The Deception Read Free Page A

she said as she brushed some bright red lip-gloss onto Carrie's lips. "You may be thirty years old now, but you're still drop-dead gorgeous, and you're going to be beautiful even when you get to be my age. Doug was an absolute fool to let you go. Now, take a look at yourself in the mirror."
    Louise stepped aside while Carrie studied her reflection. She had to admit she still looked pretty, at least on the outside. But ever since her break-up with Doug, she'd felt less than desirable on the inside.
    "Now I need you to put on those sexy shoes of yours and I'll be back in a flash. I have a surprise for you." She rushed out, returning a minute later with a wooden box. "I found this the other day at a craft fair. It's all handmade and one-of-a-kind, and when we're done you can take it home with you. Think of it as an early Christmas present from me to you."
    Carrie thanked her as she eagerly opened the box. Inside was a collection of beautiful handmade costume jewelry. There were necklaces, bracelets and earrings of all different colors, shapes and styles. They carefully went through and inspected each piece as they decided which ones she would wear.
    "Let's start with this," said Louise, setting a matching black-beaded necklace, bracelet and earrings down on the vanity. "I think they'll go nicely with your shoes. We'll use some of the other stuff later on. I'm going back into the studio. Come in as soon as you're ready and we'll get started."
    Carrie put on the jewelry as Louise stepped away. When she was ready, she took a final look in the mirror. She let out sigh and slowly walked into the photo studio. Louise had the lights set up in front of a gray, textured screen that was pulled out for several feet onto the floor. She pointed to the spot she'd marked.
    "Okay, we've got a lot of work to do, so let's get rolling. We'll start with a few warm-up shots. Take your robe off and go stand over there."
    Carrie's hands were trembling as she untied her robe. She slowly removed it and set it aside. Walking to the mark, she suddenly felt as if she were naked to the world. It was more than a little scary.
    "You look tense and you don't need to be. You're a beautiful woman, Carrie. Everything about you is beautiful and perfect and you have nothing whatsoever to be ashamed of. The Victorian Age is over. It's high time we women stopped feeling so self-conscious about our bodies and learned how to love and accept ourselves, exactly as we are."
    She told her to turn sideways, bend down and grab her ankles.
    "That's good. Now, turn your head toward me, look into the camera, and smile."
    Since nothing was really showing from that position, Carrie quickly began to relax. Before long her smile began to look genuine.
    "That's my girl." Louise took a few more shots. "Now, I need you lie down on the floor, facing me, with one leg in front of the other."
    Carrie immediately lay down on her side, placing her top leg out in front. 
    "Good. Now prop yourself up on your forearm, just like you're doing now, and rest your other arm on your hip."
    As Carrie put herself into the pose, she felt the cool air on her naked breasts. She looked down, realizing they were now fully exposed. She started to tense up.
    "Are you okay?"
    "I don't know. I'm sorry, Louise. I really thought that I could do this. Now I'm not so sure."
    "Wait right there." She quickly stepped out, returning a moment later with a glass of white wine. "I was saving this for later, but I think a few sips right now might help you to relax."
    Carrie sat up and took the glass while Louise popped a CD into a player. The soothing sounds of a Beethoven symphony filled the room. She raised the glass to take a whiff of the wonderful aroma. It was a fine chardonnay, her favorite wine. She took a sip, savoring it in her mouth for as long as she could before she swallowed. She drank more of it.
    "Not too much," said Louise, as she took the nearly empty glass back. "I want you relaxed, not loopy. Now, close