Echo (Archer's Creek Book 1)

by Gemma Weir

  Still tingling from my orgasm, I feel the grin spread across my face. “Mmmm,” I hum. Totally sated, I snuggle into Echo under the blanket. His strong arms wrap around me tightly, pulling me into his hard chest, and I melt against his warmth.

  This man is a huge contradiction. He wants to claim me, own me, but I don’t feel like property. I feel desired and worshipped, and wrapped in his arms feels like the safest place in the world. Happiness washes over me, and curled against him, my eyes drift shut.

  Warm fingers stroke the hair from my face. The mattress depresses and a quiet, gravelly voice calls, “Come on, sugar, time to get that sexy ass out of bed.”

  Groaning, I roll over and pull the blanket up to my nose. “God no, go away,” I grumble.

  His gruff laugh reverberates through the room. “Baby, don’t make me drag you out of this bed. I promise you won’t like it one bit.”

  Light floods the room and invades my sleep. Early morning anger spews from me. “Echo, for fuck’s sake, just fuck off.”

  The blankets are ripped from me, and goosebumps coat my naked skin. His huge, rough hand thwacks against my arse cheek. “Owwww. What the fuck?” I scream. Wide awake, I glare up at the angry man leaning over me.

  “Watch your fucking tone, Olivia. I’ve told you before you don’t speak to me like that. Ever. I’ll fucking spank your ass so hard you’ll have my handprint on you for a week. You get me?”

  My eyes widen in shock. It’s weird to be turned on by how he just spoke to me, but arousal gushes from me, dampening my thighs.

  Echo crawls up my body, he cages me in, his arms braced on either side of my head. “Let’s try this again, shall we, sugar?” I nod, and a smug grin tips the edge of his lips. Leaning in, he presses his lips against mine, kissing me deeply, and his warm tongue forces entry into my mouth. I sigh contentedly when his lips release mine. Tattooed fingers twist into my hair, tugging gently on the curls.

  “Good morning, baby, you sleep good?” he drawls, his Texas accent sweet as honey.

  “Yes, thank you,” I reply softly.

  A smile breaks across his face, and he looks younger, happy. His eyes caress my skin, taking in my naked body. “Sugar, as much as I’d love to keep you naked and in my bed all day, it’s time to get up.”

  “Urgggh, I hate mornings.” I groan.

  “You’re not a morning person?”

  “God no. My mom used to be up singing at the arse crack of dawn every morning when I was a kid.” My lip curl in disgust at the memory.

  “Singing. Why?” he asks, confused.

  “She calls it celebrating the new day. I call it too many magic freaking mushrooms the night before.”

  Echo’s laugh vibrates through his chest. “Magic mushrooms?”

  I sigh deeply then reply. “Yep. My parents are huge hippies who are stuck in the 70s. Our house was practically a bloody commune.”

  Echo barks out a laugh. “A commune? Seriously?”

  “Maybe it wasn’t that bad. But it took me until I was a teenager to learn to sleep through her morning madness. I swear I still have nightmares whenever I smell incense.” I shudder at the thought of the awful sickly sweet scent.

  Echo’s eyes dim and a shadow seems to cross his face before he speaks. “Sounds better than my parents. My dad used to drag my ass out of bed in the middle of the night and make me run drills for hours before I could go back to sleep. Having a drill sergeant for a dad was no fucking picnic.”

  I want to comfort him, but he’s not telling me this for my sympathy. “Your dad was in the army too?”

  “Too? Who the fuck told you I was in the army?” he barks.

  Unsure where his anger has come from, I pull in a shaky breath. “Brandi mentioned it. I didn’t realise it was a secret.”

  Echo’s eyes darken before he closes them and quickly shakes his head. When they open again, the shadows seem to have cleared, and he smiles apologetically as he cups my cheek. “It’s not, sugar. I just don’t like to talk about it.”

  Kissing me quickly, he sits up, pulling me into his lap. I want to ask him more about his past and his time as a soldier, but before I get a chance, warm hands slide under my legs and he stands, lifting me into the air like I weigh nothing. I cling to him like a monkey, my arms and legs wrapped tightly around him as he walks us across the room.

  Echo stops in front of the bathroom door. He loosens his grip on my legs, and I slide down his body till my bare feet hit the cold wood floor. I wait with my arms still entwined around his neck and my naked body fully pressed against him. His huge erection pushes against my belly, and my skin tingles in anticipation of his touch. He dips his head to nuzzle the hollow where my neck meets my shoulder. The air around us crackles with chemistry, and his warm tongue tastes my skin.

  He exhales loudly like he’s in pain, and pulling my arms away from him, he separates us and slowly steps back. Without the warmth of his body, cold air hits me, chilling my skin. At arm’s length, he touches my shoulders, turning me away from him and towards the bathroom. I feel his eyes on me while his fingertip trails down the curve of my spine. His movement pauses right before he smacks my arse hard. “Go take a quick shower, sugar. Breakfast’s in ten.”

  I scowl and reluctantly walk away from him. Pausing for a second, I look back over my shoulder and flash him my most innocent smile. “Don’t you want to join me?”

  His eyes darken, raking over my naked form. “Is that what you want? You want me to bend you over in the shower and fuck you from behind?”

  The air in my lungs stops, and I pull in a short, desperate breath. My heart pounds in my chest and my sex throbs with excitement. His face is hard as he waits expectantly for my answer. My eyes roam his T-shirt-covered chest, his tight worn jeans, and the obvious outline of his hard cock. I take in every glorious inch of him, moving upward till I’m staring into his eyes. Then I nod.

  His soft chuckle and mischievous smile have my skin prickling in anticipation. “We both know if that happened, I’d fuck you so hard and so many times you won’t be able to walk by the time I’ve finished with you.”

  I nod enthusiastically, feeling the smile spread across my face. I wait for him to pounce on me, feeling like his prey, only I want to be caught. His first step towards me makes me want to run, but the urge to throw myself into his arms is just as strong, so I wait for him to take the next step. But he doesn’t move.

  Instead, he reaches out, his fingertips stroking my nipple before pinching slightly. I watch his fingers work their magic, mesmerized, until his voice pulls my attention. “I promise, sugar, I’ll fuck you so hard your legs will shake. I’m gonna own every inch of you.” He pauses. “But not now. So stop tempting me and go take a shower.”

  Disappointment washes over me, and I pout, but his eyes harden, telling me silently that there’s no point arguing with him. I slowly walk away from him, throwing over my shoulder, “Echo, where are my clothes?”

  His cheeky laugh confirms that he stashed my clothes last night to stop me from getting dressed. “No idea,” he says, smirking.

  I turn face him and shrug nonchalantly. “Okay, no problems, I’ll just go au naturel then today. I’m sure the guys in the bar will all appreciate the show.” I wave my hands dramatically up and down my body.

  Echo’s eyes darken to almost black as his face contorts with a scowl. “That’s not fucking funny.” His voice rises to just shy of shouting. “No one gets to see you like this but me. You hear me, Livvy?” His entire body rigid with rage, he stomps away from me. “Get in the shower. Your fucking clothes will be waiting for you. Come find me when you’re done.” Anger fills the air, and furious eyes flash at me before he turns his back and leaves, slamming the door behind him.

  Stunned by Echo’s reaction, I stare at the closed door. I was hoping to provoke him into fucking me in the shower. I didn’t expect his anger, but I’m incredibly turned on by his possessive reaction. “What the hell?” I say. Confused, I shake my head and blow out an exasper
ated breath.

  Turning on the shower, I move under the torrent of steamy water. Echo’s shower gel smells like him, an intoxicating scent of clean soap and citrus. I inhale deeply and close my eyes. Images of him bending me over, my hands pressed against the cool tiles, flash behind my eyes, the powerful water drumming on my back as Echo pounds into me from behind. His possessive voice reminding me that I belong to him.

  I move my hands slowly down my body, needing to take the edge off this constant desire. As I reach my pussy, I hear his commanding voice in my head. “No.” I instantly still. His dominant personality is consuming me, and I can’t help liking it.

  Somehow, even the sound of his authoritarian voice in my memory has my abused nipples standing to attention and my sensitive sex pulsing with arousal. I flip the water to cold and let the freezing stream coat my heated skin, icing my libido.

  Shivering from my cold shower, I drag Echo’s fluffy towel over myself, drying my skin, then wrap it around me before I walk back into his room. His clothes hang messily over the back of a chair, and I drag my hand across them, strangely comforted by the familiarity of his belongings. Finger combing my wet hair, I pull it into a messy braid, knotting the end to keep it in place.

  My dress is laid out neatly on the bed, but my bra and panties are missing. I pull the dress on, smooth down the skirt, and turn to check my appearance in his mirror. My reflection shows no hint that I’m naked beneath the fabric. I giggle and roll my eyes, smiling to myself that Echo, my dominant man, will know that I’m wearing a dress and no panties.

  Echo’s black waistcoat is laid on the bed with a note resting on top of it. I drop the note onto the sheets and instinctively reach for the supple leather. Held in my hands, I realize the waistcoat is smaller than Echo’s. My thumbs stroke over it reverently before turning it over. On the back there’s a large embroidered demon face with wings behind it that stares back at me. Elaborate script spells out Doomsday Sinners above the demon and Archer’s Creek below it.

  Turning it to the front, I see a patch and trace the embroidered letters with my fingers. “Property of Echo.” Up close, the intricacy of the lettering and artwork surprises me. It’s a beautiful piece of clothing. I bring the fabric up to my face, inhaling the now familiar scent of worn leather and Echo deeply into my lungs.

  I carefully place the waistcoat back onto the bed and pick up the note. Echo’s handwriting is strong and concise, with each letter written in capitals.

  WEAR ME – E

  I reach out to grab the leather, but pause with my fingertips inches above the waistcoat. This feels significant. It shouldn’t be a surprise as Echo’s told me again and again that I’m his. But wearing a badge that literally says property feels much more monumental than his private claims.

  Moments pass while I stare at the word “property.” Just a few hours ago, I lay in his arms thinking that he made me feel worshipped not owned, and here I am trying to decide if I’m ready to wear a badge that literally says I belong to him. I don’t know if I can take a step that I don’t truly understand. Why can’t he just say I’m his girlfriend?

  Frustrated with myself, I quickly grab the waistcoat and slip the leather over my shoulders. It’s warm to the touch and heavier than I expected. I pull in a deep breath, and I wait to see how it feels. I wait for it to seem wrong. Instead, Echo’s scent surrounds me, and my lingering doubts evaporate. I hug the material around myself and quickly leave the peace of Echo’s room and head into the clubhouse.

  Morning sex is the best fucking kind of sex. Closely followed by sex with Livvy any fucking time. She makes my dick hard just looking at her.

  Fuck, who am I kidding? I’ve been walking around with a constant hard-on since the first time I laid eyes on her.

  She became mine last night. I was fucking claiming her one way or another. I left my property cut for her and told her to wear it. Maybe it’s a bit fucking shady asking her to wear it when she doesn’t completely understand what it’ll mean, but honestly, I don’t fucking care. I want her as my old lady, and I want the whole club to know it.

  She belongs to me, and she’s staying that way. She’s under my skin, in my head, and I’ll fight dirty if I have to. She’s not going anywhere.

  My gaze is drawn to her the moment she walks into the bar. The first thing I see is my cut. It might be my imagination, but the property patch with my name seems bigger and bolder on her. Her sexy fucking dress is playing peekaboo as she walks, and knowing that she’s naked beneath it has me pushing down my hardening cock.

  She’s walking fucking sin.

  Every bastard in the room saw her walk in. She’s so fucking sexy it’s impossible not to notice her. But they also saw the cut, they saw my fucking property cut, and they all know what that means.

  She’s mine.

  My old lady.

  I claimed her in the eyes of the club, and no one can touch her now. Hell, if I wanted to, I could make it so none of the horny fuckers ever look at her again.

  She doesn’t know that the moment she put it on it branded her as mine. The clubhouse’s full, so basically every member of the Sinners now knows to treat her with the same respect they treat me.

  She’s got the club’s full protection. She belongs to me and the Sinners now.

  And she’s got no fucking clue.

  I walk into the bar and every eye in the place turns to look at me. My skin starts to tingle, and I feel his eyes on me. Echo’s sitting at the furthest table, and he patiently waits for me to come to him, but the heat in his eyes smoulders brightly with every step closer I take. Time slows, and moments feel like hours, but as soon as I’m close, his arm shoots out to grab me and pull me onto his lap.

  His lips are against my ear, his whiskey-smooth voice whispering, “Fuck, I want you naked in nothing but that cut. Feel how hard I am for you right now.” He rolls his hips, his solid cock pushes against my arse. Arousal pulses through my oversensitized body, and I wiggle in his lap. Echo groans loudly, and a girly giggle escapes me.

  “You think that’s funny, do you?” he growls. His hand slides up my thigh, disappearing under my skirt. A fingertip circles my clit, and I jump. “Not so funny when it’s you getting teased, is it, sugar.”

  I clamp my thighs together and try to push his hand away. “Stop, we’re in a room full of people,” I warn.

  His face falls into a scowl. “I don’t give a fuck where we are, Livvy. This pussy belongs to me, and I won’t let anyone see what’s mine.” Leaning in, he takes my mouth in a hard, possessive kiss, and I melt into him. My legs relax and his fingers impale me.

  He swallows my squeal in his kiss before curling his fingers into me and massaging my sensitive nerves. “Mine.” The word is said on a growl with his lips buried against my neck. Pulling his fingers roughly from my pussy, he sucks them into his mouth. My stomach swirls with nervous desire as I watch him lick my arousal from his skin. “Delicious,” he murmurs.

  His strong hands wrap around my waist and lift me from his lap. Standing behind me, he pulls me against his body, my back tight against his chest. He wraps his hand around my throat, his fingers spread wide, tilting my head to the side. When he speaks, his voice is quiet and only for me. “Don’t ever try to stop me touching you or your pussy, sugar. You’re mine, don’t forget that.” He urges me forward to the buffet table, his hand slapping my arse playfully.

  The long trestle table overflows with breakfast food, and my mouth waters at the crispy bacon and fluffy eggs. After making my plate, I head back to Echo. Setting my plate down at an empty spot, I pull out a chair.

  “No,” Echo growls, lifting me into his lap.

  I roll my eyes at his caveman behaviour and turn to him in question. “Echo, what are you doing? There’s plenty of chairs.”

  His hand tightens around my waist. “I want you on my lap,” he says with a pout. My big bad biker’s actually throwing puppy dog eyes at me, and I melt. How the bloody hell could anyone resist that?

  The food
is delicious, and after the first mouthful, I take a moment to look around the room. The clubhouse is huge; some walls are beautiful, exposed brick, and others are painted plain white. Sinners memorabilia covers the walls. Framed leather waistcoats hang in a row behind the bar. Leather booths run along one wall, with tables and sofas dotted in groups throughout the cavernous space. There’s a pool table at the far end, then a doorway that leads to the bedrooms. More rooms lead off a balcony above us.

  The place is huge, but in the daylight, it’s bright and airy. It’s completely different to the sexually provocative club I’d seen at the party. The room’s filled with a sea of bikers in leather waistcoats. All of them are like Echo’s with the demon on the back and a name patch on the front. A few familiar faces lift their chins in greeting as I scan the crowd.

  Fascinated, I watch the women. They’re all young and attractive, but hard. Too much make-up, fake boobs, and tight jeans. But at least they’re all wearing clothes.

  Sleaze pulls out a chair and sits down at our table. He nods to Echo first. “Brother,” Sleaze greets and then turns to me. “Olivia,” he says with a small smile.

  I smile shyly. “Morning, Sleaze.”

  He turns back to Echo and raises his eyebrows in question and motions to me. “So when did this happen?” he asks.

  “Just last night,” Echo replies with a smile, while his hand creeps up my thigh, teasing me, his fingers spread wide across my leg.

  Sleaze nods. “And you’re sure, ’cause you know what it means?” he asks pointedly.

  Echo tenses beneath me, his easy-going mood dissolving. “Course I’m fucking sure,” he snarls.

  Confused, I look between Echo and Sleaze. “What’s going on?”

  Echo reaches up, wrapping his hand around my nape to pull me in for a searing kiss. “Nothin’, sugar,” he assures me.