Page 28 of Mended Hearts

“Well, good.” She leans in, resting her arms over my shoulders. “Because I’m kind of attached to you.”

“Just kind of?” I lift my brow, teasing her.

Echo rolls her eyes and smacks my chest. “Shut it. You know better,” she teases back as she walks over to her telescope.

I sit down on the blanket and lean back on my side, propping myself up on my left arm. And I just stare, convinced I could easily do this for the rest of my life. While she’s in awe of the sky up above, I’m in awe of the girl I love.

“See any little green men up there?” I laugh.

“No.” She snorts, glancing back at me. “You look comfy.”

“I am. You should join me.” I pat the empty space beside me. I debate on patting my lap. Echo makes quick strides over to me, kicks her shoes off, and lies down facing me.

“I don’t know what tomorrow holds.” Her voice is low as she keeps her eyes fixed on the string of my hoodie she’s rolling between her fingers. The admission causes my heart to drop to my stomach. Then her mocha eyes meet mine and my heart is back in its rightful position but threatens to beat itself out of my chest. “But thank you for tonight. For this. Whatever happens, you are worth it. This is worth it.” She twists her hand in the front of my hoodie and yanks me to her, our mouths crashing together as if we’ve waited our whole lives for this moment. I’m positive we have.

The kissing is deep and hot…and needy. I drape my arm around her, pulling her into my chest as tightly as possible. She tosses her leg over mine, intertwining our legs together. My hand trails its way up and down her curves before I push it up underneath the back of her sweatshirt, feeling her bare skin beneath my hand. The simple gesture causes her breath to catch as she does the same to me.

She pulls away slightly, breaking our mouths apart. “I want you, Dustin,” she says, intertwining her fingers in my hair at the nape of my neck.

I open then shut my mouth, no words forming. I watch her face for any inclination of resignation. I don’t want her to feel like she owes me her virginity. I didn’t bring her out here for that. Echo closes her eyes for a heartbeat as she shakes her head as if thinking better of the situation.

“No, I need you.” Her eyes flare open with a level of desire I’ve never seen.

I nod, feeling the same need, and place my hand on her cheek, searching her eyes one last time before I completely make her mine. “Are you sure this is what you want? Here?” I glance around, feeling like I owe her more than a blanket pallet in the middle of a field for such a special moment.

“Here and now,” she replies, pulling me on top of her.

My hips fall between her thighs, and I rest my body against hers, causing her to feel just how badly I need her. She moans against my mouth, and I resist the urge to growl. This woman has no idea the hold she has on me. Echo begins tugging at her sweats as she shimmies them down along with her panties. I prop myself up, giving her the space to do so, while holding her stare.

“Now,” she says, biting her lip. I gulp.

I lean back onto my knees, slowly pulling her pants the rest of the way down. Nerves and excitement flood my body as I take in the beautiful sight in front of me. I want to touch her, taste her, take my time with her, but the way she tugs at the waist of my pants lets me know she’s ready to fully feel me. Grabbing the other blanket, I push my pants and boxers down and cover us as I rest back between her legs. The closeness already has me wanting to come undone. She rubs her hands up and down my sides, then dances back and forth along my waistline. One hand begins to move lower, and I shudder.

“No.” My breathing is ragged against her mouth. I rest my forehead against hers to calm myself. “I’m not going to last long,” I admit.

“We have all night,” she whispers, cradling my face.

Chapter Nineteen

ECHO

We don’t move for what feels like forever and all too quickly, at the same time. I hold Dustin tightly against me, feeling as his heart rate begins to slow to normal. I kiss his cheek, telling him over and over how much I love him. The closeness no longer feels close enough as my arms continue caressing his back.

“I’m sorry,” he says in a hushed tone against my mouth.

“What? Why?” I stare up, waiting for him to open his tightly shut eyes. They finally flicker open and showcase so many emotions, making it impossible for me to decipher where his mind is at.

“I just…” he stammers, looking off. I move my hand up to his cheek, guiding his gaze back to me. “I wanted our first time to be perfect.” His lip quirks up with the admission. “You were gypped.” He averts his eyes down and drops his head.

“Dustin, you’re mine. Nothing could be more perfect than that.” I rub his back for reassurance, then move my hands down to his hips, which are right where they belong—between my thighs. “And how could I possibly be gypped when I’m not done with you?”

His head darts up, searching my eyes as I bite my lip.

His hand grazes my cheek before stopping at my chin, holding it. “I don’t think love is a strong enough word for what I feel for you,” he admits before claiming me again. A delicious ache takes over all my senses as I lose myself to him.

STARING SKYWARD, WE lie in a blissful slumber, stargazing as I point out all the visible constellations. Our intertwined hands rest between us, and every so often, he pulls them to his mouth, lacing my hand with kisses. While the sweet gesture is simple, it causes me to lose my train of thought every dang time.

“And over there is…”

---