Page 54 of Pose for Me

The thought of him cooking for her makes my chest tighten with anticipation and longing. I can almost see her face lighting up as she takes that first bite, her eyes widening in delight. The pride and joy that would radiate from River at her reaction, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

Then I’m sure he would fuck her over the table between the potatoes and peas.

Chapter 32

Rayne

Istartleawake,myeyes flying open as something cold and wet presses against my cheek. A loud, insistent meow pierces the fog of sleep, and I find myself staring into Luna's amber eyes, mere inches from my face. Her whiskers twitch as she lets out another plaintive cry, clearly displeased.

"Alright, alright," I mumble, my voice thick with sleep. "I'm up."

Sunlight streams through the gap in my curtains, painting golden stripes across my rumpled bed sheets and the air conditioning is already struggling against the heat again. The light seems unusually bright, and I squint against its intensity as I fumble for my phone on the nightstand. Luna takes this opportunity to headbutt my hand, demanding attention. With a sigh, I oblige, scratching behind her ears as I finally manage to grab my phone.

I blink blearily at the screen, waiting for my eyes to focus on the numbers displayed there. When they do, a jolt of adrenaline surges through me, instantly banishing any lingering drowsiness.

"Shit!" I bolt upright in bed, nearly dislodging Luna from her perch beside me. The cat lets out an indignant meow, jumping gracefully to the floor. "No, no, no. This can't be right."

But the glowing numbers on my phone screen don't lie. It's well past 10 a.m, hours later than I'd planned to wake up. My mind races, trying to make sense of the situation. I could have sworn I set my alarm for 6 a.m last night when I came to bed.

"Fuck," I mutter, running a hand through my tangled hair. "Luna, why didn't you wake me earlier?"

The cat, now sitting primly on the floor, merely blinks at me, as if to say,"Not my job, human."

I throw off the sheet, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The cool hardwood floor beneath my feet sends a shiver up my spine, but I barely notice as I tap frantically through my phone. There it is—my usual 6 AM alarm, clearly switched off. But I don't remember doing that. Did I disable it in my sleep? It wouldn't be the first time my subconscious decided I needed more rest.

A frustrated groan escapes me as I realize how this throws off my entire day. I had a whole list of errands I wanted to run before diving into work—a package to drop off, dry cleaning to pick up, getting groceries in the daylight instead of night for once. Now, with client inquiries to respond to and a mountain of editing waiting for me, there's no time for any of it.

"Don't look at me like that," I grumble at her, shooting Luna a glare. "This is your fault. You're supposed to be my backup alarm."

Luna blinks slowly at me, utterly unimpressed by my accusation. She yawns widely, showing off her tiny pink tongue and sharp teeth, before sauntering out of the room. Clearly, she considers her duties fulfilled.

With a resigned sigh, I head for the bathroom. I remind myself of one of the perks of being my own boss—I don't have to rush. Sure, I've overslept, but there's no angry supervisor waiting to reprimand me, no time clock to punch. I can still take a moment to breathe, to center myself before diving into the day.

The bathroom mirror reflects a slightly disheveled version of myself—hair mussed from sleep, eyes still heavy-lidded. I turn on the shower, letting the water heat up and steam begins to fill the small space, fogging the mirror and wrapping around me like a warm embrace.

I step under the spray, letting out a contented sigh as the hot water cascades over my body. The steady drumming of droplets against my skin helps to wash away the last remnants of sleep, invigorating me for the day ahead. I quickly work shampoo through my long dark hair, but nothing can compare now to how it felt when River did it.

I grab my favorite lavender-scented body wash, lathering it between my hands before smoothing it over my skin. The familiar scent fills the steamy air, soothing my frazzled nerves. As I work the suds across my body, my mind drifts to the events of yesterday and a shiver runs through me that has nothing to do with the water temperature.

Shaking off those distracting thoughts, I quickly finish washing up, regretfully cutting my shower shorter than I'd like. While I may not have a traditional boss, I do have responsibilities, and a growing list of tasks won't complete themselves.

I dress quickly, pulling on simple black lace lingerie before slipping into one of the loose, flowing dresses I prefer. As a boudoir photographer I know the power of lingerie, including on the person wearing it simply for themselves. The soft fabric of my dress caresses my skin as I move, the hem swishing around my calves. The deep blue color brings out the sapphire tones in my eyes, and the loose fit skims over my curves without clinging. I relish the feel of the cool fabric against my skin. It's perfect for the sweltering heat outside, allowing air to circulate while still looking put-together enough for any impromptu client meetings.

As I make my way to the kitchen, the hardwood floor cool beneath my bare feet, Luna appears as if summoned. She weaves between my legs, nearly tripping me, her meows growing more insistent with each step. "Yes, yes, I know," I mutter, reaching down to scratch behind her ears. "Breakfast time for the queen, right?"

I open the fridge, the cool air washing over me as I reach for one of the cans of gourmet cat food River had left. My hand pauses as I grab it, a small frown creasing my brow. I could have sworn there were only three cans left yesterday after I'd used one, but now there are four sitting neatly in a row.

For a moment, I stand there, staring at the cans as if they might offer an explanation. Had I miscounted yesterday? Or perhaps I'm more sleep-deprived than I thought. Luna's impatient meow breaks me from my reverie, and I shake off the odd feeling. Whatever the explanation, it's hardly the strangest thing to happen lately.

I quickly blend up a smoothie while Luna eagerly devours her breakfast. The whir of the blender fills the kitchen as I toss in a mix of frozen berries, banana, spinach, and almond milk. The vibrant purple concoction swirls hypnotically, tiny flecks of green from the spinach dancing through the vortex.

As Luna licks her bowl clean, I transfer the smoothie to a glass and rinse the blender, the cool water sluicing over my hands. Droplets cling to my fingers, catching the morning light streaming through the window and scattering tiny rainbows across the sink.

With a final scratch behind Luna's ears, I grab my smoothie and head for the door. The lock clicks softly behind me as I step into the stairwell.

At the bottom, I pause, my free hand resting on the banister. My eyes scan the studio, drinking in every detail. Sunlight streams through the high windows, dust specks dancing lazily in the golden beams. The polished hardwood gleams, reflecting the light. My gaze is drawn to the floor near the entrance. I hold my breath, scrutinizing every inch. But there's nothing there—no envelopes, no roses, no ominous packages, no signs of disturbance. Just a clean, empty floor.

I release the breath I'd been holding, my shoulders relaxing slightly. Maybe I am being paranoid. Maybe it's a good thing I slept in, I hadn’t thought about my unwanted stalker when I planned my errands.

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