Page 47 of Press Play

“I’m going to skip to the good part,” Mia tells me while fast-forwarding the scene.

When she presses play, Amanda is screaming in pleasure, balling the sheets in her hands, and begging for more.

Mia tilts her head to the side, examining his angle. This would be a perfect popcorn moment if we had some.

“He’s really giving it to her,” she says, eyebrows high on her forehead.

As Amanda grunts, Theo turns his attention to the camera, seemingly making eye contact with me.

The air gets stuck in my lungs, and my stomach tilts. His lips form a pleased smile, and my temperature ratchets up.

“Turn it off,” I tell her as envy and desire war for dominance in my body. “Please?—”

“Yes, of course.” Mia turns it off and tries to look at me, but my gaze is on my hands. “I’m sorry. I truly thought it would help.”

And I hoped it would, but now all I can picture is him fucking another woman. I never questioned why he never asked me to participate, but now I’m wondering all the what-ifs. What if that were me and not Amanda? Would we still be where we are today? Or would we be something more? Less? Shit. . .

Tears sting my eyes, so I press my palms into them. “I know I asked you to come over, but I think I need to be alone,” I murmur.

“Are you sure?” she asks, her tone soft.

“I’m sure. I’ll text you in a bit.”

We sit in silence, and I keep looking down, hoping she doesn’t press further.

After a few moments, she shifts off the bed and squeezes my shoulder. “I love you.”

Against my better judgment, I meet her gaze even though my tears are threatening to spill over. “Love you too.”

The door clicks shut, and I slam my eyes closed, the weight of my thoughts pressing down harder than ever. It’s ridiculous to feel this way—frustrated, jealous, aching for something I’ve never had but suddenly craving more than anything. My skin is hot, flushed from everything I just saw and everything I can’t stop imagining.

I sit there in the dark, replaying the video in my mind—the way his hands moved, the sounds he made, the way he commanded her. Every second of it crawls under my skin and settles deep in my core. A quiet need I’ve been trying to ignore for far too long rises to the surface.

I shift on the bed, noting the tension building, my body betraying me as a dull ache pulses between my legs. My breaths grow shallow as I drag my hands up my thighs, hesitant yet yearning. I think of him, of the way his eyes locked with mine through the screen, and the heat in my body becomes unbearable.

I can’t help but wonder—what would it be like if it were me?

I bite my lip and glance at my bedside table. The last time I tried to pleasure myself, it didn’t end well, but I could use the release. What’s the worst that could happen? I don’t finish?

I reach over and grab the toy, my pulse hammering in my ears. The soft hum of it vibrates against my palm, sending tingles up my arm. I shift on the bed, trying to get comfortable, but every nerve in my body is on fire.

Another thought flickers through my mind, and I shove common sense out the window before turning on one of Theo’s solo videos.

His deep voice groans, and his eyes are dark with lust. “Do you see me, baby?” he implores. “Look what you do to me.” He runs his hand over his length before increasing the pressure. “Fuck, just like that.”

I fumble with the settings on the vibrator, trying to figure out the right intensity. Once I think I’ve got it, I settle against the pillows and press the toy between my thighs. It’s soft at first, a teasing vibration, but the pressure is off.

“Are you touching yourself?” he chuckles, dark and full of lust. “Show me how wet you are.”

I adjust it, moving it around, but the tension inside me just builds in frustration. I close my eyes and try to focus, but my mind keeps wandering.

I groan, tossing my head back. Why can’t I make this work?

Suddenly, there’s a knock at my door, soft but insistent.

My breath catches in my throat as the door creaks open, and Theo steps inside.

“Wren?”

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