by T. L Smith
“Why are you smiling?” I reach for her, she shakes her head offering me the coffee, which I take then drink some before I place it down next to me.
“Good news, your brother’s awake.” She sits on the bed in only a shirt and panties. If my cock wasn’t hard just from merely smelling her, it’s fucking rock hard now from looking at her. Hate to see what would happen if she touched me.
“You spoke to my parents?”
She nods. It surprises me how fast and well they get along. I can see it in her, though. The way she attracts people, it’s just the way she is. Her cell starts ringing and I see her friend Mel’s name pop up, so I reach for her phone answering it. Her eyes go wide like she can’t believe I just did that.
“Red’s number ten at your service.”
“Echo,” she says.
“Does Red have many more number tens out there I should be aware of?”
Mel laughs. “No, unfortunately not.”
“Oh, come on, Mel, you know you want us to work out. I can tell.”
“How about you come to the wedding, you can convince me there?” I look up at Storm who’s shaking her head. “I would love to. What do you need for a gift?”
“Nothing. Ask Storm for the details and tell her to ring me back when you aren’t around.” She’s straight to the point, so I laugh as she hangs up.
“She wants you to ring her back when I’m not around.”
“Sounds about right,” she mutters. I reach for her now, not being able to not touch her a second longer. She yelps when I pull her to me, her back hitting the bed as I lean over the top covering her body but not touching her. Her hands stay in-between us as I look down directly into her eyes. “Echo.”
“Storm,” I say eyeing her lips. Her lips aren’t your usual pink, they’re darker with hints of red and when they aren’t angry at me and pinched to a thin line, they’re full and blaze with color. Like right now. I can tell she’s resisting biting her bottom lip, in case I take it from her.
“This is dangerous.”
“Doesn’t that make it so much more fun?” I ask, her hands touch my exposed chest just barely but enough for me to break out in goosebumps all over. Her eyes closing as she looks between us, her fingers brushing me like she wants to dance with fire, but first wants to test the flames to see if it will burn. I plan to burn. Burn her so deep she never forgets who I am, so my mark will forever be stained on her for any other man who dares come near her. “Mine.” It’s simple and it wasn’t meant to leave my lips. It was in my head but now it’s out there floating around between us. Her eyes shoot up to mine, her eyelashes so long that the closer I get the faster they start to flutter.
“I’m not yours, Echo, I’m mine.”
I want to argue with her, scream at her that she’s wrong. I don’t, instead, I go ever so slowly so I can touch her, just be as close as possible before our day actually starts, and I don’t get this chance again of having her here with me. Just us. It’s almost as sweet as what heaven would be like, of that I’m sure.
Her eyes flick to my lips then back to my eyes. Fast. She isn’t sure what she wants to do, fight me or kiss me. I can see the fight in her eyes, the determination to say no, but the resilience to say yes. It’s interesting, and only making me harder as I keep looking at her.
“Just for a few more hours, pretend with me,” I ask her, needing it, wanting it. She sighs heavily, her breath touching my lips, she smells like coffee.
“You take, and take…”
She’s right, I do. Of just her, though. “Only you, I’ll take all of you if you’ll let me.”
“Then what’s left for me, Echo? What’s left for me?”
Leaning down ever so softly my lips caresses hers. “Me.”
Her fingers move and her hands go to my side so I can drop, being careful to not put all my weight on her, I do so with another soft kiss. She doesn’t stop me or tell me no, this time she opens her mouth to kiss me back.
Lovers that weren’t meant to be.
My brother laughed at me the first time I ever told him I was in love. Love to me is such a fun thing, something most people want and some never achieve.
I thought I had it with Selena.
I was wrong.
Maybe all those years ago when he spoke those words they never really sunk in, until now. ‘You don’t love her. You love the idea of being in love with her. She isn’t your girl.’ He was right then. It just took me a while to work it out and find someone who doesn’t use me, who likes me for just being me. A lovesick fool. I haven’t told her yet, but I’m head over heels falling for a redhead with a sharp personality, who keeps me on my toes and doesn’t make me feel less than I am. I’m with a woman, now I just have to make her love me.
It should be easy. I can see it in her eyes, how she falls for me every second. She’s strong though, lucky for her I’m resilient.
27
Storm
His lips touch mine and he steals my breath away with the seriousness of his kiss. It’s like he’s kissing me for the first time in a long time like he has to remember how I taste and store it in his memory. No other body part moves just one hand that’s touching my chin ever so lightly while his lips massage mine like they were woven out of gold just for him. I part them, he takes that invitation and his tongue slides in. I can feel every inch of him beneath me, even if he doesn’t move he still very apparent to every part of my body. He tastes like coffee and sin. How can I get sucked in every time when I tell myself I won’t, that I’m done. The head wants one thing the heart wants another, and he’s taking advantage of that without my consent.
“Red.” He lifts and his hand comes between us. He pulls at my shirt and lifts it, so my breasts come into view, his mouth descends onto my nipple until his lips cover it as he sucks hard. My hands lift and thread through his perfectly styled blond hair. He reaches for it, pulling away and pinning it to the side of me, so I can’t move as he starts to grind, leaving me helpless while his body plays musical sex instruments on me. His mouth on my breast, going from one to another while I can feel him, every inch of him, the only thing separating us is the very thin pieces of fabric between us as he grinds on me. Hitting that perfect sweet spot only he can hit.
“Echo,” I scream his name, it comes fast and unexpected. It hits me like I didn’t expect it to. My eyes squeeze tight and when I open them again, he’s up removing his briefs kicking them off before he comes back down pulling my panties off fast. He smirks as he comes down pulling my legs, so my body slides to the end of the bed where he is. He lifts my legs over his shoulders and grips my hip with one hand, as his other touches my breast again squeezing before I feel him at my entrance.
“Tell me, Red, tell me how you want me to fuck you?” He teases me, his cock at my entrance, I feel him there and I’m pulsating all over ready with excitement for what I know he can give me. My lips squeeze together in a thin line, not wanting to speak but he enters me slowly, just the tip before he pulls out and teases me again. “You’re going to have to use those words, pretty girl,” he teases me again, then not going in just playing at my entrance.
“Fuck me, Echo. Now.” He lifts a hand to his head and salutes me.
“At your command, Red.” And he does just that. He isn’t slow with it, he slams straight into me, watching for every move as he does so. Each thrust, his eyes stay on me even when I can no longer keep mine open. When I reopen after squeezing them so tightly from the orgasm that’s building he stays watching me. His hands play with my breasts then one skims down to touch my clit, playing it with his magical hands. My back starts to arch, and his hand is at my mouth, his fingers at my lips, as he slides one in for me to suck. Not once does he stop thrusting into me, punishing my pussy like it’s his and always will be, to do so with it as he pleases. I moan loudly as I lift up.
“Slap me.”
He stops and looks at me with shock, then smirks. He pushes once, stops then while my ass is lifted, from my legs being up
around his neck he slaps my ass, hard. I can feel the sting from it and smile at him as I lift up to touch his face. My legs stay locked around him, my body now bent in half letting him have all of me.
His lips are brief but persistent as they touch mine kissing me before I fall back on the bed. He grips both legs, lifting them from his neck and holds them up, using me as his own pole, holding them and slamming into me. Each thrust he drives deeper and deeper until I can’t take it any longer and my body gives. I shake and close my eyes, my teeth clench hard as the orgasm wracks through my body. He thrusts a few more times before he places my legs on either side of him and then he lays on me. His head between my breasts as we both try to catch our breath.
“This doesn’t mean we’re fixed, you know that, right?”
He nods not saying a word.
There’s a knocking sound on the door and I jump. Echo doesn’t move from the spot he’s comfortable in, so I push at him and he just laughs.
“They’ll go away. I’m happy where I am, thank you.”
I push him again until he has to move to the side, I get up and quickly find some clothes, getting dressed as the knocking becomes louder. I turn to look at him and see him already staring.
“Does anyone have keys?” I ask, hoping no one can simply walk in.
“Nope. I changed the locks.” Oh, he changed them so Selena wouldn’t have keys. I nod and walk out going straight to the door and pulling it open. His mother stands there smiling at me.
“Hi,” I utter unsure of what to say. “Echo’s in his room. Do you want me to get him?” She looks behind me and I do too—Echo’s standing there in a pair of basketball shorts as he leans on the wall watching us.
“Mother.”
I step aside and she walks in, her eyes look everywhere before she looks at her son.
“I thought it was time.”
He raises an eyebrow looks to me then back to her. “You thought it was time to finally see where I live?”
Shit, really?
“Yes, I’m trying. It’s hard.”
“We all deserve a second chance, I guess.”
I glance up as he says it, and know he’s talking to me, but I have to look to confirm it. Shaking my head at his words in disbelief, I walk past them and straight to his room so I can grab my things. I hear them talking and I’m thankful it’s civil and not hostile like it was last time. Grabbing my bag I walk out, Echo stops speaking and looks to me.
“You don’t live here?” his mother asks me. First her eyes look to the bag in my hand then I look at it then back to Echo before her.
“No, I have my own place.” She nods her head. “I’ll see you later? Give Mike my best wishes.” I wave a hand to them and head toward the door. I close it and start to walk down the steps, but he’s behind me, reaching for my bag taking it from my shoulder. “We need to talk.”
I nod, we do. But we always seem to end up in the same position. Sex.
“Maybe, but in public.”
He smirks knowing what I’m thinking. “You don’t trust me?” I look at his front door and see it’s closed. Smart, don’t want his mother hearing us.
“I don’t know the answer to that yet. So, don’t ask me that question,” I say honestly.
He looks to the ground then back up to me. “Public. Okay, where do you want to meet? Please don’t make me wait.” I hear honesty in his response. He’s done with waiting, he wants answers. So do I, it just isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. He makes me battle with my feelings. I’m so fucking conflicted. Being with him fucks with my head because when I am, I know I want him, that’s obvious and he knows it. I’m clearly very much attracted to the man, more so than any other person in history of men I’ve met. Attraction isn’t everything though, Echo needs to be more and he still might be in love with someone else. I have to be someone’s first, always. It’s what I deserve.
“I have a bit of work I need to catch up on. How about we meet at the hospital then we can go from there. Maybe dinner?”
He nods excited and reaches forward, his hand touching my hip.
“Mom’s never been here. Never once wanted to come to mine. Always Mike. I think you’re part of the reason Mom’s here.” I hear the happiness in his voice at his words. We might, at times, not like who we are related to but they are family, and we love them no less.
“I’m happy, she seems to be trying.”
Echo nods looking down, and when he looks back up at me, his hand squeezes just a little tighter on my hip as he stares at me. “You make all things better.” He says it with such truth, I can feel he means it. “I’m going to go before I drag you back in that house and have my way with you again.” I nod smiling at his words. That isn’t something I wouldn’t mind. He taps my nose. “Naughty girl,” he says before he walks off.
His mother’s watching us now from the open door, and I offer her a small wave before I slide in my car and drive off.
Automatically, I call Mel. She answers straight away with,
“You told him he was your ten?” she yells through the cell.
“No, you did, in that text.”
“Oh, that explains it. He’s got a big head now, doesn’t he? Bet he thinks he can have you whenever he wants.”
“He just did.” I giggle.
“You’re such a sucker for a blond with a big cock,” she jokes.
“Ha-ha.”
“Don’t ha-ha me, you gave in when you said you wouldn’t.” She’s right. “But soon you’ll be in love and we’ll be planning your wedding.”
“No. Don’t jump ten feet ahead when we haven’t lifted one foot.”
“You will though, it’s just a matter of time for you to get there. I’m pretty sure he is.”
I don’t reply to her words because I really don’t know what to say to that.
“You invited him to your wedding. What if I don’t want to work it out with him?” I’m not even paying attention to where I’m driving. Somehow though, I’m almost home.
“You can un-invite him, but I don’t see that happening. Plus, it’s the perfect time for him to meet everyone. Be prepared for the girls to swoon.”
“Do you think I should just give it a go?” She goes quiet. Mel’s never quiet, and I hate that I can’t see her face right now to see what she’s thinking. She’s a very expressive person in her facial features and I know how to read her easily. “Mel.”
“Yeah, yeah I’m here.”
Then she goes silent again. “Mel, answer me.”
“Yes, I think you should. That’s because I can see you care for him more than you let on. And he isn’t Matthew. Remember that when you look at him.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Just don’t put up your walls. He’s your ten for a reason. Let him show you that reason.”
“When did you become so wise?”
I hear Howard yell her name in the background.
“The minute I became a wifey. You know, we know all the shit.”
“You’re not a wifey, yet.” I laugh as I pull up at my house.
“But I will be…” She hangs up with a giggle without finishing her sentence. And I couldn’t be happier for her.
I want that same happiness and maybe Echo can give it to me.
28
Echo
When Mom leaves, I’m almost speechless. My mother was in my home and not once did she put me down or say anything bad about me. It was a first that’s for sure.
Walking into the hospital to see my brother, I notice Selena sitting out the front in the waiting area. She looks up when she notices me, hope is evident in her eyes until I walk straight past ignoring her. I really wonder now what I felt for her. How did I get so lost in thinking I was in love with her? Whatever it was it wasn’t love.
Mike’s laying down, his television is off when I open his door. He’s staring at the food in front of him not moving. He looks up when I enter, surprise filters through his face as I walk in closing the door.
“Didn’t think you cared if I lived or died,” he harrumphs, clearly still pissed from the other day at the coffee house.
“I care.” He doesn’t say anything merely turns back to look at his food. “Your wife is sitting outside.” I walk closer sitting next to him. He goes to move then his face scrunches up in pain. “Don’t move. Do you want me to get her?”
He shakes his head. “No.” His breathing starts to even out before he turns his head to the side so he can look at me. “I’m divorcing her.”
“You love her.”
He rolls his eyes. “What the fuck is that anymore? You thought you loved her, too.”
“True. Selena gives out fake love so we will give what she wants in return.”
His eyes thin as he looks at me. “You don’t love her anymore. So, why did you kiss her?”
“I never kissed her, she kissed me. Big difference.”
He looks at the ceiling away from me. “I figured as much, I just needed to hear it from you.”
“You believe me, over her?”
He doesn’t look back at me when he answers, “One thing you aren’t is a liar, Echo. You never have been.”
“I’m sorry, you know… for bringing her into our life.” I stand to look at the time, Storm will be here soon.
“So am I. So am I,” he mumbles. Clearly not just hurting from his physical pain. “Tell her to come in, will you?”
I nod my head. “I’ll come back if that’s what you want?”
He nods once not looking back at me as I walk out. Storm’s there already waiting for me. Selena’s standing opposite to Storm death-staring her. Walking up to Storm, I slide my arm around her waist and pull her to me then touch her lips with mine, before I pull back to see Selena blowing smoke from her ears while she glares at us.
“Mike wants to see you.” She stomps off like a child. The minute she’s gone, Storm pulls away from me anger written on her face.
