Among the Echoes (Wrecked and Ruined #2.5)(43)

My eyes fly around the apartment, searching for any possible trouble, but only Riley is standing in the middle of the room, sobbing with a sheet pulled tight around her naked body. Dave is the first to reach her, but she breezes past him, slamming into my arms.

"Oh, God. You left the doors open. I just…" She stops talking but continues to cry into my chest.

"Talk to me, beautiful. Are you okay?" I ask, rubbing her back. Her arms are locked around my waist and her body trembles against me. "Riley, you have to tell me what’s going on."

She doesn’t respond, and I turn to Dave, who is standing with his mouth hanging open. I give him a confused glance, and his eyes just go wide in return. He shakes his head and looks down, only to look back up with a huge smile.

"She doesn’t like open doors," he tells me before turning his attention to Riley. "It’s okay, babe. We were just out in the hall talking. Slate just wanted to let me know you were staying at his place tonight. You know, so I wouldn’t worry." He winks at me.

She turns her head to face him. "I’m sorry. I just got scared."

"No biggy. Nothing to worry about." He shrugs, and her whole body relaxes in my arms. "So are you staying here or coming home?" he asks as he turns toward the door.

"She’s staying," I quickly respond, and she tilts her head back to look at me.

"I am?" She tries to ask with attitude, but her voice is still on edge.

"I already told you not a single night again, and especially not after that. So yeah, you’re staying."

"You’re bossy," she complains, dropping her forehead to my chest.

"Yeah, we covered that too."

She turns her attention back to Dave, who is still smiling. "I’m going to stay with Slate."

"All right, babe. I’ll see you in the morning." He waves over his shoulder as he closes the door behind him.

I pull her in for an all-too-brief kiss. "Go get in bed. I’ll meet you there."

"I’ll wait," she answers while chewing on her bottom lip.

I walk to the kitchen and retrieve a notepad and pen. As I head back toward her, I rake my eyes over the sheet she has pulled tight around her body. The tips of her nipples are barely showing through the thin, cotton material. Riley’s body is amazing, and I have a sudden and desperate need to touch her.

"I want to be inside you again." I brush the back of my thumb over her breast as I stop in front of her. Her eyes instantly heat, telling me that I’m not alone in that desire. "I rushed it the first time. I think we need to give it another shot." I wink, and she finally gives me a smile that I recognize as the strong woman I see in flashes between the fears. And it’s simply amazing. "But first, we need to talk." And just like that, her smile completely disappears. "Oh stop. It’s nothing bad. It will help, I swear."

"I don’t want to talk."

"Okay, then write." I hand her the pad and pen and guide her toward the bedroom.

Once inside I shut and lock the door behind us, I look in her direction to make sure she saw it. She responds with an embarrassed grin.

"I never would have left that door open if I knew it scared you. I remember now that, a few months ago, you mentioned something about keeping it shut, but I honestly didn’t remember until Dave told me. I actually purposely left the front door open in case you woke up. I was just outside and I thought it would be better if I could hear you. I’m sorry." She shakes her head and dismisses my apology, but that doesn’t change the fact that it happened. "Tell me what you’re scared of, Riley."

Her eyes widen with anxiety as she backs away. "Please don’t do this."

"No, just listen. I told you I wouldn’t ask, and I won’t. I don’t need to know why you’re scared of it. I just need to know what you’re afraid of so something like tonight doesn’t happen again."

"I’ve never made a list. A lot of stuff is just situational," she answers nervously.

"Okay, well just give me the definites." I shrug and lean back against the pillows.

She lets out a groan but curls under my arm and spends the next five minutes writing.

"Uh, I think that’s it. But you promised you wouldn’t ask why."

"I already told you that. You have to start trusting me." I snatch the list from her hands and intently study it. I am actually surprised at how short it is and how much I already know off it.



"Riley, this is bad. Really f*cking bad," I say seriously while dragging her onto my lap. She immediately shies away from me and swallows hard. "There are some things you should know about me. Things that could change everything." I kiss her mouth reassuringly as my cock grows between us. I graze her lip with my teeth, sucking it into my mouth before leaning back and holding her gaze "I have a pet bird and an obsession with cottage cheese."

She slaps my chest and rolls her eyes. "No, you don’t, jerk."

"No, but you were the smartass who put them on the list."

"Those are legit fears of mine. Cottage cheese is all clumpy. I mean, why is it so freaking chunky? And don’t even get me started on birds. They are all flappy and they could fly at you at any moment." I bust out laughing, but she remains silent. "Can I ask you a serious question?"