Page 44 of Echo, the Sniper (Men of PSI #2)

“Oh, have I got demands.” I said, and even I could hear the hungry growl in my tone. I pulled her more completely against me and thrilled at the heat igniting between us. “Something that’s way out of character for me, by the way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was trained to be a sniper because I was a helluva good shot and I showed all the characteristics necessary for that position,” I said after a moment, trying to put my thoughts in order so she could better understand me.

“I’m a lone wolf who’s comfortable being on my own.

I’m methodical in how I do things, almost to a fault.

But the most important characteristic? I’m an insanely patient man who’s not known for being overly demanding. Except... when it comes to you.”

It was adorable, the way that information made her eyes darken.

“I wasn’t kidding about putting pressure on you to take things to the next level once you’ve settled down in Chicago, baby girl.

This thing between us is for real, the most real thing I’ve ever had in a relationship, and I’m sure as hell not going to let it just fade away.

That’s why I know I have to be patient with you and not push for us to move in together right away.

And that’s okay, because above all, I’m a patient man.

I’ll wait for you until the stars burn out of the sky, if that’s what it takes. ”

“Echo,” she whispered, her eyes starting to shimmer with moisture.

“But us moving in together is a long-term demand. Right now I’m interested in much more... immediate demands.”

“You don’t say.” A tremulous smile full of awe and growing anticipation curled the corners of her mouth, and I couldn’t help but stare at the miracle in my arms. In just a handful of days, she’d gone from an untutored nervous wreck when it came to intimacy, to a confident seductress glowing with the knowledge of her own power.

I stared at her in wonder, because what I’d said was true—an empowered Rory was a sexy-as-fuck Rory, and I was here for it. “Tell me more about these demands.”

“Like I said, they’re kind of immediate. But,” I added, no longer able to keep my hands from her full, rose-tipped breasts, “I think you’re going to like them.”

“If those demands have anything to do with where your hands are now, you’d be right.” Her back arched, pushing into my touch. I’d never seen anything hotter. “You’ll never know how much I love your hands on me.”

“What about my mouth?” I bent my head and skimmed tasting little kisses along her collarbone before descending to a tightening nipple. “Are you a fan of my mouth as well?”

“Such a fan. You have no idea.” The last words caught on a shaky breath when I teased a nipple with the edge of my teeth before closing my lips over it and sucking hard. “Oh... yes , Echo. That’s why I’m a fan right there.”

I hummed a murmur of approval, and she arched again at the vibration of it.

One of her hands smoothed along the back of my head to urge me closer, while the other one stroked down my chest. I loved how she always seemed to need to touch me, caress me, even when all my attention was focused on giving her pleasure.

She never just took what I gave her. Always, always, she gave back.

Damn, I was such a lucky man.

When her fingers wrapped warmly around my cock, I felt even luckier.

There was no way to stop my groan as she stroked my dick, her fingertips exploring the ridges and veins while my balls tightened with ballooning pleasure. With a hungry growl, I rolled until she was under me, and I pulled her thighs up so her knees bracketed my ribcage.

“I have a demand that you get so hot for me your pussy becomes soaking wet and ready for my cock.” Moving a hand between us, I slid my fingers into her channel to tease her threshold, and smiled at the searing wetness coating me.

“But I see you’ve already met that demand before I could even make it. ”

“It’s not my fault you were slow to—” Her sharp breath cut off as I slipped a finger inside her.

At the same time my thumb found the hard bundle of nerves of her clit and covered it in her own slickness.

I stroked her boldly while moving my finger in and out of her, then grinned when her hips began to pump. “Oh... wow.”

“You were saying something about... slow?” I slowed the rhythm of my hand until it was almost nonexistent. “Are you saying you like it slow?”

“N-no.” Her teeth bared, and I could practically hear them grinding. “Harder, Echo. Faster. Faster .”

“Sounds like you have a few demands of your own.” That was fine by me. I let my mouth drop back down to one breast while I squeezed and tweaked the taut nipple of the other one, while down below I gave her what she wanted.

Harder.

Faster .

Her sighs became moans, her body writhing restlessly under me while my dick throbbed to be inside her. But not yet. Not yet. I wanted her trembling on the edge of madness before I gave myself the pleasure of entering her. That was my mission, and I would see it through.

After all, I was a patient man.

Her crushed-silk skin was feverish everywhere we touched.

Relentlessly I massaged her clit and slid a second finger inside her, determined to see that euphoria bloom in her eyes.

I knew she was close to losing it when her breath hitched and her body jerked in a helpless spasm.

Her fingers dug into my shoulders, her hazy eyes squeezed shut, and suddenly she was pumping her hips against my hand while her moans became shallow, panting cries.

Yes.

Teeth grinding against the pounding need, I pulled back just enough to flip her onto her belly and pulled her ass up high while pushing her cheek into her pillows.

“Echo, what—”

“Arch that back, hold onto the edge of the mattress with both hands, and offer that sweet ass up to me, baby girl.” I got to my knees behind her, my dick throbbing so hard it was all I could feel, and shoved her thighs open wide.

“I’ve been dreaming of taking you like this, and after today I guaran-fucking-tee you’ll be dreaming of it, too.

” I placed a hand on her stomach, sliding it down to once again torment her clit, while wrapping my other hand around my cock.

Even as her cries began to fill my ears, I plunged into her.

It was enough to break whatever control she had left, and I reveled in her cries of shattered bliss.

The sensation of her intimate walls convulsing around my dick destroyed me just as much, milking me in a way I couldn’t get enough of.

Molten heat sheathed my granite-hard cock, that unbelievable slickness burning me in all the best possible ways.

I groaned at the sheer bliss of being inside her, while her powerful climax sent me hurtling toward my own.

“Harder,” she all but screamed, slamming her ass back into me to meet my thrusts, and I swear she came again as I plunged into her in a savage rhythm.

Thrusting, pulling, surging, retreating.

This was the only thing in my life, my reason for being.

I fucked her with everything I had, so wild I was sure the bed moved, or maybe it was the earth itself.

She felt so damn good gloving me in her wet, tight pussy, that all I wanted to do was bury myself inside her so deeply she would feel me there even when we were apart.

That was my last thought before the pleasure tightened in on itself until it exploded like a supernova, launching me into a world of mindless bliss.

I came so hard I was only dimly aware I was all but shouting my ecstasy out to the world.

Nothing registered in my mind but rapture and the woman who created it for me.

Rory. This amazing woman was my pleasure, the place where I belonged. My home. My peace.

She was my everything.

Though I knew it was impossible to stay planted forever in that slice of heaven she gave me, I strained to hold onto every last drop of pleasure, my muscles shaking with the effort.

But at last the euphoria ebbed away and I collapsed in exhaustion.

Rolling onto my side, I noted how she made a small mournful sound when my body left hers, and I reached for her in simple comfort while my ragged breaths mingled with hers.

“So, what’s the verdict?” I asked after a while, moving her so that her head rested on my biceps while I held her protectively against me. “Think we burned off enough energy for you to sleep now?”

“Oh, yeah.” Her voice was weak, hoarse from the two times I made her come, and still breathless. A sex voice if I’d ever heard one. “Sleep is the only thing I’m capable of doing right now.”

“Then close your eyes.” To be sure she did, I feathered my lips over her eyes, and something beautiful clenched in my chest when she sighed softly and rested, boneless and spent, against me. For a moment I closed my own eyes and let the peace of being exactly where I wanted to be seep into my soul.

I still had shit to do, like putting up security cameras around the perimeter and stowing the rest of the groceries away. I’d take care of all that in just a second...

My eyes sprang open when I heard... something.

Something moving .

In a heartbeat I was on my feet. The sun had fully risen and, according to the shadows outside, it had to be somewhere close to noon.

Damn it, I thought, adrenaline pumping hard as I snatched up my discarded jeans.

I pulled them up fast and didn’t take the time to fasten them before grabbing my Springfield SA-35 pistol off the nightstand where I’d left it.

Sloppy work, I berated myself furiously, checking the chamber and thumbing off the safety.

Sloppy work like that got people killed, and no one would have been to blame but me.

To make up for my inexcusable dumbassery, I’d be sure to shoot first and ask questions later.

Barefoot, I padded silently down the short hallway, glancing at Rory as I left the room, only to find her still buried by blankets and pillows, blissfully asleep in what should have been the safety of our bed.

Goddamn whoever this fucker was. Breaking the peace of our world was going to give them nothing but a one-way ticket straight to hell...

The sound of water running in what I assumed was the kitchen sink reached my ears as I reached the mouth of the hallway.

Water?

What the actual fuck.

It didn’t matter. What mattered was that there was an intruder in the house with my protectee.

For all I knew, the water was just a distraction to keep my attention from where the enemy truly was.

Senses heightened and every nerve on alert, I steadied my shooting hand with my free one, my racing thoughts calming into silence as that familiar icy steadiness came over me as it always did when I was about to pull the trigger. All I needed was a target, and then...

And then I wouldn’t miss.

Sweeping a glance over the living area that appeared enemy-free, I took a quick peek around the corner.

Well... fuck.

“Hey there, Sleeping Beauty.” Throwing me and my gun an unimpressed glance, Mary Jane Case finished up washing the bag of grapes I’d bought before she set them on some paper towels to dry.

“I’m afraid I’m the bearer of bad news for your protectee—AKA, the little hottie you were sleeping with just now.

I’m really sorry, Echo,” she added, and the sincerity in her tone chilled me more than the snowy landscape outside.

“I know what this case means to you, but... well, the shit’s about to hit the fan.

It’s going to upend Aurora Grant’s life in the worst possible way, and I don’t think there’s anything you can do to protect her from it. ”