28. Echo
ECHO
My family had been whispering about Forever since she stepped outside the house this morning and interacted with Tristian. As soon as we walked through the community house front door, I made my announcement.
“This is Forever, my wife,” I said, meeting my grandma’s eyes first and then my aunt and uncle’s.
The news was for them specifically, but the room was packed with more than the immediate family, and my confession had them all silent.
My grandmother sat in her usual chair by the fireplace, the expression in her gaze more curious than anything.
Aunt Velma had paused with a tray of drinks halfway to the center table.
But it was my uncle’s hiked eyebrows as he studied Forever intensely that caught my attention.
I watched the recognition spark in his eyes; he was connecting her to the surveillance footage from a couple of weeks back in my office.
“Your… wife,” Aunt Velma finally said, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’s… unexpected.”
The silence broke when Tristian and Tank, sitting on the floor near the bookshelf, burst into laughter.
“Y’all should see your faces,” Tank said, nudging Tristian with his elbow. “Best entertainment this week.”
“Mad awkward in here,” Tristian added, his eyes dancing with amusement as he looked at Forever. “Told you they’d flip.”
Their laughter seemed to snap everybody out of their trance, including my uncle, who stood.
“Demetrius,” he said, tipping his head toward the corridor. “Let’s have a chat.”
I kissed Forever on the forehead, doing it in front of everyone on purpose to make my stance known. She was here to stay, in my life to stay.
“I’ll be right back,” I told her softly, then followed my uncle into the corridor that led to the offices.
The moment we were out of earshot, he turned on me.
“Have you lost your mind?” he hissed, keeping his voice low but unable to hide his anger. “That woman is a high-ranking society member. Do you understand what bringing her here means?”
I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. “I understand exactly what it means.”
“Do you? Because it looks like you’ve handed the Collective a direct line into our business. Every person in this compound is now at risk because you couldn’t keep your personal life separate from family business.”
The way he said it irritated me.
I could deal with the concerns; they were expected, but Forever being here was a nonnegotiable.
“She’s my wife,” I said slowly, wanting to make sure he heard me clearly this time. “That makes her family.”
He ran a hand over his face. “Marriage doesn’t automatically earn trust in this life. Especially not with someone who’s been raised to view us as the enemy. Her family is responsible for—”
“I know exactly who her family is,” I cut in, pushing off the wall. “And I know what they’ve done. That doesn’t change anything.”
My uncle stepped closer, his voice dropping lower. “We’re still paying for your father’s mistake, or did you forget?”
“Forever isn’t a threat to us.”
“You can’t know that,” he insisted, his voice rising. “You’re thinking with your heart instead of your head. You’ve compromised everything we’ve built here. The safety of every child on this compound.”
“I understand your concerns, but Forever is a Cannon now, and that won’t change.”
He got in my face, and I tipped my head, wondering if I should kill him now or later.
“You don’t get to make that decision alone. This affects all of us. Her loyalty—”
His voice had grown loud enough to carry, and I noticed movement out of my peripheral. Forever moved into view a second later, gaze assessing the situation.
She moved to my side and rested a hand on my forearm, but addressed my uncle.
“Everyone can hear you,” she said, looking directly at him. “I figured it’d be better if I spoke up for myself. But first, you have every right to question my sudden presence. I won’t try to convince you with words, but hopefully you’ll let me show you.”
Arland blinked, clearly caught off guard by her directness. Tomorrow, when things had settled, I would inform him of the whole story because it was only right.
“I’m not asking for immediate trust,” she continued. “But I don’t want to be the reason this family feuds among itself. My presence here isn’t a threat, but I understand why you see it that way.”
I watched my uncle’s face as Forever spoke. His defensive posture didn’t change, but something in his eyes shifted.
The shuffling in the main room ceased as he finally said, “Who am I to argue with that?”
He shook his head and sighed before leaving us in the corridor alone. I stole a kiss from Forever and tugged her back into the main room, where everyone pretended they hadn’t been straining to hear our conversation.
“I expect everyone in this room to be mindful of our guest,” he announced, always wanting to be in control of something. “She’s Demetrius’s wife, and we will…” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “…extend her the courtesy that position deserves.”
It wasn’t the warmest welcome, but I didn’t expect anything less from a Cannon man. It wasn’t until my grandma finally set down her teacup, loud enough to silence the room again, that I realized my mistake.
“Let me make official introductions before y’all dip off,” I said, taking Forever person to person until we reached the most important. “It’s about time for your nightly walk, right?”
She lifted her gaze as I helped her stand, the accusation dancing in that brown hue making me smile.
“It would be a lie if I said I didn’t purposely keep her from you,” I added as I led her outside with a silent Forever following closely. “But, I had my reasons.”
As we started up the sidewalk, Forever moved to my grandmother’s other side.
“He didn’t do a good job of revealing this to all of you,” my wife said, throwing me under the bus. “For that, I apologize.”
“At least one of you is more sensible than the other,” my grandma said, elbowing me with a little smile on her face. “No need for an apology, Forever. I understand my grandson better than his uncle ever did.”
I frowned.
“What you tryna say, G?” I asked, slowing my strides to keep pace with them.
She laughed.
“That you’re predictable, meechie. Did you truly believe I didn’t pick up on your sudden urgency to know if your mom was alive or not? It always felt off, and when you left, I knew there was more to the story. Didn’t think it was a wife, but I should’ve known.”
We walked the rest of the way in silence, but once we reached her door, Forever moved me out of the way and helped her inside.
I let her have that moment to say whatever was on her mind and waited on the sidewalk. Eventually, she returned and slipped her arm through mine.
“I told her I don’t have the memories of us, but I’m falling for you all over again,” she said, resting her head against my arm. “Don’t fight with your family on my behalf, Echo. I can handle their concerns.”
It was never about her being able to take their scrutiny, but it was always about me not wanting her to.
Forever laced her fingers with mine as we began to walk, her thumb occasionally brushing across my knuckles. I kept stealing glances at her profile, still processing that she was here amongst my people.
The woman I fell in love with was sharing space with me in a way we hadn’t been able to do before.
New memories.
“I meant it,” she said, breaking the silence. “I’m falling for you.”
She couldn’t have been any more obvious, but I kept that to myself and hit her with a, “Oh yeah? You sure you haven’t already fallen, my forever?”
We both knew she had.
Just like the first time, there was no denying our fate.
“Even if I have, I’m not telling you yet,” she quipped, walking ahead of me to get into the house.
The moment the door clicked shut behind us, something shifted in the air. I reached for her, or maybe she reached for me, but it happened so fast I couldn’t tell where my movement ended and hers began.
“That’s alright,” I whispered into her ear as I backed her into the living room. “Your actions make the wait worthwhile.”
Her hands slid up my chest and around my neck after I dropped down on the sofa and tugged her into my lap.
She brought her lips to mine and kissed me softly, wrapping her fingers around the back of my neck to gain control.
“I would sacrifice everything for you,” I whispered into her mouth, one hand tangled in her hair while the other gripped her waist. “And I love you because you’ll never let me.”
She pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, bottom lip tucked between her teeth.
“I recognize what I mean to you,” she said. “And you’re right, I’d never let you do it.”
I leaned my forehead into hers, grateful for this second chance.
“You balance a nigga out,” I told her, needing to get that off my chest. “I can’t live without that.”
Our eyes danced as she slid out of my lap and onto the floor, while tugging at my sweats. I stretched my arms over the top of the sofa and got comfortable, liking where this was headed.
My dick bricked up around her fingers as she slowly stroked it with both hands.
“I’ve been thinking about this,” she whispered into the head with a smile pulling at her lips. “Let me take care of you.”
I moaned as she flicked her tongue across the tip, then wrapped those full lips around it and slowly took me into her mouth.
“Mmm,” I groaned, one hand moving to cradle the side of her face. “Missed you like this.”
Forever hummed, and the vibration shot straight through me. I watched her work, mesmerized by the way she took damn near every inch. Her hands stroked what she couldn’t fit, moving in perfect rhythm with her mouth.
My baby knew exactly what she was doing. That muscle memory wouldn’t let her forget how to please me.
“Just like that,” I whispered, pushing forward to grab her face with both hands. “Nice and slow.”
I could feel myself getting closer as I fucked her face, but I needed more, craved that shit like nothing else ever before.
“Forever…” I gently pulled her off me and up into my lap again after she had shed her leggings. “Sit on it, baby.”
She positioned herself over me without hesitation, eyes never leaving mine as she dropped slowly and took all of me in.
“Fuck,” Forever whimpered, head falling back as she adjusted. “I… feel everything .”
My hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements while I tried to maintain my composure. But who the fuck was I foolin’? This pussy was too good not to lose control over it.
“Look at me,” I demanded, slapping her ass with both hands.
Forever’s gaze locked with mine, lips parted as she bounced on my dick and moaned deeply for me.
“Echo,” she cried, gripping the couch. “I can’t… it’s too much.”
“We both know you can take this dick…” I thrust up to meet her, hitting that spot that made her walls clench around me. “Mmhm. Give me that.”
She came with a silent scream, her body tensing and shuddering against mine.
“I need more,” Forever whispered, breath hot against my ear. “Please.”
I stood up with her still wrapped around me, her legs instinctively tightening around my waist. In three strides, I had her pressed against the nearest wall, my hips pinning her in place as I began to pump up into her.
“This what you want?” I growled, driving deeper with each stroke. “Is this more enough for you?”
She nodded frantically, unable to form words as I hit that spot inside her that made her eyes roll back. I buried my face in her neck, inhaling the scent of my cologne on her skin. Marking her as mine in every way possible.
“Nobody else gets to have you like this,” I said, biting down on her shoulder. “Tell me.”
“Nobody else,” she gasped, her walls fluttering around me. “Only you, Echo. Only you.”
I could feel her getting close, her body tensing as her breathing became more erratic. I slowed my pace deliberately, wanting to drag this out, to make her remember every second.
“Don’t you dare,” she warned, sensing my intention. “I need to cum.”
I smiled against her skin. “Then beg for it.”
Her eyes flashed with defiance for a split second before desire won out. “Please,” she whispered, pride taking a backseat to her need. “Please let me cum on your dick.”
That was all I needed to hear. I resumed my previous pace, hitting her deep with each thrust, one hand sliding between us to circle her clit.
“Oh god,” she moaned, her head falling back against the wall. “Right there, right there.”
She coiled tight around me, her pussy gripping my dick like a vice as she came undone; I lost control right after, spilling into her with a moan that came from somewhere deep in my chest.
Fuck.