Page 45 of Echo
Having sex and letting a motherfucker hold my hand were too different things. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to have that tight of a grip on me. I crossed my arms across my chest to resist the temptation. “Lead the way.”
I followed behind him, and for a long distance, the silence between us was deafening. That paired with the fact that all the forest noises were also awkwardly quiet too.
“You weren’t so suspicious yesterday.”
“Who said I’m suspicious?”
He turned around, continuing to lead me as he walked backwards. That giant grin on his face made me want to smack him. “Little Rabbit, you talk to yourself more than you are speaking to me right now.”
“Yesterday, my nerves were soaked in delicious orgasms and my brain wasn’t even properly functioning. That wasn’t even really me, if you think about it.”
“I can fix that.” He smirked playfully.
“You’d like that. Wouldn’t you?”
“You are the greatest gift I’ve been given.” His eyes slowly passed over me, appreciating every inch of my body the same way a starved man drools over steak.
My face grew unbearably warm, and my breathing stuttered. I shook it off and forced a laugh. “I’ve heard my ass is too fat, andI run my mouth too much for you. Pearl thought you would kill me on sight.”
“I never said that. Actually, I was hoping to request that you mouth off more and wear even shorter pants.” He pointed to my shorts. “Those are my favorite so far.”
I tugged on my jean shorts to pull them down a little more, suddenly vividly aware that my ass was one wrong move from hanging out the bottom.
“Don’t,” he begged with a wistful edge in his voice. “I love it.”
“Were you loving it when that delivery boy was looking? Since I’m yours and all.”
“Let them lust for you.. So long as no one is foolish enough to touch you.” He shrugged, “And if they do, I’ll teach them a lesson they won’t forget.”
“Shame on you. Shouldn’t I be more modest?” That was what I was told. I was curvy, and it was my job to keep it hidden.
“No. The men need to control themselves, and not touch things that aren’t theirs.”
A painful chuckle built in my chest. “You sound like my ex-husband.”
There was so much about Aurelio that I missed. That was one of them. I could wear whatever I wanted, and it was up to everyone else to behave. Or they’d meet his wrath.
“You were married?”
“Once upon a time.”
“Seems he’s a fool for letting you escape.”
“It took him a long time to accept that I was tired. I think the only reason he finally let go was because his messes almost got me killed. One of his men betrayed him and handed me over to his enemy. After that, he let me walk away.”
I’d never told anyone that. I guess confessing to a monster was easier than a friend.
“He should have protected you better. He knew he wasn’t worthy anymore,” Echo answered in that tone that was hard to argue with.
“You were human once. Were you ever married?”
“Once upon a time.”
“What was she like?”
“I didn’t know her well. She was the chief’s daughter from another clan. I was one of the strongest warriors of mine, and her father needed fierce allies that could help in an upcoming war.”
“So a political marriage?”
