“You’re fine with that? With me keeping my place?”
He nods as we start to walk out. “I’m just following you, in you I trust. Obviously, my way I would have you there already and tied to my bed. Baby steps and all that shit.” He laughs.
“You’re kind of perfect, do you know that?”
“You’re mine, do you know that?”
I do, I so do.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Who knew a bit of swoon and I could fall. Hard. That’s what’s happened. Him and me, we work and we work well.
“Ethel, would you mind taking this? I just have to talk to your daughter for a few minutes?” He passes my mother my bag which she gladly accepts with a smile. He pulls me until we enter a room that’s clearly labeled for the cleaners and slams the door shut.
“What are you doing?”
His hands slide up my thighs, and I know straight away what he’s doing so my hands reach for him.
“I feel like you want to tell me something, but you’re covering it with your hands.”
He nods, still not saying anything as he lifts me and slides straight in. It’s quick, hard, fast. Everything I want right now.
“Echo, tell me.”
He leans in and bites my neck, at first I think he’s going to suck and leave me with hickeys again, but then he licks me before he pulls away. My hands grip his shoulders as he holds my ass lifting me up and down slamming me onto him.
“I love you,” I gasp, not just from his words but from the orgasm that rips through me. My nails dig in as I pull back to try and see him. His eyes are closed and his face is, raw. Like all his emotions are set out in front of me. When he opens them, he still holds onto me not letting me go and his eyes are waiting, ready for what’s to come. Like he’s prepared for anything bad or good.
“Is that all?” I ask him not letting go.
“No, I want to marry you. Like today. But I know I should wait, so I’m going wait.”
I push him back so I can get down, pulling my dress over my legs and checking my hair, I wait to speak. Making sure he’s finished. When I look back, hopelessness is written all over him. Turning, I reach for the door opening it and looking back once before I walk out.
“I love you, too, blondie. I just wanted the time to be right. It’s finally right.”
He smiles so broadly, his perfect white teeth showing before I shut the door going back to join the wedding. The minute I walk in Mel shakes her head at me. “You totally just had sex at my wedding.”
“I totally did.”
Hands slide around my waist as Mel leans in and kisses my cheek before she walks off.
“You love me?” Echo asks for confirmation.
“I wouldn’t agree to move in otherwise.”
“Too soon for marriage?” he asks in my ear.
“Yes. At least, give me a few months to settle.” I laugh at his eagerness.
“I’ll start counting,” he jokes, but I also know it’s not a joke and he’s deadly serious.
Turning to kiss Echo one last time before I have to go and give my speech, I look up at him. And I know right then and there he’s my ten.
My forever ten.