Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
DUSTIN
E cho has the cutest look plastered on her face. Shock, surprise, awe, love…it’s all there, and I’m over the moon knowing I inspire it. It took lots of careful planning to make this night come to fruition. Juliana is pretty much one of the only girls at school I can trust since we’ve practically been friends since birth.
I walk over to the car and open the passenger door.
“What’s going on?” Echo asks, looking back and forth between me and Juliana.
“Well, my dear,” Juliana begins. “Mr. Prince Charming over there freed you from the dungeon.” She reaches over and unfastens Echo’s seat belt. “But we’re on a time limit, Cinderella. So it’s time for you to get this show on the road.”
Echo grabs her bag, steps one foot out the door, and then looks back at Juliana. “Thank you.”
“Any time, princess.” Juliana looks past her, winking at me.
“You have some explaining to do, mister,” Echo chastises with a grin as Juliana drives off. She sucks at playing tough. Even when she has all the right reasons to be mad, it never lasts. She can’t be hard on someone even if she tries.
Because her heart is too soft.
She has the kindest soul. I just hope I’m not ruining her. Her dad seems to believe so; that I’m some kind of bad influence. I’m sure he even blames me for the strain in their relationship now. But I refuse to have that charge pinned on me. One day, he’ll look at himself in the mirror and realize he’s the true person at fault.
Hopefully.
“Good to see you, too.” I smirk, pulling her into my arms and holding her tightly. God, it feels like forever since I’ve touched her. I slowly inhale deeply, pulling her scent in. Her bag hits the gravel and her body molds even more into mine.
“I’ve missed you.” She breathes against my neck, holding on for dear life. Almost as if she’s afraid to let go. The feeling is mutual. Apprehension creeps in as I start to second-guess this surprise of mine. My lack of patience could have irreversible consequences.
“I’m sorry,” I say, stepping back. Echo gasps at the distance, and I shake my head. “I didn’t really think this through clearly. I just wanted to see you.”
She steps to me, reaching out to grab my hand. I pull away before she can, throwing it in my hair before resting both on the back of my head. And then I start pacing, anxiety seeping in.
“I’m so selfish,” I admit loudly. “What if your dad finds out? What if I just f’d everything up?” I stop and face Echo. She’s so ridiculously beautiful, standing completely calm, with a comforting gaze.
She holds her hand out, and I take it. “You are worth the risk, Dustin,” she boldly enunciates each word. The tension in my body dissipates, but a sense of dread remains. I nod, and she pulls me in for a hug.
“I just don’t ever want to lose you,” I whisper, the enormity of it all hitting me out of nowhere.
“You won’t. I’m yours forever.” She kisses my neck, causing a wake of shivers. “Now, are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?”
“Oh yeah.” I smile with relief, thankful for her pulling me off the ledge of dread. “I thought you and I could do some stargazing,” I say, pulling away from her, watching as her eyes go bright with excitement. I toss her bag over my shoulder and grab her hand, threading our fingers together. “Come with me if you want to live,” I tease, using her favorite line from Casper , earning me a chuckle.
We walk in silence to the outfield where I have our blankets laid out and the early birthday gift I got for her. She looks back and forth between me and the telescope I have set up, mouth slightly agape. “You have a telescope?”
“No.” I run my hand along the side of her face, wanting to pull her in for a deep kiss, but lean in for a peck instead. “You have a telescope.” I clarify mere inches from her lips. “Happy early birthday, Echo.”
“Thank you, Dustin,” she says with disbelief. “But how am I going to explain walking in with a telescope?” She laughs, causing me to as well.
“Well, you see, I’m attached to the gift. So that just means I have to be with you anytime you want to use it.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Well, good.” She leans in, resting her arms over my shoulders. “Because I’m kind of attached to you.”
“Just kind of?” I lift my brow, teasing her.
Echo rolls her eyes and smacks my chest. “Shut it. You know better,” she teases back as she walks over to her telescope.
I sit down on the blanket and lean back on my side, propping myself up on my left arm. And I just stare, convinced I could easily do this for the rest of my life. While she’s in awe of the sky up above, I’m in awe of the girl I love.
“See any little green men up there?” I laugh.
“No.” She snorts, glancing back at me. “You look comfy.”
“I am. You should join me.” I pat the empty space beside me. I debate on patting my lap. Echo makes quick strides over to me, kicks her shoes off, and lies down facing me.
“I don’t know what tomorrow holds.” Her voice is low as she keeps her eyes fixed on the string of my hoodie she’s rolling between her fingers. The admission causes my heart to drop to my stomach. Then her mocha eyes meet mine and my heart is back in its rightful position but threatens to beat itself out of my chest. “But thank you for tonight. For this. Whatever happens, you are worth it. This is worth it.” She twists her hand in the front of my hoodie and yanks me to her, our mouths crashing together as if we’ve waited our whole lives for this moment. I’m positive we have.
The kissing is deep and hot…and needy. I drape my arm around her, pulling her into my chest as tightly as possible. She tosses her leg over mine, intertwining our legs together. My hand trails its way up and down her curves before I push it up underneath the back of her sweatshirt, feeling her bare skin beneath my hand. The simple gesture causes her breath to catch as she does the same to me.
She pulls away slightly, breaking our mouths apart. “I want you, Dustin,” she says, intertwining her fingers in my hair at the nape of my neck.
I open then shut my mouth, no words forming. I watch her face for any inclination of resignation. I don’t want her to feel like she owes me her virginity. I didn’t bring her out here for that. Echo closes her eyes for a heartbeat as she shakes her head as if thinking better of the situation.
“No, I need you.” Her eyes flare open with a level of desire I’ve never seen.
I nod, feeling the same need, and place my hand on her cheek, searching her eyes one last time before I completely make her mine. “Are you sure this is what you want? Here?” I glance around, feeling like I owe her more than a blanket pallet in the middle of a field for such a special moment.
“Here and now,” she replies, pulling me on top of her.
My hips fall between her thighs, and I rest my body against hers, causing her to feel just how badly I need her. She moans against my mouth, and I resist the urge to growl. This woman has no idea the hold she has on me. Echo begins tugging at her sweats as she shimmies them down along with her panties. I prop myself up, giving her the space to do so, while holding her stare.
“Now,” she says, biting her lip. I gulp.
I lean back onto my knees, slowly pulling her pants the rest of the way down. Nerves and excitement flood my body as I take in the beautiful sight in front of me. I want to touch her, taste her, take my time with her, but the way she tugs at the waist of my pants lets me know she’s ready to fully feel me. Grabbing the other blanket, I push my pants and boxers down and cover us as I rest back between her legs. The closeness already has me wanting to come undone. She rubs her hands up and down my sides, then dances back and forth along my waistline. One hand begins to move lower, and I shudder.
“No.” My breathing is ragged against her mouth. I rest my forehead against hers to calm myself. “I’m not going to last long,” I admit.
“We have all night,” she whispers, cradling my face.