Page 119 of The Echo of Forever

She laughed.

“That you’re predictable, meechie. Did you truly believe I didn’t pick up on your sudden urgency to know if your mom was alive or not? It always felt off, and when you left, I knew there was more to the story. Didn’t think it was a wife, but I should’ve known.”

We walked the rest of the way in silence, but once we reached her door, Forever moved me out of the way and helped her inside.

I let her have that moment to say whatever was on her mind and waited on the sidewalk. Eventually, she returned and slipped her arm through mine.

“I told her I don’t have the memories of us, but I’m falling for you all over again,” she said, resting her head against my arm. “Don’t fight with your family on my behalf, Echo. I can handle their concerns.”

It was never about her being able to take their scrutiny, but it was always about me not wanting her to.

Forever laced her fingers with mine as we began to walk, her thumb occasionally brushing across my knuckles. I kept stealing glances at her profile, still processing that she was here amongst my people.

The woman I fell in love with was sharing space with me in a way we hadn’t been able to do before.

New memories.

“I meant it,” she said, breaking the silence. “I’m falling for you.”

She couldn’t have been any more obvious, but I kept that to myself and hit her with a, “Oh yeah? You sure you haven’t already fallen, my forever?”

We both knew she had.

Just like the first time, there was no denying our fate.

“Even if I have, I’m not telling you yet,” she quipped, walking ahead of me to get into the house.

The moment the door clicked shut behind us, something shifted in the air. I reached for her, or maybe she reached for me, but it happened so fast I couldn’t tell where my movement ended and hers began.

“That’s alright,” I whispered into her ear as I backed her into the living room. “Your actions make the wait worthwhile.”

Her hands slid up my chest and around my neck after I dropped down on the sofa and tugged her into my lap.

She brought her lips to mine and kissed me softly, wrapping her fingers around the back of my neck to gain control.

“I would sacrifice everything for you,” I whispered into her mouth, one hand tangled in her hair while the other gripped her waist. “And I love you because you’ll never let me.”

She pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, bottom lip tucked between her teeth.

“I recognize what I mean to you,” she said. “And you’re right, I’d never let you do it.”

I leaned my forehead into hers, grateful for this second chance.

“You balance a nigga out,” I told her, needing to get that off my chest. “I can’t live without that.”

Our eyes danced as she slid out of my lap and onto the floor, while tugging at my sweats. I stretched my arms over the top of the sofa and got comfortable, liking where this was headed.

My dick bricked up around her fingers as she slowly stroked it with both hands.

“I’ve been thinking about this,” she whispered into the head with a smile pulling at her lips. “Let me take care of you.”

I moaned as she flicked her tongue across the tip, then wrapped those full lips around it and slowly took me into her mouth.

“Mmm,” I groaned, one hand moving to cradle the side of her face. “Missed you like this.”

Forever hummed, and the vibration shot straight through me. I watched her work, mesmerized by the way she took damn near every inch. Her hands stroked what she couldn’t fit, moving in perfect rhythm with her mouth.

My baby knew exactly what she was doing. That muscle memory wouldn’t let her forget how to please me.