this 1907-1908 painting, The Kiss, by Gustav Klimt which inspired this little tale. Though the original now resides in a museum, hundreds, if not thousands, of prints and other reproductions of this famous painting, hang in bedrooms and homes, all around the world.
"Ow!"
"Oh, what now?"
"You scratched my neck!"
"Oh, quit whining. You've been on my hair forever; and I have such a crick in my neck - but you don't hear me complaining."
"You just did."
"What?"
"Complain. But I'm sorry I've been pulling on your hair; I didn't realize."
"I'm sorry I scratched you; I didn't mean to - I just got a cramp in my hand. Do you think we could stretch for a moment?"
"Is anyone looking right now? I can't see..."
"Well, I can't either."
"Just open one eye a little - just enough to see. They wouldn't notice that."
She raised her left eyelid, ever so slowly. "I don't see anyone. But we better hurry - you never know when they'll come back."
He raised his head and looked around, easing his hold on her. "God, that feels good to straighten up. Try it; you'll feel better."
"Can you lean up for a moment? Let me get my hair out from under your arm."
"Of course. Here let me help you..."
"Ouch!" she cried out, as he tried to extricate her hair from beneath his arm, accidentally pulling on them.
"Sorry - here, you want me to rub your neck for you?"
"You'd do that for me? That would be lovely...I don't know how much time we have though - the lights are still on."
"Of course I'd do that for you. We should have a few moments - we'll hear them coming. Move to the side a little."
"Careful, the covers are slipping! They'll notice that for sure, if we don't get them back just right."
She moaned softly as his fingers kneaded her neck.
"Am I hurting you?"
"Oh no, that just feels so good."
After a moment, she felt guilty about using up so much of their free time, just for herself. "Here, would you like me to rub your neck for awhile, now?"
He thought for a second - "Actually, do you think you could just scratch my back for me?"
She laughed softly, and teasingly mocked him. "I thought you didn't like it when I scratched you!" But slowly and gently, she started raking her nails across his shoulders.
"Well, not on the neck! But...oh, yeah, there...no, just a little lower. Right between the shoulder blades." He groaned. "Oh, right there! Yeah...oh, thanks. That itch has been driving me wild. The stitching's so rough in that quilt - right where it lays across my back." He looked down at her, as she smiled up at him.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because sometimes you're so funny and cute."
He turned his head to look at her, noticing once again how her hair looked just like spun copper, and waved around her face, framing it perfectly. "You think I'm cute?" He reached around, and tickled her back. "I'll show you cute!"
She giggled, and gently pushed him away a little. "Stop! You're tickling me!"
"Shhh! They'll hear us..." He leaned in sniffing her neck. "What is that you're wearing? It smells so good..." He nuzzled his face past her silky copper hair, towards her neck and ear.
"Not much really! Just this old quilt...and you." She closed her eyes and leaned her head into his hands.
"Hmmm...whatever it is, it smells good."
"Shush! I think I hear them coming now. Don't move."
The woman entered the bedroom first, taking off her earrings as she walked. "Well, that was fun, but I'm ready to call it a night now." She placed her earrings on the dresser, and started pulling out the hairpins that had held her hair up in a chignon. Her husband, who had been following behind her, paused to watch, as lock after lock of her hair fell like copper coils down on to her neck. He leaned over and quickly kissed one last bare area of her neck, as she pulled the last hairpin from her coiffure.
"That tickles!" she giggled, as he nuzzled closer, from her neck up to her ear.
"Mmm, you just smell so good - what are you wearing?"
She turned towards the room to face him. "Not much, soon." She nodded towards the bed. "Except that quilt." She smiled and put one hand around the back of his neck to draw him close again, as she whispered in his ear, "And you..."
As he leaned over for another kiss, she saw something move ever so slightly, just over his shoulder. "What was that?" she gasped.
"Just me happy to see you," he breathed in her ear, then proceeded to try to kiss the tender little triangle formed by her ear, jaw and neck.
She pushed him back gently with one hand. "No, I thought I saw something move."
He straightened and look around. "Where?"
"Over there," she pointed above their bed. "The painting."
He looked where she was pointing, didn't see anything moving. "I don't see anything. What did it look like?"
She struggled to find the right words - she wasn't even sure now what she'd just seen. Something; something that hadn't looked quite right for a moment. "It -- it looked like the painting moved."
"Probably just a teeny little housespider running to hide behind the frame. Now, come here. You won't notice a thing with the lights off." He drew her closer to him again, starting back where he'd left off, at that little triangle of tender flesh behind her jaw, just below her ear, causing her to gasp ever so softly.
Though the woman was now pleasantly distracted, she continued to periodically sneak a peek with one eye at the painting, till at last, she was too distracted to remember, and by then the lights were off and she was in no position to view it anyway.
A few feet above her head, the woman in the frame, sighed in relief. She smiled ever so slightly in the dark, as her own lover, nuzzled into her hair and kissed the little triangle of tender flesh, where her ear, jaw and neck met.
To read about other people's kissing, see this week's Sunday Scribblings.
Now how cool is this! What a great play on "The Kiss" the word and the picture! I will never look at the picture the same way again (and maybe I'd better keep a closer eye on some of the ones I have around here). You know, they've brought toys and museums to life, why not pictures...have you talked to Hollywood?
Posted by: Tammy Vitale | January 07, 2007 at 02:56 PM
Oh I'll just have to get a reproduction of it to put in our bedroom if its that effective!
What a lovely thought and beautifully written as usual.
Posted by: Caroline | January 07, 2007 at 03:48 PM
I don't have this painting in my bedroom but maybe I should get it!! Love how the two stories weave together. Very clever!
Posted by: Janet | January 07, 2007 at 04:34 PM
What a great take on one of my favorite pieces of art. I almost collaged a bureau with it, but was worried it may be too redundant. Great Sunday scribbling! Also wanted to mention I was unable to post on some type pad blogs for a while, but I thinks it’s been rectified, thankfully!
Peace and giggles
Posted by: giggles | January 07, 2007 at 04:54 PM
Wow! This was GREAT! I loved it!
Posted by: michelle | January 07, 2007 at 05:10 PM
Tink, that was a great story! You are the bomb at story telling.
Dave said even if I can't kiss him he will always kiss me...awww.
HUGS
Posted by: Tammy | January 07, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Amazing. I loved this. And I love Klimt's "The Kiss". I used it with my poem today.
Posted by: bella | January 07, 2007 at 06:16 PM
That was great. Love how you put the two together. Thanks for asking about Miss Banna she appears to be doing better. Not coughing as much but she did say tonight that her throat still hurt when she swallows. Love Hugs and Blessings
Posted by: Ninnie | January 07, 2007 at 06:19 PM
what a unique perspective!!
thankyou for your note tink... Happy new year!!
Peace, Kai.
Posted by: Kai | January 07, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Wow, what a wonderful story!
Posted by: Lisa | January 07, 2007 at 06:32 PM
Great post as usual, Tinker. Love the blending of the stories.
Posted by: jerri | January 07, 2007 at 06:37 PM
LOl! This is wonderful fun! What an imagination you have. Great job!
:)
Posted by: Amber | January 07, 2007 at 07:41 PM
OOOhh. gal..that's a bodice ripper for sure! Very clever! ....
Posted by: Pam Aries | January 08, 2007 at 05:13 AM
Another good one!!! Have you considered publishing your posts??? You could, you know.
Posted by: Gemma | January 08, 2007 at 06:42 AM
Haha! Great post! And an excellent take on this weeks prompt!
Posted by: Kamsin | January 08, 2007 at 08:29 AM
An innovative take on kissing! Very lovely work, Terri! xo
Posted by: Paris Parfait | January 08, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Excellent! I love Klimt's kiss and was lucky enough to see the original a few years back. I like how you've brought the characters to life.
Posted by: Crafty Green Poet | January 08, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Hee hee! I liked this.
:-)
Posted by: Pacian | January 08, 2007 at 11:52 AM
So beautiful and inventive! A perfect combination of the earthy and the lyrical--just like the painting.
Posted by: patry | January 08, 2007 at 08:35 PM
That was great. Really clever ending. I will think of this story everytime I see Klimt's kiss now.
Posted by: Daisy Lupin | January 09, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Brilliant story! Wow!
Posted by: Alison Whittington | January 09, 2007 at 09:21 AM
This is such a great story and that's one of my favorite paintings. Tim once gave me a card with the print on it. I, of course, saved it and now every time I look at it, I will double check that they're in the right place. "hey you two, no hanky panky"
Posted by: lisa | January 09, 2007 at 07:47 PM
This is one of my favorite paintings, ever...
Posted by: violetismycolor | January 09, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Great post Tinker. Very clever and creative.
Happy 2007!
Posted by: leonie | January 12, 2007 at 06:13 PM