Page 26 of Summer’s Echo

I had to fight the wild, crazy urge to pull that finger into my mouth. What was happening to me?

“Much better. Th–Thank you,” I stammered.

His grin was crooked and warm. “Anytime, Sunshine,” he said, his touch still lingering on my lips for just a second longer than necessary before he finally pulled away. But even after the touch was gone, the heat of it lingered, making it nearly impossible to think of anything else.

The five seconds of awkward silence between us felt like an eternity before Echo placed a gentle hand on my neck, his other hand cupping the curve of my face.

His touch was so soft, yet deliberate, as he pulled me in for the sweetest, most unexpected kiss.

His lips lingered on mine, warm and unhurried, his tongue delicately tracing the outline but never fully entering my mouth.

My hands rested against the curve of his chest, unmoved as if trying to anchor myself against the pull of whatever this moment was turning into.

But then, his kiss deepened, growing stronger.

One hand slid up the back of my neck, cradling my head, while the other wandered down my back with a confidence that sent shockwaves through me.

Before I knew it, I was nearly in his lap, my body molding into his like it was second nature. And I didn’t stop him.

What the hell was I doing? I was in my driveway—myparents’driveway.

My mama—mycrazy-assmama—was mere steps away.

Panic crept in, but it couldn’t compete with the heat rising between us.

My body was betraying me, aching with a need I’d been trying to suppress.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I stole a glance at the house.

The lights were still off. But just as quickly as I thought I was safe, I felt it—him.

The rise and strength of his firm, insistent arousal pressed against me, and suddenly, reality crashed in like a tidal wave.

Honk!

The car horn blared, piercing the intimate bubble we’d created. I don’t know if it was heaven or hell, but my heart leapt to my throat as if struck by lightning. And instantly, all the passion building inside me expelled, like an exorcism. I lifted my head to verify that the house was still dark.

“Echo, stop!” I shouted, pulling away from him as if I’d been burned. I straightened my sweater and reclaimed my place in the passenger seat, trembling with a mix of overwhelming desire and sheer panic.

Echo was gasping for air like he’d just run a marathon. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, wiping my lip gloss from his mouth.

I struggled to calm my pounding heart. My eyes flicked downward to his lap, where his arousal still stood defiantly, and I exhaled sharply. “What the hell was that?”

He cleared his throat. “A kiss,” he said, as if that explanation would make everything better.

“That was more than a kiss, E! Why would you do that? We don’t…we don’tdothat!” My voice was shaky, caught somewhere between fear and anger and desire.

He didn’t respond at first, just stared blankly at the steering wheel, his breaths still uneven. Then, almost as if snapping out of a trance, he turned to me, frustration and something unspoken clouding his face.

“Echo!” My voice cracked with a mass of unsteady emotions. “Why did you kiss me?”

His irritation broke through. “I guess for the same reason you didn’t stop me, Summer!

” he shouted, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.

I froze, his words hitting harder than I cared to admit.

My breath came in short, shallow bursts as I tried to reconcile the emotions clawing at me.

Echo ran a hand down his face, his breathing beginning to steady.

The lines of tension on his face faded, and he reached to pinch the tip of my nose, a familiar gesture that only made the moment more confusing.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his tone quieter now. “I guess I got caught up in the moment.”

I turned my head away, fixated on the dashboard. A glaze of unshed tears clouded my vision. My voice was thick with conflicted feelings. “I can’t do this. Not like this. Not here.”

The tension between us hung heavy, suffocating the air in the car.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. We just sat there, two hearts beating loudly in the silence, two friends unsure of what had just changed forever.

I practically yanked my ear off I tugged so hard, the nervousness and anxiety clawing at my chest. Even when the moment didn’t merit it, tears were often my uninvited guest, a release I couldn’t control.

I reached for the door handle, desperate to escape the heat still lingering between us. My purse was forgotten in the rush, but before I could make it more than a step, Echo was out of the car and chasing after me.

“Sun, wait. Don’t leave,” he pleaded, his voice was raw as he caught my arm, gently pulling me to face him.

Before I could react, he pressed me against the wall of my house.

I quivered under his scrutiny, and I held my breath as his forehead dipped to rest against mine.

For a second, I thought he might kiss me again.

“Don’t leave like this, Sunshine. Please,” he whispered, his voice breaking just enough to make my heart clench. “I’m sorry. Okay? I’m sorry.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Me, too.”

“Are we good—me and you?” he asked, lifting my chin so our eyes could meet. His gaze was soft, yet intense, searching mine for reassurance.

I nodded again, my trembling fingers swiping at a stray tear. “Always,” I whispered, the word as much a promise to myself as it was to him.

Echo walked me to the door, standing so close that the heat of him seemed to follow me.

He waited as I slid the key into the lock, watching intently as though he couldn’t bear to turn away just yet.

When the door finally opened, he gently nudged it wider, ensuring I stepped inside safely before offering a quiet, “Good night, Sunshine.”

I closed the door behind me, locking it with a forceful click before leaning back against its solid surface.

My chest rose and fell in quick, weak breaths as I rubbed a hand across my face, my lips tingling with the ghost of his kiss.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t erase the memory of the passion—shit, confusion—he’d left behind.

Darting down the hall, I kept my head low, hoping to make it to my room unnoticed. But, as if she could sense something in the air, my mother peeked out of her bedroom door, her robe draped loosely around her shoulders.

“Summer,” she called, her tone carrying relief and a hint of curiosity.

I paused mid-step, schooling my face into nonchalance. “Hey, Ma.”

She inspected me as she always did. “You have fun with your friend ?” she asked, her voice calm but probing.

I nodded. “Yeah, Ma. It was cool.”

Her gaze lingered for a moment longer, but she said nothing else, retreating into her room.

As soon as her door clicked shut, I exhaled, finally releasing the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Once in the safety of my room, I dropped my purse on the floor and collapsed onto my bed, tracing the edges of my lips.

Echo’s words, his touch, his kiss… They replayed over and over in my head, and no amount of rubbing or distraction could erase the way they made me feel.