Free Power play by Jayne Castle

shot the next.
    "What happened there?" she demanded for the fifth time as a strange shot of a lake appeared on the wall. "What are all those funny colors on the side?"
    "I was running out of film," he explained cheerfully. "That was the last shot in the camera. Anyhow, as I was saying, I got up at five thirty in the morning to catch that lake when it would be as smooth as glass. Look at it. Not a ripple, not a mark on its surface!"
    "If you could see the entire surface, it would have been very effective." Talia laughed. "But with all those strange colors fading off to the side…"
    "It's obvious you have no appreciation of the intricacies of fine photography," he grumbled, clicking in the next slide. "Now this one you can't quarrel with," he declared triumphantly.
    "It's beautiful, Kane." Talia's admiration was genuine. A simple flower shot, he had caught the morning dew on a rose in a huge close-up. "That one's worth framing."
    "You think so?" He eyed it critically.
    "Oh, yes. The colors are gorgeous. It would look terrific behind this couch," she told him enthusiastically.
    "What about this one?" he demanded, clicking in another slide.
    "It's all fuzzy!"
    "I was trying to give it a sort of hazy glow - you know, setting a mood," he protested.
    "Let's go on," Talia suggested firmly. "Ah. Now that I like. Too bad that car got into the background."
    "Can't win ‘em all," he told her philosophically. "Great texture, though, huh?"
    "Fabulous," she grinned, not knowing what he was talking about.
    Another click. Another slide.
    "What in the world…?" Talia leaned forward, trying to decipher the confused image on the screen.
    "I tripped and the camera went off unaimed," he sighed. "I meant to take that one out."
    "I don't know. That one has real possibilities," she told him thoughtfully. "Blown ABC Amber Text Converter Trial v ersion, http://www.processtext.com/abctxt.html
    up and framed it would look like a work of modern art. Something out of the New York school, I should think."
    "This is California," he reminded her stonily and went on to the next slide. "Now here's an interesting shot. I was on my way back from work late one evening this summer. I think I'll call it ‘Sunset over the Capitol.'"
    "Perhaps you could sell it to the governor. If he doesn't mind that strange shade of sunset,"
    "I was experimenting with my new filters," he remarked by way of explanation.
    "Now here's a nice series I took along the Sacramento River."
    "Umm. I like those." She nodded.
    In the intimate darkness of the room, one river scene after another shone brightly for a moment on the wall. It was very comfortable in some ways, Talia realized vaguely. Kane's arm around her felt warm and secure. Their shared laughter and comments would have made an outsider think they were a long-established couple.
    Unconsciously she allowed herself to snuggle a little closer to the warmth of his body.
    "Is that one upside down?" she demanded mildly at one point.
    "No, I always photograph historic buildings while standing on my head."
    "I thought there would be a good explanation," she nodded, satisfied.
    "Everyone's a critic," he groaned, sliding the hand that had been gently massaging Talia's shoulder along the curve of her throat and under her chin. Tilting her face upward, he turned his head to brush her lips with his own.
    "Kane?"
    "Hush," he soothed against her mouth, "I'm lining up a fantastic shot."
    He forced her head back onto his shoulder, the hand under her chin holding her securely in place for his kiss. "I'd like a close-up of that mouth," he breathed huskily.
    "But I'm not sure I could do it justice with a camera."
    "Oh, Kane!" With a small, shivering sound deep in her throat, Talia gave herself up to his kiss. She promised herself it would be only a momentary surrender. She would only sip from the well of excitement he seemed to promise.
    Tonight he seemed intent on taking his time. His mouth moved warmly on hers, creating a deepening intimacy that