Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
I glance at the clock. Three a.m.
I lie in bed, acutely aware of Echo beside me in a matching pajama set. The sage green shorts with white polka dots cling to her hips and barely reach her thighs. Half of her incredible ass is hanging out. She can’t possibly be wearing underwear.
And the tank top… I grit my teeth. It ought to be illegal. It tries to be cute with The Snuggle is Real emblazoned across the front. But the spaghetti straps cling by a thread to her otherwise bare shoulders. And the top either shrank in the wash or she bought it too small because it doesn’t cover her midriff and it totally grips her tits, emphasizing the fact she’s braless.
Everything she’s worn this week has made me realize I know Echo as a human—probably better than anyone else—but I barely know her as a woman.
Worse, the question I asked myself on the beach pelts me over and over, circling like a fighter jet ready to drop more bombs on my brain. Do I want to risk her first time being with someone, who, I hope, won’t bruise her tender heart? If I did the job myself, I wouldn’t worry about her well-being. Hell, I’d worship her—happily. But if I take her to bed—even once—can we go back to being just friends? Would she hate me when I go on with my life?
Maybe. But it’s also possible I’ve underestimated her. Xavian swears she’s ready for a one-night fling simply to pop her cherry.
But what about you? Are you ready to spend a night inside Echo, touching her in every way, then let her go?
Given how much I want her? The way our kiss last night replays on a constant loop in my head? How hard I am every moment I’m around her?
I don’t know.
Suddenly, I wake up to a face full of sun, sweating and disoriented, and glance at the clock again. Crap, it’s after ten.
And I hear Echo singing in the shower, bless her off-key heart.
On the nightstand, her phone buzzes.
Glowering, I grab it. If that’s Xavian trying to chat her up and into bed, he can go fuck himself. But the display says it’s Fay Henderson, co-founder of the nonprofit Echo interviewed with last week.
Shit. She won’t want to miss this call, but she won’t be out of the shower in time. I hesitate, but on the third ring, I give into the urge to answer. “Hello?”
“May I speak to Echo Hope?”
“She’s not here at the moment. This is her…boyfriend. Can I help you?”
“How nice to talk to you, Hayes. Echo told us so much about you. It’s obvious she loves you.”
Obvious how? “My girl is incredibly special. I’m lucky.”
“You are. I was hoping to speak to her. Do you know when she’ll be available?”
My gut tells me the woman is going to offer Echo a job. “Half an hour? I can have her call you.”
“Perfect. She said you two are on vacation this week?”
“We’re in Maui.”
Fay sighs. “Bruce and I have been there a few times. Isn’t it wonderful?”
We talk for a few minutes about what the older couple did on their last trip to the island, and she gives me some tips about great restaurants and nearby activities.
“I appreciate this,” I say, setting the pen beside the full notepad. “Echo would love a hiking tour of Hana.”
“It’s worth every sore muscle.” The woman hesitates. “When you two get back, Bruce and I would be delighted if you’d join us and our son, Brooks, for dinner. We’re a small, family-oriented organization, and we like to get to know both our employees and our volunteers. Oops, I shouldn’t have said anything, but I guess it’s obvious we’d like to offer her a position in our organization.”
Echo wasn’t kidding. Her prospective bosses are really friendly…and they seem inclined to include their son. In case Echo changes her mind about dating the guy once she meets him? She and I need to look like a couple in love to bear an evening of their scrutiny.
“But, oh… I’m probably getting ahead of myself. Echo hasn’t accepted our offer. I really hope she does.”
I’m pretty sure she will, but… “I can’t speak for her, but I’ll have her call you as soon as she’s free so you ladies can work out the details.”
“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your week.”
Fay disconnects the call. As I set Echo’s phone back on the nightstand, she emerges from the bathroom in a cloud of steam with a towel wrapped around her head, barely covered in a thin white nightie that skims her thighs and clings to her curves.
It’s so sheer, I can almost see through it.
My mouth goes dry. My cock gets hard.
I turn away before she notices, pretending to rifle through my suitcase. But breathing is a struggle, and I’d be a lying bastard if I said I didn’t want to stare more.
“Were you talking to someone?” she asks, crossing the room to pick up her phone.
“Fay Henderson,” I tell her, forcing myself not to look at any part of her above her feet.
“She called?” Echo squeaks.
“She wants to offer you a job.”
“Really?” Her feet glide across the carpet and stop inches from me.
“Yeah.” I pluck a T-shirt and some shorts from my suitcase. They don’t match, and I don’t care. I need to escape to the bathroom and shut the door between us before I look through her nightgown again…and my will to keep my hands to myself evaporates. “Be right back.”
But before I can make it to safety, Echo stops me with a touch. “Wait. You’re sure?”
Her voice tugs at the soft spot I’ve had for her since we were kids. I need to reassure her. Echo’s big golden eyes are so wide and earnest. Her rosy lips part. I can’t stop thinking of them under mine. Her tits brush my chest.
I don’t dare move any closer. In fact, if I don’t get the fuck away, I’m worried I’ll stop caring she’s my best friend, and I’ll do something to irrevocably cross the line.
“Positive. Call her. She’s excited to talk to you.” Then I wrench away, covering my erection with my clothes, and slam the bathroom door between us.
I start the shower. Not twenty-four hours ago, I was too noble to jack off to thoughts of Echo. I’m not too proud this morning.
But my few minutes of meaningless, one-handed pleasure barely takes off my edge. As soon as I end the shower, I hear Echo squeeing and sighing.
I’m suddenly hard again.
We’ve been friends for most of my life, and suddenly I can’t stop seeing her as something more. How much longer can I go on like this? I’ve been aware of her as a woman for a handful of hours, and it feels like an eternity. How will I last months—or years—wanting Echo and always having her near me but not with me?
I don’t know, but I need to figure some shit out. She’s looking to lose her virginity right now. I either have to let her go with someone else or man up…and deal with the fallout later.
And if it turns out you’re an asshole like your father, she’ll always regret you .
I’ve got to distract her until she finds the right man…somehow.
“Hayes,” she calls through the door. “I got the job!”
“Congratulations, shortcake.” I toss on my clothes and grab my toothbrush.
“The starting salary is better than I expected, and she’s so sweet. I hate lying to her…but I don’t want to date her son. Thanks for agreeing to do dinner with them. It should only be once. Does the Sunday we get back work for you?”
Not really, since I’ll have to touch her, kiss her, act like I love her…and somehow not jump on her. “Sure.”
“Yay! We have to celebrate!”
Two minutes later, my mouth feels minty fresh. After tousling my hair with some product, I open the door, praying Echo is dressed.
She’s not.
Instead, she unwound the towel from her head, and her dripping hair has slowly wet her nightgown. Worse, the sunlight slants through the window, backlighting her body.
I. Can. See. Everything .
Holy shit.
Jacking off was a waste of time and energy.
Forcing my gaze out the window, I sort through my options. There aren’t many, and they all suck. Then an idea hits me. It’s unhinged, and I’m already questioning my sanity. But as long as Echo parades around our room wearing next to nothing, I don’t have any.
“Absolutely. We’ll celebrate. Why don’t you get dressed? We’ll grab breakfast, then have some fun. And I’d like to talk to you.”
She approaches, head cocked, eyes soft. “About what?”
“I have a proposition.”
Echo looks intrigued, but she shrugs. “Sure. Let me finish getting ready.”
She disappears into the bathroom, and it’s great to breathe again. But I start pacing. Am I really doing this?
What better choice do you have?
As Echo starts the blow dryer, her phone buzzes. I grab it. There’s a text from Xavian. Came out for an early surf and met a girl. Don’t worry. I’ll still be good to go tonight.
Fuck. I don’t have any choice at all. Time to get sneaky.
The room service menu is full of things I’m sure Echo will enjoy so I order a few, along with a bottle of champagne. Maybe that will make what I’m about to suggest a little easier for her to say yes.
I feel guilty for the subterfuge…but this is for her own good.
As I’m hanging up, she comes out of the bathroom with her hair half dry, curling softly around her shoulders. And somehow, her nightgown is even more transparent. If I had any question at all about the exact shade of her nipples, I don’t anymore.
God, I’m dying to get them in my mouth. They’re gorgeous.
So is she.
“I forgot my clothes,” she says by way of apology, then bends to rummage through her suitcase.
There’s no way to avoid the eyeful of her world-class ass. Well, I could be a gentleman, turn around, and not look. I probably should. But I don’t move until she plucks up some garments and disappears into the bathroom again.
Am I really going through with this plan? The better question is, will I be able to pull it off?
Twenty minutes later, Echo emerges again in a golden sundress that gathers tightly across her breasts and ties in a bow just beneath them, emphasizing her cleavage. She’s tossed her hair into a loose braid, face made up with a dusting of mascara and some lip gloss. And she glows.
I’m a sucker. I’m an idiot. And I’m going to regret what I plan to say, I have no doubt.
The food arrives, and once the server sets up the table, I sign the receipt. Then Echo and I sit.
I’m nervous as hell, but she dives in, gaping at the stack of pancakes and moaning at the plate of fresh fruit.
She pours some juice while I suck down black coffee and gather my nerve. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Are you absolutely set on losing your virginity this week?”
Echo blinks and blushes, but sets her lips in a stubborn line. “I have no reason to wait. And before you give me all the arguments about why Xavian won’t make it special and insist I deserve more, I appreciate that. But he’ll make it good, and when I finally have the kind of relationship where sex is involved, I’ll be confident that I know what I’m doing.”
“If you’re sure, Fay’s call gave me an idea. Hear me out.” I take a deep breath. “Since we’ll be having dinner with your new bosses—and their single son—on Sunday, and we have to convince them we’re a couple…what if I took your virginity instead?”
A little gasp escapes her lips. “Are you serious?”
No, but the lie will help her.
“Why not? We have this room and this bed and…if you’re set on doing this, I want to make absolutely sure you’re treated well.”
Echo is quiet for such a long time, I start to sweat. And I start to doubt. Would she rather have Xavian? That possibility bugs the hell out of me.
Finally, she sets down her fork and bites her lip. “Would you really do it?”
“If you want, yeah.”
She’ll thank me for being less than honest when she’s found the guy she’s really in love with and her hymen is still intact.
Slowly, Echo gets to her feet. I stand, too. She holds out her hand. “I’d like that. I know it wasn’t easy for you to offer, especially after we fought the other night, but?—”
“Stop worrying about that.” I take her palm against mine, aware of my heart gonging against my chest like a wild drum. “Let’s take this slow, okay? We have all week. There’s no rush.”
“But not too slow, promise?”
I just smile. Maybe I’m splitting hairs. I can stomach lying to her for her own good, but I won’t break my promises. With parents too busy to notice any of their kids, especially the youngest, Echo has had a whole life of those.
“Come here.” I tug on her hand.
She tumbles against my body, and her head falls back. Our stares meet. Jesus, I’ve barely touched her, and my blood burns, jetting fire to my cock. I’m ashamed of how much I want her, but at least every time I touch her, the desire will be authentic.
The bigger problem is, once I start kissing her, the clothes come off, and I show her what passion feels like, can I fucking stop myself from taking her in every way?
“Be sure,” I warn.
If she says yes, I’ll do my damnedest to ensure she leaves this week still a proud V-card carrying member, but I’ll touch her in every other way she’ll let me. And with desire scalding me to my bones, I’m going to enjoy every fucking minute.
“I am,” she whispers so quickly, it’s clear she didn’t think twice.
Electricity pings through my body.
“Then this week, you’re all mine. Xavian and every other guy can fuck off.”
“Absolutely,” she murmurs.
“Good. Are you done with breakfast?”
“Yeah.” She skates her palm up my chest, looking at me with pleading eyes. They’re impossible to resist. “Are you going to kiss me now? For real?”
She thinks that kiss I laid on her the other night, the one still spooling through my brain, wasn’t genuine?
“Yes, I’m going to kiss you, long and slow and hot.”
Swallowing, I cup her nape and tilt her head back as I wrap my other arm around her waist and drag her close. If she didn’t know this earlier, there’s no escaping the obvious now. I’m hard as hell.
Echo’s lips part. Her breathing picks up pace. Color rushes to her cheeks. “Hayes…”
The way she half moans my name, like she’s on the edge of pleasure, kicks my desire up another notch. “Yeah, shortcake. Come here.”
I’m dying to kiss you .
Finally, I close the distance between us and crush her soft lips under my own. She welcomes me with a gasp and curls her arms around my neck, pressing her body to mine.
Fuck, she’s like candy. The first time she kissed me, she took me by surprise. Now? There’s no mistaking her flavor. Her sweetness lingers on my tongue, addicting. I sink deeper to get more of it. Her scent fills my nostrils, flaring lust through my body.
I need to get closer.
Echo has been my best friend, but right now she’s an offering of silky skin, sugary lips, and eager need. I’m a guy, stupid for a pretty face and a banging body. But she’s…more.
I’m naturally guarded, but from the day I met her, she’s been dedicated to her friends and her causes with open-hearted zeal. I’d prefer to stay home and alone. But she’s enthusiastic about new adventures and good times—and determined to bring me along, making sure I enjoy both. I can be a pushy, caustic, suspicious-as-fuck asshole. But Echo is kind. She always believes the best about others, at least unless they prove her wrong.
But I’m not thinking about her sparkling personality as she wriggles her fingers under my T-shirt, trails them up my abs, and palms my hair-roughened chest. Then she brushes a curious thumb across one of my nipples, making me jolt and hiss.
Fuck, I’m on fire.
Desire forces me deeper into her kiss. I lash her tongue with my own, prowling through her mouth like I own it. Her moan becomes a whimper when I fill my hands with her ass and flatten her against my aching cock.
I half expect her to push me away, tell me I’m taking too much, too fast. But no, she stands on her tiptoes, clawing at me to get closer, then lifts her leg over my hip.
Holy shit. If I’m not careful, my fake promise to take her virginity will turn all too real. Hell, thinking I wasn’t getting any action this week, I didn’t bring condoms…except one emergency prophylactic stashed in my wallet.
Nope. I’m not using it on her. Impulse isn’t dictating what happens between us. I need to keep my head and stay the course.
If I don’t, my plan will end in disaster, and our friendship will be toast.
It takes all my willpower to tear my mouth away.
“You okay?” I pant.
“Really good.”
Her lips look rosy and slightly swollen. I can’t stop staring at them. We should talk—about anything—until I get control of myself.
My brain is on board with that plan, but my cock has other ideas.
Before I can stop myself, I skim my lips over her bare shoulder. “Is this weird?”
“Us?” Echo breathes hard, too. “No. Is it weird to you?”
Not as much as I wish it was. I shake my head. “Tell me things you want from a lover.”
“Sex.”
“More specific.”
She hesitates. “What do you like?”
“It’s not about what I like. This is about you.”
“But…” She frowns. “Shouldn’t it be about us together?”
I nearly disagree before I dial it back. Maybe she’s right. Being with her won’t be like getting naked with Jayci, Lindsay, or any other woman. Coming at Echo with my knowledge of them won’t help. Using my familiarity of her will.
“If you’re here to learn, I can safely say you’ve got kissing down.”
“Yeah?” She smiles, flashing me that adorable dimple like she’s proud of herself.
“Not that we won’t do a lot more of it,” I add hastily, because if we abandon that and move on…I’m not sure where I’ll stop.
To prove my point, I brush my mouth over hers again. Then again. Then once more, lingering even longer. I taste that something tempting on her lips that lures me into taking more of her. I can’t resist parting them and drinking her in once more. Her flavor surrounds me, pulls me deeper, and drowns me.
Echo’s breath catches, then she groans into my kiss, leaning closer and gripping my shoulders like she’s unsteady without me. I’m hungry to pull her tighter, until there’s no space or air between us. I wrap her long braid around my hand and tug until I have her mouth exactly where I want it.
I devour her again.
Jesus, I want our clothes off.
Back down. Or the minute we’re naked, you’ll be inside her.
Exactly! the devil in me points out.
He needs to shut the hell up.
Ending this kiss is harder than stopping the last one. I’m breathing even choppier.
“Yeah, you’re definitely good on the kissing part. Who taught you?”
“Mostly Jimmy Corelli.”
The swim team captain? “He had a girlfriend. What was her name?”
Her rosy cheeks turn downright red. “Simone. They’re married now. But they split up for a while. He wanted her back, though, and asked me if I’d help make her jealous. He seemed so miserable that I did. We made out in the parking lot after school once or twice.”
That sounds like Echo’s well-meaning heart. “Did you like him?”
“Not really.”
“Was he your first kiss?”
She shakes her head. “One of Eryn’s friends, Kiersten, had a twin brother, Kaden.”
“I remember him.” Quarterback. Popular guy. Player. I frown. “He hit on you?”
Echo shakes her head. “I went with Eryn to their birthday party. Everyone played Seven Minutes in Heaven. Kaden and I got thrown together. Is this really important right now?”
Probably not, but that asshole was three years older than her. If he pressured her for more than a peck… It’s old news, but I still want to throttle him. “Is kissing you all he did?”
“That time. It happened again the next year. Then he tried to put his hands down my shirt since I’d grown boobs. I kneed him in the balls.”
I smile. “Good. Anything else? I should know your experience level so I can figure out how much I need to teach you.”
“Not much. So many girls in high school had boyfriend drama. They were always miserable. It never seemed worth it. Besides, no guys ever seemed interested in me.”
They were…but I’d put out the word in junior high that anyone who liked Echo had to come through me. That scared most off. The few with enough balls to challenge me? Well, I was an angry teenager without a father figure or parental boundaries, so I was always happy for a fight. That shut up the rest.
“Thanks for letting me know. It’s definitely a good thing we agreed to go slow.”
She frowns. “But we’re going to do it tonight, right?”
“We have all week, shortcake.”
“Shouldn’t we be spending it in bed? I mean, that’s how I’ll learn.”
“It’s going to come natural. So why don’t you let me give you the slow seduction you deserve?”
Echo worries her lip. “That’s sweet of you, but I don’t see the point.”
“You don’t now, but…” Shit, I need to think of something—fast. “You will later.”
She lifts her face and shocks the hell out of me by skimming her lips up my neck, leaving me shuddering, as she kisses her way across my jaw and makes me weak-kneed. Before I can recover, she nips at my lobe and settles against my ear. “I’d rather have you inside me.”
Desire flattens me. Huge. Suffocating. Inexorable. How the hell am I supposed to say no to that?
“Shortcake…”
I’m still grappling for an excuse when someone suddenly starts pounding on the door.
Echo jumps, and I’m half expecting someone on the other side to tell me they’re from housekeeping. Instead, the banging again resumes.
Both relieved and pissed, I stride to the door and wrench it open to find Xavian standing there, gripping his phone and looking stunned.
“What’s wrong?” I scowl.
He swallows, then looks past me to Echo. She’s already halfway across the room, and the second she sees his expression, she holds open her arms.
“What is it?” she asks softly.
He tucks her body against his and wraps his arms around her tightly. I don’t like it—at all. Then the reason hits me. I’m not just feeling protective. Holy shit, I’m jealous.
X breathes her in and grips her tighter for another moment before finally letting go to face us both. “I have some news.”