Lose Yourself (The Desires Unlocked Trilogy Part Two) by Evie Blake Page A

pointing straight up in the air, sheathed in pale oyster stockings almost the same colour as her skin, her bottom facing the mirror. Apart from the stockings she is utterly naked. Her head is tipped to the right and she is staring at the mirror, surveying the viewer, the camera balanced in her right hand, her arm outstretched so that she is able to get everything in the shot. She is on display completely.
    ‘They’re great,’ Valentina says.
    Anita looks genuinely pleased. ‘Really? That means so much to me,’ she says.
    ‘Well, I am not an experienced erotic photographer by any means . . .’
    ‘Yeah, but you come from such a famous family. I mean, your mother – she’s an icon!’
    Valentina stiffens at the mention of Tina Rosselli.
    ‘Ladies, I think we should crack open a bottle of champagne,’ says Kirsti, her cheeks flushed. ‘I could do with some help deciding where to hang everything. Would you have the time, Anita?’
    ‘Well, I am performing tonight,’ Anita says, ‘but not until really late. And it’s only down the road. I can ring my man to come and pick me up.’
    ‘Great. What do you say, Valentina? Are you free for a while?’ Kirsti is still holding up the naked photograph of Anita as she speaks. The burlesque dancer’s bare legs glimmer in the light from the spotlight behind them.
    ‘Sure,’ Valentina finds herself saying. ‘I’ve no plans.’
    She is certain that, by now, both Antonella and Isabella are stuck into a night of drinking and reminiscing. Valentina is happy to avoid that. She doesn’t want to have to sit and listen to Isabella regale them with stories of all the fun she and Valentina’s mother used to have back in the sixties and seventies.
    Two hours later, the gallery is nearly hung; Valentina hopes it has been done well, although she suspects that they are too inebriated at this stage to tell. Surprisingly, it is Anita who seems the most together of the three of them. They are sprawled on the floor of the gallery. Kirsti’s shift dress is up at her hips and she has a lazy grin on her face as she takes a sip of her champagne – the third bottle they have opened between them.
    ‘Well, here I am in my ultimate girly fantasy,’ she says, ‘drinking champagne with two of the sexiest women I have ever met.’
    Anita and Valentina lock eyes. Valentina has never been attracted to the femme fatale look, and yet there is something about Anita . . . something sweet and alluring . . .
    ‘Tell me, Valentina,’ Kirsti says, ‘are you wearing anything underneath that dress? It is so incredibly figure hugging . . .’ She reaches forward and slips her hand through the slit on to Valentina’s bare leg, trailing her fingers up her thigh.
    ‘No,’ says Valentina steadily, wondering whether it would be rude to remove Kirsti’s hand. ‘You can’t wear anything underneath; it’s too tight. It shows off everything.’
    ‘I can see that,’ says Anita grinning. ‘I love it; it’s so bold with those black and white stripes – very sixties and free spirited. Whereas I am trussed up in all my gear . . .’ she adds. ‘And what about you, Kirsti? Are you wearing any knickers?’ Anita giggles.
    Kirsti starts to laugh, removes her hand from Valentina’s leg and, all of a sudden, pulls her dress up. Valentina can see that she is completely shaved, her flesh pale and soft. It looks incongruous along with her long dark hair. She pulls a tiny thong off with her long, elegant fingers.
    ‘Not anymore, darling,’ she drawls.
    ‘Oh, you are naughty, aren’t you?’ Anita teases her.
    ‘Will you dance for us, Anita?’ Kirsti asks. ‘Just a private dance for myself and Valentina?’
    ‘I’ve no music.’ Anita pouts.
    ‘Can’t you just imagine it? We can, can’t we?’ Kirsti is looking at Valentina, a suggestive smile on her face.
    ‘I should go,’ Valentina says, hesitantly.
    ‘Oh, no, please,’ Kirsti pleads. ‘You have to see Anita perform.’
    Anita