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     François lowers the camera and waits, feeling his heartbeat soften and slow. A few beads of sweat trickle down his brow and he swallows hard. Angelisa grabs hold of the arm of the sofa and pulls herself up, twisting her body around and bringing her knees up to her chest. She sketches the next photo and hands it to François saying
      "Down on the floor for this one. The light is better"
      She grabs a cushion and steps off the sofa towards the fire. François shuffles backward, anticipating the extra space he needs to frame the shot. Angelisa lies down on the rug alongside the fireplace and raises her knee slightly allowing it to cast a shadow on the straightened leg. Her hand slides onto her hip then over and down to the top of her thigh, fingers spreading and relaxing until the thumb touches the edge of hair between her legs. Propping her head up with the cushion she looks at François and gives him a nod of readiness. François nods back and lifts the camera. He pauses for a moment then lowers it again and surveys Angelisa's naked body with his own eyes.
      "You're very beautiful," he says with a soft voice. He smiles at her affectionately and as their eyes connect he feels the watery expansion of emotion in his eyes.
      "Merci François," and she dips her head gently as a sign to continue.
      Harsh ridges blend without imperfection as a shoulder meets her neckline. One arm outstretch, invisible, gives way to a featureless wall, curving at the hip and rounding out to a muscular leg. By the fireside an arm shoots downward, violating at the thigh as her fingers, outspread, caress the skin in tender dimples. Fire light dances on her torso, jumps from stomach to legs to chest, coaxing jewels of sweat from peaceful pores. Twin dark, circular interruptions, hardened by the heat and the moment, sit stoic atop tranquil breasts, accelerating his growing excitement. A small shadow in the middle of a barren plain rises gently as she breathes, then drops slowly, resting for a moment before the cycle renews. Following the gradient downwards yields a larger shadow, an expanse of fine hair; dark curls illuminated as they catch the light and reflect it from her soft skin beneath and tiny drops of liquid emerging from deeper within. Click.
      François lowers the camera and looks at Angelisa. She is perfectly comfortable and maintains her pose, smiling at him with a knowing smile that at once invites his desire and at the same time relieves the fears that threaten to surface in his mind. He is confused, struggling in his heart with the emotion and passion that has sprung from his venturing into uncharted territory. Remembering her reassuring words, her absolute understanding as he recounted personal details about himself, brings on a sense of relief and allows him to trust her unconditionally as she leads him, her pupil.
      She scratches another sketch on the paper and hands it to him. Despite his suspicions he is still taken by surprise as the image solidifies the idea in his head. She sits up and takes the camera from him, setting it on the floor. His failure to resist his marks his acceptance to continue. He stands up and begins to undress, removing his clothes one by one and tossing them on the sofa until he is left wearing only his underwear. Rising, Angelisa holds him gently at the arms and says
      "Don't be afraid. You have a beautiful body too."