Page 18 of Pose for Me

"Are you sore, can you still feel us?" he whispers, his voice rich and low, each word a deliberate caress. The air between us thickens, charged and suffocating all at once. "Because I can still feel your pussy wrapped around our cocks. I can still taste you on my tongue." His teeth scrape lightly against my earlobe, making my knees threaten to buckle. "I desperately want to play with you again, beautiful Rayne."

The ache that had been simmering low in my belly ignites, spreading like wildfire through my veins. My body betrays me—my thighs clench, my lips part, and a shaky breath escapes before I can catch it. But beneath the haze of desire, a sliver of restraint claws its way forward. Kahlee’s waiting for me. She’s out there, sipping her wine, expecting me to return any second now.

I steel myself, forcing my voice past the lump in my throat. "I can’t," I manage, the words trembling but firm. "I’m here with a friend."

River pulls back slightly, his touch falling away, though the intensity in his gaze remains. His grin softens into something almost playful, yet no less dangerous, as if he finds my resolve amusing. With a languid step, he retreats to Knox’s side, his movements unhurried, unapologetic.

Knox’s arm snakes effortlessly around River’s waist, pulling him close until their bodies align. The other hand rises, claiming River’s throat in a way that mirrors what River had done to me moments ago. There’s a possessiveness in the gesture, an intimacy that feels both raw and deliberate, like a silent display meant for my eyes alone.

"Well," River says, his voice light but tinged with disappointment, "that’s a shame." His gaze lingers on me as if he’s savoring the sight of my flushed cheeks and the way I struggle to maintain composure.

Knox leans in toward him, his lips grazing River’s ear. Whatever he whispers is too quiet for me to hear, but the effect is immediate. River’s lashes flutter closed, his mouth parting slightly as a look of sheer bliss crosses his face. It’s mesmerizing, maddening. I want to know what Knox said, what has that look crossing River’s face—and it makes my feet itch to move toward them despite every rational thought screaming at me to stay put.

I wrench my gaze away, breaking the spell they’ve cast over me. My legs feel heavy, unwilling, but I force them to carry me back down the hallway. Each step feels like a betrayal of the fire still burning in my core, but I cling to the memory of Kahlee’s expectant smile, her laughter over glasses of wine.

By the time I reach the table, my hands tremble as I pick up my glass. I take a long sip, desperate for the cool liquid to drown the inferno raging inside me. Kahlee looks up with curiosity, but I manage a strained smile, tucking the encounter away for later—when I’m alone and far from their intoxicating presence.

Kahlee’s green eyes narrow slightly as she tilts her head, studying me like she’s trying to capture the perfect frame. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look a little flushed.” Her voice is soft but probing, a familiar warmth undercut by curiosity. She leans in closer, resting her chin on her hand, her freckled face lit by the dim amber glow of the bar.

I nod quickly, too quickly, and raise the glass again. The chilled rim presses against my lips, and I take another long, deliberate sip, letting the sweetness coat my tongue, hoping the act will buy me a moment to pull myself together. When I set the glass down, Kahlee’s gaze hasn’t wavered.

“Alright,” she says, drawing out the word, her tone teasing now. “Then spill it. What happened with them? And don’t even think about leaving out the juicy details.” She smirks, leaning forward like she’s settling in for a story she knows will be good.

But instead of the knee-jerk response I usually have—the automatic urge to share everything with her, no filter—I feel an unfamiliar weight pressing down on me. A strange, protective instinct coils in my chest, wrapping tightly around the memory ofthem. It’s mine. The way they moved, the way they looked at me, the way they—no.

My fingers tighten around the stem of the wine glass until the delicate glass threatens to snap. The tension surprises me, and I force myself to loosen my grip, placing the glass back on the table with a trembling hand. My pulse thrums unevenly, and I try to ignore the telltale prickle at the base of my neck. They’re here. Watching. I can feel their attention like a phantom caress sliding over my skin, intimate and invasive all at once. My breath catches, and I fight the maddening urge to turn around and search for them in the shadows of the crowded bar.

Kahlee’s voice cuts through the haze. “Rayne?” She frowns, concern flickering in her green eyes. “What’s going on with you?”

“I’m fine,” I manage, though my voice sounds thin, strained. I straighten in my seat, forcing a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. “It was nothing, really. Just…a simple one night stand. I’m sure they were just ticking something off a bucket list.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “Simple?” she echoes, latching onto the word. “That’s all you’re giving me? Come on, Rayne, you’ve got to give me more than that!”

I shake my head lightly, my smile growing tighter. “Honestly, Kahlee, it’s not that interesting.” The lie tastes bitter, but there’s no way I’m unraveling this tangled thread for her. Not tonight. Not withthemso close, their phantom presence burning into me like a brand.

Desperate to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory, I reach for my phone on the table and tap the screen. “Anyway, how didyourshoot go yesterday? You said you had some new clients?”

She hesitates for a moment, clearly unsatisfied, but something about the shift in my tone must convince her to drop it. With a shrug, she sighs and launches into a detailed account of her latest photoshoot—something about an engagement session at sunset near the lake.

I nod along, trying to focus on her words, but every nerve in my body remains taut, aware of the invisible strings tying me to the shadows where I know they’re lurking.

Chapter 14

Knox

I’mquietasIopen the door to her apartment, slipping inside with practiced ease. The lock is laughably easy to pick, just as it had been every other time. The familiar scent of lavender and vanilla wraps around me like a second skin as I close the door softly behind me. Everything about this place is uniquely Rayne—warm yet meticulous, with little bursts of chaos that reflect her personality in ways I doubt she realizes. It’s fascinating to me how someone can leave so much of themselves in their space without even trying.

My shoes make no sound against the hardwood as I move further into the apartment. I’ve done this enough times now that I know every creak and groan of the floorboards, every shadow cast by the dim light filtering through the curtains. And, like clockwork, her cat makes her appearance.

The small dark gray feline pads into view, her amber eyes narrowing as she spots me. She sits regally in the center of the living room, tail curling around her paws as though she’s judging me for my tardiness. I smirk, pulling the package from my pocket.

"Demanding little thing,” I murmur under my breath as I crouch down. I set the pouch of catnip on the ground along with a new toy—a feathery contraption I’d picked up earlier today. The cat tilts her head, giving me a look that speaks volumes. If looks could talk, I imagine hers to be saying,"You're late again. But at least you brought a tribute."

"Blame your human," I mutter, brushing my fingers lightly over the tips of her ears before straightening. The cat sniffs at the offerings, seemingly satisfied, before trotting off with the toy clutched in her mouth.

I take a moment to let the silence settle around me, listening for any sign of movement from the bedroom. Nothing yet. Perfect.

It’s only been an hour since we’d followed her home from the bar, but the memory of watching her from the shadows still thrums through me. River and I had stayed tucked in the farthest corner, nursing drinks we never intended to finish. Her friend hadn’t noticed us, too absorbed in whatever they’d been discussing, but Rayne? Oh, she’d felt us.

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