Stephen Pays A Debt

STEPHEN PAYS A DEBT

STEPHEN PAYS A DEBT

2 - THE EVENING BEGINS

2 - THE EVENING BEGINS

When Saturday arrived, Stephen pulled up to Tara's loft, his broad shoulders filling out a fitted shirt that matched his blue eyes and stonewashed jeans. As he stepped inside, the room buzzed with energy. Tara and seven other women filled the loft, their laughter and chatter mingling with the clink of wine glasses. The space was lit with soft, warm light, sketch pads were scattered around, and a long table laden with charcuterie and bottles of rosé stood to the side of the room. Jazz music softly filtered through the air.

Tara sauntered over, smiling while trying to disguise her tense excitement. "Welcome, Stephen. Come in. Here's your artists for the night. You know everyone" she said, gesturing to the assembly of women. Stephen looked around and saw "the girls". There was feisty little Claire, whose face lit up like a Christmas tree when Stephen walked in, comfortably attired in yoga pants and t-shirt that exposed several inches of her flat stomach. Stephen noted a piercing in her belly button and thought it was cute. He said "Hi Claire. Happy Birthday", and found it odd that she started blushing. "Hi Stephen," she responded, blushing even more, but also harboring an expression of intense excitement.

Sitting beside her was Rachel, who, unlike Claire, smiled readily when Stephen greeted her, giving him a once over that caught him a bit off guard. "That's not like Rachel",he thought as Claire elbowed her to "stop it". Rachel also sported a short t-shirt but she was wearing runner's shorts, giving Stephen a pleasant visual experience of his own.

Megan walked up to Stephen to say hi, her freckled cheeks dimpling as she nervously pushed her glasses up when Stephen greeted her. Sophie lacked her normal assertiveness, but still managing to wink at him when he said "I hope this is fun." He couldn't know that her reticence was caused by the thoughts she entertained about their model and that her wink was a hint of what was to come. Brooke sat cross-legged, wearing her usual blue jean shorts that displayed her toned runner's legs, she snapped a picture of Stephen as he chatted with Sophie. For her part, Vanessa sat, cool and elegant as always, giving Stephen a long appraising stare as he stood next to her, causing an awkward "Hello Vanessa" to come out.

After the initial hellos everyone was milling about, chatting and sipping their wine, when Brooke, ever the photographer, asked, "Have you ever modeled before?"

"Just a couple of times for Tara, informally."

"So really you could consider us your first time," Vanessa said smiling at him.

"Yeah, I guess so.", Stephen responded, meeting Vanessa's eyes before quickly looking away.

"He is shy. That's so cute,"Vanessa thought smiling

As for Tara, something was up with her Stephen thought. He noticed that she was looking at him intensely, and when she caught his eye, she would give him a smile that varied from sly to... almost predatory. Tonight she was clad in all black, which complemented her black hair and contrasted with her porcelain skin. Silver hoop earrings added a nice touch as they reflected the soft light.

"She looks, well nice,"Stephen thought. Nice but not nice."Her smile...what is she thinking?"Stephen wondered. She was also in her "boss" mode she often fell into when managing her coffee shop. Okay, not quite bossy, but... in charge. Especially with him. A couple of times she made "suggestions" that were more than that.

"Have some wine," she offered, already handing him a glass

"I'm glad you wore that blue shirt like I asked you to." she smiled as she gently ran her hand over the material.

"Come over here and take some group photos with your artists," she said, actually nudging him with her hand to "guide him".

"You know, everyone was glad you agreed to this, and I told them about the big favor you owed me and that you were happy to do anything to make tonight a success", Tara reminded him.

"Uh yeah, of course, I owe you", Stephen stumbled, glancing over to where the broken vase once stood. "Yes you do," she said, and this time with no tease to her voice. "And I'm sure you'll do as I ask," she said, looking at him like a stern school teacher.

"Man, she's...different. Yet somehow the same. This is strange, but I kind of like it,"Stephen thought, his pulse quickening at her expression.

Tara clapped her hands and Stephen's pulse accelerated even more as the women all moved to take a seat, whispering and exchanging glances, their smiles betraying a shared secret, a shared expectation, the mood of all shifted as Tara asked Stephen to join her, subtly gliding from glib, friendly, and casual to...it almost seemed expectant, excited and... hungry.

"Stephen, are you ready to strike some poses for us?"

"I am indeed," Stephen answered feigning a confidence he did not quite feel. Brooke snapped some photos of the two standing together.

"How do you want me?" Stephen asked, causing snickers to ripple through the seated women.

"Well, I'll answer that. You know the ladies here pretty well, and while they also know you pretty well, we took a vote and everyone decided that they want to get to know you a lot better." At her words the group stopped talking and all bodies leaned forward expectantly, and he heard someone murmur, "Yesssss, let's."

Stephen gave Tara a puzzled look, "You want to get to know me a lot better?" he asked.

"Yes we do Stephen... a LOT better," Tara answered with a broad smile. "I guess I wasn't entirely honest with you about tonight," she said, her eyes sparking with total mischief. "I said your modeling would be casual, I should have said really really casual... and you said you would do anything to pay me back, remember?" she added laughing.

Stephen, thinking that he knew what she meant now, could not hide his surprise, his face reddened as he said hesitantly, "Wait... you want me to..."

"Pose nude", Tara finished for him. "Bare it all for us big guy, nothing but a big smile", said the party planner with her own big smile. Stephen cast an embarrassed glance at the assembly, then back at Tara.

"But I've never...you know...," Stephen said, unable to meet the eyes of any of the women who had no trouble looking at him. The room suddenly felt ten degrees hotter. "And I know everyone here... it would be...you know..." He mumbled. His stomach flipped. Naked. In front Claire, Rachel, Megan... all of them.. He couldn't do that, could he?

"I'm not sure I can do that."

Tara looked disappointed and maybe a touch angry. "But you said you wanted to pay..."

Silence in the room.

Then, as if weighed down by the quiet, Stephen hesitantly asked, "So all of you really and truly want... "

A chorus of 'YES!' erupted, interrupting him, with Claire's high-pitched voice being the loudest - "And it's my birthday!", she shouted.

"And it's Claire's birthday," Tara continued, "and again, you owe me a BIG favor". We'll call it even after this, like we agreed", Tara laughed, pointing to a folding screen to the side of the loft and winked at him as she handed him a white towel. She swatted him gently but firmly on his butt, to the accompaniment of laughter from the gathered artists, again pointing Stephen toward the screen with the swat, her voice taking on an abrupt tone that brooked no refusal.

"Now go take your clothes off".