"A Mother's Beauty, A Daughter's Charm"

David Crane stood tall from his ancient Yashica, smiling to tonight's subjects. "We're done."

The two halves of the elderly couple had different reactions to the end of the hour long photo shoot. The husband gave a sigh of relief, saying Thank God; while his bride of 40 years asked Shouldn't we take more, just to be sure. David reassured the white haired beauty that the picture for their upcoming anniversary would be the only thing anyone would be talking about the evening of the grand event. He leaned in to kiss her cheek and winked to her husband as he corrected, "The only thing anyone will be talking about after the questions about how this old dog had kept such a young fox as yourself all these years."

They laughed together, finalized the payment and delivery schedule, and made their farewells. His assistant, who long ago had been his wife for all of 8 months, caught his eye by tapping a finger tip on the face of her watch. With a smirk, she informed him, "You'll be late. Don't want to keep her waiting."

David only gave her a sharp glance, knowing more was coming.

"I mean--"

"Don't say it, Joy," he cut in.

"Not like you get a discount if you don't use the whole hour--"

"Really?"

"I mean, at $300 an hour--"

"Stop it," he said, his tone more humorous than angry.

"Hey!" she said with a lightbulb over the head tone. "You pay a psychiatrist for an hour, but they always tell you Well, our time is at an end after just 50 minutes, so they can write their notes about how nuts you are..."

David cut in softly, "I'm not having sex with her."

"So, do you think you're only get 50 minutes so she can shower afterward--"

"I'm not having sex with her."

"Or, maybe like a shrink, she keeps records, too," she went on, not hearing David. "You know, like, what positions you liked, whether or not you like her talking dirty to you--"

"For crying out loud, Joy!" His outburst finally got his Ex's attention. "I'm not having sex with her."

"What?"

"I'm not having sex with her," he repeated, snatching up his laptop case and most often used camera bag as he headed for the door. "She's an escort. She's escorting me to the show. I'm not having sex with her."

Joy laughed. "Really? $300 an hour, and she's just gonna escort you to an art opening? Hell, if all you'd wanted was arm candy, why didn't you ask me?"

David stopped at the door. He asked with all seriousness, "Joy, would you like to go to the--"

"Fu-u-u-u-uck, no!" she interrupted, laughing. "Those uppity art snobs! Most of'em wouldn't know art if they knew it. And they've never appreciated your work..."

David hadn't waited for Joy to finish, instead heading out of his studio and down the hall for the elevator. He glanced at his watch, realizing that she was in fact right: he was going to be late.



An hour later, David walked into the lounge of the Reddington Arms. As he waited for his eyes to adjust to the lower light level, he couldn't help but smile to himself: the last time he'd been in the 4 Star hotel had been his wedding night. And the night following that. And the next night, too. Although they each had had previous lovers, they'd saved their first time together for after they'd exchanged vows. Once they'd got going, though, they hadn't been able to stop. It was only after burning up all the wedding gift cash on the room and room service that they finally exited the hotel, smiling, holding each other's hands, and dreaming of a future of more of the same.

Of course, that hadn't lasted. And since then, David hadn't found a woman he'd want to dedicate his life to pleasing who, in turn, would want to do the same for him. But, as one of the city's most eligible bachelors, people expected David to walk into the art show tonight with a beautiful woman on his arm. With his eyes adjusted, he entered the bar and headed for a rear booth, where a text from his date said she was anxiously waiting to meet him.

It only took a glance for David to know that he'd been arriving at the event with the most beautiful woman in the city. He stopped near the booth, a wide, pleased smile filling his face. She stood and offered her hand, introducing herself.

"David," he said simply. He took her hand, and after they'd separated them, looked her up and down. "Rachael said you were..." David didn't finish, forcing himself to raise his gaze. He glanced at his watch, then looked back to her. The show's door had opened an hour ago, and as one of the featured photographers, David should make an appearance soon. But, instead he gestured toward the booth, saying, "We have lots of time. Can I buy you a drink?"
 
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Earlier:

"I can't wear this!"

Rachael curled around her friend. Her gaze shifted from Lana's body to the reflection of it in the mirror. "It's perfect."

"It's too short."

"It's perfect."

"My ass is hanging out!"

"No it's not!" Rachael disagreed, curling back around to Lana's back side. She tugged at the lower hem of the tight fitting dress, laughing. "Okay, so, you're ass is hanging out. But, that's a good thing."

"How's that a good thing!"

Rachael slapped Lana's ass firmly, eliciting a high pitched squeal. "Money maker, girl. Money maker." She stepped back to review Lana's backside. She looked at the reflection in the mirror. She turned Lana, stepped back, and scrutinized her front. No matter how she studied her friend, the fact was that Lana was simply one of the most beautiful creatures she'd ever seen.

"I'd do you," she said before laughing. She looked at the time on her nearby phone. "It's time.

"What if he's creepy?" Lana said, returning to an earlier topic.

"I showed you his picture," Rachael said. She hurried Lana toward the door. In the hall, she stuffed Lana's purse full of a variety of condom types and sized, reminding her, "You use these, no matter whether he wants to or not."

"He's expecting sex, right?"

"For $300 an hour?" Rachael said with her face full of surprise at the question. She threw a wrap around Lana's shoulders, saying, "Yea-a-a-ah, I think so."

"What if I don't want to have sex with him?" Lana asked as the pair hurried out into the hall.

"You will," Rachael reassured her friend.

"Why?"

"$300 DOLLARS AN HOUR!"



Now:

"He's not coming," Lana whispered into her cell phone. She listened to Rachael reassure her. But honestly, Lana would have been just fine if the client backed out. "I can't do this."

They chatted back and forth for several minutes. Then, there he was. Lana recognized him immediately. "He's here. He's here! Rachael, I can't do this. Rachael? Rachael?"

Lana ended the call and stuffed the phone into her purse. A handful of condoms spilled out onto the bench seat. She panicked and stuffed them back inside, cursing. He was almost to the table by the time Lana looked up. She smiled, nervous, quietly cursing that Rachael would wake up tomorrow to find her pert titties hanging to her belly button. She stood from the booth, smoothing the tight fitting black dress down her hips before reaching her trembling hand out.

"Hi!" she said with far too much enthusiasm. After he returned the greeting and introduced himself, Lana said, "Nice to meet you, David. I'm--"

She went quiet, panicking. The blood flushed from her face: she'd forgotten what Rachael had jokingly called her hooker name.

"Lana," David said.

"Yes!" she reacted, again too enthusiastically. Rachael had obviously told him. "Lana. I'm Lana."

She was beginning to feel like a fool. She wanted to run. Run far, run fast. I can't do this.

"Rachael said you were..."

Lana's attention shifted from her panic to the aim of David's gaze. He wasn't hiding his ogling of her in the least. Lana was used to men's lustful stares. But, it was different this time. This time, the man staring had paid to put his hands all over that which he was ogling. He'd paid to put his cock inside that which he was ogling. Oh, sure, Rachael had told Lana that she could deny him sex. She'd been hired as an escort, not a prostitute. And yet, Rachael's last words before they'd left the apartment were that Lana would let David fuck her tonight.

She saw David look at his watch. The immediate thought was Does our time start now? RIGHT now? She thought maybe David wanted to hurry upstairs to begin their time together. Begin their sex. Begin her career as a prostitute. Fuck! What am I doing here? Lana contemplated looking at her own watch. Should she document their start time so she knew when to tell him Well it looks like our time has come to an end. What if he wasn't done? What if she hadn't made him cum. What if she had, but he wanted more. Fuck! She'd asked Rachael lots of questions. But these had escaped her.

"We have lots of time," he said, cutting into the mayhem swamping her brain. "Can I buy you a drink?"

Lana didn't immediately answer. Didn't he want to go upstairs? Make her strip? Get on her knees? Suck his cock? Assume the position? Doggy, maybe? A drink? She smiled, sitting and saying only, "Yes,"
 
David had never been on a true blind date, though he had met people in non-date situations, hit it off, and then gone off to some restaurant or lounge to begin what was, what, a pseudo-blind date? What ever those had been, this was what he'd always imagined a blind date would be like: uncomfortable as hell. That old proverb about long tail cats and rocking chairs kept popping into his head each time some line of chit chat faded away into yet another uncomfortable moment of silence.

They chatted briefly about the pieces David had in the show they were supposed to already be attending, but that line died when he thought he saw her eyes glazing over at the too deep description of the relevance of black and white portraiture in the day of cell phone selfies. They chatted about Lana's status as a student at U-Dub, but that when ended when she was holding something back about her studies or possibly her future at the school. People and places of the Seattle Area came up, as did some more recent events that, perhaps, the two of them had had in common. They hadn't. They even talked about the weather, for about ten seconds. Elevator chat? David thought to himself, cringing, wanting to slap his own face.

After the waitress had come by to deliver a second round for which he'd earlier signaled, David studied Lana for another long moment before asking, "Have you ever done any modeling?" He listened to her answer, then followed up with, "Would you be interested in doing any modeling?"

Again, David listened to Lana's answer before explaining his line of inquiry. "The show is just across the street. And, my studio is just a block beyond that. And, I thought, maybe after I made an appearance, maybe I'd show you where I work." He couldn't help but glance down at her delicious body again, even though much of it was hidden beneath the level of the table between them. He looked back up again, smiling hungrily, suggesting, "Maybe get you in front of the camera?"

(OOC: Check your PMs before posting.)
 
"Portraiture?"

Lana was having the same conversational difficulties as was David. Thank god for antiperspirant. As he talked, she often cut in with questions. She was trying to both show interest in his life and delay the parting of her thighs. Or, the opening of her lips?

"Am I going to have to suck his cock?" she'd asked Rachael during one of their more in-depth conversations.

"Can you?" her friend had inquired. Lana had confirmed her ability to please a man such. "Then I would suck his cock."

David went on about his work and the show ahead of them. Lana imagined being on her knees before him, head bobbing. He was a good looking man. And, so far, he was easy to be with. He wasn't the creepy type she'd demanded Rachael keep her from. Lana could see herself becoming David's lover. After a few dates, anyway. But, of course, they were going to do it tonight. Soon. $300 an hour, she could hear Rachael repeating for the umpteenth time.

"Why not $400 an hour, like you?" Lana had asked. "Or a grand a night?"

"Because you don't have the reputation yet," her friend had answered. "But you will. Soon as you realize how easy this is."

Lana hadn't believed for an instant that fucking a stranger for money could be easy. Oh, sure, she'd had one night stands with guys she'd known only by their first names. But that had been different. Hadn't it? Lana was beginning to wonder whether or not it had been. She'd parted her legs after having less than a hundred bucks spent on her for dinner and drinks. So, why did this seem to different? $300 an hour!

"Have you ever done any modeling?"

David's question caught the daydreaming Lana off guard. She chuckled, answering, "No, not hardly. A selfie once in a while."

"Would you be interested in doing any modeling?"

Lana blushed a fiery red. She knew what David was actually asking: Would you be interested in doing any NUDE modeling. After all, he thought she was a whore. He thought she made her living stripping her clothes off with erotic intent. Sure, why not, take a picture, it lasts longer, she thought. She contemplated her actual answer, then said only, "Perhaps."

"The show is just across the street..." he went on, finishing, "Maybe get you in front of the camera?"

Lana smiled shyly. She knew what David wanted. Or, at least, she thought she did. He had a boudoir set in his studio. He wanted her in it. He wanted her in a variety of sexy outfits: negligées, garters, maybe even some leather and chains. He wanted to take pictures. Then, he wanted to fuck her there. Maybe even on camera. It wasn't at all what she'd thought tonight would include. Lana had expected and, honestly, hoped to just suck and fuck him. Then, heading home in an Uber, she'd look at her phone. There, in the online account Rachael had set up for her, she'd find the $600 David had paid for his two hours with her.

And then, Lana would be a true whore.

"I'd love to see your studio," she said. She was, of course, feigning more delight that she was truly feeling. Then she grimaced a bit, then shrugged. "As far as pictures, maybe another day?"

David's reaction was slight but obvious disappointment. But he let it go, instead telling her that they ought to go. He had to make his appearance at the show. As he laid out some cash for their drinks, Lana casually glanced to her phone: 15 minutes. How the hell could that much uncomfortable, seeming endless chit chat have occupied only 15 minutes? Was the rest of the night going to be that way? What about their time naked with one another? Was that going to feel like an eternity, too?



(OOC: Read your PM. Good idea.)

There were so many people at the opening. And they were all staring at Lana with one word in mind: whore! At least, that was what she thought. David didn't treat her that way, though. When he introduced her to people, he called Lana his good friend. The implication was that they were likely dating, perhaps fucking, but still undecided about their future together. He guided her about with a hand at the small of her back. Sometimes he took her hand. It was all so much more intimate, even more romantic than what it was.

Before she knew it, though, it was over. David guided Lana toward a hallway. And a moment later they were outside, away from the crowd. He again asked if she wanted to see his studio. Lana smiled. "Please."



The studio was very much what Lana had expected. She'd had her high school senior pictures taken at a very similar studio. Pull down backgrounds of a variety of colors and textures filled one wall. Shelves and boxes were crowded with all sorts of props. Chairs, stools, and even couches were stacked in one corner. A long rack was filled with clothing: coats, boas, hats, women's dresses and blouses and men's shirts and suit jackets. And, of course, there was an array of photography devices: cameras, lights, diffusers, reflectors, and more.

Lana took a couple of minutes to idly walk about the studio. She took a genuine interest in some of the items. She pretended to take an interest in others. And behind her, David fiddled with things before finally setting a stool before a tripod mounted camera, asking, "Ready?"

She hesitated, unsure. She asked, "Who'll see these?"

He answered. Lana considered his answer for a moment, still wandering slowly. But, she eventually ended up on the stool. She smiled to David, asking, "What do I do?"
 
David hadn't enjoyed an art event this much in a very long time. And the reason was, of course, his date. His escort. Lana's nervousness was so very when first they entered the packed event. David knew many of the people in attendance, whether the producers of the pieces or those enthusiastic about viewing or possibly even purchasing them. It was what they called a hybrid or omni event, meaning that in addition to his own field of photography, there were also artists who worlds in paint, marble, metal, and even the movement of the human body. Despite the variety in the works, David knew every face or name, sometimes even able to match them together correctly as one.

He'd been wondering for hours how he'd introduce his date, yet when he offered out his hand for the very first time and found the other gaze of the other man and his wife shifting to Lana, David hadn't hesitated to slip around to the small of her back, saying, "Let me introduce my friend, Lana. Lana, this is..."

Now in his studio, watching her meander about the floor, David couldn't even recall the names of the first of many people he'd introduced her to. All he could recall was how excited and pleased he'd been to have the young beauty at his side. He'd occasionally gotten an opportunity to stand back and appreciate her incredible shape, but it was only now as she checked out this and that at a distant, back to him, sometimes in profile, that he truly got to study the body he'd paid a healthy chunk of change to appreciate later.

"Ready?" he asked. He set a stool out before a more modern camera than he'd been using earlier in the evening. When she asked who'd see the pictures, he answered without hesitation, "Anyone you want to see them. And no one you don't."

She smiled to him, hesitated, then made her way to the stool. David had by then returned to behind the camera, and turning he was taken back by the view before him. She was at a bit of an angle, in profile, her long legs bent, her tall heels locked in the lower horizontal brace of the stool. Her curves were so incredibly displayed by the skin tight dress that David's on again, off again semi-hardness quickly headed toward full stiffness.

"What do I do?"

He smiled, then laughed. He wanted to say Take your clothes off! But he contained himself. He stepped behind the camera and answered, "Be yourself."
 
"Be myself," Lana mumbled, chuckling. "Don't know exactly what that means."

She reached back to the session for her high school pictures. It seemed to work. David gave some suggestions for her expressions and body movement. She'd been very nervous. But soon enough, she was having fun. David was very good at this, making people comfortable. Where were you for my senior portraits?

Soon enough, Lana was off the stool posing standing tall. She turned this way and that, threw her head back, pouted her lips, and more. David changed the background, added some props, and used a fan to give life to her flowing blonde hair. And no matter what they did, Lana finished each pose laughing. She was having fun! She donned a couple of crazy hats, even an out-of-control boa that made her nose itch, leading to more laughter.

David took a moment to attend to his equipment. Suddenly, Lana remembered $300 an hour. There were many beautiful women in this world who got paid more than that to pose before the camera. But, that wasn't what had brought Lana here tonight. And suddenly she found herself conflicted. She didn't want to become a prostitute. She didn't want to be a whore.

But then...

Lana did want to fuck David. Hell, at this point, she'd refund the money he'd paid to have him between her thighs. When he looked back up asking if she wanted to go on, Lana smiled. She caressed her hands down her thighs suggestively. She brought them back up again. But this time, her dress came up with them. Her tiny, lacy thong came into view. As she smiled, Lana said with a seductive tone, "What ever you want, David."
 
When David started working, all else fell away. The fact that he'd paid to do things with Lana's body far beyond photograph it had very nearly faded away. Until she turned to face him dead on and lift her dress slowly up until its hemline was at her waist. Suddenly, he was back to the thoughts he'd had upon first seeing her rise up from the booth in the lounge. He simply ogled her for a long moment, feeling his cock roaring back to life, before saying to her softly, "Pull it back down."

He saw what looked like confusion in Lana's face, or maybe disappointment. He chuckled a bit, telling her, "It's okay. There's nothing wrong. Just, put yourself back together for a moment."

David turned away from her, walking to a nearby equipment table to retrieve a different, more appropriate camera. He crossed the studio back to stand close to Lana, then took her hand and headed off toward a door that had been closed until now. Passing through it revealed the boudoir that, unknown to David, Lana had earlier imagined existed in the studio. There were actually three very different beds, several couches, cushioned chairs, bureaus with mirrors, and more.

"I do some of my best work in here," David told her as he shut and locked the door behind them. Then he laughed. "Behind the camera." He flipped some switches to send power to a multitude of standing umbrella lamps. "Women, mostly wives. Wanting to give something special to their husbands for an anniversary." He began testing the lights one after another: most were dual function, providing a constant illumination but then, when triggered, giving a higher power flash as well. "Sometimes its a couple, wanting something to demonstrate the intimacy of their lives. The romance."

David smiled and gestured Lana over to near the indicated bed as he took up position between the lamps. Without lifting the camera, which was connected to the lighting system via Bluetooth, he clicked off a couple of shots, just to familiarize Lana with what to expect from the lights.

"Again, no one will see these pictures, 'cept for who you want to see them, okay?" he asked, flashing the lights again. He didn't wait for Lana's answer, though, instead looking lower on her body toward the wonderful midsection she'd exposed once before. "Do that again, okay? And--" He smiled suggestively, finishing as he raised the camera toward his face, "--be yourself."
 
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