Page 49 of Rivals

“Ok, what do you need?” She avoids eye contact with me. I force her to look at me because I want to see her eyes. “I know you don’t like asking for help, Revna, but I am offering. You aren’t dragging me into anything.”

She sighs heavily, puffing out her cheeks. “I need to do my photography final, and I need you to help me with it.”

“Ok…” I say, drawing the word out. Maybe she needs help with the lighting or clearing a space. I force the frustration down and wait for her to come out with it. This is clearly physically painful for her. I’m amazed she’s asking me at all.

“I want you to model for me,” she says so quickly and quietly I hardly catch it. The corner of my mouth tips up. I’m pretty sure I heard her right.

“I’m sorry, little bird, you’ll have to speak up. What did you say?” She glares at me. I hold a hand to my ear, pretending to listen extra as she purses her lips.

“I want you to model for me.” I smile at her. I don’t smile often, and the muscles feel unused in my face. I don’t know that I’ve ever used them more than I have when I’m with Revna, despite both of our surly attitudes.

“What do you say?” I toss back.

She groans audibly. “You are such an ass!”

“Just say the word, Revna. I want to hear that one pretty word. It’s one syllable. You can do it.”

She crosses her arms. “I regret asking you for anything.” My chest surges. I enjoy messing with her, but I love the way she bites back with any level of emotion, like when she rolls her eyes. I love it when she rolls her eyes at me. She gives me extra fire when we argue or bicker, especially when she’s gripping the sheets beneath me. A picture I wish I could look at every single day.

“Come on, little bird.” I prod.

“Fine,” she spits. “I would like your help, please.”

“Good girl.” She blushes at the praise. “Ok, I’ll help you.”

She rolls her eyes, and I reach around and pinch her butt. She yelps and smacks my chest. I dip down and kiss her quickly before she can bite my lip. “You rolled your eyes.” She starts to do it again and then catches herself. I grin at her discomfort as she rearranges her clothes, even though nothing is wrong with them. She’s nervous. “Tell me what you need me to do.”

“Um, I want to photograph you in the shower. An idea came to me.” My lips twitch, and my heart beats a little faster.

“You got this idea when we were in the shower, didn’t you?” She lifts a shoulder, pulls a camera out of her bag, and saunters into the bathroom, ignoring me. I follow behind, and she moves the bottles and washcloth I had hanging in there. “Take off your shirt,” she commands.

“If you wanted to get me naked, Revna, all you had to do was ask. I will happily oblige.”

She sighs, exasperated, and I yank my shirt over my head. Her eyes study me, and it feels like she’s dragging a feather over my skin, making me shiver. “Ok, now step in there,” she commands, pointing to the shower. I do as she says and wait for her next instruction. She looks around the space and flips one of the two lights off, leaving the light above the shower on so it casts a shadow over me. She looks around again, then reaches in and turns the water on before I can step out.

I grumble at her, and she smiles wide at my annoyance. “What now?” I frown.

“Get your hair wet,” she directs. I put my head under the spray to get my hair wet. She steps into the shower, careful of the water, as she lifts to her toes and runs her fingers through my hair. I fight the groan that wants to come out because her fingers feel so good. “There,” she says and steps back. I go to look in the mirror, but the shower has steamed up, and I can’t see clearly through it.

“Alright, baby. What’s next?”

“I want you to put both hands on the glass here and then look at the camera.” I do what she says, and she snaps a few pictures. I’ve never been the one in front of the camera. I don’t particularly like pictures being taken of me, but I don’t want to tell Revna no, ever.

“Ok, drop a hand and lean your forehead against the glass.” I do what she says, and she tilts herself so the lens peeks around the edge of the glass. She snaps a few more. The spray gets a little too warm, and my jeans droop as they soak up the heavy water. “Ok, now keep your hand there and look at me.” My hair has fallen into the front of my face, her eyebrows are furrowed, and her tongue sticks out while she contemplates the composition of the picture. I watch her reach in and shut the water off, then step into the shower.

“I like where this is going.”

“Don’t get any ideas,” she says.

“It’s hard not to, little bird. Don’t lie. You know you like this shower.”

“Yes, I do. But right now, I’m doing my final. Do you want me to fail?” she asks.

“No, baby, I don’t.” She nods.

“Then shut up and do what I tell you.” I grin mischievously at her.

“Yes, ma’am.” Her lips purse and she takes another step closer to me. It seems like she’s trying to catch the water on my chest. She squats down in front of me, but now I’m thinking about all kinds of other things. I clear my throat and reach to adjust my jeans.