Page 21 of Echoes

Her moans fall silent, her mouth opening wide as her eyes slam shut.

She's nearly there.

I wait, breathing heavily as the look of concentration on her face turns to relief, her pussy convulsing around my cock. The moment it does, I can't hold it back any longer, a growl ripping from my throat as I shoot my much needed release into her.

Our lips smash together again as we finish riding out our highs, and when we both stop moving, I pull back slightly to look into her eyes.

"You're not going to avoid me any longer, Avery. I don't care the reason why. Whatever it is, I promise that I'm the bigger threat."

Chapter 8

Avery

Bed never felt so good.

I had finally made it to the end of the day, showered, and was now curled up on my hard, kind-of-itchy mattress.

By the time Theo and I had finished in the library, it was nearly the end of free time. He stopped pushing for the real reason why I was trying to stay away, but his words still replayed in my mind.

"Whatever it is, I promise that I'm the bigger threat."

I don't know how I feel about it. Of course, I don't want to stay away from him. But I'm terrified of the consequences. I know he said he's the bigger threat, but we don't have the power here. Hell, we don't have anything.

It was a momentary lapse in judgment, but I needed him.

I can't do this alone.

Lilydale is already an isolated place. The only reason I've survived this long is because of the people I've met here—even if I do deserve the punishment for my actions.

Sleep starts to drift over me, every single muscle aching as I fade into black. I'm nearly out when a small click reaches myears. It's so faint that for a split second, I convince myself I was imagining it, until I hear the familiar creak of my door opening.

My eyes shoot open instantly. Peering through the dark, I spot a figure step into my room. My heart beats rapidly, with a small fraction of hope, as I try to pinpoint recognizable features.

There's only a few people who can do that…

"Avery," a voice draws out through the darkness.

I groan, shoving my face into my pillow. "Oh, God."

"Not God," he laughs. "The Devil."

"What do you want now, Damon?"

He laughs quietly to himself, his darkened frame leaning against the wall opposite me. "Are you trying to sleep?"

"It would be nice," I grumble, frustrated that I can't seem to catch a break.

"Too bad I'm not nice," Damon says. "Your attendance is required tomorrow."

I sit up in bed, crossing my legs under my body. Why?"

"Because I said so," he replies simply. "Despite your...indiscretions... the society still requires you to contribute for now. I'll send someone to collect you tomorrow."

"Grey?" I ask before I can stop myself.

Damon scoffs. "I don't think so. He wants nothing to do with you. Your contact with him will be minimal at most. Besides, no point being greedy. You're obviously still getting yourfillfrom other sources."

The way he says it confidently, the knowingness behind his tone, I already know that he's referring to me and Theo today. He knows everything, after all.