Page 40 of Dirty Shots

Chapter Fourteen

Anya

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Nerves roiled in her stomachas she smoothed down the skirt of her dress. Anya straightened in front of the full length mirror and quickly checked how her figure looked in the silky, red material. She turned around and twisted her neck, making sure the clingy fabric didn’t make her backside appear to be the size of a bus. No, she’d get away with it. Her round behind would never be mistaken for being on the small size, but the dress cut in nicely at her waist, making her a perfect hourglass.

She turned to face the mirror again and took a deep breath, letting the air back out slowly through her nose. She was due to meet Eric and his friend, Logan Blanc, at a bar downtown in less than half an hour. She was nervous, not only because of the tension that still existed between her and Eric, but also because she was meeting Logan for the first time.

Logan Blanc was infamous in the city. With his surfer-dude, blond good looks, and coming from old money, as well as running a successful gallery himself, he was regularly photographed with some tall, skinny model on his arm, featured as one of New York’s eligible bachelors. Anya knew she wasn’t his type—not that it mattered, of course. While she and Eric might not officially be a couple and had some problems of their own, she only had eyes for him. The problem was that Logan had seen her photographs—explicit pictures of her breasts, pussy, and asshole, sometimes penetrated by plugs, her own fingers, or bound by rope or cuffs. She’d never exposed herself to a man in that way before, and certainly never allowed someone to take photographs. The idea that a man she’d never met had also seen them, and she was about to meet him for a drink and have him try to convince her to use them publically, made her lightheaded and nauseated.

Despite this, she tried to control her nerves. She was doing this for Eric.

The door of her dorm room swung open, and the dark-haired head of her roommate popped through.

Anya paused in checking herself out. “What are you doing?” she said to what appeared to be a floating head.

Nadine grinned. “Just checking you weren’t hiding any mysterious strangers in here.”

“Well, if I am, I’m doing a damn good job of hiding them.”

Nadine stepped fully into the room and looked around. “Looks like all’s clear.” Then she caught sight of Anya’s dress and let out a low wolf-whistle. “There might not be any guys in here, but I’m going to assume someone is getting lucky tonight. Hot date?”

“Kinda. More like a business meeting, actually.”

“Anya, sweetie. You’re not turning tricks, are you?”

“Nadine! I can’t believe you’d even say that!” Her stomach dropped at the thought that Gavin might have started to spread that rumor, despite Eric’s threat.

She burst out laughing. “I’m kidding! But seriously, what’s going on with you? Is it the same guy, the one who punched Jackass Gavin?”

She shrugged. “Yeah, him and a friend. But it’s to do with my career, I promise.” It was only a partial lie.

“Two hot guys? Can I come?”

Anya laughed and threw a tube of mascara at her friend. Nadine dodged easily out of the way. “I told you, this is work.”

“Well, you look stunning, Anya. You’ll blow them away.”

Anya smiled. “Thanks, doll.”

She gave her blonde hair a final fluff to create body, and leaned forward to check her makeup one last time. Satisfied she was looking her best, she picked up her purse from the dresser. “Okay, I’m off.” She headed toward the door.

“Have fun!” her roommate called after her. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

Knowing Nadine, she did pretty much anything, so that would be a hard challenge to match.

Has she ever had a guy photograph her wearing a butt-plug and then want to put it on public display?She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She didn’t think even Nadine could top that one.

She headed off campus, thankful for the lightweight trench coat she had belted at the waist. She didn’t want to attract any more attention to herself from the wrong people. It was strange how she was trying to hide away on campus, while she might be so exposed to the rest of the city in a little over a week.

If I agree to the exhibition, of course.

She could still refuse to have her face in the portraits, at least.

But then Eric’s career may suffer. Could you really be that selfish?

And it could ruin your relationship with your family,she told herself, feeling like an angel and a devil were sitting on each shoulder, speaking in her ear. Is Eric selfish enough to allow you to do that?

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