Thanks for all the supportive comments. I've been so busy there's been no time for writing lately, but I managed to squeeze out this short story. I hope you like it.
*
Lisa's brow crinkled as she picked over the tray of apples. It wasn't the burning issue of which red delicious apple to add to her basket that occupied her thoughts, it was her love life. Or lack of a love life to be more specific.
Attracting men wasn't her problem. Thankfully, she had been blessed with gorgeous looks. She wasn't bitchy about it, but she figured she might as well play up her assets.
With that thought in mind, Lisa had accumulated a closet full of clothes that suited her body. The halter style summer dress she was wearing was a typical example. It lovingly cupped her breasts, hugged her midriff and flowed to mid thigh, showcasing her body to perfection.
Her breasts had always been a major attraction, and encased as they were in delicate mint green silk, they were the epitome of feminine perfection, both generous and firm. The support cups that were sewn into the dress had failed to subdue her nipples, and their outline was clearly visible. When combined with her translucent green eyes, trim waist, curvy hips, well-toned ass and seemingly endless legs, she never failed to turn heads. She wore her shoulder length auburn hair casually pulled up and secured by a clip. The style showed off the delicate lines of her neck and jaw, and the only makeup she wore was a touch of lipstick and a hint of mascara.
With her looks, Lisa was used to all the come-on lines. Want to have dinner sometime? I would love to serve you breakfast in bed. You look like you could use a 'real' man, want to go back to my place? Don't I know you from somewhere? Lisa had heard them all, and she generally responded with a flirty smile and a gentle refusal. She wasn't interested in a fast fling, and she was pretty choosy about her sexual partners.
Her looks were both an asset and a liability. They certainly helped her earn great tips as a waitress, but when it came to romance, they could be a definite hindrance. Some men didn't approach her romantically at all. They assumed that she wouldn't think they were attractive enough for her. The men who did approach her were usually the cocksure, egotistical types that were more interested in their own good looks than in her. That narrowed the field of prospective men considerably.
Not that Lisa had ever lacked for male companionship. She had been in several relationships, but her interest always waned fairly quickly. The men in her life had always left her feeling bored and cold. She wanted a strong man, someone who would take charge, someone who could hold her interest and make her feel...
"Excuse me."
Lisa jumped slightly as she turned to face the man who had spoken to her in such a deep, purring voice. He had short, black hair that made her fingers fairly itch to rake through it. His eyes were dark and brooding, the kind that surveyed everything around him with calm, assessing confidence. At that moment, they were assessing her.
His perfectly apportioned nose, sculpted cheekbones and sensuous lips were the stuff of feminine fantasy. He was lean but muscular, and in his faded jeans and casual shirt, he seemed to dwarf her own five foot seven inch frame. He was mouthwatering.
When she spoke, her voice came out as a breathless whisper. "Yes?"
He made no secret of the fact that he was sizing her up. In fact, her skin fairly tingled everywhere his eyes touched her. She felt her nipples crinkle into even tighter buds beneath his lengthy stare, and when his eyes roamed down the rest of her body, moisture began to seep onto the crotch of her panties. His expression was impassive, and she found herself wondering whether she appealed to him or not.
For some mysterious reason, Lisa blushed. She hoped for an instant that he wouldn't notice, but when he quirked one dark brow, she knew that he had.
"I didn't mean to startle you," he said with a grin. "It's just that I think you would be perfect for a job I have coming up."
Lisa had to suppress a disappointed groan. Why couldn't a man like him try out one of his pickup lines on her rather than offering her a job? Still, she couldn't help but be intrigued.
Lisa cleared her throat. "A job? What kind of job?"
He reached into his back pocket and extracted a business card. When he handed it to her, his fingers barely brushed hers, but it seemed like an electrical current passed between them. Lisa had to stifle a shudder of sexual awareness.
"I'm a photographer, and I have a shoot this weekend. I think you would be perfect for it."
"You want me to model for you?" she asked with amazement.
"Exactly. As you can see from my card, you would be required to do most of the shoot in the nude."
Lisa's eyes widened as her eyes dropped to his card. 'Hot Shots' was printed in bold; 'Specializing in the exotic, erotic and pornographic' was printed in smaller type beneath. There was a silhouette drawing of a nude woman on one edge, and his name, Jake Winters was printed above his phone number.
"I'm going to do an erotic shoot of a submissive woman, and you are exactly the type of woman I have in mind. The images would only be used in a private collection, so you wouldn't have to worry about having your pictures plastered all over the internet or in magazines."
Lisa was stunned. She had never considered modeling, much less doing so in the nude. She searched his face but didn't see any hint of teasing.
"Are you serious? I don't even know you."
"I assure you, my offer is legitimate. You would sign a contract and collect a fee of one thousand dollars, which I think is quite generous for an afternoon of your time."
Lisa had to hide her shock at the amount he had mentioned. As a struggling college student, a thousand dollars was more than she made in a month. "Well I'm not sure. I mean I've never considered doing something like this before."
He subjected her body to another thorough inspection. "Believe me, I can see you have all the attributes I'm looking for. You would be perfect for the job." His eyes returned to meet hers and he gave her another knee-weakening grin. "I tell you what, think about my offer for a couple of days, and if you are interested, give me a call. I need to know by Wednesday, so if I don't hear from you by then, I will find someone else."
"Fine," Lisa said curtly. She felt inexplicably miffed that he wasn't trying very hard to convince her.
"Nice to have met you," he said with a nod. He sauntered away without a backward glance, and Lisa watched him disappear out of the store.
She stood motionless for several minutes, holding his card and replaying their conversation in her mind. She felt both flattered and annoyed. Could she trust him? Did he really just want to take her picture? What if he intended to do much more? She would be pretty much at his mercy if that was the case.
Surprisingly, the thought of being at his mercy didn't frighten her, it thrilled her. Without even trying, he had aroused her interest like no man ever had. If she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she would be receptive to any sexual demands he might have in mind for her, so she really had nothing to lose did she?
Lisa finished her shopping and walked the few blocks to her apartment, while her mind explored the possibilities he had introduced. She ate a quick supper, poured herself a glass of red wine and headed to the bathroom. A good long soak was what she needed. She began filling the tub and dribbled a generous stream of bath foam under the faucet. While the water was running, she lit several candles and popped in a CD with sensuous jazz.
She undressed quickly, but when she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she paused to consider her reflection. Could she really pose in the nude for a total stranger, knowing that her images would be for someone's private enjoyment? The concept seemed even more intimate than posing for some smut magazine. It wasn't that she was a prude, she had just never thought about doing something like that. After all, she wasn't the emaciated model type. Nude modeling had never been a possibility before.
Lisa climbed into the tub and sank beneath the bubbles, using her foot to turn off the taps. She rested one leg along the edge of the tub, and without conscious thought, she slid one hand down between her thighs. She leaned back and closed her eyes as a clear image of Jake Winters crystallized in her mind. She fantasized that he was the one touching her so intimately, as her other hand explored her breasts. In no time at all, she climaxed, and she luxuriated in the steamy water as she felt her tension easing, though it didn't go away entirely.
She glanced at the phone, sitting on the rim of the tub. She already knew that she would accept his offer, but it would be too revealing to call so soon after she had met him. It was only Sunday. She would wait until Wednesday morning. Then, it would seem that she had needed more time to make her decision.
*********
Resisting the urge to call Jake before Wednesday turned out to be maddeningly difficult. Lisa thought about him nearly non-stop. She woke up in the middle of the night feeling restless and aroused. She thought about him on the bus, while sitting in class, when she was at work. She had masturbated more times since Sunday evening than she usually did in an entire month, yet she couldn't completely find relief for her sexual tension. By the time Wednesday morning rolled around, she was a nervous wreck.
She dialed his number with shaking fingers and held her breath as she waited for him to answer. When she heard his velvety, deep voice, her heart began to pound.
"Jake here."
"Uh yes, hello. This is Lisa Parsons. I'm the woman you met in the supermarket."
There was a short pause before he answered. "Yes?" His tone made it evident that he didn't remember her.
