Amber sat in the kitchen of her mother's home and looked out of the window at her stepfather. Harry was her mother's second husband, younger than her mother by six years, and much liked by everyone in the family.
Her mother broke into her thoughts. "Are you sure you want to do this film? You tell me it's for sex education, aimed at promoting what to expect in a loving relationship. But why do you want to become involved?"
"I need to get out of debt, Mum. The producers are paying me a lot of money to do the shoot. Apparently, I have the perfect look, perfect age, everything. It's a way to get out of the high-interest loans I stupidly got myself into." Amber nodded to emphasise her point.
"And you're saying, Amber, that the director was also looking for a man to act opposite you, an older man, and you insisted on choosing the male actor?" Marlene made a face. "And you're going to ask Harry?"
Amber leaned closer across the table and held her mother's hand. "I'm not going to act with anyone I don't know ... it would freak me out. Harry fits the profile they want." She looked at Harry outside. "I would be ok with Harry ... on set with me. Will he do it?"
"I doubt it."
"He might if you help me persuade him. He'll also get paid."
Harry walked into the kitchen. From the moment he had first started dating Mum he had always made Amber feel important. She liked the way he commanded respect, held other people's attention and his voice had a quiet authority to it. There was no doubt that Harry had charisma. Dark hair and boyish good looks helped. Over a cup of tea, Amber explained her financial predicament and her plan to pay off some of her debts. She admitted the education film would have some nude scenes but her contract was quite clear - no hint of porn.
Harry said, "If I do this I don't want to get paid. I'll give you my fee so you can clear all your debts."
"Then you'll do it?" gushed Amber who couldn't believe her luck.
"Well, that depends on a conversation I need to have with your mother."
Later, back at Amber's apartment, she emailed Harry with a copy of the contract which he'd asked to see. As she looked at herself in the mirror, Amber guessed why the director had approached her. The spiky hairstyle, coloured white, her intense blue eyes, her slim figure gave the impression of a girl younger than her real age of 23. The director had said that the male actor needed to be in his late 30s and Harry looked younger than he was. He was actually 42.
That evening, Harry phoned. "Your mother and I talked ... I'm to make sure this film crew don't take advantage of you. So, I'm coming with you."
Two weeks later, Amber felt nervous as she and Harry walked into the hotel and were escorted upstairs by the director to a large suite containing a lounge, a kitchenette, and two bedrooms with two bathrooms. They were introduced to the cameraman, also to the sound engineer and Paula, the young runner whose job was to do anything required.
Before long, Amber was changing in the spare bedroom into clothes she'd been given. Harry did the same on the other side of the room. Together they emerged and went into the main bedroom where the bed had been prepared, just a bottom sheet and the lighting all arranged.
Mike, the director, explained how Amber was to approach the bed and discard her clothes. Then Harry was to do the same. Amber couldn't help showing how tense and anxious she felt which meant she flunked the first four takes. She had never stripped in front of a collection of people like this and her hands shook as she tried to undo her shirt buttons. She took a deep breath.
Harry came over and stood close, in front of her, to block the crew from seeing. "Do a dummy run for me. Undo your shirt and take it off the way Mike wants. It's easy." Amber undid the top button. It seemed to help with Harry so close and she undid the rest of her buttons to reveal her bra. She looked up at Harry, his espresso coloured eyes had kindness in them and he nodded which gave her confidence. He whispered to her, "The crew have seen it all before so it's ok to unclip your bra," which she did. She felt so relieved that Harry was there giving her moral support. Mike then directed Amber to do the scene again from the beginning and the next film re-take was done without a problem as she bared her top.
Having reasoned that this was a sex education film, Amber moved on to the next part requiring her to take off the rest of her clothes except her panties. The skirt dropped to the floor to reveal stockings which she'd been given to wear when they changed. Mike got her to do several retakes at taking her stockings and suspenders off but she soon got into the swing of it.
Her shyness had melted away as she stood aside to watch Harry undress. Mike's commentary would be blanked out for the film to be replaced with background music and a voice-over on the finished film to explain how it was healthy for the male and female bodies to react with each other.
Harry had no problem in stripping his clothes down to his underpants. Amber was surprised at how good he looked. A slight tan, muscles that weren't too big but gave the impression that he could protect his woman. A dusting of black hair from his navel downwards had Amber wondering about the bulge in his white underpants.
Mike directed them together in a hug. It felt to Amber strangely intoxicating to be half naked hugging her stepfather but she certainly wasn't going to give any hint of that. The more Mike got them to reshoot varies hugs the more her nipples peeked, a reaction she wished she could control. She loved the way Harry hugged her tight, her arms around his neck, she on tiptoes. He smelt divine, a subtle mix of aftershave and body. They parted for a minute while the cameraman changed the angle.
