“Sometimes.”

“Find something gentle, so it won’t distract you.”

She’s silent for a couple of minutes, and I assume she’s doing as I asked. Faint sounds come through the line, rustling and muffled bumps.

“Done,” she says.

“Are you comfortable on the bed?”

She laughs nervously. “As much as I can be.”

Closing my eyes, I allow myself to picture her. I can perfectly recall how her cheeks flush a delicate shade of pink when she’s turned on, and her eyes darken with need. I imagine her lying on white sheets, twisted around her legs, that satiny underwear I used to like so much barely covering her.

“Let’s warm you up first. Put a bit of lube on your fingers and slide them through your pussy, then rub that pretty clit of yours.”

There’s a click—presumably as she uncaps the lube—and then more rustling as she shifts around on the bed.

“Is that okay?” Just because she enjoyed this last time doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll have the same response this time. I don’t want her to feel pressured.

“Yeah,” she murmurs. “Just takes a bit of getting used to. It’s been so long…”

My chest constricts. Damn, I hate what happened to her. What I allowed to happen. If I hadn’t ruined our relationship, or if I’d seen the warning signs, maybe she wouldn’t have been assaulted. We could be blissfully happy, after having spent more than three years together.

But stewing in self-recrimination won’t fix anything.

“Ty…”

My heart leaps. It’s the first time she’s called me that since I came back into her life. “Yeah, baby?”

She hesitates for a long moment. “Last time, we only focused on me, and I was relieved about that, but this time, I’d really like it if you could join in.”

My mind short circuits. “What do you mean?”

“I want you to get off too.”

My eyes snap open. Surely, I didn’t just hear her say that. “Are you sure? I’m happy for it to be all about you.”

In fact, if I participate, I can’t guarantee I won’t be wracked with guilt about it later.

“Please, Ty.”

If she feels any doubt, it isn’t present in her tone. My subconscious screams that this is a terrible idea, but Echo asked for it and there’s very little I’d deny her, so I strip off my jeans and underwear, freeing my cock.

“Do you want me to tell you what I’m doing?” I ask, needing to know the boundaries.

“I… I think so.”

Some of her certainty has dissipated, which means I need to tread carefully.

“Are you ready for the vibe?”

“Yes.” This time, she’s sure.

“Then switch it on and put it against your pussy. Just nice and gentle. Leave your clit alone.”

I grit my teeth as the buzz begins. It was torture last time, knowing what she was doing without being able to see or touch her, but after everything, I deserve a little pain. I wrap my hand around my cock, putting pressure on it, but I don’t stroke yet.

Instead, I focus on the small tattoo on my hip. One I put there on my 19th birthday, in a place I knew my dad wouldn’t see.