8. Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Rayne
My mind is still spinning, caught on the brief, featherlite brush of River’s fingers grazing mine. That single touch lingers, subtle yet electrifying, as he uses his free hand to press against my lower back, guiding me forward. His touch is gentle, yet firm, his fingers press against my spine, and I feel myself sway, my steps faltering as he propels me toward Knox. I feel the low beat of the music in each step, in each beat of my heart and each shallow breath.
Knox rises from the bed, filling my vision. The room seems to shrink, every detail blurring at the edges, except for him. Hard, tattooed flesh covers his body in mesmerizing patterns, and my gaze is drawn to the ink tracing his arms, his collarbone, his abs, slipping just beneath the fabric of his briefs. He is towering, steady and unyielding, a wall of power before me, and for a moment, I lose myself in the intricate details of his tattoos.
I almost stumble forward, but strong hands catch me. Fingers press into my hips, firm and steadying. Knox’s hands are scorching, their heat seeping through the thin cotton of my overalls, and I’m acutely aware of every point of contact, every inch of space that separates us. His hands seem to burn through the fabric, branding me with the strength of his hold, and the simple act of him steadying me feels intimate, possessive.
I look up, drawn to his face, only to find his gaze already locked on me, molten and intense. There’s a hunger in his eyes that makes my stomach flutter, and I feel a shiver race down my spine, pooling into a slow, simmering ache at my core. His presence is overwhelming, consuming, and the air between us grows heavier with each passing second.
A slow smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, a knowing curl that promises both danger and thrill. His gaze drifts over me, taking in every inch with an appreciation that leaves me feeling bare, vulnerable. “Is this okay, little Rayne?” His voice is low, rough, the gravel in his tone sending a pulse of heat through my body.
For the first time, I realize how much power he holds over me with just a few simple words. It’s a question, but there’s no real uncertainty in it. He’s not asking for permission, not really—he’s commanding, yet giving me the choice. The intensity of his gaze makes my heart race, and the ache deep inside me intensifies in response, urging me to surrender.
I’m not small. I know I’m not. I’m tall, with curves that most people notice the moment I step into a room, but standing here with them—standing between Knox and River—I feel smaller than I ever have. Their height, their confidence, their strength—all of it dwarfs me in a way that makes my mind spin, but at the same time, it pulls something from deep within me, a desire to submit, to give in to what they’re offering, even without fully understanding why.
The heat in my body is overwhelming, so I close my eyes for a moment, trying to steady myself, to regain control. I can’t make sense of what’s happening, why this is affecting me so much, but the tension in the air is all consuming. And when Knox rumbles again, his voice low and almost dangerous, my body betrays me, responding to him even before I have a chance to process the words.
“I can stop this if it’s too much,” he murmurs, his voice dark and tempting, “Simply say the word, and he will obey me.”
I could stop this. I could end it all, draw a line, regain control. But the truth is, I don’t want to. I want to feel everything, to let go of the control I’ve clung to so tightly in my life and embrace the wild uncertainty they’re offering.
I open my eyes, and the world narrows to just Knox’s gaze, dark and unyielding, as it locks onto mine. The magnetic pull between us is undeniable, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ll crumble under the weight of it. But then, something inside me shifts, and I find my voice, though it’s barely a whisper.
“No, don’t stop.”
It’s all I say, but it’s enough. The moment those words leave my lips, Knox is already moving, and before I can even register what’s happening, he’s unhooking the buttons of my overalls with an ease that makes my breath catch in my throat. I feel the fabric slip down my body, pooling around my hips, and my stomach dips. But I’m not afraid. Not yet.
His lips hover just above mine, his breath warm, almost teasing. I can feel the steady beat of my pulse as he leans in, his lips brushing against mine as he pushes the overalls past my hips and the fabric falls away. It’s slow, deliberate, and then his lips press more firmly against mine, his kiss deep and demanding, pulling me in as if we’ve been here before—like we’re both aware of the game we’re playing.
I can hear the beat of the music and under that the faint click of the camera shutter, but everything else blurs away. I’m acutely aware of Knox’s hands, of the way his fingers press into my waist—drawing my body closer to him.
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.
"You have no idea how long we've waited for this moment," Knox murmurs, his gravelly voice sending shivers down my spine. Does he mean they planned this from the moment they saw my website?
My mind races, trying to process the situation. How did I end up here, caught between these two men? Part of me wants to run, to escape the growing sense of danger. But another part, a part I'm not proud of, craves more.