Write the Story Installments

A New Customer Walks into the Shop

WORD BANK:  boudoir, redwood, west, biography, whiten, sycophant, mandatory, commandment, perform, herbal

The fairy like tinkle of the bell chimed over the front door.  Exposed brick walls soaked in a fiery sunbeam, presenting the lobby of the Photography Shop as the warmest, most inviting place Danny could have walked into.  The front desk had cards scattered about, a computer sitting idle, and the curtain to the back hung dark, floor to ceiling.  Danny began having second thoughts, should she turn and leave now? Was now the time to get wrapped into something like this? As if reading her mind a clerk snuck out from behind the curtain making sure to draw the stiff fabric back flush to the wall.

"Can I help ya?"  He wiped his hands on his apron before reaching out to shake Danny's.  She noticed that they were hot, his face was flush, and his hair was disheveled.   A second person creeped out from behind the curtain and greeted her with a tiresome smile.  Danny watched her click a couple things around on the computer, nod to the man, and leave heading west on Dunbar Street.  Danny stumbled over her words and crossed her arms in discomfort as the guy wrung his hands impatiently.  

"I wasuh, um, hoping to get an appointment.  I'm looking to do something... nice... for my husband for his birthday in a few weeks."  But she knew damn well this was for her and not for her husband.  

"Yeah. Ok.  Here's a packet of some of the services that we offer.  If you're looking for something a little more... unique-" he handed her a second packet that had boudoir sprinkled throughout it's pages.  The cover had a fine print at the bottom that reiterated it was strictly 18+ and that these sessions would require a mandatory consultation before booking.  Danny's eyes shifted from the pamphlet to the man.  

"Thanks.  I'll give you a call after I look these over."  She latched the door shut behind her and made unsettling eye contact through the window before walking out of sight.  

The Photography Shop was a total mystery.  It was the kind of place where nobody ever came and went at least not that Danny ever saw.  She'd come across a short biography online in a late night internet search trying to find ways to liven things up with Connor, or even how to bring a spark back into her alone time. She had no idea where this spike in libido had come from and she never would have thought it'd be a problem, nothing she couldn't handle on her own, but it seemed to occupy her thoughts.    

She had wanted to talk about it with Connor for months now.  Waking up in the night sweating from dreams that aroused her more than he ever had was getting exhausting.  Danny tried to bring it up in subtle ways as not to hurt his feelings but he simply didn't catch on.  She didn't know what the answer was.  Occasionally she'd dip out of work early and drive a little too fast to beat him home just to have time to herself but even that was not enough any more.  There is something so sensual in a partner's touch that she desperately ached for.  

While their sex life was never overly prominent or even very exciting, she could not recall ever going this long without it after they got married.  Maybe it was simply that thought that really bothered her into heat.  The pamphlets from the shop poked out of the top of her purse.  It might be best to look them over again in the morning with a fresh mind.  

Danny set up her consultation appointment for 5:30 after work.  A lady had answered the phone and scheduled her.  The consultation was just a moment to discuss what was and was not allowed in a boudoir photo shoot, to discuss outfit changes, time and place of said shoot etc.  All of this was free of charge and was designed to put the photographer and the client at ease with one another before working together on a very intimate level.