Rising, Freestyle

Chapter Four

Dyno: A dynamic movement where momentum is required to propel the body to a new position.

Melanie grabbed him by the shirt and clung to him as their lips meshed. A gentle caress of mouths, with no teeth, no frantic moving to the next stage. Almost as if they were exploring each other for the first time.

It was an offering, a sacrifice. Something to affirm that while having Nathan show up created a new situation between them, the foundation they had built was solid and worthwhile.

Derrick rolled her under him on the couch, working his way down her body. Removing her clothes, kissing all the tender spots he’d discovered over the past months. His fascination with her breasts made her smile.

“I still can’t believe you like them that much.”

Derrick hummed happily. His palms forced her nipples upward so he could more easily suckle one, then the other. “More than a mouthful is too much.”

She laughed. “Barely a mouthful. Oh, that’s good.” She held on to his head, keeping him close. His lips surrounded one tip, his fingers pinching and drawing the other nipple tight and ready for his hot mouth to lick. Circles followed by long, slow licks. A shiver raced along her spine and she pressed harder to his lips, looking for a little more.

The soft fabric cradled her torso as he tugged her toward the end of the couch. She laughed as he pulled her yoga pants from her in one smooth practiced move. Somehow he caught her panties at the same time, and she lay sprawled totally naked before him.

He stared at her, his gaze intent, hunger on his face. “I know why Nathan wants you.”

She hesitated. Why was he bringing up Nate?

Derrick rose to his feet, looming tall and muscular over her. He still wore all his clothes, and she realized with a start she wasn’t embarrassed in the least to be completely naked before him.

“You have no idea how beautiful you are.” He rasped out the words—lusty and low.

“Right.”

He squatted beside her, shaking his head slightly as he drew a finger down her body. “Your body is powerful. Slim in the right spots, curved perfectly in others.”

His palm cupped her hip for a second before slipping back to cradle her ass.

The expression on his face, even more than his words, stroked her. “I’m glad you like how I look.”

He grinned wickedly. “And the way you smell.”

“Oh my God.” He had picked up her legs and draped them over his shoulders, and her sex clenched. Wanting something to grasp, to fill her. She didn’t have long to wait. Maintaining eye contact, he lowered his head and breathed in deeply.

“The way you taste.”

She would have protested, but the words smeared into a moan as his mouth made contact. His tongue, gentle but thorough on the outer edges of her sex. Teasing, offering a glimmer of satisfaction then stealing it away. He avoided her clit, instead lapping everywhere until she was squirming to find what she needed. His hands tightened on her ass then his tongue thrust in deep and she squealed.

He fucked her with his tongue. The peaceful, slow attack sped up along with her heart rate, along with the sizzling in her core building to explosive levels. “Oh, Derrick. Yes, yes, yes.”

She couldn’t stay still. The velvety caress of the couch under her back contrasted with the firmness of his hands. Soft noises carried in the windows, the birds adding a nature soundtrack to the sounds of his mouth moving eagerly over her. When he finally pulled back far enough to make contact with her clit that was all she needed to begin riding a wave of pleasure. Melanie closed her eyes, concentrated on how good it felt to have him carry on touching and lapping until the tremors died away and let her draw a normal breath of air once again.

Her ears were still ringing, and she missed the moment he rose to his feet. The next thing she knew she’d been flipped, her legs draped over the armrest, leaving her ass high in the air as the cool air of the room drifted past her wet core.

Then the hot hard tip of his cock touched her and with one slow, deliberate press, slid in deep. The stiff fabric of his jeans brushed the backs of her legs on every thrust. In contrast, the smooth heat of his shaft filled her. She felt so alive as the forceful motions of his hips rocked her on the couch. The slight abrasion against her nipples kept the heat building from her earlier orgasm. She twisted her head to the side, resting her cheek on the seat cushion to look back at him.

Derrick smoothed his hands over her ass cheeks in circles before holding on tight and bracing her for his forward stabs. His gaze danced over her, watching where they joined together as if fascinated.

“Even here, you’re beautiful. Wet, tight. Oh God, so good.” He closed his eyes for a second, face tight in a grimace. Melanie squeezed her internal muscles as hard as she could, loving the way he sucked in air, his eyes popping open. “You’re dangerous.”

She snickered and repeated the move.

“Fuck. Do it again.”

Melanie obliged, the increased pressure drawing her nearer to completion as well. He wiggled his hips, nudging her knees farther apart and let his cock slip even deeper on the next thrust. All her breath pushed from her lungs, and when he reached between her legs and stroked her clit, she lost it. The wave of contractions spread like happy ripples through her sex, dragging a shout from Derrick’s lips and he came, hot seed spilling into her.

He collapsed over her back, the pressure of his clothed body over her skin perfect, enticing. He tenderly kissed between her shoulder blades, caring in his touch.

“Like I said, beautiful.”

The word described him and his heart completely. How could a man be so trusting to understand that she was attracted to another man, and still give to her so fully?

She wasn’t going to question why. When she managed to find enough energy to drag him out of the living room and to the bathroom to clean up, she tried to return the favour and show a bit of what she was feeling.

That she was maybe even starting to fall in love?

“Slowly turn your head upward. There. Perfect. Okay, go ahead.”

Nathan snapped off another series of shots as Melanie twisted her way across the lower half of the wall. At his request, she’d worn only a sports bra instead of her usual long-sleeved shirt.

It had taken her a long time to remove her shirt and step onto the climbing floor.

Her left arm and side showed the scars, but the main focus was the muscles flexing and moving smoothly as she grasped the wall.

Derrick stared from his position across the room, wondering if he wasn’t the sickest bastard in creation. They’d turned up the air-conditioning in the gym, but with the extra lights Nathan had arranged all over the place, the heat level had risen, causing a slight sweat to break out on all of them. Melanie, even with the minor amount of effort she was currently putting out, had a shining slick to her skin that made him want to drag her off the wall, drop her to a mat and fuck her senseless.

Right there in front of Nathan.

Of course, that was the other part of the heat filling the room. Melanie had been upfront about the attraction she’d felt for the guy. It was impossible to miss, and seemed unstoppable.

The disturbing part was Derrick had no desire to rip Nathan’s head from his shoulders. In fact, as Melanie’s pulse picked up, Derrick’s fascination increased. Every time Nathan helped position her on the wall, his hands firm and confident on her body, Derrick’s dick got harder.

Melanie’s breathing accelerated, that telltale flush covering her chest. Derrick took another long swig of his water bottle and wondered if the two of them would notice if he pulled out his cock and jacked off right here and now.

Fucked in the head, that’s what he was. Watching his girlfriend get as good as fondled in front of him, seeing her get turned on, and all he could think was how happy he was for her and how much he needed to ease his balls.

Nathan lowered his hand, the camera dangling from his fingers. “Take a break. I want to try another angle and need a second to set up.”

Melanie dropped to the mat, landing as soft as a cat on her feet. She shook out her arms, wiggling her fingers to get the blood moving again. Derrick peeled himself off the wall he’d been holding up and strolled over as casually as he could with his cock a solid brick against the front of his pants.

He stepped around Nathan to reach Melanie, rubbing his hands up and down her arms to help relax the muscles.

She stared at him, her flush spreading farther as she pressed in for a kiss and the ridge of his cock met her belly. There was no way she could avoid feeling it. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, and if it was possible, he got harder. Derrick leaned over to whisper in her ear.

“How you doing?”

She swallowed.

His lips brushed her earlobe. “Other than needing to be fucked?”

Her eyes widened. “Oh hell, I’m sorry, but…”

Derrick brushed back a strand of hair that had escaped her braid. “It’s hot in here, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “It’s the lights.”

A burst of laughter escaped. He stroked her arm, brushing the side of her breast. “Nice try.”

Melanie leaned in and squeezed him tight as she whispered in his ear. “Are you sure this isn’t pissing you off?”

“Positive.”

“I feel so guilty. I don’t understand my reaction—I mean, I might have been interested in him years ago, but I’m happy in my relationship with you. Why am I reacting like a dog in heat?”

Because Nathan was treating her like a desirable woman? “I’m not mad. Although—fair warning? When you’re done with this shoot, I’m going to drag you into my office, lay you on my desk and fuck you until you’re a boneless heap.”

Her eyes widened to saucer-size. “How the hell am I supposed to keep climbing after you say something like that?”

“Guys? I’ve got an idea.” Nathan’s announcement broke in and cleared Derrick’s brain for all of two seconds. “Derrick, can I get you to do some assists?”

“You want me in the pictures?” That idea kind of sucked. He hadn’t seen that suggestion coming at all.

“Only parts of you. I’ll show you.” Nathan motioned to the wall. “Melanie, climb up. I want you to lean back and have Derrick reach across your body.”

She willingly stood on two small footholds, grasping the larger jugs he’d had her use earlier, but she frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Just get set up and I’ll show you.” Nathan gestured, and Derrick moved in to help. They had no ropes this time, even though both of them still wore their harnesses. Melanie was only a foot off the ground, bringing her head level with his.

“Okay, like this now.” Nathan abandoned his camera and moved in closer, hands landing on her hips to align her the way he wanted. He slid one hand up her side, so concentrated on what he was doing he seemed oblivious to the fact his palm slipped over the bare skin on her right side before pausing on her torso directly in line with her breasts. “Lean against me a little. That’s it. Now, Derrick, check this out. I’m going to hang on to the wall, but lean out of the way. Got that?”

Derrick nodded, trying to ignore the surge of blood headed south as Melanie licked her lips and closed her eyes. The more excited she got, the more he ached to do something about it.

Nathan stepped back and reached for his camera. “Now take my place. I’m looking for the contrast of a more masculine limb next to Melanie’s feminine figure.”

Melanie’s gaze followed Nathan’s retreat for a second before she turned to face Derrick. She mouthed the words Oh my God and he snorted.

Yeah, she was turned on big time.

He took his place and deliberately copied everything Nathan had done, including rubbing his way up her body to get into position.

“Bastard,” she muttered.

Derrick stepped to the side, making sure the only thing in the shot was his arm. That meant his hips were pressed tight to her ass, letting her know exactly how hard his dick was. “I’m so looking forward to helping you get into position in the shower later.”

“Awesome, guys.” Nathan stepped around the open area, clicking madly. “Derrick, if you can reach the wall with your other arm—yeah, there. Perfect.”

A trickle of sweat rolled down the side of Melanie’s neck, and Derrick instinctively brushed his face against her. She arched, just the tiniest bit, but it was enough to press her tighter to his groin, and he groaned out his approval. The tips of her nipples were hard, stabbing the thin fabric of her bra. Her breathing sped up as he stared over her shoulder and planned exactly what he was going to do to her when this session was over.

Nathan strolled from side to side, clicking away merrily. Melanie wiggled for a second, her ass rubbing his dick in an innocent coincidence—or was it?

“You need something, sweetheart?” He whispered the words, letting the tip of his tongue brush the dangling lobe of her ear.

“Stop it.”

“You mean that?” He forced the side of his arm to her torso and adjusted his grip. The movement made him rub her nipple and she moaned.

“God, I’m going to explode.”

The secretive conversation was made even raunchier knowing Nathan watched them through the lens of the camera. They weren’t alone. Every nuance, every touch, Nathan was there, a silent observer.

Maybe it was a touch of possessiveness that made Derrick rock his hips, the minute motion mimicking what he wanted as soon as humanly possible.

“Change of position,” Nathan called.

Derrick scooped up Mel and hugged her close as he stepped away from the wall. He lowered her, letting their torsos rub together until her feet touched the floor.

Her bright eyes stared into his, a tiny smile quirking the corner of her mouth. “I will get my revenge,” she promised.

“Bring it on.”

They grinned at each other before turning to face Nathan.

Nathan strategically arranged himself behind a chair to hide his erection. The generic shots were turning out fine—not as spectacular as he hoped to see for his special project, but more than sufficient for the Rave articles. And after getting a glimpse of how Melanie reacted to Derrick… Well, even though Nathan longed to be the one making her respond, with a little direction the boyfriend could assist in capturing some potential award winners.

Over the years Nathan had learned how to pull a response from his models. It wasn’t the lighting or the framing of a shot that made it unique and mesmerizing. It was the emotion portrayed in the eyes, the faces. The tension of muscles under skin. The merest whisper of a frown or a bead of sweat—that’s what made people remember a photo days or even months later.

Sometimes he’d arrange to shoot the pictures at a location that pushed the project to that incredible next level. Returning a family to the site of their lost home, the burnt remains a backdrop for them facing the future, or a child walking past the hospital where they’d spent the past Christmas—Nathan sensed how to get what he wanted, but he only ever did it with the full consent of his models. It wasn’t about taking advantage of them, but working with them to prove they were capable of the next step.

Like Melanie—although he had to admit his emotions were more conflicted when it came to her. She oozed sensuality from every inch of her skin, scarred or not. When he’d planned this trip, all kinds of mental images of what they could do together had bombarded him. He’d wanted to be the one making that sheen of desire rise to her skin, wanted it to be him taking her home at the end of this session and playing sexual games until they were both sated.

But in the end, as long as the shot worked, he would settle for Derrick’s participation. At least for now. It was all about timing—the lights, the energy levels.

And like taking baby steps, it was time to move to the next stage. Nathan put down his camera and strode over to turn off the extra lights he’d brought into the gym. “I want to try something else, but you have to tell me if you’re comfortable with it.”

He sat in one of the folding chairs and dug a couple of water bottles from the cooler. Melanie and her sidekick accepted them, and Nathan waited. He wondered if Derrick was really as calm and peaceful a guy as he portrayed. If Nathan had made a miscall, this next move would get his ass wiped all over the dusty floor mats.

Only one way to know for sure. He pulled out a file folder.

“So far what I’ve been doing are basic shots for the feature article. I’ve just about finished them.”

“That quick?” Melanie wiped water from her mouth, and Nathan forced himself to stop staring at the perfect swell of her lower lip. The fact he was also imagining what those lips would look like wrapped around his cock had nothing to do with why he was here.

“I will need a few shots outdoors—and I hope you’ll be able to help us out there, Derrick.”

The dark-haired man nodded slowly. “There are a couple places I can lead you to that are less popular, yet good solid climbing walls. But, Nathan, you’re aware Melanie isn’t up to climbing anything technical yet, right?”

She stiffened in her chair. “I’m capable of doing what needs to be done.”

Derrick dropped a hand on her knee. “I agree. You are capable of anything you put your mind to, but I’m not belaying you up a technical route when he should be able to get the pictures he needs without pushing your boundaries. You’ve come a long way. That’s the goal, a little at a time.”

Hmm. Melanie sat back quietly and Nathan examined Derrick closer. Seems the guy wasn’t just brawn and no brains. Time to see how he’d react to this push.

“I agree. I can work with whatever you feel is appropriate. I don’t need a shot of Melanie dangling in midair against a huge backdrop. What I want is at the base, outdoors, creating another step in the big picture. I won’t push beyond what you feel comfortable with, okay, Mel?”

She nodded and he smiled at her.

“We’re got barely an hour left before you said the wall officially opens. The natural lighting is awesome right now with the sun coming in through the skylights. I’d love to take a few shots for that other project I mentioned.”

“The coffee-table book?”

Nathan pulled proofs from the file. Here’s where the shit was going to hit the fan—or not. “Again, only what you’re comfortable with, but here’re some sample shots I took last winter. It’s all about playing with the shadows and light. The human body is a work of art, and that’s what I’m trying to show.”

He passed over the pictures and held his breath.