When I finally screw up the courage to enter the bedroom Tina is waiting for me. Her camera is ready on a tripod. A couple of lamps bounced off the walls provide soft, even light. My eyes go to the bed.
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"Relax, for a start."
"I am relaxed."
"Oh yeah?" She grins at me as though she knows me better than I think. And of course she does. I pull the towelling bathrobe I'm wearing around me more securely.
"Just feels a bit weird, you know..."
"Sure it does. But it's okay, it's just the two of us. No-one else'll be looking."
"Other people will see the photos. You said so."
"It's a class exercise for school, that's all. I only have to show the lecturer. As far as she's concerned you're just another body." I'm not mollified. Why did I allow her to talk me into this? Meanwhile she pours a glass of wine and presses it into my hand. I take a large swallow. She takes it back and does the same, then hands it back again, leaving a lipstick smear on the rim. I drain the glass, feeling the alcohol go to my head immediately. Then I try one last time to back out ...
"I haven't even done my bikini line."
"I don't care about your bikini line. This is art, not a Playboy shoot. Now, how about losing the robe." What the hell, I think, taking a deep breath - we used to take baths together when we were little kids, after all. I untie the robe and shrug it off.
"The idea is you're supposed to be naked." Because I'm wearing a white bra and panties underneath. I cross my arms defiantly.
"I am - nearly."
"Okay," says Tina, humouring me, "we'll start like this then. God, you look like a virgin ready for sacrifice. How about lying on the bed?" I do as I'm told while she fiddles with focus and aperture and peers through the lens.
"Lift your left arm ... put it behind your head." I obey. Tina snaps.
"Good ... another one with the other arm ..." She moves the tripod slightly, refocuses and takes another shot. This is how it goes for several minutes, Tina giving me curt orders, me doing what I'm told, she snapping and muttering to herself. I begin to relax - it's not so hard after all.
Then Tina removes the camera from the tripod and crouches, looking for another angle. I notice her short dress riding up her tanned thighs, exposing her red knickers. I didn't know she wore red underpants. Surprised at myself for looking I glance away and think about something else.
*** Fifteen minutes later. I take a break and sip more wine while Tina reloads the camera yet again.
"Let's get rid of the bra, huh?" I hesitate for a moment - I was hoping she'd given up on that idea. But I did promise her, so I get up, turn my back and unclip the bra, tossing it on top of the discarded robe. Then I turn back to Tina, arms crossed.
"Come on, let me see." Self-consciously I lower my arms, resting my hands on my hips.
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it? You're beautiful, you know. Let me get this down on film ... Just stand like that ..." She crouches, moves in and photographs me, head and shoulders, following up with several different angles.
"Hands on head." I hook my hands behind my head, making my heavy breasts jut.
"Good. Okay, back on the bed please." She takes the camera from the tripod once more and I recline on the bed again in a mermaid pose.
"How's this?" Feeling like a pro now.
Tina takes a couple of full shots.
"Relax your legs. You look like you're trying to crack walnuts between your knees." It takes a conscious effort but I do so, opening my legs a few centimetres.
"More." I ease my knees apart a couple of centimetres further.
Impatiently Tina leans forward and grabs my knees, bending one up and the other at right angles, effectively spreading my legs wide apart.
"Tina, that's obscene!" I close my legs firmly, like a Venus fly trap.
"Let me be the judge. Open wide." Reluctantly I open up again.
As Tina looks through the viewfinder I glance down; the shadow of my dark pubic hair is plainly visible through the panties.
"God, you can see my pubes -" Indeed, a spray of dark curls is visible on my inner thighs, either side of the panty gusset.
"It's cute. I like it." She takes a series of photographs, moving closer each time. Until she is virtually crouching between my legs.
"Close your eyes." I don't know why but I do so. Tina takes my limp right hand and places it over my pubic mound.
"There, now you're decent." She concentrates on taking a few more shots.
"How are you feeling?" I know what's coming: "Okay, I guess ..."
"Ready to lose the knickers?"
"Must I?"
"The exercise is called The Nude. You want me to fail it?" No I don't want her to fail. So I stand and walk away from her. With an almost violent gesture I shove my pants down to my ankles and step out of them. But I remain facing away.
"Satisfied?"
"Nice. Hold it -" On her knees she moves closer and frames a shot of my bottom.
"You're not photographing my big bum. Tina!"
"Voluptuous is what you are. Turn around. Let's see your map of Tasmania. Don't be shy." No doubt addled by the wine I do a pirouette and adopt a Venus-like pose, facing her.
"Great .... beautiful." I can tell she's training her lens on the luxuriant, untrimmed triangle of black hair beneath my tummy.
"Come on, it's nothing you haven't seen before."
"That's what I call a real bush. All I've got are a few wisps of blonde fluff."
"I'll photograph you for comparison if you like."
"Why not?" Which I wasn't expecting. She lowers her camera and grins at me.
"Strike a few poses for me, sweetie." It's a funny thing, but standing there with no clothes on I suddenly realise I feel liberated. I like it that she's looking at me, scowling through her camera. So I adopt a series of extravagant poses, peeking over my shoulder at her, cupping my breasts provocatively, coyly covering my crotch then exposing myself again mischievously ....
And then a thought intrudes on my muzzy brain. What does Tina look like without her clothes?
"My turn, Tina. Let me do some nudes of you." She lowers the camera, apparently giving it serious thought. "I'm not as pretty as you ..."
"Don't backchat me," I bully her, "get your gear off." *** Wrapped in my robe (but otherwise naked), Tina gives me a crash course in using her Pentax. When she's satisfied I'm competent she turns around and asks me to unzip her dress. She slips it off her shoulders and steps out of it, leaving only her red G string.
"I didn't know you wore G strings."
"There's a lot you don't know about me. Sexy, isn't it?" She shows off the bare cheeks of her bottom, then thumbs the skimpy thing to the carpet and steps out of them.
"You've got a lovely body, Tina."
"I wish I had more up top, like you."
"Wait until they sag."
"So, where do you want me?" I have no firm ideas. "How about lying on the bed." Tina crawls onto the bed, rolls over, leans back and relaxes.
"How's this?" I kneel at the foot of the bed, lining up the camera.
"Okay .... this is nice, I can get all of you in shot." I press the shutter release and wind on. Easy. "I'll go a bit closer, okay?" I move in, squatting at Tina's feet. Through the lens I see her eyes drop below frame. I realise my robe and thighs are open; she's looking at my exposed crotch. I modestly adjust myself, bringing my knees together.
"What's in frame?" asks Tina.
"Ahh ... your head down to mid thighs. Lovely. Hold it -" But instead of holding the pose she idly runs a hand over her breast. I look up from the viewfinder, waiting for her to stop moving.
"It's okay. Take one of me doing this." I realise she has teased her nipple to full erection. She moves her hand to her other breast and plays with the nipple. She looks at me through the camera with a small, open-mouthed smile. I don't know how to respond so I just take the shot.
