Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits 1.50)

Keesha,

Is it true that my mother’s family is looking for me? If so, I want their phone number and address.

Noah

I click Send immediately. I’ll deal with any regret later.

“What are you doing?”

My body freezes at the sound of Echo’s soft voice. With her arms wrapped around herself, she rests a hip against the door frame of the closet-size room.

“Looking for stuff on my mom’s parents.”

“Have you found anything?”

I should tell Echo I emailed Keesha, but I can’t. I fucking can’t. I don’t know how the hell I feel about contacting Keesha, and if I tell Echo that I sent the message, she’ll ask about my emotions. When I say nothing because I can’t sort through the chaos in my mind, she’ll get hurt because she thinks I’m not talking to her. Silence at times is better than words.

I close down my email account and switch back to my last Google search. “Not a thing.”

Echo’s shoes tap against the tile floor as she nears me, and I breathe for the first time in hours. As if sensing I’m seconds from implosion, she eases her hands onto my shoulders and kneads at the tension that has formed knots. “We’ll find them.”

We’ll—as in the two of us. Shit, she always has the right words. Echo’s thumb slides to the spot below my shoulder blades, and my muscles melt under her touch. My shoulders roll forward, and Echo deepens the massage. “You’re tight.”

“I’m fine.” Better now that she’s here, and we aren’t attempting

to verbally kill each other. I peek over my shoulder. “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”

She presses too hard on a sore spot. I flinch. She smiles. “Is that your way of apologizing?”

“It is if it means it’ll work.”

Echo slaps my back, and I chuckle. I turn in the chair and grab onto her hips, bringing her closer to me. I drop my legs open, and she glides in, tangling her hands into my hair. I look up and see those green eyes drinking me in, something that never fails to take my breath away.

I ease my hand to that sweet spot below her gorgeous ass. She pulls my hair in reprimand while also sighing with my caress. Beneath my jeans, I spring to life, and I stumble upon the problem of having Beth and Isaiah in tow. “Close the door, and we’ll declare this make-up official.”

“We have a room,” she whispers.

Had. I take her hand and guide her onto my lap. I love how Echo molds her body around mine: head on my shoulder, her hair teasing my neck, her arms winding around my chest. I hug her and revel in her warmth.

“When do you have to work?” Her breath tickles my skin, making the fine hairs on my neck stand at attention.

I inch my fingers under her shirt. “I’ve got time.”

“I said we have a room.” Echo places an openmouthed kiss below my ear, and my grip on her tightens.

I groan, and my head hits the back of the chair. Reality is my and Echo’s greatest threat. “Beth’s sick.”

Echo raises her head and damn if there isn’t concern for a girl that’s treated her like shit. “Does she need a doctor?”

“No, she’s carsick from the ride. She’s green around the gills, but nothing sleep won’t cure.”

Echo lays her temple against my shoulder again, and I glance at the open door. We could lock it and there’s plenty of room in this chair.

“No way, Noah,” she says, disrupting my fantasies.

“Never said a word.”

“Your mouth isn’t the only part that talks.”