Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
JOE
Tuesday, Day Five of the Summer Swap: The Last Day
The front door clicked shut behind them. The townhouse fell into a golden, blissful silence.
Kit had a surprise visit from her ex, Rachel, and was spending the night at her place. The swap was officially over. Even Elsie was content. They weren’t needed by anyone.
Except each other.
Krista kicked off her shoes. “Ah, home sweet home.”
Joe dropped his camera bag gently by the table. “Want me to pour you a glass of wine? Draw you a bath?”
“Actually,” she said, voice dipping mischievously. “I was thinking there might be another way to unwind…”
Joe raised a brow. “Is that so?”
Her eyes gleamed. “Give me ten minutes. Make yourself comfortable.”
She disappeared down the hall, leaving him standing in the soft-lit living room.
When Krista returned, he felt suddenly light-headed .
She stood in the doorway in a black mini dress, heels that did obscene things to her legs.
“About that photoshoot,” she said slowly. “I’ve been thinking about it…”
“You want to do it now?”
She gave the smallest nod. “If you’re still game.”
“Krista,” he said, his voice roughening, “you have no idea.”
He grabbed the camera, slinging the strap around his neck.
Krista didn’t wait. She crossed the room like she’d been planning this for hours, hands sliding up his chest, rising onto her toes, claiming the kiss that let him know exactly how much she wanted this.
It would’ve been far too easy to let go, to forget the photos entirely, with his hand on her hip, pulling her closer.
But he forced himself to step back. “Alright. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right,” he said, all photographer now. “You trust me?”
“Completely,” she whispered.
That nearly undid him.
“Good. Start by facing the window. Turn your head just a little. Perfect. Hands on the sill, relaxed.”
She moved into position, backlit by the halo of the streetlamp outside. He adjusted his aperture, focused, and clicked.
The sound of the shutter echoed softly in the quiet space.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “Now…Let the dress fall off one shoulder.”
She did.
He clicked again. “Now both.”
The black fabric slid down her arms. Beneath it, black lace clung delicately, nearly sheer—just like he’d imagined. His fingers ached to touch, but he stayed behind the lens. For now.
She turned toward him, hesitance flashing for half a second. He lowered the camera.
“You okay?”
Krista nodded. “Just…never done anything like this.”
“You’re perfect. Stunning. I’m struggling to keep my hands to myself.”
That made her smile. She reached behind, unzipping the dress the rest of the way, letting it pool around her ankles.
Joe sucked in a breath.
“Hands on top of your head. Ankles crossed. Head tipped up.”
He circled her slowly, camera clicking, taking her in. Taking in the gentle arch of her back, the cascade of hair over her shoulder, the lace hugging her hips, and her breasts rising and falling with every breath.
But there was only so much he could take.
He lowered the camera slowly, letting it hang against his chest.
“Come here,” he said, voice low and rough.
Krista’s eyes widened just slightly—but she came.
He met her halfway, backing her gently against the wall beside the window. Moonlight spilled in, soft and silver, painting her skin in light and shadow. She looked ethereal, dreamlike.
“Still okay?” he asked.
She nodded, breath catching. “More than okay.”
He kissed her—slow, deep—trailing his mouth down her jaw, neck, and the curve of her shoulder. His hands slid up her sides, thumbs brushing the underside of her bra. She gasped, hips arching toward him.
One hand slipped down between her thighs, parting the lace, fingers gliding along damp heat.
Krista let out a breathless moan.
“You’re so wet,” Joe murmured. “Is this what you’ve been thinking about? Me touching you like this?”
Her fingers curled against the wall. “ Yes.”
“Say it.”
“Yes. God, yes.”
He slid a finger inside, then another, curling them slowly. His thumb brushed over her clit in tight circles, his other hand gripping her hip to keep her from sliding down the wall.
“Let go for me,” he said softly. “Come for me, just like this.”
Her body tightened around his fingers, breath catching, legs shaking—and then finally she cried out, her orgasm rolling through her in waves. He held her the whole time, fingers coaxing her through it, whispering her name.
When she could finally breathe again, she let out a shaky laugh, one hand threading into his shirt.
“Holy hell.”
Joe smiled against her temple. “You’re incredible.”
She reached for the camera hanging against his chest. “And now,” she said, lips still kiss-dazed but eyes gleaming, “it’s my turn behind the lens.”
Joe didn’t argue.
“You, on my bed,” she said, motioning toward the other room.
She took the camera from the chair and followed him to the bed, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. She snapped a few shots of him sitting on the edge of the bed, then reached for his shirt.
One by one, she undid the buttons, clicking the shutter between each. She got him down to his briefs, then set the camera on the bedside table, angled slightly down.
Climbed into his lap, her breasts bare, her skin warm against his.
Click.
Their hands roamed, mouths explored, clothes slipping away. She straddled him, eyes locked on his as she guided him inside.
Joe groaned, his hands anchoring her hips, her name a prayer on his lips. She began to move, slow and steady, each roll of her hips dragging another ragged sound from his throat.
Krista reached back for the camera, caught the wild slide of hair across her shoulder, his jaw clenched, their bodies joined.
Click.
She passed it to him.
He took it with one hand, the other gripping her waist, and framed her mouth parted, sweat trickling down her neck.
Click.
Her eyes were half-lidded now, heavy with heat and trust. The light from the window bathed her in silver, illuminating her skin, every part of her laid bare for him—and still, he wanted more.
Joe glanced past her, over her shoulder, and spotted the black sash that had come with her dress, crumpled on the edge of the bed.
He looked at her again, camera still in hand. “Krista…”
She stilled slightly. “Yeah?”
He nodded toward the fabric. “May I?”
Her breath hitched as she followed his gaze. Then, slowly, she reached for the scrap of fabric and handed it to him.
Joe cupped her face first, kissed her slow, reverent, deep, before gently sliding the blindfold over her eyes and knotting it behind her head, careful not to catch her hair.
Her lashes fluttered against the fabric. Her hands dropped to his shoulders, her body still wrapped around him, but now completely at his mercy.
He held her there for a beat, just feeling the weight of her, the trust, the tension curling tighter between them.
Her lips parted, breath stuttering. Arms above her head, breath shaky but open, skin flushed in the soft light.
Joe pulled out and reached for the camera again. Framed her there—bare, blindfolded, the soft spread of her legs. Her chest rising and falling like she’d just run a race .
It wasn’t just erotic, it was artistic. A chance to capture her this way, the open and trusting nature that came naturally between them. No matter what happened between them, he would never forget this moment.
It had been exactly one week since he’d met this woman, and she’d completely changed his life.
Click.
Her lips twitched a little at the sound.
“Still with me?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered. “God, yes.”
Joe set the camera aside and knelt beside her, brushing his fingers across her chest, over the soft swell of one breast. Her lips parted. She arched into his touch, her body seemingly hypersensitive now that she couldn’t see.
He leaned in, lips replacing fingers. He kissed a line from her collarbone to the center of her ribs, her skin hot beneath his tongue.
Then lower.
He kissed the inside of her knee, her hip, the place where her breath stuttered.
Krista let out a strangled sound.
His tongue slid through wet heat, kissing her swollen lips. Her thighs shook.
“Joe— Oh, God?—”
He worked her slowly, tongue, lips, the occasional scrape of teeth—holding her hips still when they threatened to buck off the bed. He alternated pressure and pace, learning her responses, memorizing every gasp and twitch.
Her fingers fisted the sheets. Her hips trembled. Her voice broke.
When she came, it was wild and breathtaking. She arched off the bed, her hands gripping his shoulders, legs quivering. Joe didn’t stop until she was undone, calling his name like a prayer .
He kissed his way back up her body, her skin still trembling under his mouth, until he hovered over her again.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered, and she nodded, blindfolded, her mouth searching for his.
He kissed her, slow and deep, then caught her wrists and gently pinned them above her head. She was still recovering, but she pulled him in with her legs, greedy for more.
And then he slid inside her in one smooth motion.
She arched with a cry, her head thrown back, blindfold still in place, her whole body stretching to take him.
Joe groaned, his hips moving in a deep, steady rhythm, one arm braced beside her head, the other gripping her waist.
Each thrust made her moan louder, her body rolling to meet him, begging for more without words.
He was completely losing it.
“Wait,” she gasped. “Let me…”
She sat up, her hands searching his chest.
And then she flipped him.
Joe let out a stunned laugh, landing flat on his back, but she was already climbing on top of him again, sinking down with a shuddering sigh.
“Oh my God,” he whispered.
Her hands roamed his chest, blind and hungry. She rode him slow and deep, dragging out every sensation like she was savoring it.
When he felt her begin to shake again, he reached between them, circling her clit with his thumb, his other hand cradling her jaw.
“Come with me,” he said. “Let go.”
She did.
They did.
Together.
The climax stole his breath. Hers tore from her throat in a cry, body tight around his, muscles locking as she fell apart again.
He followed with a groan, spilling into her, his hands gripping her like he never wanted to let go.
They collapsed together, tangled and quiet and shaking.
Joe kissed her temple. Loosened the blindfold. Brushed her hair back.
Krista blinked up at him, eyes soft and full of stars.
He pulled her close and whispered, “That’s going in the permanent collection.”
She laughed softly, lips brushing his jaw. “Forever.”