Page 9 of Stranger Session

Gravel crunches near my car, and I turn toward the sound. Mariah walks toward me and holds out her hand,wiggling her fingers and signaling for me to give her a cigarette. I hand one to her and light it for her.

“Sorry for grabbing you,” I say.

She shrugs and takes a drag. “I’m glad you stepped in. That guy was making me pretty uncomfortable. You got a little jealous, though, huh?” A smirk tips the corner of her mouth upward.

I scoff. “No,” I say, but it’s a lie. I sure as fuck did get jealous. Very jealous.

“I think you did.”

I turn and step into her until her back presses against the car. “Maybe I did. So what? Your body belongs tomefor the duration of this photo shoot, doesn’t it?” My hand drops to her hip and squeezes.

She exhales a breath filled with smoke, and the smile on her face makes me rock-hard again. “I didn’t think I’d like control like that, but here we are.”

My hand winds through her hair, and I tighten my hold near her scalp. I crane her neck and press my mouth against her throat, where I bite and suck until I leave a mark on her. “Now that fuck will know who you belong to,” I whisper against her skin.

Where is this coming from? What about this girl is bringing this out of me?

And how will I say goodbye when the shoot is over?

Chapter Eight

Mariah

My cheeks flush when I glance over at Sarah’s assistant, and I swear his bloodshot eyes have glued themselves to the hickey on my neck. I’m not embarrassed, though. Just incredibly turned on. I never thought I would like feeling owned or marked like I’m a piece of meat instead of a human. But here I am, soaked from it.

“Everyone good?” Sarah asks as she raises her camera and starts mashing buttons. She doesn’t look at us as she speaks.

Del and I nod.

He hasn’t looked at the assistant since we all gathered in the backyard again. If you had asked me before this moment if I’d like someone who became possessive of me, I’d tell you no thanks. But for some strange reason, Ireallylike it today. I love occupying the part of this man’s mind that makes him feral over me.

I know it’s not healthy. He’s essentially waving a giantred flag toward me. But after this shoot, I’ll never see him again, so I’ll let that fucking flag wave in my face.

Del sits on the bench, just like Sarah’s assistant had. He pulls me onto his lap like Sam did, but he takes it a step further and lifts my thigh so that my back curves. Then his hand winds through my hair, and he pulls me to his mouth.

“Mine,” he whispers against my lips.

My hips scoop forward, dragging my warmth over his erection, and he growls before pulling away. The camera springs to life as Del’s lips find mine again. Each rapid click of the shutter matches my heartbeat, and I wonder if the camera will capture this intangible passion between us. The warmth traveling from his lap and gliding through my body. The need and hunger racing through our veins. I’ve never wanted anyone so badly as I want this man at this moment.

But we can’t.

And that only makes me want him more.

“I think we’ve covered the steamy portion of the session. Let’s take some final sweet shots.” Sarah motions toward the woods. “Walk toward the tree line holding hands.”

We get up, interlace our fingers, and head toward the trees. He grips my hand harder, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Okay, stop and give me something romantic,” Sarah calls behind us.

We turn to each other beneath a splash of fall color offered by the tree canopy. It’s really fucking romantic. His hand rises to my cheek and loops behind my ear. He rubs the tender lobe between his thumb and pointer finger. I whimper. It’s like my earlobe goes right to my vagina. Not even rubbing my nipples turns me on this much.

And he remembered what that touch would do to me. Not many men take the information women give them and actually use it, but he’s making use of it now.

He leans in and puts his forehead to mine.

Sarah squeals with excitement behind her camera. “That’s it, guys! This is great!”

A grumble comes from her assistant, but he can’t break this spell we’re under. Something incredible passes between Del and me. A spark. A longing for more. That’s why what Sarah says next drives an invisible fist into my stomach.

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