Page 156 of The Echo of Forever

My mouth watered at the sight, but I forced myself to stay cool for a little longer. This moment wasn’t just aboutus connecting physically; we’d done that over and over since recommitting. It was me truly seeing him, like he sees me.

“I love you,” I told him, looking up into his lust-filled eyes. “As long as my days continue to start and end with you, I’m content.”

He hummed deep in his throat and pulled me up from my knees and onto the bed, my towel falling away in the process. His solid body covered mine, that pretty ass dick pressing insistently against my thigh.

“Show me,” he whispered into my mouth.

And then he was inside me, filling me so completely that it stole the breath from my lungs. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper as we moved together, finding that perfect rhythm that belonged only to us.

In that moment, I understood what part of his grandmother meant. When Demetrius Cannon loved, he loved with his entire being. And I only ever wanted to be loved that way.

CHAPTER 40

ECHO

MONDAY MORNING - DECISION DAY

I pushedthrough the revolving doors of the Fairfield Building, the unofficial headquarters for the society’s oldest members, where Eliel and men like Carmen’s father conducted business.

The security guard’s eyes tracked me as I checked in. His hand twitched toward his side piece, but he thought better of it when I met his gaze and smiled. I understood his hesitation, but I wasn’t the first rejector to walk into this building, just the first married to the daughter of one of its most prominent occupants.

Because of that, their hostility was expected, but I couldn’t bring myself to give a fuck either way.

The receptionist’s smile faltered when I approached her desk, fingers freezing over her keyboard as she took me in. The air in the building felt heavy as fuck and all for little ole me.

“Demetrius Cannon,” I said, keeping my tone light. “Here to see Eliel James. He’s expecting me.”

Her eyes widened slightly before she masked her surprise.

“Do you have an appointment, Mr. Cannon?”

Ah.

Lucien voted in Forever’s favor. Put a stamp on her hit on the five doctorsandspoke in favor of our marriage on the record.

Eliel knew I’d show up here once the decision was made and purposely left everyone in the dark.

“Send him a message,” I replied, resting my forearms on her raised white desk and leaning forward. “Tell him his son-in-law is here.”

I watched her internal struggle play out across her face before she picked up the phone, her voice dropping to a whisper as she announced my presence. After a brief conversation, she hung up and forced another smile.

“Mr. James will see you now. Forty-second floor, suite 4201. Brandon will escort you.”

A security guard stepped up at my side, standing just close enough to be annoying but not threatening. I straightened and nodded at the receptionist.

“Appreciate you, mama.”

I fought the urge to laugh on the elevator ride up, at how uncomfortable my presence made these people.

When the doors slid open, Brandon led me down a corridor and stopped at a heavy oak door with Eliel’s name etched in gold.

“Mr. James, Demetrius Cannon to see you,” Brandon announced after a single knock.

“Send him in,” Eliel’s voice came through.

Brandon gave me one last suspicious glance before stepping aside. I entered the office without hesitation, instantly taking in the corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of EG across the street, furniture that screamed old money, and Eliel himself behind an L-shaped desk.

I claimed the chair across from him, not wanting to be invited to sit, and made myself comfortable.