Chapter 3: Attic Allure East

IN THE MORNING, I showered again before I dressed to go to work. Elizabeth joined me, which was unusual because she liked to sleep late. She didn’t come in to play, though, and confessed that she’d been so vigorous the night before that she was a little sore. Instead, she dressed and had breakfast with me, then came to the bus when I loaded my equipment.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m coming to work with you,” she giggled.

“What? Um ... You don’t need to watch over me,” I said, a little put out.

“Honey, I’m not coming to watch over you. I’m what Levi called the ‘straw boss.’ He hired me last week when he put together the idea of getting a crew together. I don’t get to decide what needs to be done, but I’m supposed to keep the girls working. I think it will be fun.”

I hoped so.

Leora and Theresa both showed up a few minutes after Beth and I got to Camera Warehouse. Levi went upstairs with us to do the briefing.

“Nate and I hope that you’ll be the start of a crew similar to what he has in Tenbrook. That crew shows up to clean the space, organize, help with photoshoots, and generally be entertaining company,” Levi said.

“You mean naked?” Leora laughed.

“Well, that’s always nice, but you can take your time getting to that stage,” Levi rejoined. “There are a couple of rules that sort of relate to that. Unless invited or on delivery and shipping, no one from the store comes up here. That includes me. The only people who would see you naked are each other and Nate. Second, no fucking in the studio. Nate established that rule in Tenbrook and we’re sticking with it here. And third, be professional and attentive when there’s a client or customer present. That includes being dressed appropriately. Anything else, Nate?”

“I just hope this works. Beth is the straw boss. We’ll set up what needs to be done and she’ll take charge of getting you organized best to do the task.” Beth and I talked on the way to work and decided we didn’t need to make any announcement about our personal relationship. People would figure that out or they wouldn’t. “I have a client this morning at ten, so let’s start by getting the immediate studio space cleaned up. I’ve only been in town in bursts to work and haven’t really devoted much time to making the space presentable. After the studio portion is cleaned up, we’ll start working on the props closet. I prefer that term to junk room.”

The girls talked to Levi about cleaning supplies and they were started in no time.

“Oh, I may need help setting scenes when the client gets here. Theresa found out yesterday how heavy that sofa is, for instance. I don’t expect to use it today, but that only means it needs to be set aside where we can sit to take a break. And except for when it’s a prop in a scene, no smoking up here. There are too many flammable things.”

We all got to work and I checked the appointments with Levi. I had to smile.

“I thought you could start with someone who knows how to work with you and what to expect so you can test the crew a little,” Levi chuckled. “And she’s actually a nice girl. She’s been in several times and has taken up hobby photography. I got her set up with decent used equipment and she brings a roll of film in almost every week to be developed. Some gritty stuff.”

“I think this will be fine,” I said.

Right at ten o’clock, Charity walked up to the studio.

“Hey, welcome back,” I said. “It seems we’re all still in business.”

“Yeah. Still turning tricks. We doing an orgy scene with these other chicks?”

“No. I’m working on getting a crew in place to help me with props, makeup, and organization. The props closet really needs to be organized.”

“Good luck with that. What will we work on first?”

We got straight into it. I did a warmup roll of film with her fully dressed. I liked the fun we’d had with Theresa’s spy motif the day before and thought I might be able to do something similar with Charity. There was no sense denying what she was. I set up to do a series of ‘product shots.’ I even called them that and she loved the concept.

One of the reasons Levi set up the shoot with Charity was because she knew she was hired for her body and I was free to use it however I wanted. I didn’t need to be extremely nervous about approaching a new client with the audience of assistants in the room. If I wanted to touch Charity—anywhere—I was free to do so without explaining anything. It was more a test of the girls than of getting Charity into a great position.

I still intended to get a work of art out of her if I could.

We managed to get some great scenes. The girls found a doorway and got it propped up in front of the drop. It even had numbers on the door so it looked like she was standing outside some business. She did several poses in front of it, including one with her skirt hiked up so she could fasten her hose to her garter, and one where I took off her blouse and put her fur jacket back on. I took the opportunity to caress her breasts and tweak her nipples nice and hard. When she raised a hand to knock at the door, the jacket opened up to fully expose her breast.

There was a small display counter, and after testing it, I stripped the rest of Charity’s clothes from her, except the garter and hose. I lifted her up on the display counter and had her lean back on one elbow. I wanted one in which she was the product, but inspiration struck and we placed several small trinkets on her body, as if she were the display table and the trinkets were the products for sale. Of course, positioning and balancing all the little items took a while and involved a lot of touching Charity. Theresa was very excited to help with this pose and when Charity told her to go ahead and squeeze her titty a few times, Theresa was ecstatic. I got a good picture or two out of the finished artwork and a couple of Theresa fondling Charity.

Our final scene was a café table. I had Charity sit on the table with her legs spread in invitation to an imaginary diner. I positioned her in such a way that I wasn’t looking straight up her crotch, though I saw that view several times and made sure she was enjoying displaying it. I was just to the side looking at Charity with her head tossed back as if she was enjoying being the main course.

Another idea struck me and I called Theresa.

“Want to be in a picture with Charity?” I asked.

“Naked?” Theresa panted, reaching for her shirt.

“No. You’re the customer, not the product. Sit here between her feet and lean forward a little. Look close at what you want to eat.”

Charity grinned at me and I started with another series of pictures. She stopped me for a moment and talked to Theresa.

“I’m a little hairy,” Charity said. “So, you need to put your hands right here on the inside of my thighs. Now, use your thumbs to open me up so you can see the honeypot. Take a long hungry look for the camera.”

Charity winked at me and I resumed taking pictures. The best might have been looking down Charity’s torso between her boobs and seeing Theresa’s rapturous face framed between Charity’s thighs.

After two full hours of work, Charity started dressing and I stood next to her, chatting.

“Any time you need a model to finger and display to your lesbian friend, call on me,” she whispered. “That girl’s breath was so hot it got my clit steamy.”

“Do you need a little relief?” I asked, stroking up between her legs.

“I know how to take care of myself. You have someone to take care of you now?”

“No problem,” I said.

She pulled on her jacket and then kissed me.

“I’m so glad you aren’t a john. Sometimes a girl likes to be kissed, even in this business.”

She headed out and I quickly directed the girls to clear the set and reset with the light blue drop and the stool. I’d start with a portrait next. I didn’t really give them a chance to stop or ask questions. Levi called up that lunch was here and Elizabeth went down to get it and bring it upstairs. We sat and ate deli sandwiches. The girls had pop, but I got a big cup of coffee.

Breanna Bailey was my client at two o’clock. She handed me her model release and I noted that she was twenty-five and had signed a full immediate release. Her signature was notarized by my uncle. I handed it off to Beth and asked her to put it in my case while I talked to Breanna.

I had to appreciate the time and care Levi and my uncle took in arranging this week’s schedule. Breanna would be another good test of my fledgling crew. She was black.

She was not as dark as Nancy, but a lot darker than, say, Tony. Had been. Damn it! I pulled myself together and took Breanna’s hand to lead her to the stool. I explained starting off with a portrait and then moving on to what we referred to as the Attic Allure style. She nodded her understanding.

“Breanna, are you here of your own free will? No one is forcing you to do this, are they?”

“No. I know Mr. Mayer from the club where I sing. He told me about you and that you needed more models with darker skin. You do shoot a lot of white girls, don’t you? I want to go further than a nightclub in Cicero. I figure even a black girl is going to need to strip down to get any of the big gigs. Might as well get a taste of it.”

“I can’t tell you what you might discover in your career move. We’ll do some good tasteful shots and we’ll get to some that are a little more risqué. You understand that I’ll probably touch you as we work together to get you into the correct pose?” I shifted her shoulders and lifted her chin as I was telling her this.

“Yeah. Mr. Mayer said you wouldn’t try to have sex with me, but I had to expect to be touched. You should know my butt’s a little ticklish. Odd thing, but I jump when anyone touches IT!” She jumped a little as I brushed my hand across her generous backside. She huffed a little at me.

“I can imagine that would be a bit of a problem in a club. Or maybe an asset, so to speak.” She smiled at me. “That’s good. I like your smile. Let me see that for this picture.” I got behind the camera and started on pictures. “Beth, see if you guys can find a microphone stand back there somewhere. If you can’t, check with Levi. He might have something.”

I ignored the girls as they headed into the props closet to see what they could find. I kept shifting Breanna around and unbuttoned the top button on her red dress. This would look good. Her hair had been straightened and sprayed stiff into position.

“Let’s freshen your lipstick, shall we? There’s a makeup table and mirror behind the privacy screen. May I see what other outfits you brought?”

“I got my favorite performance gown and something a little more casual.”

“Good. If they can find a microphone, let’s go for the sparkly silver gown.” I reached around her and started unbuttoning the rest of her dress.

“You dress me, too?” she asked, shifting so I could reach the last button.

“Unless you don’t want me to. I want to make you perfect. The black bra and half-slip are good. You wouldn’t believe the number of white girls who wear a slinky black dress and put black underwear on, thinking it won’t be seen.”

“I learned early on that you wear underwear to match your skin, not your dress. A white bra under that dress would glow under stage lights,” she said.

“Exactly,” I said. “And even though you need the support, you haven’t over armored things.” I hefted her breasts a little and she straightened up so they were thrust out. “Good, good. Don’t hide what you have. In your business, beauty is as much a selling point as your voice. Think of your voice as what you’re selling and your body as the packaging that makes people stop to listen.”

I removed the red dress and hung it on the rack then got the silver dress ready for her to step into. Some care had been taken with this costume and it suited her well. The bra straps were well concealed and we stepped out onto the stage area. The girls had a microphone ready and were completing hanging an “ON AIR” light. Theresa was standing on the ladder while Leora held it and Elizabeth stood by as a spotter. Theresa plugged it in and the sign came on.

“How’s that?” she asked.

“Can you bring it down about a foot?” I asked. “Breanna isn’t that tall and I’d like the sign in the picture with her.”

The girls got the sign adjusted and Breanna got into her role as singer seductress.

“Get the daybed ready for the next scene, please,” I whispered to Beth. “Lots of pillows and light color draping.”

She nodded and I turned back to Breanna.

“Sing for us, songbird,” I said.

She smiled at me and really came alive as her voice filled the studio. I detached the camera from the tripod and moved around for both close and medium shots. When I called a pause to load more film, the girls applauded. I thought I heard an echo of applause from downstairs.

“Breanna, honey, we’re going to continue with the singing theme because that’s what you do. But we’re going to get artsy with it now. You ready for that?”

“Artsy? You mean nude?”

“We’re moving in that direction,” I said. She nodded. “Give me the daybed on the red drop,” I told the girls.

I stepped behind the privacy screen with Breanna and immediately unzipped her silver gown and lowered it so she could step out of it. She reached behind her for the bra clasp and I touched her hand.

“Not yet, sweetheart,” I said. I reached around her and held both her breasts. “Believe me, I want to see these beauties soon, but not quite yet. I trust you’re wearing panties. Let’s lose the slip.” I helped her out of the slip and was pleased to find one of the new bikini style panties under it. It matched the bra.

“Will this do?” she husked.

“One of my girlfriends told me that the only time a girl wears a matched bra and panty set is when she expects a guy to talk her out of them.”

“Yeah. I knew I’d be showing them.”

“I’m going to start you on the bed with that pretty set on. We’ll get rid of the pieces one at a time. Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she said, taking a deep breath.

I led her back to the stage area where the girls had cleared the microphone and lowered the red background. The day bed was in the center and draped with various strands of fabric. I seated her on the bed and had her tuck her legs up under her. Then I gave her a couple of pillows to support her side and grabbed the microphone. I took it off the stand and handed it to her, even though it wasn’t really meant to be held. The on-air light had been turned off, but I thought about it and decided I wanted it on. I stepped back.

“Theresa, can you lower the on-air sign another two feet and turn it on? I think we’ll stay with the theme. I need to adjust the lights, though.”

The girls went to work moving the sign as I adjusted the fill and spill. I liked what I was seeing. As soon as they were done, they asked for approval and I gave it.

“Now what song do you have that’s soft and seductive? You’re off in the dressing room and your lover has followed you in. You don’t think you can wait for him until you get to his room. You really need him now.”

“Oh, yeah,” she breathed. Then she started to sing.

Here I am baby, the one who swore to never yield
Here I am baby, the one who swore to play the field

I took pictures and then stopped her long enough to bring the lights down. I stepped over to her and rearranged the pillows so she could lie back further. Much to her surprise, I slowly pulled her panties down, intentionally stroking down her butt. She giggled and twitched as I thought she would. I placed a pillow in front of her that covered her pussy, but left her hip and leg perfectly in view.

She continued her song and I reached the end of my roll of film and had to change it out. I went back to the bed and took the microphone from her to set aside for a minute.

“You are doing such a wonderful job, honey. Such a beautiful voice. Are you ready to give it all nature has given you?”

“Yes, Nate.”

I reached around her and she held her breath as I unfastened her bra. She held her arms out as I pulled it off two stunning breasts. Not quite as big as Nancy’s, but full and round. I stroked under them and around to remove the crease left in her skin from wearing the bra all day, then simply petted them for a minute as her eyes drifted closed.

“Just relax in my arms and let me guide you to your new pose. You imagine your lover is hovering above you and you are reaching out for him.”

I laid her back on the daybed, rearranging the pillows to support her back. I bent her left leg at the knee and brought it up so we wouldn’t see the trimmed bush of her pubic hair. I straightened the right leg, brushing my hand over her bush and down the inside of her leg. She moaned. I put the microphone into her upstage hand and raised it above her, then lifted her downstage hand up slightly.

“Arch your back just a little. Do you know why?” I squeezed her breasts a little and she pushed them up into my hands. “Yes. You are reaching for your lover, not only with your arms, but with your whole body. Your pussy yearns for him. Your breasts yearn for him. Your lips yearn for him. Do you have another song to sing me?”

She nodded and I went back to the camera. I adjusted a light so it picked up the color difference between her breast and her nipples.

“Sing to me, baby,” I whispered. She responded.

Do you love me just a little, honey?
My uncertain heart has to know, oh, oh

I moved to several different positions and caught her facial expressions as she sang her heart out. I also got the full frame photo of her lying on the bed with the microphone held above her and the on-air light emitting its eerie red glow against the red background. I finished the roll just as she finished the song. I went to her and removed the microphone, then picked her up and carried her behind the privacy screen. Leora had already moved her bra and panties to the dressing table and I slowly pulled her panties on. I got her bra around her and laid it in her lap while I caressed and loved her boobs for a minute. Then I brought it up to fasten around her and lifted each breast into its cup.

I handed her casual clothes to her and she put them on.

“We got beautiful pictures,” I said. “Beautiful pictures of a beautiful artist. You’ll go far in this work, Breanna. I hope these pictures help.”

“I can’t believe an eighteen-year-old white boy got me to do all that. The only thing that would have been better would have been to have it recorded. That was the best I ever sang those two songs.”

“They were just beautiful,” I said.

“Of course, spreading my legs for that eighteen-year-old white boy would have been pretty exciting, too. I’m glad you’ve got that rule in the studio or we’d still be out there humping.”

“It’s a very sensual art form. I had to make the rule to protect us all.”

When Breanna had left, the four of us sat down to debrief on the day. In general, they were enthusiastic about watching me work as well as the possibilities of getting the props closet taken care of.

“I had fun!” Theresa said. “Are you going to use the picture of me looking up between Charity’s legs?”

“I don’t know since I haven’t developed it yet. There’s actually a pretty limited market for that kind of shot. I just thought it would be fun to take it.”

“Well, it was fun for me. I’ve never seen that view before,” Theresa said.

“Are you a lesbian?” Leora asked.

“Damn it! I don’t know! I think I might be, but I sure loved having Nate go down on me. I’m really confused.”

“Well, let’s not get hung up on it,” Beth said. “Maybe just being in the studio will help things become clearer for you. We need to plan out a little of the work.”

“Right. I take it you all want to continue working with Attic Allure?” I asked. There was general agreement. “I’ll have two clients again tomorrow. I don’t know yet how involved the settings will be. They might want nothing more than a portrait. So, we should be ready to do some work in the props closet. Ideas?”

“I won’t be here tomorrow,” Elizabeth said. “I need to get ready to travel on Friday. I think the place you two could make the biggest impact is locating all the clothes that are back there and designating a costume area. I know there are hangers back there and some old department store clothing racks. We’d just need to clear an area and make it costumes only.”

“Nate, you said some things would get cycled out and others would be coming in. Do you want all the clothes hung, or should we pitch really ratty stuff,” Leora asked.

“That’s a good question,” I said. “I think that we should start by hanging everything unless it is just too disgusting to contemplate having on your body. We should just pitch underwear and socks if there are any. You can decide about hose.”

“Unless there’s some really cool lingerie amidst the underwear,” Theresa said. “If it can be cleaned up, we should keep it.”