Among the Echoes(36)

"Completely," she answers firmly, looking down into my eyes with discomfort and embarrassment covering her beautiful face.

"Okay," I say, smiling up at her. "I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page." I shrug, but her look of failure bothers me. "So here is how this is going to work. I’m about to pick you up and carry you to my room. You are going to squeal and pretend like it’s a fun surprise when I toss you over my shoulder. Then I’m going to lie on my back so you don’t feel trapped or pinned down, and you can do whatever you would like while we are in there. Pants stay on, but shirts are strongly discouraged." I wink and glance down at our naked chests pressed together.

Her clear, blue eyes sparkle with relief. "Can we shut the door?" she asks, making me smirk in confusion.

"Um, there’s no one here but us, beautiful. But yeah, if you want the door shut, I’m okay with that."

"Yeah. I don’t do well with open doors. I need to know I would hear it if someone tried to come in."

Son of a motherf*cking bitch. I’m going to kill this * when I find him!

"When you’re in that room, no one is coming near you but me," I vow, meaning it with every fiber of my being. We may be nothing more than just tonight, but I’ll be damned if I ever let her be hurt again.

"Then let’s go," she says. I immediately stand, swinging her tiny body over my shoulder. She laughs and gives me the surprised squeal I was hoping for.

"Oh, wait. Slapping your ass?" I ask as I turn to head down the hall.

"Have at it." She continues to giggle the most beautiful and unrestrained sound.

I give her a gentle tap and head to my room.

I want to tell you that things got crazy hot from there. Maybe that I worshipped her body with my mouth all night long until she couldn’t stand it anymore and was forced to strip me naked and beg for my cock. But the truth is that we were both laughing so hard when we got to my room that, as soon as I deposited her on my bed, she curled into my side and we actually talked. I know. It’s a novelty. But I loved every f*cking second of it.

Riley is unlike any woman, or even person, I have ever met. She’s funny and smart, but I can’t quite put my finger on her. No matter how hard I try, I can’t figure her out. Sure, on the surface, she’s incredible, but for some reason, I always feel like I’m missing some integral part. I’ve only known her for a few days, but in that brief amount of time, we’ve been through some shit together. I feel like I should have a better grasp on her by now. But I can feel that she’s hiding something, and I’m not just talking about her fears.

For two hours, Riley and I lie in my bed, shooting the shit. For two hours, I stare at Riley’s amazing eyes while tracing my hands over her naked chest. For two excruciating hours, I lie still while her hands move over my own chest. It’s not excruciating because she’s touching me; it’s torturous because I want more.

"I should go," she whispers into my neck as she’s curled into my side.

I give her a tight squeeze. "I vote you stay."

"I can’t."

I let out a groan but release her from my side. If I try to force it like I want to, it will only spook her more. "Okay."

"Okay?" she questions, sitting up suddenly.

"Um…what else am I supposed to say?"

She smiles a glowing, white smile that causes my cock to stir back to life. "Thank you for not giving me shit. And for making out with me like we were in high school," she says nervously.

"I won’t push you, beautiful. Anything that happens from here on out is completely up to you."

Her eyes begin to twinkle with humor. "You didn’t let me finish. And thank you for working out twenty-five hours a day. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the benefits tonight," she finishes with a kiss to my chest.

I drop my head to her hair just to breathe in a whiff of all that is Riley before she leaves. "Come over tomorrow night?" I ask as though I haven’t already asked this question tonight.

"Yeah, okay. But promise you’ll wear sweats even if your three-piece suit comes back from the cleaners," she teases barely containing her laughter.

Ten minutes later, after a gentle kiss and all-too-brief hug, Riley leaves.

Forget my rescue mission to save her… Who’s going to save me?





"All right. Spill it," Dave says, scaring the ever-loving shit out of me when I walk back inside.