Page 34 of Royal
He turns his head, staring intently into my eyes, then murmurs, “Maybe Echo was in the car with him? The night he wrecked.”
I flinch because it strikes me that he may have hit on something. “Could be.” My brow pinches together as I consider the entire debacle again. There has to be more to it. “Davis is straight up pissed off at Royal and vice versa. But from what I’ve pieced together, Royal feels like Echo is the one who really ruined his life. He’s angry with Davis, too, but it’s not the same. So that’s weird. But then, if we consider Echo—she’s definitelymorethan upset with Royal. But she’s also… in a defensive mode of sorts. He makes her anxious in a way that worries me a whole lot. Like she sees his anger-filled thunderclouds coming and is battening the hatches and preparing for the storm, all the while giving him the bird and telling him to fuck off”—I clear my throat—“because she’s a little feisty like that.”
Wilder nods, a hint of a grin on his lips. Motherfucker.He really does like her. Internally, I groan, because it’ll probably cause more trouble.
Then again, I should not be one to talk. I’m more than mildly obsessed with the girl. Hell, watching every move she makes is my new favorite pastime. I can’t fucking get enough. We’re all fucking screwed. I release a long, beleaguered sigh. “You’re right. If I were her brother, I wouldn’t be feeling good about Royal being anywhere near Echo.”
“We know she doesn’t drive. Or at least, we haven’t seen her do so.” Wilder’s got this determined, I’m-gonna-get-to-the-bottom-of-this expression stamped all over his face. It does something for me.
Trying to concentrate, I offer, “Maybe we’re reading too much into the whole accident thing.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he breathes out, “but I don’t fucking think so. We might not see it exactly right yet, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something there.”
Rolling to my side again, I put us nose-to-nose. “You want to know what’s wrong so you can swoop in and fix it. But I think you should put it out of your mind for now.” I lean in, my lips ghosting over his. My whiskey tongue slips out to lick, but he pulls back, inhaling sharply.
“Beckham,” he growls, pushing from the bed and stands, staring down at me. He shakes his head, his dark eyes probing mine. “When are you going to fucking figure it out?” He stalks out the door.
I frown. One second he was fine, then I try to kiss him and— Does he think he’s just a booty call or something? That isn’t what this is. Not to me. He’s so much more. He’s Wilder. And I’ve always wanted Wilder. Dammit, there’s no way I’m allowing this runaway train we’re on together to travel in reverse. But I don’t know how to keep us from derailing if he won’t fucking talk to me. I’m an open book. But he’s so, so closed off sometimes, it’s hard for me to read him.
I hang out in his bed for a while, smelling him on the sheets, until it becomes clear he’s not coming back.
* * *
Dressed all in black,I wait until well after dark falls, biding my time until I can have my Echo fix. I don’t have a clue where fuckin’ Wilder took off to, and Royal has shut himself in his room, not even coming out for dinner. Seems like none of us are happy with how this day has unfolded. But maybe I can salvage at least a small piece of it for myself.
I make one last pass through our house, taking account of where everyone is, because the last thing I need is for someone to see what I’m up to. Most of the SIN brothers are down in the basement watching some UFC recap, and the rest are already in their rooms for the night.
Satisfied, I slip cautiously from the house and circle quietly around to the side facing TZE. I glance at all the windows on this side of our house and find them dark. Good.
My back is flat against the cool stone as I edge along the perimeter of the sorority house. I watch for any indication that the ladies of TZE are still moving about, but find only a few lights on. Nothing crazy. It’s around eleven. I’d think that with another first day of classes happening tomorrow that many of them will be asleep already.
But not Echo. She’s just gotten into the shower. There are two windows in her suite—one is in her bathroom, the other her bedroom. I glance at the bathroom window, wanting nothing more than to take a good long look… but that’s not the plan for tonight. I pull my mask over my face and move toward her bedroom window. Hesitating only for a moment, I place my gloved hands on the window and give it a gentle shove upward. Fuck yes. It’s unlocked.
A rush of excitement bursts through me.Fuck.What if she knows I’ve come to visit her more than once? Maybe she knows I’ve been watching. And… my brain twists because I know. I know it’s wrong. But my mind fogs, and I let myself fantasize that the unlocked window is a sign. She’s inviting me in. She wants me to come see her. She needs me. One heavy breath after another escapes me as I slowly slide the window up, up, up, until there’s room enough for me to fold my body in half and step through. Heat snakes through my body, like a long-lost lover. I inhale deeply. I’m home.
Once inside, I lower the window behind me, then turn around to survey the room. The bedroom is dark, but there’s a soft, flickering light coming from the bathroom. The water from the shower rains down in there, audible even through the partially closed door. She’s got music playing, probably from her phone, by the sound quality. I lift my mask and walk around, looking at the random things sitting on her night table and dresser. A hair tie. A pen. A framed photo of a couple who I’d imagine are her parents. Another of Echo, Davis, and another girl, maybe an older sister. They look similar enough. I pick up a bottle of lotion, flipping the cap open and sniffing. Smells like her.
Smells really fucking good. In fact, it’s the same scent wafting through the door from the bathroom. My heart beats erratically in my chest because I can’t resist doing a deeper dive into all things Echo. I slide a drawer open, peering inside. Jackpot. I sift my gloved hands through a sea of panties and bras. My fingers find what appear to be a silky-soft pair and pull them out, stuffing them into my pocket.
The more I touch her things, the more my longing for her increases. I need to see her, so I pull my mask back down and edge toward the bathroom door. I pause, smiling, when I hear her voice reverberating off the walls of the bathroom. My Echo is a ballad-in-the-shower kind of girl. She’s humming along to The Veronicas’ “You Ruin Me”—every once in a while belting out a few of the lyrics—and I can’t resist easing the door open the slightest bit for a peek.
The room is dim, the light from flickering candles dancing across the walls. It’s soothing. A little sexy. And it’s easier for me to hide in the shadows. Her back is to me, which means I can push this a tiny bit further.
I stand just inside the door for a few moments—utterly, painfully still—as I let out a steady, quiet exhale. The room is full of steam, and I don’t know what possesses me, but since her back is still to me, I cautiously creep over to the mirror, put my gloved finger to the glass, and write her a note.
Pleased with myself, I turn, watching the distorted shape of the object of my obsession through the shower glass. She’s fucking divine. All pale, soft skin I’d love to put my lips on, which contrasts with the reddish hue that she’s dyed her hair. She’s fucking bold, I’ll give her that. And she has delicate curves in all the places a man likes to grab hold of. I’d love to reach out and slide my hands over her body. Learn every inch of her. I’ve already done it with my eyes a thousand times at this point, but I’d let my fingers trail a path from her head to her toes, from her front to her back. And then I’d do it all over again. Drink her the fuck in.
And the thing is, she likes me. She’s comfortable around me. That’s why despite Royal looking like he was going to kill me for patting her ass last night, her reaction had been quite different. She’d just glanced over her shoulder, shaking her head in amusement at theWhat? Sometimes I’m naughtylook I’d shot her. She’s a fan of Benneti for fucking sure.
The water shutting off has my eyes going wide. I sidestep into her closet as she leans out to grab a towel. I don’t think she saw me. She’d have screamed if she had, right? Using the utmost care, I ease my way behind a couple long dresses, then crouch down. If she turns the light on, I’m still probably screwed.
I listen to the sounds of her pulling another towel off the rack, the intermittent drip of water from the shower… and then her gasp when she sees the message I left for her.Hello, gorgeous.
There’s a muttered “What the fuck?” Interestingly enough, she must stand there for a full thirty seconds because there’s no sound at all indicating movement. I hold my breath when she finally does turn on the lights, then comes back to blow out the candles and turn off the music. “What is this, fucking hazing?” she whispers under her breath. I hear some light squeaking, which I assume is her hand against the mirror as she swipes my note away. After that, her footsteps head out of the room and the lights go off.
I wait a long time, listening to the sounds of her opening and closing a couple drawers, then the soft whisper of the clothing as it settles over her skin. The mattress creaks a bit, and I imagine she’s climbing into the bed. Maybe she’s wearing yet another of the concert T-shirts she’s so fond of and only a pair of panties. Will she miss the ones in my pocket? Realize they’re gone? Did I pick out favorites? I reach my hand inside, imagining how the silky texture will feel against my bare fingers. I groan internally, thinking about them covering her pussy. Blood surges toward my cock, but I have to ignore the growing need. For now.
After a while, I stealthily leave the closet, crossing to the mirror. This time, I pick up a pink lipstick from the counter and write a second note across the surface. I complete the message with a smiley face. With that done, I poke my masked head out the door, then, when I’m satisfied she’s asleep, I slip from the bathroom, cautiously waiting for my eyes to adjust. She hasn’t said a peep, and as I listen closely, her breathing is steady and even. Definitely asleep.
