Page 94 of Pose for Me
Kneeling in front of him, I push his hair back from his face, smiling as the soft strands drift through my fingers. I love that he continued to grow his hair out. He still has that softer look, even though I know he’s not.
I really fucking love him.
“Come on, baby boy,” I say, taking his hands in mine. “Let me get you in the bathtub. When you’re done, I’ll rub your feet.”
He sighs. “Thanks, Daddy. I swear, I love teaching, but standing up all day ain’t it. I’m going to order a stool to sit on and just read from my projector.”
“Really?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. Lane likes to interact with his students, walking around and talking to them one-on-one, giving them insight into their job. He’s not the type to sit around.
A smile breaks across his face. “No. But it’s all good. My Daddy will just have to rub my feet after a long day.”
“Of course I will.”
We enter our en suite bathroom, and I fill the garden tub with almost scorching hot water and sprinkle in some Epsom salt to relax his muscles.
As I help him into the tub, I reflect on how we got here. When I saw Lane on the news, calling me out, I thought I would kidnap him, kill him, and pose him, making him a high-profile victim, but a victim all the same. But I got more than I bargained for with Lane, and I’m so glad I did.
I squirt some of his favorite bodywash into a washcloth and rub it across his skin. I knead his muscles as I go, watching Lane’s face morph into a blissful expression. “That feels good, Daddy.” He sighs, a soft smile touching his lips.
“Are you happy, Lane?” I ask abruptly. He opens his eyes and looks at me, confused. “With me?” It’s not often I look for his validation, but considering where we started, I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to make him happy. I can’t live without Lane, so I’ll do what I have to do so I can keep him in my life.
He places his wet hand on my face, and I lean into his touch, needing it desperately. “Happier than I imagined I could be. You’re my everything, Ry. If ever I’m unhappy, I’ll tell you.”
“I know.”
“Don’t make assumptions, okay?” He looks at me pointedly.
“I promise,” I say, my lip twitching.
I’m sure at some point, he’ll let go of the fact that I left him for six months.
When Lane is clean from the top of his head down to the soles his feet, I toss the cloth in the hamper and head to the room.
“Where you going, Ry?” he calls to me.
I don’t answer, just come back with my sketch pad and some charcoal pencils. “I want to draw you. Just like this.”
Lane nods with a grin and leans back, closing his eyes and relaxing farther into the tub.
I have to be quick so he’s not still in the tub when the water turns cold.
As I peek up at him and drag the pencil across the paper, that ball of light that’s in my chest has expanded to fill my entire body. Lane’s love consumes me. It’s fucking addictive. I don’t want to give him up. Iwon’tgive him up. Lane belongs to me, mind, body, and soul. I’ll have to make him mine in name, too.
“You know,” I say, smudging areas of the drawing to make it appear more realistic, “we’ll be getting married soon.”
He cracks an eye open to look at me. “Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Telling you. Why ask when I know you’ll say yes? It’s a waste of both our times.”
Lane scoffs, but his smile stretches widely across his face. “Fine, Ryell. I’ll marry you.”
“You ready to be Mr. Lane Harper?”
“Of course. I’m ready to be yours. Forever.”
Closing the sketch pad, I walk over to the tub and kneel beside it. Threading my fingers through his hair, I crush our lips together.
After the life I’ve led, I never thought I would find someone like Lane to be with me. I thought I was destined to be alone, the memories of my victims the only thing to keep me warm at night. But Lane showed up, giving me all the love and happiness I’ve been missing.
