Among the Echoes(50)

"I didn’t freak out," I barely squeak out.

"What?" He relaxes again, pulling me down tight against his side.

"I always thought I would freak out when I was with a man again. But I didn’t with you."

Slate's eyes flash dark and he swallows hard, yet somehow he manages to be gentle as he says, "Why would you freak out, beautiful?"

"It doesn’t matter why. It only matters that you made me comfortable enough to forget it."

"Son of a bitch," he mumbles, pressing a soft kiss to my mouth.

I go willingly into his arms, squeezing as close as possible while trying to stop the tears of relief and happiness that are openly flowing from my eyes.

"Riley, I’ll never ask, but one day, you are going to have to tell me."

I don’t respond because I have nothing to say. I can’t tell Slate—ever. I just curl in even closer, lying with my body instead of my voice.

He holds me for hours as I drift in and out of sleep, but from what I can tell, he never even closes his eyes. His fingers constantly glide over my back and up my sides.

"I need to go. Dave will worry."

Slate lets out a laugh. "You’re not going anywhere. We aren’t doing this you-running-home shit anymore. You sleep in my bed, or I sleep in yours after we make love. And even when we don’t. I’ve never even slept with you, but I refuse to sleep without you again."

"You’re bossy." I stretch up and kiss the underside of his chin.

"No, I’m just not going to sit back and watch you distance yourself from me again. I missed you—something else I’m not willing to do again."

"Slate, I—"

"Sleep, beautiful," he says with a sexy grin.

"I need my pants," I shyly whisper.

"No pants."

I immediately clam up. I’m no choirgirl. I know middle-of-the-night sex happens, and I’m not positive how I would react if he woke me up like that. He must notice my anxiety because he immediately rolls me over and folds his hard body behind me.

He whispers in my ear, "I won’t touch you, but I want to feel you." A tender sentiment that makes me melt against him.

"I trust you," I whisper back.

"No you don’t, and we'll talk about that tomorrow. But at least you believe me tonight. Now go to sleep, Riley." He kisses my head and buries his face in my hair.

If he only realized how much I’m trusting him by being here at all.





My blood is f*cking boiling. Holding Riley is the only thing keeping me from destroying the entire apartment complex right now.

"I always thought I would freak out when I was with a man again."

I knew she had been abused in some way or shape, but this? I was not prepared for this little revelation tonight. I need to talk to Dave. Then I need to find her ex-boyfriend and ruin him.

She’s been sound asleep for two hours, and I’ve finally been able to inch my way out from under her. I grab some sweats and my phone off the nightstand. I take one last glance over my shoulder before leaving, but she doesn’t budge as I silently sneak from the room.

"What’s up?" I hear Jimmy’s sleepy voice answer the phone.

"Riley Peterson. I know I called you off her last time, but I need everything this time. I’m looking for her ex-boyfriend. Spare no expense. Fucking find him."

"Should I also start stashing away bail money now?" he asks humorously.

"It wouldn’t be a bad idea."

"Slate," he warns.

"I’ll text you as much information as I can tomorrow and a picture of her so they can ask around. I don’t care what you have to do. Just get me his location," I snap.

"Shit." He sighs. "Yeah, I’ll get on it in the morning."

"Thanks," I reply, scrubbing a hand through my hair, but he has already disconnected the line.

I toss my phone onto the table and head out the door. One man holds the answers. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him keep them from me.

I leave the front door open just in case Riley wakes up.

I quietly knock on Dave’s door, but he doesn’t answer. It’s the middle of the night, but tough shit. He’s waking up. I knock a little louder, and finally, his eyes peek through the window. He swings open the door and shoves a gun down the back of his pants.