"Remi?"
He chuckled. "Yeah, Doll, the first time I stayed the night with a woman was with you, in your bed. I didn't even know it, but I'd been saving that experience to share with you."
I was immeasurably touched.
"But why? I haven't had a lot of sex, but even I've fallen asleep with a guy."
"I don't know. I always wanted my privacy, and I wanted my own space."
"If you're uncomfortable here, you—"
"I told you I want to be here. I feel good with you. Safe," he cut me off. He lay on his back and pulled me to him so I could put my head on his shoulder. "I love you, Echo."
My heart stilled. He'd been saying that for a while now, and each time the three beautiful words spilled out from him, I felt like the sun was shining right on my face, warming me all the way to my soul. I wanted so desperately to tell him that I loved him too, but the words seemed stuck inside me.
"No one's ever said that to me, not until you," I confessed.
He held me tighter. "Not even your mama?"
"I can't remember."
"Well, Doll, I'm going to tell you every day that I love you. Every fucking day." His voice was hoarse with emotion. "Because you're the most lovable person I've ever known."
I raised my head and saw that his eyes were bright with tears. "Remi."
"Fuck, Echo. It ain't cool that you didn't have people tellin' you that you're loved. I love you. I ain't ever gonna stop."
I hated seeing him sad. I shifted to lay on top of him, my knees cradling his hips. I kissed his mouth. "Don't be sad."
He crushed me to him and kissed me hard, his mouth devouring mine. His hands moved over my back and went under the elastic of my panties, cupping my ass. As he kissed me, his hands moved me over his erection. Just that friction made me weak.
"Remi," I managed to say, freeing my lips from him.
"Baby Doll." He was making me rub against him. "Fuck, Echo. I can feel how wet you are."
I wanted him so badly. My lungs felt constricted. I could hardly breathe. I moved so I wasn't covering him, and my hand went down his stomach, and I cupped him.
He caught my hand, his breathing rough. "Echo."
"I want you," I murmured, my lips nuzzling against his shoulder. I threw a leg over him and rubbed myself against his thigh.
"Fuck," he cried out and kissed me, rough and hungry.
My hand moved over his erection and I began to stroke him. He cupped my ass and helped me ride his thigh. We were like teenagers, not wanting to remove our clothing but wanting to get off. There was an innocence to what we were doing, and it was so damn erotic.
Then, as if he couldn't stand it, he gripped my wrists and flipped out of position, so I was on my back. He secured my hands over my head.
"Stop," he ordered gruffly.
I tried to wriggle out of his grip. "Why?"
He chuckled, amused with my desperation to have him.
My thighs were splayed open, framing his hips, and I began to move my hips, feeling his hardness against the moist lips of my pussy. The fabric of my panties and his boxers were the only layers between us, and I desperately wanted them gone.
It had been a tumultuous day, and my emotions were all over the place—I knew that. But I was also certain of what I wanted from Remi right now, what I wanted for us. It was frustrating as hell that he was holding back.
He groaned when I began to rub myself against him, wanting the friction.