Taut: The Ford Book

And Ashleigh’s life will catch up to her at the same time.

As soon as we get to LA in fact. We could make it there today if we wanted to. Ten hours, give or take. But I’m not ready to let this go just yet. Maybe her ex is a total dick. Maybe she just needs to see more of Nice Ford and less of Asshole Ford and she’ll change her mind about Tony?

But then I’d constantly be in his shadow. He’d probably get partial custody of Kate. I’d have to share them.

I picture what that might look like. The weekends that Kate would be away from us. The phone calls when Tony wanted something from Ashleigh. The split holidays and dealing with Kate’s paternal grandparents. Knowing Kate’s bond with her father is stronger than her bond with me.

I’d be crazy jealous.

But I’d do it. I’d share if Ashleigh loved me. I’d do it to make her happy, make Kate’s life less confusing. I’d be nice to Tony. Shake his hand maybe. Be a graceful winner.

I get out of bed as quietly as I can and get dressed. I’m putting on the clean socks that Ashleigh packed when she wakes. “You’re up early today.”

“Yeah.” I grin at her from across the room. “We have a date in Vegas tonight.” That makes her smile and my whole body floods with warmth. “We need to get there, you need some fancy clothes, Kate needs a babysitter. We have a big day ahead, so let’s get on it.” Ashleigh actually sighs and I laugh. “What’s got you sighing?”

“I think this is going to be a good day. Maybe a great day. Maybe the first great day I’ve had in a long time.” She throws the cover off and Kate stirs. “She’s not hungry, I just fed her like an hour ago. So I’ll feed her on the road if she needs it.”

“I didn’t hear you all night. How many times did she feed?”

“Like four.” Ash snorts. “I was half asleep for most of it. Except the last one. I watched you sleep.” She gives me a seductive smile as she tugs on a white t-shirt of mine that has a black diamond on it and says I’m difficult across her chest. “Stop staring at me.”

“Why?”

“Why?” she giggles. “Because it makes me feel weird.”

Life gets a little more interesting. “Weird how?”

“Like you’re looking at me naked.”

“You just rolled out of bed topless. And you just admitted that you were watching me sleep, so that’s the weird shit.”

“I know. But you don’t just look nice when you’re sleeping, you’re like…” Her words trail off and she shakes her head.

“I’m what?”

“I can’t say it. I’m not allowed to talk dirty to you anymore or you’ll spank me.”

I stand up and walk over to her, pull her hair aside and lean down into her neck. “Miss Li? Your ass will be red no matter how many good deeds you perform today to try and make up for your unladylike behavior. So you might as well get your dirty talk over with so you can concentrate on behaving tonight when I have your ankles tied to your thighs and your pu**y open for inspection. Because I’m going to have a lot of rules, Ashleigh. And a lot of commands you’ll have to follow. I’m going to touch you in places that will make you scream. I’m going to let you please me in ways you’ve only dreamed of, and then I’m going to f**k you sore.”

Her body stiffens and her head goes back a little as she looks up at me. “I think I just came, I swear to God, I’m not even joking.”

My laugh is so loud the baby startles and starts crying. Ashleigh takes a step to go after Kate but I pull her back and rub my hand along the crease of her pu**y. She’s sopping wet even through her panties. “You are in a lot of trouble for cheating.”

“Cheating?” she exclaims and Kate is getting ready to wail now. “You talked me into it! It’s your fault, Ford. I should get to spank you for making me come!”

I push her away gently and laugh. “I think someone needs a rule book.”

“Yeah, you!” She picks up the baby and rocks her a little before turning back to me. “You need rules, Ford. Not me. How come you’re allowed to call all the shots anyway? How come I can’t make you do things? How come I can’t tie you up and parade you in front of a window? You’ve got a nice package. I bet I could charge money to see that shit.”

I have no words for this girl, that’s how f**king cute I think she is right now. But I tuck down my amusement and put on the serious face. “I like control, remember?”

She thinks about this for a minute. “So I have to do everything you say? It just makes no sense. I might need that rule book. Do they sell it online? I could read up on the way to Vegas because I found an old eReader of yours in your room and I plan on using it today.”

“You can read it out loud, so we’re both on the same page.”

She sighs. “I’m gonna come again if you don’t stop making me think about sex. And it’s not even my fault, you’ve been teasing and denying me for days!”

“Welcome to my world, Ashleigh. Tease and deny is my MO.”

She lays Kate down on the bed and grabs a diaper. “It’s not fair, you know. You get to make all the decisions and I just have to follow orders.”

“What’s not fair about it?”

“You get to have all the fun.” She cleans Kate’s bottom with a wipe and rolls up the old diaper. “Here, put this in the trash, it’s not a stinky one.” I take the diaper and toss it in the bathroom trashcan. “I’m not sure what I get out of it if I give in to you like this.”