| CHALLENGE PART 3 _________________________________________________________________________________________ I awoke early the next day anxious to get on with my life. I showered and dressed and found my way to the main offices of Dead Fabulous. I met with my new boss, Jacqueline, and explained to her the circumstances of the previous day, but advised her that I could still work a camera and was ready to do my job. She agreed, loving my enthusiasm in spite of what had happened, and showed me around. I had my own studio that doubled as an office and darkroom, and a part-time assistant, Nikki, who did numerous different jobs for the company. Nikki was a werewolf and would be my liaison to the “exotic persons” of St.Louis. I spent the next week just getting used to the place, talking with Nikki about the werecreatures and vampires, adjusting to the thought of working amongst them. She taught me about general politics of meeting the Master of the City and emphasized that no matter how beautiful I found him to NOT look into his eyes. I had my first “assignment” – actually I was to shoot anything I wanted, but they wanted to begin work on the leather catalog so I was given a little push – some of the local werewolves and wereleopards had agreed to be models for the catalog and I wanted to meet them before I was in a studio setting alone with them. Nikki agreed to take me to a “club” to meet a few of them the next night. I had discovered that I didn’t feel comfortable going anywhere without a camera, so I took one of my smaller ones with us to the “club”. Nikki still wasn’t telling me exactly where she was taking me. She said I should see them in a more “natural” environment for them so I could get used to how they move. I got the feeling I should take pictures as reference for the shoot that was scheduled for tomorrow. Somehow I knew that it would help with the lighting and posing. It was weird, the camera knowledge wasn’t like remembering – it was like I just knew what to do and how to do it – like it was part of me. We parked in a big lot across from a place called Guilty Pleasures and walked up to the front doors. There was a big pale guy at the door; a guy that big should really be tanned. Nikki must have read my thoughts; she leaned in close and whispered “vampire”. Oh goody here we go. “Hi, Buzz,” she said as we got to the door. “Hi, Nikki. Stephen reserved you a table at the front just like you requested.” “Thanks” she said and we walked in. I nodded to Buzz the Vampire as I passed. Once we were inside I figured out why she had been so vague – it was a strip club. I leaned over to Nikki, “A club huh?” The half naked men gave it away. “This is not just any strip club, they specialize in the exotic” We were interrupted before she could continue. “Do you have any holy items to check?” a small blonde girl asked after she stepped in front of us. “No” Nikki responded. The girl was about to leave when she spotted my camera. “I’m sorry Miss but there is no photography allowed in the club – privacy issues and all.” “It is ok” A French, male voice said behind us. “I am aware of the situation. She is allowed to take her photos in here.” The girl sucked in her breath and practically ran away. I turned to face the voice and my breath caught in my throat. DAMN! I think it was more than amnesia having me think that this was the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on. “Th…thank you” I stammered, making him smile with my stuttering. I guess there’s nothing like a reminder that you’re gorgeous to inflate the ego. “You are most welcome. Nikki informed me that you are the new photographer for Dead Fabulous. They make all of my clothing for me and mine. Oh but you must forgive my rudeness, I have not introduced myself, I am Jean-Claude, Master of the City.” He reached for my hand and placed a delicate kiss on the back of it. He glanced up at me and I was about to make eye contact when Nikki nudged me and I remembered her warning. I averted my eyes, perhaps a bit too much because he laughed, “Aahh I see my reputation precedes me.” “You should try it sometime” someone whispered in my ear, “it’s a blast”. The owner of the voice came into a view. A man, several inches shorter than me with long golden hair and big grin. “Jason.” Jean-Claude said. It sounded like a warning, which only made him smile that much bigger – he was really adorable – already I could tell he was a big flirt. “Jason, please take care of …” “Rachel” “Rachel, she is my guest tonight.” The way he said my name was so exotic, it rolled of his tongue, it sounded like rrrrashell. “Sure thing boss.” Jason said still smiling and started leading Nikki and I to a table right in front of the stage. I noticed that the hairs on my arms were standing at attention. Jason turned and looked at me before sitting down. “What?” I asked. “I’m not sure. There’s something about you.” “You think there’s something about every woman.” Nikki turned to me, “Watch out for that one – he’ll use anything as a pickup line.” I just smiled and took a seat facing the stage. I motioned Jason to sit to the side so I could get a clear view of the stage; he took it as an invitation to scoot closer. Nikki just smiled and shook her head. “I feel like some pervert taking pictures of half naked men in a strip club.” I commented to her. “Don’t worry – I told them we would be here and what you were taking pictures for – Nathaniel was very excited – he’s a bit of a camera whore. You won’t have any trouble getting him to strike a pose.” “He’s up next.” Jason said. At that moment the lights went down and I could see two men walk onto the stage in the dim light. One was leading the other onto the stage. The women started going wild. “Oh this number always drives the women wild – he must be doing it in your honor. Nikki told you he was a camera whore and this number shows him off the best.” “Which one is he?” I asked Jason, though I had a good idea. “The one that’s tied up.” The lights came on but the music didn’t begin. The tall blond guy that had led Nathaniel onto the stage was walking around the kneeling man – though it was hard to call him a man, he looked so young. He was kneeling with his hands tied behind his back and a gag in his mouth. The tall guy lifted Nathaniel’s chin so that they were looking into each other’s eyes. He pulled the gag out of his mouth and kissed him on the lips and let him go. It was a kiss that you knew was just for show and even though it was two guys, the women were going crazy and I must admit my pulse sped up a little; they were both very cute. The tall guy walked around him again. He stopped when he was back where he started. Nathaniel looked up at him and the tall guy slapped him. The shot heard round the world. Then the music started and the tall guy left the stage. Nathaniel had a very wicked smile on his face. I had managed to snap a couple of shots during that little scene, and as I lifted the camera to my eye again, focusing on his face, he looked right at me and started mouthing the lyrics to the song. I go down on my knees I do everything I can to please I give in I obey I comply with every word you say. He got to his feet and moved sexily around the stage trying to get out of his restraints. I give up of control Existing for your beck and call Nothing left to defend I surrender everything I am He was singing to different women along the front of the stage. As the chorus approached he made a bigger show of getting free and as he sang with the first line of the chorus “I’ll do anything” he broke through the ropes that bound his hands like they weren’t there to begin with. “Anything you want”. He peeled off his fishnet shirt - “I’ll do anything” – and pulled out the tie that was holding his hair back. I looked through the viewfinder again, snapping a pictures as his long, long hair cascaded around him and he sang “anything at all” looking directly into the lens. Was it hot in here or was it just Nathaniel? He walked over to another lady who was frantically waving a dollar bill, and went down on his knees before her. Make me bleed Make me beg He unsnapped the top of his pants. Punish me across your leg. The woman ran the dollar down his chest and deposited it in his pants. He turned around showing her his vinyl-clad butt. He turned his head and sang to her as she ran her hands over his ass. I’m a slut I’m a slave Make me promise that I won’t behave He crawled away and headed back in my direction as I lifted the camera again – they were right he loved the camera. And the camera loved him. He stopped in front of our table. He swung his legs over the side and motioned for Nikki to come there. She got up and stepped to him. He peeled his pants down over his hips and laid back. Nikki leaned forward and grabbed a hold of his pants and started pulling them off. Tie me down Throw me up Nikki sat back down with his pants in her lap. Nathaniel sat up pulling his legs under him. Make me promise that I won’t behave. He fell onto his hands in front of me, doing a sort of push up that just lowered him to the floor. I’m a bitch I’m a whore I laughed at that, thinking of the camera whore comment from Nikki. He turned over onto his back, his head and beautiful hair hanging over the side. You give me all you got but I still want more. The chorus broke in again and he got up, dancing around the stage collecting dollars from the women along the front. I shut the camera off and set it on the table; letting the song end and Nathaniel finish his business. He climbed off the stage and started walking around to all the tables collecting tips. His undies were filling up fast. “Oh yeah, you want him.” I jumped. Jason had leaned in and I hadn’t noticed, too caught up in my planning for the shoot tomorrow. “He’ll be very easy to work with tomorrow.” I said “Mmhmm sure he will,” Jason said with a big grin on his face. “What?” I said accusingly. “I can sense these things. You are totally hot for him.” At some point in time drinks had arrived. I took a very big sip of my water – wanted to be clear-headed for tomorrow. “Ok, so he’s cute as hell” “Thank you.” I nearly jumped out of my seat, but a pair of arms hugged me from behind. Again Nathaniel whispered in my ear “A copy of those pictures will be tip enough.” He let go of me and pulled up a chair opposite me. He took his pants from Nikki and put them on, giving a nice view of his ass. In my head I gave thanks to whom ever created thong undies for men. Once he had his pants back on he sat down. Five drinks arrived at once for him, but he waved them all away with a gracious thank you and took the water that was offered with a towel by the tall blond guy that had been on stage with him. Introductions were made and I discovered that the tall, blond guy’s name was Zane. It felt like an electric shock when I shook hands with them, but I brushed it off as static electricity. They both looked at me like I had done something very interesting. We all sat around talking for the next 10 minutes - me getting to know them and telling them what to expect tomorrow. I discovered that Zane and Nathaniel were both wereleopards, which did a lot to explain Nathaniel’s smooth and sleek movements on the stage. He had moved like he had muscles in places that no one else had. The lights dimmed again and an attractive young guy with long golden hair took the stage, strutting out to “I’m Too Sexy”. Jason abruptly stood up and yelled at the guy. “HEY! That’s MY song!” To which the guy on stage took off his shirt and threw it in Jason’s face. All the women laughed at the boy’s antics. When Jason went to sit down he fell to the floor discovering that Nathaniel had stolen his seat and was now sitting next to me. “Damn sneaky cats,” he yelled over the music, getting back to his feet and sitting in Nathaniel’s previously occupied seat. Nathaniel leaned in close to me and whispered in my ear. “That’s Stephen, he’s going to be one of the models, too.” My skin started to crawl with him so close. This was getting really weird. I had slightly noticed this feeling the first time I met Nikki, but over the past few days the feeling got stronger and stronger whenever I was around weres of any flavor, but the shocks from the two leopards had been the strongest so far. Nathaniel was still leaning in close watching as I snapped a few shots of Stephen. “Nikki told me about your problem,” he began whispering again. “And if you don’t remember what the naked male body looks like, I could refresh your memory.” I lost my grip on the camera and almost dropped it. “Nathaniel,” Nikki scolded, “Give the girl some room to breath.” He gave her a big smile in return. I turned to him. “For the most part, I think you’ve already given me that demonstration.” He was about to say something back when a waiter came up to him and said some ladies wanted a lap dance. “I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said getting up. He grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it – I could have sworn I felt the brush of his tongue as well. He let go of my hand and said his goodbyes to the others and walked off in the direction of a dimly lit side area. Jason didn’t waste a second. “Nathaniel and Rachel sittin in a tree K-I-S…” “Shut up Jason,” Nikki snapped and Jason and Zane burst out laughing. The night wore on and I got all the pictures I needed. Nikki and I dropped off the film at a small lab to have proofs made for the next day, and then she took me back to my new apartment that I had moved into the previous day. Other information I had found in my belongings had told me I had a small studio apartment waiting for me. I put my camera away and kicked off my shoes, and was asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. _________________________________________________________________________________________ PART 4 INDEX |