Page 8 of Pose for Me

I let myself melt into the moment, surrendering to their presence, to what they’re offering. There’s no hesitation, no second-guessing. It’s as if I was made for this—made to exist in the space between them, caught in the current of their dominance, their hunger, their gaze.

As Knox pulls away from the kiss, I’m left breathless, my body reacting to every touch, every movement, every click of the camera. I feel exposed, vulnerable, yet more alive than I have in a long time. Their attention is all-consuming, and I can no longer bring myself to care how much it’s affecting me.

Knox’s gaze never leaves my face, watching every flicker of emotion as his fingers drag slowly up my waist, each inch setting my skin alight. He moves with a deliberate, almost teasing precision, the thin material of my top sliding along with his touch until his thumbs brush against the sensitive skin just beneath my breasts. I can barely breathe, anticipation building as he leans closer, his breath a warm caress against my cheek, his eyes dark and intense.

“What is your safe word, baby girl?” The question is soft, but the words vibrate in my chest, setting every nerve on edge.

I gasp as his thumbs brush higher, grazing over my bra, the lace catching against my skin, sending a sharp wave of sensation through me. “Aperture,” I manage to whisper, my voice barely audible, caught somewhere between disbelief and desire.

A low, knowing chuckle rumbles from him “Of course it is.” The warmth in his voice somehow makes it feel like a shared secret, as if he’d known I’d choose something tied to my passion, something familiar to ground me. Then he is pulling my top up and over my head, his hands brushing along my arms as he does. The room feels cool, goosebumps erupting across my skin, but the exposure only amplifies the heat simmering underneath my skin.

I’m acutely aware of River’s presence just a few steps away, the quiet shutter of the camera marking moments I barely comprehend.

Standing there in nothing but my bra and underwear, Knox steps back just enough to take in the sight of me, his gaze intense and hungry. Every inch of my skin tingles with awareness of the man towering in front of me.

Knox reaches up and gently unclips my hair, letting the long, dark strands tumble down my back. His fingers sift through the waves, lingering for a moment as he watches my reaction. It’s a strangely tender gesture, a contrast to the dominance simmering in his gaze, and my heart pounds in response.

On instinct, my hands press against his chest, fingers meeting the hard heat of his skin. I push slightly, a half-hearted attempt to create space, but he doesn’t move an inch. Instead, his hand twists in my hair, tightening sharply and tugging on the strands. The brief flare of pain makes my breath hitch, and he leans closer, his lips just brushing my ear as he growls, “You’re not in charge here anymore, sweetheart. If you want this to stop, you know the word. That’s the only thing that will stop this now.”

A shiver runs through me at the low command in his voice, the raw authority that thrums in his words. I shouldn’t find this attractive, but I do—more than I can admit, even to myself. His grip on my hair is firm, unrelenting, and every ounce of control I’m so used to holding onto slips away in his hands.

He drags my mouth to his, and there’s nothing gentle in the way he claims me this time. His kiss is searing, deep, his tongue parting my lips and tangling with mine, leaving no room for thought, only sensation. Heat blooms inside me, a fierce wave of need that overrides everything else, erasing any last scrap of professionalism I’d been clinging to. I moan into his mouth, my body responding before my mind can catch up.

My senses explode with the taste of him—smoky and fierce, tinged with something dark that makes my pulse race faster. Knox seems to pull every lick of fire from within me, igniting a hunger I didn’t know existed. He groans low when I arch into him, wanting more than just his mouth, yearning for the vise-like grip of his body around mine. He brings his free hand between us and deftly unhooks my bra, the lace parting as his hand cups and squeezes my flesh.

“Good girl,” he whispers against my lips, the praise sending shockwaves through me. It blooms like a wildflower, vibrant and untamed, threading tendrils of pleasure through my veins.

I don't even realize he has moved us, my whole focus is on his hands and mouth, the heat of his touch branding me, until the backs of my legs hit the bed. His push is firm and suddenly I'm on my back on the cool sheets, a contrast to the warmth radiating from my flushed skin. Knox stands over me, a dark silhouette against the studio lighting. His gaze is heavy and heated as it trails over the contours of my body—every part of me laid bare before him.

An instinctual vulnerability prickles at my skin, and I reach to shield myself, to hide what doesn't fit the mold of small and delicate. But his growl slices through the air, a single command that roots my hands to my sides. "Don't."

Narrowed hazel eyes pierce into me as Knox tilts his head, drinking in my body. "Never hide this perfection from anyone, Rayne." His voice is a gravel-laced growl. "A body like yours deserves to be worshiped, like Aphrodite herself."

I gasp as he suddenly drops to his knees in front of me. His large tattooed hands gripping my thighs, jerking me toward the edge of the bed with a forceful tug. Heat pools low in my belly at the dominance in his movements.

"And that's exactly what I'm going to do," he rumbles, hooking his fingers into the waistband of my underwear and pulling them down my legs in one swift motion.

I swallow hard as he leans forward, the rasp of his stubbled jaw brushing my inner thighs. Then his tongue traces a molten path along my slit.

The world around me slips away, fading into an overwhelming ocean of sensation. I arch my back involuntarily, gasping as Knox’s tongue glides over me with a tantalizing slowness one moment and then a savage passion that ignites every nerve ending in my body. My hands curl into the sheets, gripping the fabric like a lifeline as he brings me to the brink and whisks me only inches from it—teasing, tantalizing.

“Please,” I manage to breathe, though whether I’m begging for more or for release, I can’t tell. Knox looks up at me through dark lashes, his eyes shimmering with something primal—a hunger that mirrors my own.

“You taste as good as I imagined you would,” he rasps, the words curling around me like smoke, seductive and intoxicating.

Before I can respond, he delves deeper, his mouth devouring me with an urgency that sends shockwaves of pleasure rippling through my entire being. Each flick of his tongue sends me spiraling, drawing out sounds I never thought I could make. It’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone sexually and even those were quick, meaningless and unsatisfactory.

His hands hold me firmly in place as I try to shift my body closer to him, seeking more, craving the release he undoubtedly knows how to provide. He seems to find delight in my helplessness, his eyes glinting with mischief and a darkness I can’t identify as his tongue circles my clit teasingly. I can already feel this is going to be over quickly, my body barreling toward a cliff as his mouth closes over my sensitive bundle of nerves and sucks. A desperate whine escapes my lips as I feel that tight coil deep within me begin to unravel.

I throw my head back on a cry as a ripple of pleasure pulses through me, radiating from my core until my body tingles. Some small part of my mind is faintly aware of River leaning over me, the camera capturing the look on my face as I come apart.

My eyes flutter open, meeting his striking blue gaze. There's an potency there that sends a shiver down my spine, a mix of adoration and something darker, more predatory.

"God, you're fucking gorgeous when you come," he says, his easy smile doing little to mask the hunger in his eyes. "Isn't she, Knox?"

I can feel Knox's breath hot against my inner thigh as he chuckles. "Absolutely breathtaking."

As I attempt to regain my composure, Knox rises from between my legs, his eyes locked on mine. He reaches out, his tattooed fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from my face.

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