Lanie and Jenny arrived and hung their garment bags next to Kate's in the closet. They were pleased to learn that lunch had just been delivered from room service. The three friends chatted and enjoyed a light fare of sandwiches and mango iced tea, finishing just in time for the arrival of the aestheticians. This was a present from Kate to her friends, gratitude for their support of her and of the men that were so vital to the team she would soon be re-joining.
Each woman was given a glamorous hairstyle with professional makeup, before slipping into the sexy new dresses Kate had also paid for. The photographer, Diane, knocked just as the last zipper was being pulled up. Kate opened the door to her then stepped aside as her assistant carried in two tripods, one for the camera and one for hanging up the retractable backdrop.
With Kate and Lanie's encouragement, Jenny took her turn first. She gingerly stepped over to the stool that the assistant, April, had placed in front of the backdrop, and eased down onto it, arranging the skirt of the royal blue gown around her. The artfully applied makeup emphasized the glow of newlywed happiness that she gave off. The halter neckline framed a delicate platinum chain, from which hung a diamond and sapphire pendant. Her blonde hair was swept up to reveal matching earrings dangling from her lobes.
When she was done, Lanie took her place, sheathed in a lavender, one-sleeved dress embroidered with dark purple thread. Her hair had been curled into loose waves that brushed her shoulders. She gave the camera lens her best sultry gaze, turning so that her leg peeked out of the high side slit, her skin tone contrasted nicely by the delicate color of the fabric.
Kate took her turn in a spring green strapless gown. The bodice was encrusted with crystals reminiscent of droplets of dew, and the corset she wore beneath it made her breasts threaten to spill over the top. A teardrop pendant sparkled from where it nestled atop her cleavage. The hem of the chiffon skirt floated at mid-calf. Her hair had been gathered into a bun at the nape of her neck, using pins decorated with crystals similar to those on the bodice. The glossy lipstick added to the movie star effect.
Before they moved on to the next shots, the three women posed for some pictures together. Diane captured a beautiful candid of them laughing after they'd hammed it up for a 'Charlie's Angels" pose.
They ordered a round of chocolate mousse/raspberry parfaits while Diane and April set up their equipment in the bedroom. These pictures would be taken in private, only for the eyes of the subject and her man.
Jenny went first, and emerged a half hour later in a robe, blushing madly. She'd never done boudoir shots like that before, and she was equal parts shy and exhilarated. All she would say was that Kevin was going to be very happy with the results.
Lanie was slightly less modest, and showed the other two women one of the shots on the camera's pre-view screen. She was captured in a sultry pose, looking over her shoulder, in a lavender bustier decorated with the same dark purple embroidery. The outfit finished in a micro mini skirt and thong.
"Ok, here I go," Kate said on a sigh. "You guys stick around, I'm gonna need help getting back into this dress."
"Good thing you'll have Writer Boy to help you get back out of it tonight, huh?" Lanie quipped. "Speaking of…" She strode over to Kate and unfastened the hook above the zipper, easing the tab down to where Kate would be able to reach it.
Holding her hand to her middle to temporarily keep the gown in place, Kate stepped into her bedroom. She let the dress fall and carefully extracted herself from it.
She pursed her lips and studied the bed uncertainly. This had been her idea, but suddenly she was nervous. She saw April fishing through one of the bags.
"Aha! This should help you," the assistant offered. She went to stand behind Diane, who had been waiting for Kate to appear ready. Suddenly Kate's face broke into a loving smile. Diane's brow furrowed in confusion. The prop bag that April had been rifling through mostly had puppets and other silly things to cajole a smile out of young children.
"What did you…?" she trailed off and chuckled when she saw what April was holding. Smiling back at Kate was the publicity photo from the back of Rick's latest book. "Remind me to give you a raise."
Now that the ice had been broken, Kate found it easier to have the pictures taken. She started with sitting on the edge of the bed, then lay back. She looked at the dust jacket photo and started thinking about Rick, about what the two of them would be doing in this very bed later that night. Her gaze became dreamy, with just a touch of wicked.
"Whew, I don't know what you're thinking, but keep it up, these pictures are going to be great. Wait until you see your expression!"
When the photo shoot was over and she was back in her dress, she saw the ladies off with fond hugs, then began to prepare the room for Rick's arrival.
Rick let himself into the suite using the key card the front desk had given him. 'I'm home, dorogaya," he called, using the word for 'dear' she'd taught him. The air was heavy with the sweet smell of incense. He did a double-take as she appeared in the doorway of what he assumed to be the bedroom. For several heartbeats, all he could do was stare. Remembering himself, he offered her the single red rose he was carrying. "For you, my exquisite beauty," he breathed reverently.
"Hello, husband." She accepted the flower with a smile of thanks, bringing it to her nose. "What's wrong?" she asked, when she saw him craning his neck to see her feet.
"Nothing, I was just checking for shoes. That dress was just made for dancing," he hurried to explain, "and as much as I'm tempted to keep you all to myself, like a painter's masterpiece, the world deserves a chance to appreciate something so breathtaking. If not the world," he amended, "then at least the restaurant downstairs?"
Before she could object that he wasn't dressed for the occasion, he got on his phone. "Hi Pumpkin, I need one more favor. Can you get my black Armani out of my closet? And since I'm pretty sure you know what Kate's wearing, can you find me a complimentary shirt and tie? Thanks, I'm sending a messenger right now to pick it up."
I know the chapter is short, it's been giving me a lot of trouble, so rather than make you all wait even longer, I thought I would give you a little now to tide you over. The next chapter will contain the rest of their evening, and will be the last of this story. I may do a "snapshot" story, as others have done, if I think the interest is high enough, but I noticed last night that this one has been going for more than a year. Time to put it to bed.
