13. The Past
13
THE PAST
TYLER
“This is nice,” Echo says, oblivious to the dark turn my thoughts have taken. “I’m sure there’s a better word for it, but I can’t think what it is. I just feel so peaceful, and I love being so close to you.”
“It’s pretty great,” I agree, trying to put my fear of losing her to the back of my mind. I can’t let it encroach on our time together.
“The jets are a bit much though,” she adds.
“Yeah.” Fumbling around the spa controls, I turn them off. “They’re a good idea, but not very relaxing in reality.”
Without the buzz of the jets, the bathroom is much quieter. If I were alone, I might consider it too quiet, but with Echo here, it can’t be anything other than perfect.
“Do you want to get clean?” she asks, glancing at the bar of soap just out of reach.
“I’ll wash you.” I longed to explore all of her, and what better way to do it? First, I’d learn her with my hands, and then I’d dry her and retrace the same path with my tongue.
I strain for the soap, but Echo straightens for a moment to grab it and hand it to me. Fortunately, she seems content to return to her position against my chest, and I soak in the sensation briefly before lathering the soap.
I soap her chest, cupping each of her breasts and thumbing her nipples, then I clean her arms before journeying down to her belly and hips. I skirt around her pussy, and she helps me wash her slim thighs and calves.
I massage the suds into her back, using my thumbs to dig into the small knots on the inside of her shoulder blades. She groans and becomes boneless against me.
My cock throbs, and I want nothing more than to slide it between the globes of her ass, but I resist the urge. Instead, I slip my fingers over her pussy and stroke. She lets out a stuttered breath and rocks into my touch.
“No.” Her eyes are unfocused as she pushes my hand away. “It’s my turn to wash you.”
She shimmies around in the tub, splashing water over the rim, until she’s straddling my thighs. I grit my teeth, doing my best to pretend the heat of her pussy isn’t nestled over my eager cock.
She takes the soap from me, rubs it between her palms, and follows the same path I did, washing my chest, then my arms, before venturing lower. Her fingertips brush my cock as they pass it by, and I groan at the feather-light tease. Her eyes widen and then turn sly.
Taking far more time than necessary, she cleans my thighs, my calves, shins, and even my feet, ignoring me when I squirm. I’ve always been ticklish, but thankfully, very few people know it.
Finally, after what seems like an eon, she works back up my body and pauses beside my cock. Her hesitation reminds me that this is her first time, and I immediately kick myself for not doing or saying something to put her at ease.
“You can touch it,” I assure her huskily. “Or not. Whatever you want. We don’t have to go all the way tonight. I’m just happy you’re here with me.”
“I want to touch you,” she says, and wraps her hand around me.
I’m on a hair trigger when it comes to her, and her gentle grip is almost enough to send me over the edge. I grab her hips, struggling to get myself under control, but she doesn’t seem to give a shit about that. She slides her hand to the end of my cock and runs the pad of her thumb over the weeping slit.
“Feels too good,” I warn.
She glances up at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief and desire. “I don’t think there’s such a thing as too good .”
“Trust me, there is.”
She strokes me again, this time a little more firmly. My hips jerk instinctively, aching to thrust my cock into her hand again and again until I come all over her. But I manage to stop them from moving. I don’t want to come in her hand. I want to come inside her.
“It’s silky,” she murmurs, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “I didn’t think it would be.”
Oh, fuck. Does she realize how much of a fantasy she sounds like right now? So innocent, but so curious. And she’s all mine.
For as long as I can hold onto her.
Fear shimmers in the back of mind, an unwelcome guest. Echo won’t put up with me hiding our relationship forever. When she gets tired of pretending, will she leave me?
“I think we should take this to bed,” she says, and I force myself back to the present.
“You sure?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Ty. I’m sure.”
I chuckle. “All right, all right. Just asking.”
She gets out first, since she’s on top of me, and then extends her hand to help pull me out. I take her slender hand in mine just for the joy of holding it. I don’t actually need her help.
We both dry off but stay naked. Our gazes meet, and she smiles shyly.
In the bedroom, she sits on the bed, her feet on the floor, waiting for me to take the lead.
“Lie back,” I tell her. “In the middle of the bed.”
She does as I ask, her eyes soft and trusting. There’s no way I deserve this girl, but I’m not a good enough person to let that stop me from taking her.
I straddle her waist and press a chaste kiss to her lips. “Lie still and enjoy.”
Her expression is curious, but she nods.
I bury my face in the side of her neck and breathe her in. The aroma of strawberries and a hint of the floral scent from the bubble bath lingers on her skin.
I kiss her neck, then rub my stubbled cheek against her. She shivers. I pepper kisses down the stretch of soft skin below her ear and across her shoulders, then tease her collarbone with my tongue.
Her breathing becomes shallow, and her hands flex toward me a couple of times, as if she wants to touch me but isn’t sure if it’s allowed.
I find her gaze. “You can have anything you want.”
Her eyes darken with liquid heat, and she runs her fingers through my hair. Unfortunately, it’s too short for her to grip properly. Perhaps I should grow it out a little.
I kiss down her abdomen, which is flat but untoned. I rub my face against her there, reveling in the smoothness.
She giggles and pushes me away. “That tickles.”
“What about this?” I ask and settle my mouth over her pussy. I consider going easy, but I want to hear her scream, so I use every tool in my arsenal, licking, sucking, and nuzzling until she’s a panting mess, barely able to string two words together.
“Does that tickle?” I ask, raising my head. I blow a soft gust of air over her pussy, and she shudders.
“Ty, please.”
“Please what?” I ask, determined to drive her crazy.
Her glazed eyes narrow. “Please, more.”
Oh, yeah.
I slip my arms beneath her thighs and use them to tilt her toward me, opening her up more as I get back to work. I close my eyes, absorbing each whimper and sigh that falls from her lips. She rocks back and forth, seeking more friction.
That’s it, baby. Take what you need.
Her thighs tighten around my head, and I ease off. Much as I’d love to get her off with my mouth, I want our first orgasm together to be with my cock inside her. I pull back and stroke myself a couple of times to ease the ache.
Echo watches my movements, enraptured. “Should I…?”
“Next time.” If she puts her mouth on me now, it’s all over.
I suck my finger into my mouth, wetting it, and then press it against her entrance. She stiffens for a second.
“Relax, baby girl.”
She releases an audible sigh, and her muscles loosen. I slip inside her hot channel, keeping my eyes on her face so I’ll know if she needs me to stop.
“Okay?” I ask, losing the battle not to imagine how amazing she’ll feel around me.
“Yeah.” Her tits move with her breaths, which she’s making a visible effort to slow.
Using my thumb, I toy with her clit.
“Oh,” she gasps, swaying closer.
I slide another finger inside her and cup my palm around her pussy. She rides it until I’m sure she’s ready for me, and then I withdraw my fingers, roll on a condom, and line up my cock.
I push in, inch by inch, giving her time to adjust. Her eyes are locked on mine, the black of her pupils almost swallowing her irises. When I bottom out, her eyelashes flutter and she bites her lip.
“So damn sexy,” I growl.
This girl will be the death of me.
“You feel good,” she whispers, her tongue darting out to touch her lips. “But I’d really appreciate it if you’d move.”
Despite the intensity of the moment, I laugh. “You think you’re funny, do you?” I ask.
She grins. “Not funny. Just really turned on.”
“Good.” I thrust into her with small, gentle motions, gradually increasing the tempo once I’m sure she’s comfortable.
I wrap my hands under her hips and angle her so that my pelvis bumps her clit each time we come together. Her head drops back, and she whimpers. Her pussy tightens around me. She isn’t coming, but she’s close.
Fuck, I’m close too. This first time might not take long. It’s a good thing we have all night. My parents think I’m camping with friends, and Echo told her mom she’s staying with one of our classmates, so no one is expecting us back.
She spasms around me again, the clench of her body almost making me lose it. I glance away from her for a moment because drinking in the visual of her heaving chest, flushed cheeks, and pouty lips is just too much. I grit my teeth and give her everything I have. She cries out, muttering things like:
“Don’t stop.”
“Oh, my God.”
“It’s so good.”
“Oh, God. I’m gonna come.”
Then, thankfully, she does. Her pussy contracts around me and I snap my gaze back to hers as she moans her release. The rippling silken walls around my cock drag me with her, and I spill into the condom, gasping her name.
After I’ve caught my breath, I nuzzle her cheek and kiss her forehead.
“That was really fucking good,” I say. “How do you feel?”
There’s a sleepy, sated smile on her lips.
“As if I want to do it again as soon as I can,” she replies.
I wink. “Your wish is my command. Just give me a few minutes to recover.”
She smothers a laugh. Being careful not to crush her, I get off her and deal with the condom, then return and flop onto the bed beside her. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, draw her close, and kiss her temple.
“Was it okay?” I huff as soon as I ask the question. I’m not usually needy, but I have to know that I did right by her.
“It was wonderful.” She sighs contentedly. “A-plus.”
“Thank God.” I don’t know what I’d do if she answered in the negative.
“By the way.” She sits up, and her hair falls around her shoulders in a tangled mess. “I have a gift for you.”
My heart leaps. “You do? It’s not my birthday.”
“I know.” She shrugs. “I just saw it and thought of you. Wait here.”
She goes to her bag and opens the front pocket, drawing out a small black box. She leans over the bed and passes it to me, then snuggles up to my side.
I take it, choked up. Other than on my birthday, no one ever gives me anything. On the contrary, most people expect something from me since I come from a wealthy family. Echo has so little money, and she wasted some of it on me. How does she believe for even a moment that I’m worthy of her?
“Open it,” she urges.
As gently as I can with my rough hands, I open the little box. A pendant is nestled inside. It’s made of some kind of black stone and is surprisingly masculine. With trembling fingers, I pick it up and examine the design. It’s a stylized moon.
“Why a moon?” I ask.
She leans her head against my shoulder. “You said I’m bright like a shooting star, but you shine too, even if you don’t believe it. I wanted something that would remind you of that.”
My vision blurs with tears, and I quickly blink them back. I turn and kiss her, my chest so full of emotion, it feels like I might explode. Echo is incredible. Am I really going to risk losing her by being a coward who’s afraid to deal with his dad and asshole friends?
“I love it,” I tell her, and then, impulsively, I add, “Will you go to prom with me?”
She blinks her big doe eyes at me. “Are you sure you’re ready for that? There’s no rush.”
Yes, there is. If I drag this out too long, she’ll get sick of waiting for me, and I wouldn’t blame her for it.
“I am,” I say firmly, even though my stomach has plummeted to my feet. “And then, afterward, I want to meet your mom—if you’re okay with that.”
The smile that transforms her face is breathtaking. It makes me feel like a dickhead for not offering her any type of recognition earlier.
She kisses my cheek and slots her hand into my unoccupied one. “I’d like that.”
Maybe I can keep my father from finding out. There’s no way to avoid my friends discovering the truth, but as long as Dad doesn’t, perhaps everything will be all right.
If he does… I’m screwed.