Chapter 3

Naked couples were kissing. Single girls were in rope bondage, fellatio, cunnilingus, caught on camera and open display. One scene blew me away. A girl was lying on the bed, and her guy was next to her head, on his knees. She had her hand wrapped around his erection. Well, not really. His girth was so large she couldn’t wrap her hand all the way around as she sucked on his balls; his hand was reaching towards her pussy. It was so erotic; I began to drool and get turned on just by looking at it, and I thought if he put his cock in you, he would split you in half. I was mesmerised, and so were my three friends. After looking around the studio and through the galleries, I could see Arthur was very professional and aboveboard, and strangely, I felt comfortable around him.

I felt an arm go around my shoulder. “I see you have found the most exciting and complex part of photography. Erotica?”

“Sure have Arthur and that couple where the girl is sucking the guy’s balls. Well, that’s getting me worked up. But why is it complex?”

“You need to get the mood and setting right. Otherwise, it just comes out like porn. That’s the difference to get it looking exciting without being degrading. That’s the hard part. You need skill as a photographer, but, the model needs to be at ease with what she is doing. It’s what turns it into art and not smut. It’s the same with writing. There’s erotica, and then there’s just porn. If you’ll pardon my phrase, ‘just stroke stories.’

“I’m thrilled that these excite you. Would you like to give it a go? Posing, not like these, of course. Come over to one booth, and let me take a few photos of you in your bikini. So you can get the feel. All at no charge.”

Arthur still had his arm around my shoulders as he guided me into a booth. My three friends and Caleb watched but kept out of the way. Arthur went and got one of his cameras and called out, “Okay, Caitlyn, just do what I say, and it will be a piece of cake.”

My mouth was dry, and my tummy was doing cartwheels. I felt so nervous. I looked at my three friends, who smiled and waved at me. Ruth called out, “You’ve got this, Babe. You’re the next supermodel.”

I dropped my shorts, peeled off my top, and waited for Arthur to tell me what to do.

“Easy one first, Caitlyn. Smile, look towards the camera, and bend your right knee towards your left. That’s it, good girl.’

“Turn your upper body to the left and run your hands through your hair, and do the same, turning to the right. You’re a natural kid. You’re making this look easy.”

I was so relieved to hear Arthur say that. I had been, shitting myself, thinking, am I about to blow my audition. If that what this is?