Page 114 of Renegade Rift
“Where’s Paige?” I ask, glancing around for her hot-headed best friend.
“She wanted to get home to Anthony.”
Juliet releases me and moves to step back, but I tighten my grip.
She tips her head and gives me a what-are-you-doing-we’re-in-public kind of look.
I linger a little longer and smile. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Her eyes dart to the side, and I get the distinct feeling she’s unsure if we’re allowed to be touching like this here. It’s different from the dark bar or the apartment. Here we’re not just random people. This place is so many things for both of us. It’s Tyler’s previous team, and my current one. It’s the place that took him from her, and the reason the two of us found each other.
And I’m not about to hide her away.
I stroke my fingers against her back, reassuring her that this is exactly where I want to be. My other hand comes up and cradles her jaw, my thumb brushing over her lower lip.
“Ford,” she whispers.
“Yes, love.”
“What are we doing?”
Existing. Thriving. Falling in love.Those are just a few of the things that come to mind. But I don’t say any of them.
“Right now?” I lean in, slanting my body over hers. “I’m thinking about kissing you.”
“Here?”
“Mmmhmm.”
She tenses against me, and if I had to guess, she’s worried about the ramifications of the kiss and what it means. “In front of everyone?”
“Is that a problem?” Truly, it doesn’t make a difference to me who sees. I just want her here with me.
But she has to want it too. I want her to choose this. Choose me right now the same way she did last night. The same way I did when I wrote L-O-V-E on my baseline.
Mostly, I just want her to want to kiss me too.
Her attention dips to my lips, indecision and fear flashing across her eyes, followed by feral confidence.
“If it is,” she whispers, “it’s my problem.”
I don’t have time to process what she said because in one swift motion Juliet rolls up onto her toes and crashes her lips to mine, and all I can think isdamn, I could get used to this.
A growl rumbles in my chest as I wrap one arm around her and tangle the other in her hair. Her mouth yields to mine, and I slip my tongue between her lips just enough that it turns the kiss from chaste to borderline filthy—just the way I like it.
Her hands slip over my shoulders, and she scrapes her nails down the back of my neck and across my shoulders. I push my hips into her, my painfully hard cock searching for friction even if it’s only awkwardly against the zipper of my jeans.
“Let’s find somewhere more private,” I murmur against her lips.
“You mean we aren’t going home?”
Fuck, I love when she calls my apartment home.
“We could do that if you’re more comfortable there. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, might I suggest we fulfill one of my fantasies?”
“And what’s that?”
“Well, you see, there’s this gorgeous woman who promised to make me come if I won tonight's game.”
