Page 80 of Renegade Rift

FORD: Heard your battle cry. Everything okay over there?

Is everything okay?

Is he freaking serious?

I’m not sure if it’s manic bravery, or a lust filled rage that spurs my actions, but I shoot up and hit his name followed by the call button. It doesn’t even ring once before he answers. Not that I let him get a word in before I lay into him.

“No, everything is not okay, Ford.” There’s an unhinged desperation in my voice, and I swear I hear him chuckle. But I’m on a roll and not about to stop to tell him where he can shove that laugh. “You are the one who filled my head with all those filthy thoughts at the restaurant, and then you had the audacity to leave me high and dry. Not even a proper kiss goodnight. And now I’m sitting here wondering if you followed through. Did you do those things? Did you think of me?”

“I—”

“No, I’m not done. Because then I got into bed and realized I’m still so freaking turned on that I can’t sleep. So, of course, I try to be brave. I try and take a page out of your book, because it’s all I can think about, and I’m left with the realization that I’m so damn broken, I don’t even know how to make myself come.”

“Juliet—”

“Every time I try, I get in my head, and all I hear is Tyler’s voice.” I lower my tone and mimic my husband. “You don’t get to come unless it’s on my cock. Don’t you dare be a little whore and touch yourself while I’m gone. Your orgasms belong to me.”

I choke out a frustrated sigh, losing a little bit of the wind in my sails. “All Iwanted was to do something for myself and take the edge off just a little bit. But no. I can’t even do that.”

“Can I speak now?” His voice is gentle, and even though he’d be well within his right to pity me, as always, there’s nothing but compassion in his words.

I pull my knees to my chest and drop my forehead as my firework of an outburst completely fizzles out. “Only if you’re going to tell me to hang up and go to bed.”

“I could do that, or I could tell you I absolutely intend to follow through on every single one of those fantasies I mentioned at the restaurant, but I wanted to wait until you were asleep.”

My head pops up, and I look toward his room as if he’s going to be there, standing in front of me. “Really?”

“One hundred percent,” he breathes.

My mouth goes dry, and I’m rendered speechless. Because what can I say? That I’m picturing him under a stream of steaming water, naked, cock in hand. That I’m jealous yet so damn relieved he doesn’t have the same hang ups as me and can enjoy his body in ways I could never.

“Juliet?” he whispers.

“I’m here.”

“Ask me to teach you.”

My stomach dips. My thighs clench. And my heart thunders against my rib cageas I force myself to take a moment and fully comprehend what he’s suggesting.

Ever the gentleman, he’s giving me a choice. I could hang up right now and likely all of this would be forgotten by morning. We’d wake up and skate around each other in the kitchen before he left for his game, and I’d make my way to Bare Necessities to put in my two weeks notice. Then we’d pretend like nothing happened until inevitably tomorrow night Ford would want to talk about it. Because the man couldn’t possibly go a day without demanding honesty. And as much as I want to hate it, I sort of love that about him. I never have to wonder if we’ll fix things. I know that eventually everything will sort itself out because he’ll demand nothing less. It’s a stability I didn’t know I needed with an element of safety in knowing he won’t push further than I allow.

But still, the question remains: Do I want this from him?

It’s dirty and wrong on so many levels coming from Ford.

“Teach me,” I rasp. “I need this. I want this. For me.”

His growl sends an anticipatory shiver down my spine. “Are you sure? Because as much as I’d love to hear you come, I’m not sure what happens when I wake up in the morning with that knowledge.”

I do. Nothing changes. Because he’s Ford and I’m Juliet. And we only know how to play this dangerous game.

“I’m sure.” I reassure him.

“Okay.” Ford goes quiet, and there’s a split second where I’m certain he’s going to take back his offer. There’s the sound of shuffling on his end, and then a soft sigh. “I want you to be comfortable. That means if you want to do this with your clothes on, that’s fine, or if you want to be naked, that’s okay too.”

“Should I tell you?”

He groans. “I think it would be better if you didn’t.”

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