I wish I could say that I'd created a monster. Unfortunately, my only fault had been friendly professionalism (even if I'm only an amateur). I was patient with someone who wanted to push her own boundaries without being coolly distant. At the same time, I didn't try to push her further for my own gratification. I was so shocked when she stepped beyond the professional separation that it never dawned on me to suggest she stop.
But that's another story for another time.
Vanessa and I aren't exactly dating. Truthfully, I'm not entirely certain how to classify our relationship. I suppose, if I'm being honest, I'd have to call us fuck-buddies, although even that doesn't entirely fit. We don't hang out much so the friend implications don't exactly fit. Given the decades that separate us, and the consequent lack of common interests, that isn't really much of a surprise.
Similarly, we don't find each other exclusively for sex. In fact, we don't even do it every time we get together. The vast majority of our time together is spent in pursuit of the one hobby that connects us; photography. Our relationship began, and still primarily remains, that of photographer and model.
Please understand, I'm not one of those photographers that young women are warned about! I never got into the hobby with the intent of taking nude pictures of women in order to inflame my libido and then utilize them to sate my primal urges. It was just something that happened with her. There'd never been any other model like that and I had no reason to suspect there would be any others.
What all this meant was that I had absolutely no idea what to expect on my photo shoot that afternoon. I'd gotten out of work and just had enough time to run home to shower before I made it to the location on time. Given there would be a few hours of natural light left in the late-summer evening, I didn't have to worry too much about setting up reams of lighting equipment. That meant I didn't need to be early.
I'd worn what I've come to consider my photo attire; cargo shorts, boxers and a loose t-shirt. Early on in my amateur career, I'd worn the same slacks and boxer-briefs I used for work. Unfortunately, the beauty of the model and her sensual poses caused a perfectly understandable reaction. What I hadn't thought about was that fact that I grow rather substantially. Nor had I considered the disgusted attitude I received from the model when she noticed.
We were set to meet in someone's private garden in one of the ritzier suburbs. I don't know how Vanessa had gotten permission for the location but she'd assured me she had. I had it in email if it ever came to court. I like her but I'm not about to go to jail simply because I was too stupid to ask the right questions.
As I pulled up to the garden, I realized I had to slightly adjust my expectations for the afternoon. The shoot was outdoors and while she might have been adventurous to risk a little liaison afterwards in full view of the potential public, I was not. The garden wasn't surrounded so much by as hedgerow as an entire wall of vegetation. If I couldn't see in then it was unlikely anyone else would. The creaking gate, that was the only break in the thick foliage, would alert us if anyone suddenly came upon us.
While I wasn't going to expect we would automatically have sex, the chances had just about skyrocketed. The setting was pretty enough. Undoubtedly it would inspire some such thoughts in a young woman. Even I found the scents that drifted from the variety of flowers nearly intoxicating.
"Hello!" I called out as I closed the gate behind me. It would be enough of an alarm that someone had just entered but I figured it wouldn't hurt to add my voice. She'd now know for certain it was me and not someone else.
That assumed that she was even there yet. Vanessa made it a habit of showing up early for sessions but I hadn't seen another car out there when I'd pulled in. Of course, given the size of the place, it probably touched a road on all four sides. Given the hedges, I'd never know if she'd parked on one of the other streets. Besides, I was a little early so it was possible she simply hadn't gotten there yet.
A moment later, a distant shout answered the question for me. "Follow the path. It'll open into the garden. Look for the sundial!"
The path was lined with more of the hedge walls. Ahead, I could see that it opened up into carefully maintained plots of flowers, meticulously planted by type. There were at least a couple more paths across the garden, which led me to suspect there would be one or two spots completely secluded from sight from the main portion of the garden. That would be good for some shots, not to mention the potential for other things.
I followed the path as instructed and opened into a brilliantly colorful garden. It was laid out in neat squares of each with stone paths meandering through. The paths were undoubtedly set up with the same precision that maintained the flowers. Even the tufts of grass that sprouted between stones seemed manicured.
All of that barely caught my attention, however. Sitting on a sundial at least six feet across was Vanessa. The surprise that caused my steps to falter, however, was the woman who chatted amicably with her.
Models frequently insist that they bring someone along with them. Not only do I understand the need but I encourage it in those who're just starting out. The companion can help with the model's hair and makeup and, possibly even more importantly, provide a sense of security. After all, a young woman can never know how things will go when she meets with a man alone.
After we'd become whatever it was that we were, Vanessa often didn't bring anyone along anymore. After all, part of the whole point of the companion was to see to it that she wouldn't be taken advantage of. While that was the farthest thing from the truth, in our case, it would be difficult to explain that to someone else. Besides, it kept anyone from feeling like a third wheel when we decided to shift from photography to other things.
The first thought that ran, rather disappointingly, through my head was that we wouldn't end up doing anything after the shoot that day. That fact itself didn't bother me but it did bother me that it was the first thought that came to mind. Fortunately, the confusion of the second thought kept me from dwelling on it too much.
"Kali!" I said, surprised enough that I blurted out my thought. "I didn't know you two knew each other."
The other young woman had nearly a decade on her companion. Given their backgrounds and ages, I couldn't imagine where the two might have met. The only thing they shared in common was the fact that they both modeled for the fun of it. Well, that and the fact that both were fairly regular models for
me
!
Age wasn't the only difference between them either. Kali had the lithe, overly slender, body typically associated with models while Vanessa sported a healthier looking physique that was usually called 'full-figured'. Kali's bronze flesh had nothing to do with time in the sun and everything to do with genetics. Vanessa, on the other hand, had pale white skin that bordered on pink. Kali wore her straight, black, hair down to her shoulders. Vanessa's wavy brown hair flowed all the way down to the small of her back.
Even their eyes, Kali's dark brown to Vanessa's soft green, were a study in contrasts. Vanessa had a perpetual look of wide-eyed innocence that somehow didn't conflict with the manner in which she'd decided to seduce me. Kali's expression usually could best be described as a cautious neutrality.
Right that moment, however, there was an enigmatic slyness to the smile that Kali offered me. Whether or not she knew before, she read easily in my reaction that I hadn't expected her at today's shoot. Even though the initial surprise hadn't worn off, my smile returned. She had always been easy to work with and was one of the most creative of the people I shot.
"Kali and I have known each other for a couple of years, from the message board." Vanessa explained as I walked up.
I nodded in understanding. I could have kicked myself for not realizing sooner. Kali, one of the more experienced amateur models in the area, took it upon herself to find the newcomers in the area. If they were willing, she would offer them guidance and even offer to act as their ride-along. Only the fact that I'd never seen her in that capacity had made the fact slip my mind.
"You here as the M.U.A.?" Vanessa wasn't bad with makeup, but she had no experience, that I knew of anyway, with anything other than basic coverage. If she'd gotten it into her head to do something extravagant, she'd need help. I had no problem with the idea and hoped it showed in my open expression.
Kali shook her head. "Actually, Vanessa was telling me about plans for the shoot today and I thought it sounded fun. I hope you don't mind?"