Page 93 of Soulless Deeds

Firm hands twined in my hair, and heat razed through my system from the firm hold.

I could feel his breath on my lips as he whispered, “I know I’ll just piss you off if I asked you to stay behind.” I tried to pull away, but he kept me there within his iron grip. “So, I’m not going to. Instead, I’ll be by your side every step of the way, permanently stitched to your fucking flesh if I have to be.”

My emotions were a cacophony of contradiction. My mind demanded I push him away, but my body wanted to pull him closer.

Inevitably, my body won, my thighs tightening around his waist as my stiletto heels dug deep into the backs of his legs.

“You are mine. As I am yours, Spence. We do this together.”

“Together?”I replied, dumbstruck. Sceptical of his proposal.

Echo felt my hesitance, pressed forward and kissed the spot behind my ear—his favourite place, and mine too.

“I know you need time,” he muttered. “And I know you still haven’t forgiven me. But I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that I amyours. Last night was pivotal for me, Ghost. And I know it was for you, too. I meant it when I said I love you.”

Silence weighed heavy between us. I hadn’t given it to him yet; that four-letter word that he had carved into my corruptedpounding heart. I wasn’t ready. He had hurt me so thoroughly that I was still healing from the beating he had dealt. Still waiting for him to prove that he wouldn’t turn around and give me that vicious tongue for believing in everything I knew we could be.

Unperturbed by my lack of reply, he proceeded to scatter kisses along my jaw, stopping at the juncture of my lips. “Those words carry weight, Spence. I have never given those words toanyonein my life.”

“But—”

“—No. One.”And as if he had to seal the vow into my skin, he said it again. “I love you, my strong, brilliant, sweet girl.”

“I’m not sweet.”

“You aren’t?” he asked, voice dipped low with a husky undertone. “Cause I swear, that candy apple-flavoured pussy is the sweetest thing I’veevertasted.”

I blindly bit into my lower lip to prevent a groan from escaping. The motion didn’t go unnoticed. Echo took that as an invitation to sink his teeth in, right alongside mine. I gasped at the bite of pain, then he took advantage of the opening.

Lust thickened in my veins and goosebumps riddled my flesh as his wicked tongue invaded my wet, wanting mouth. Desire warred inside me as I thumped that pesky bitch back in her box. When we eventually pulled apart, our chests were heaving.

“I will earn your trust, Spencer. I will earn your respect, your loyalty. But above all, I will earn your love…cause without it, sweetheart, I’m nothing,” Echo said, with such sincerity, I almost believed him. He followed that promise with one last, lingering kiss, then offered his arm for me to take.

I took a moment to process all he’d said, and on autopilot, accepted his offer, my hand slipping into his curved elbow.

Everyone was waiting in the elevator for us, the doors wide open and aggressively beeping.

Emerson had had the initiative to secure Aster to a chair at the kitchen table. I smirked at the elaborate knots. She hadnochance of escaping.

Aster pitched a brow as Echo, and I strode past, Fran hot on our heels.

“Is this really necessary?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Why can the dog go with you, but I can’t?”

I spared her a scowl. “Because you’ll get in the way.”

We forbade Aster from coming with us. She remained a vital target of the Ludus and Khaos. Her presence would only cause more suspicion and issues that we didn’t have time to deal with.

Of course, she refused. Hence why she was restrained against her will.

Aster tried to straighten and give me that regal look. Instead, she just came across as an idiot.

I chuckled. “Don’t move, old girl. We’ll be back soon enough.”

Echo’s arm tensed beneath my hand, and I didn’t like it. He may have had laws in his world of Vice, but I didn’t attest to them. And he better fucking realise that Aster had no dominion over me and mine.

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