SHORT STORIES 3
Mark
As a photographer for the Military Press Corps, I learned my craft on old-fashioned shutter cameras, the kind that still snap and grind like they mean business.
Digital is fine for deadlines, but nothing beats the solid click of an Olympus and the mechanical pull of film advancing through the body.
I even skipped the battery winders the paparazzi love.
I like the discipline of one frame at a time.
On my last leave, what started as a joke turned into something far more intimate.
I am married to Chloe, a compact brunette with bright eyes and a quick mouth.
People call her wispy, as if that word explains her.
She is small, not fragile. She will never be the tall, leggy type on magazine covers, and she knows it.
Her voice is soft, almost light enough to miss in a noisy room.
Our friend Reid has spent years teasing her about it, and that teasing is how this whole thing began.
Reid stayed with us for the two weeks I had off.
He ribbed Chloe about her size in a flirty, constant way.
I was not jealous. They are not built for each other.
Reid is half a foot taller than me, and he likes taller women.
Chloe likes shorter men. Their banter was noise, not threat.
At first she blushed when he suggested she was less of a woman because she was small.
After a couple of days she fired back, implying he was too big for anything but a moose. I rolled my eyes and let them go.
The idea hit me at Starry, our favorite dance and hangout place. Reid watched us dance a few songs, then asked Chloe onto the floor. I always look at people and rooms as if they are waiting to be photographed. Watching them move together, I laughed to myself about staging a fake date shoot.
When they came back from their third dance, we were on our fourth round and feeling warm.
Hey, I have this idea, I said.
Reid raised his eyebrows. Is this a new thing for you?
Yeah, yeah, very funny. Reid could turn junk mail into a punch line.
Does it involve your camera? Chloe asked.
I cannot have an original thought without her already knowing it.
Yes, the camera.
Reid looked less interested. He was dirt bikes and sweat, not shutters and light meters.
How would you two like to do a photo shoot gag? Something just for personal keepsakes?
Gag? Chloe looked confused.
Reid perked up. What kind of gag?
I finished my drink and leaned in. I take a bunch of faked shots of you two together, like on a date. Make it look real with angles and everything.
For what? Reid asked.
Kicks and giggles. A joke for the private album.
Romance shots? Chloe said through her drink. With him?
Sure. All faked. You just have to be brave enough to let me take them.
Chloe has a soft spot about bravery, something tied to her size. I probably should not have used that word. Reid had no such complex. We had been swimming for days already, so bare skin was not a shock.
Could be fun, Reid said.
I do not know, Chloe smiled.
I bugged my eyes at her. You do not want the romance shots faked? You want real ones?
No. I did not mean that.
So you would rather do fake ones than real ones?
Well, of course, yes.
Great. We start as soon as we get back to the apartment.
We danced a little more and stopped at four drinks each. For Reid and me, four was a good buzz. For Chloe, it put her on the edge of tipsy. On the ride home Reid joked about whether he would have to kiss her. She slapped his arm and arched an eyebrow.
At the building I ran up for my camera while they waited downstairs. I stood on the landing and called them up.
Come on. I will start.
Reid slipped his arm around Chloe and they walked to the stairs. I snapped two frames. At the apartment door I took another. As they entered, Reid cupped her butt. I laughed and caught the shot just before she slapped his hand away.
Inside I had them hug. Then I put them on the couch for fake kissing. From behind Reid head it looked off, so I told them to grab each other like they meant it. Still forced.
It would just be easier if we kissed, would it not? Reid said, twisted uncomfortably on the cushions.
Chloe giggled. She was still warm from the drinks.
Yeah. Kissing never killed anyone, I said.
Reid kissed her properly. When he pulled back, Chloe was blushing.
You kiss funny, she said.
I kiss funny? What the hell?
I waved them quiet. Chloe, get on him. Show him you are the one in control.
Yeah. Let me show you how it is done. She pushed him back, straddled his stomach, and kissed him slow. His hands settled on her hips.
Oh. You kiss slow, he said. And I kiss funny because my tongue moves faster?
It feels funny, she laughed.
Okay. Can you two fake making out? Some groping and necking?
How do you fake groping? Reid asked.
I lowered the camera. Well. I would like some faked shots where you are naked together.
Naked? Chloe eyes went wide.
Faked, dear.
For now, since you are dressed, grope through clothes. We will fake the naked ones later.
Like this? Reid grabbed one of her small breasts. She squealed.
Yes. That is fine.
He squeezed too rough. She slapped him and reached back, grabbing a handful of his crotch hard enough to make him yelp. I got all of it on film. Then both of them broke into laughter.
Okay, okay. I will go easy, Reid said.
Never mind that. Get your hands up under her skirt.
Chloe looked panicked. I suddenly understood why. Sometimes she went without panties. Not often, but often enough to keep me guessing. Tonight was one of those nights.
Just a little, Reid, I said.
He slid his hands up carefully along the sides of her legs. Before either of us stopped him, he reached her hips. His face changed. No pantyline. Only skin.
Sorry, I said.
No, I am sorry, he said at the same time.
Oops. Sorry, Chloe added.
We all laughed.
Do not worry about it. There is going to be some skin in the faked shots. Maybe keep going and undress each other. I will shoot that.
They fumbled until I sighed. This is not that difficult.
With more laughter they stood and started peeling clothes off each other.
I used the rest of the roll. Chloe pulling his pants down was good.
I caught her glance at his underwear. I caught him close to her confirmed bare crotch as she stepped out of her skirt.
He tried to be proper and failed. He kept looking.
It is okay, Reid. It works for the camera, I said.
I changed film while they stood there half looking at me and half at each other. With a fresh roll I took the last of the undressing. Chloe giggled when his penis came into view. He was smaller than me, though taller. Not tiny. Just smaller.
Are you laughing at this? He tugged at himself, still soft. I photographed that too.
It is... it is... she did not know what to say.
Hey. I did not laugh at you.
No, no. I think it is cute.
He accepted that. I cannot help being limp. I am being photographed.
Chloe, would you grab him? I asked. Is that okay? We will not die from a little touching. You will need to touch for the faked shots anyway.
Touch it? She looked appalled.
Okay. Hug first.
They hugged naked. Two good frames. After that she was willing. She took him gingerly. The caution on her face was worth three pictures. Within seconds he hardened in her hand.
Oh my, she said.
If you squeeze it, it will bite you, he said with mock severity.
She squealed and let go. We all laughed again.
When she took him a second time she was more natural. A few strokes. More frames.
Reid, some handiwork on Chloe?
Sure, bud. His hand found her small crotch and rubbed. His eyebrows climbed. Chloe closed her eyes, either enduring it or holding herself still.
Okay. Enough of that. Chloe, fake blowing him.
How the hell do I fake a blowjob?
Just lower your mouth over it without touching.
She gave me a dubious look, then tried. Reid lay back. Her mouth hovered open and careful. It looked real from the right angle. Then his cock twitched, brushed her upper lip, and her mouth closed on instinct before she jerked up.
Whoa, Reid almost sat up.
Do not get funny, smart guy, she said.
I did not know you liked me like that.
She pointed at him, then shook her head with a rueful smile.
Careful, you two. Do not get excited, I said.
Easy for you to say, Reid muttered.
Okay. Fake eating her.
I shot them switching positions, then Reid face close to her.
There was a light sheen on her lips from the drinks and the heat of the room.
Faking this was harder. I told him closer, then closer again, until he got frustrated and pressed his nose against her.
She grabbed his head as if to push him away.
Perfect for the picture. She did not push hard.
She held him there so he would not do more.
Great. Now fake some sex. Bedroom.
I had Chloe climb onto him for a fake cowgirl. Straddle him. Hold him. Hold yourself open. Like you are about to slide down.
She blushed. Reid stared. I took the frames. She looked fantastic spread over him, more photogenic than she ever believed.
Now put it down and sit on it. From his feet it will look like you slid on. She did. I got three stages: up with him seeming to enter, lowering with him at her front looking like penetration, and seated fully on his hips with that soft flare of her ass. Reid, fondle her for a shot.
He rubbed her small breasts. Chloe hummed. She likes that. She rocked her hips a few times. Great for pictures. Bad for Reid, who gasped.
Stop, Chloe. No accidents, I said.
Sorry. She giggled, nervous.
Doggy next.
She went to hands and knees. Reid moved behind her and slid himself between her thighs. By nature of the position he had to rub along her opening.
Exactly. Perfect.
I shot from different angles as he made small back and forth movements and she answered them. Except from the front, you could not tell he was not inside her. From the front his erection split her lips and poked through. Chloe looked deep in concentration. Reid breathing turned ragged.
I think we better change positions, he said.
Yeah.