Page 43 of Almost Him

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“I’m so excited for you!” Tori squeals, helping me hang the last curtain in the loft area. “And I get to be your first client.”

“Of course you do. Paul is going to love them.”

Tori’s boyfriend’s birthday is coming and she’s giving him a boudoir photo of herself. I’m excited to get a little practice in this area before I have an actual customer.

It’s taken over three weeks to get the studio ready to open, but I’ve already booked two shoots with expecting mothers and another three with infants for the first week.

“Are you all set for your other customers?”

“I think so. I have a few more props being delivered this week for the babies—those cute little pea pods I showed you—but I have plenty of others to choose from.” I’ve also got some gorgeous maternity dresses and gowns for the women who don’t want to bring their own.

“Those are adorable! Okay, I’m going to change.”

“Go get sexy, bitch!”

Tori laughs and disappears into the changing area where she’s left the lingerie she brought with her.

The loft turned out to be the perfect area for this, like I pictured. It’s furnished with a bed, couch, and chaise lounge. We can switch up the colors of the curtains, sheets, pillows and throws to the customer’s preference. The ambience is perfect. Soft, sensual, and private. I want women who come here to feel safe and comfortable being themselves.

Tori has no problem strutting her stuff. She’s a perfect client to begin with. The bell I’ve placed on the door downstairs dings, and I peek out of the loft, though I know it must be Alden. The door was locked and he’s the only other person with a key.

“I’ll be right back!” I call to Tori and rush downstairs.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting you already. I’m about to do a session.”

Alden grins and glances around. “I thought you weren’t taking any appointments until tomorrow.”

Tori calls from the loft. “She’s mine for the next hour, bike boy! She’s making me look hot. Go away!”

Alden laughs and shakes his head. “Okay, I was stopping by to tell you I’m going to go over to Oliver’s. It’s time to straighten him out. He showed up to work drunk today.”

“Oh no. Do you want me to go?”

“He might listen to you. A woman’s perspective.” He shrugs.

“I’ll be done here in an hour. Can I meet you?”

He leans over and presses a kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you at his apartment in an hour. Don’t go in without me.”

“I won’t,” I promise. He leaves, and I lock the door behind him before going back upstairs.

“Oliver’s not doing well?” Tori asks. I should’ve known she’d overhear.

I move around, adjusting the lights. “It doesn’t sound like it. Alden can handle him. You need to focus on giving that sultry look that’ll have Paul eating out of your hand.”

“I’d rather have him eating out something else.”

Tori and I have a great time. She’s confident and rocks every pose I put her in. The hour flies by while I take about four times the number of pictures than are necessary.

When I show her the digital images, she covers her mouth. “I’m a goddamn smoke show! Oh my god! How do you do this when my selfies always look like I’m hiding a zombie bite?”

Laughing, I start straightening up the area we used. “That’s because you’re all tense and trying to get a certain expression when you take them. You were relaxed this time, having fun, and the real you shone through.”

“If you make all the women look like this, you’re going to be a billionaire.”

Happiness floods through me. “I’m glad you like them.”

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