Fear shimmers in the back of mind, an unwelcome guest. Echo won’t put up with me hiding our relationship forever. When she gets tired of pretending, will she leave me?

“I think we should take this to bed,” she says, and I force myself back to the present.

“You sure?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Ty. I’m sure.”

I chuckle. “All right, all right. Just asking.”

She gets out first, since she’s on top of me, and then extends her hand to help pull me out. I take her slender hand in mine just for the joy of holding it. I don’t actually need her help.

We both dry off but stay naked. Our gazes meet, and she smiles shyly.

In the bedroom, she sits on the bed, her feet on the floor, waiting for me to take the lead.

“Lie back,” I tell her. “In the middle of the bed.”

She does as I ask, her eyes soft and trusting. There’s no way I deserve this girl, but I’m not a good enough person to let that stop me from taking her.

I straddle her waist and press a chaste kiss to her lips. “Lie still and enjoy.”

Her expression is curious, but she nods.

I bury my face in the side of her neck and breathe her in. The aroma of strawberries and a hint of the floral scent from the bubble bath lingers on her skin.

I kiss her neck, then rub my stubbled cheek against her. She shivers. I pepper kisses down the stretch of soft skin below her ear and across her shoulders, then tease her collarbone with my tongue.

Her breathing becomes shallow, and her hands flex toward me a couple of times, as if she wants to touch me but isn’t sure if it’s allowed.

I find her gaze. “You can have anything you want.”

Her eyes darken with liquid heat, and she runs her fingers through my hair. Unfortunately, it’s too short for her to grip properly. Perhaps I should grow it out a little.

I kiss down her abdomen, which is flat but untoned. I rub my face against her there, reveling in the smoothness.

She giggles and pushes me away. “That tickles.”

“What about this?” I ask and settle my mouth over her pussy. I consider going easy, but I want to hear her scream, so I use every tool in my arsenal, licking, sucking, and nuzzling until she’s a panting mess, barely able to string two words together.

“Does that tickle?” I ask, raising my head. I blow a soft gust of air over her pussy, and she shudders.

“Ty, please.”

“Please what?” I ask, determined to drive her crazy.

Her glazed eyes narrow. “Please, more.”

Oh, yeah.

I slip my arms beneath her thighs and use them to tilt her toward me, opening her up more as I get back to work. I close my eyes, absorbing each whimper and sigh that falls from her lips. She rocks back and forth, seeking more friction.

That’s it, baby. Take what you need.

Her thighs tighten around my head, and I ease off. Much as I’d love to get her off with my mouth, I want our first orgasm together to be with my cock inside her. I pull back and stroke myself a couple of times to ease the ache.

Echo watches my movements, enraptured. “Should I…?”

“Next time.” If she puts her mouth on me now, it’s all over.