Evans, Gabrielle - Reckoning [Fatefully Yours 9] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever ManLove) (11 page)

“I wasn’t jealous that Echo wanted to be with Onyx.” Eyce closed his eyes and sighed. How could he explain it without looking like a selfish prick? “This is going to come out all wrong, but I don’t know how else to say it.”

“Just tell me,” Hex coaxed.

“Echo told me he loved me first.” Oh, that was a great beginning to his explanation. Instead of a selfish asshole, he sounded like a petulant child. “I knew he loved each of you, but he told me first.” Hell, it was just getting worse. Maybe he should shut up.

Hex chuckled. “Keep going, babe.”

The endearment more than anything gave Eyce the courage to continue. “It’s not like I think I’m better than anyone, but for that little bit of time, Echo came to me when he was hurting, or when he needed something.”

“Do you wish he didn’t love the rest of us?”

“No!” Eyce shook his head vehemently. “That’s not it at all. I just…” Crap, why was this so hard?

“You just…”

“I feel like I’m losing him,” Eyce whispered. “He doesn’t need me anymore. He wouldn’t talk to me when he found out that he might be a demigod, but he talked to Gage, and then to Syx. When he discovered how much he likes being dominated, he started turning to Onyx. When he’s scared and needs to feel safe, he goes to you.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

Eyce held his hand up to cut off Hex’s argument. “Myst makes him laugh. Though I don’t understand it, he seems to like getting under Fiero’s skin and bickering with the dumbass.” He actually laughed at this. It had taken him a little while to figure it out, but it was a game between the pair. “He goes to Syx and Vapre when he wants answers. What the hell does he need me for?”

“Maybe just because I love you,” Echo whispered from across the room.

Eyce spun around and felt his heart plummet. Echo stood in the kitchen doorway once more with a blanket wrapped around him and tears streaming down his soft cheeks. “Echo, I didn’t mean that you don’t love me. I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“Don’t. I really can’t handle your apologies right now.”

“Don’t fuck this up,” Hex whispered into Eyce’s ear. Then he kissed his temple and walked across the room. He paused beside Echo, whispered something in his ear as well, kissed the top of his head, and left.

“Tell me what to do,” Eyce pleaded. He was desperate to feel close to his mate. He just didn’t know how to accomplish it.

Echo wasn’t going to make it easy, either. His mate stood rooted to the spot, just staring at him, as the tears ran from his eyes. The worst of it was that Eyce had no idea what he’d done to hurt Echo so much.

“Is that how you really feel?”

Eyce frowned. “Like you don’t need me? In way, yes. I’m not saying that you don’t love me,” he reiterated. “You just don’t need me like you do the others.”

“You’re wrong.”

It took everything in him to not growl in frustration. Echo just wasn’t getting it. It wasn’t that Eyce questioned his mate’s feelings for him. He just didn’t know how to give Echo what he needed. The other warriors seemed to have things well in hand.

Echo dropped the blanket to reveal his nude body and held his arms open. “Come here.”

Gods save him, but Eyce didn’t even hesitate. He rushed across the room, wrapped Echo up in his arms, and lifted the smaller man off his feet. “Please, tell me what you need. Let me take care of you,” he begged.

“I just need you,” Echo whispered thickly. “You’re my peace, Eyce. Everything goes away when I’m with you. You love and need each of us in different ways, right?”

Eyce thought it over carefully before he nodded. He needed all of his men like he needed air, but realized that he did seek something different from each of them. He was still confused, though. What was Echo trying to tell him?

“Oh, love,” Echo sighed. “I always need you. When I sit with you on the couch, lie beside you at night, or even hold your hand at breakfast, those are the times I need you. Don’t you see that?”

Though he knew the words were meant to comfort and reassure him, they just made him feel worse. “Then I failed you. I didn’t give you what you needed any of those times.”

To his surprise, Echo laughed. “You gave me exactly what I needed. You gave me just a few minutes to feel normal when the entire world was crashing down around us.”

It seemed like such a small thing, but Eyce felt his heart lighten that he’d been able to give that to his mate—even if he hadn’t known he was doing it at the time. “I love you, baby.”

“I know.” Echo nuzzled against Eyce’s neck for just a moment before pulling back and smirking at him. “There is something that I need from you now, though.”

“Anything,” Eyce answered immediately. “I’ll give the moon and stars with a pretty red bow if that’s what you want.”

Echo giggled and rubbed their noses together. “Nothing quite that extravagant. I do want to find out why everyone practically trips over themselves to get in the shower with you, though. I’ve showered with you, and I haven’t really seen what the fuss is about or why everyone gets so worked up.”

“You’re right.” Eyce always seemed to lose his head when he had Echo naked and under him—or above, in front, or beside him. He couldn’t keep his hands off his mate or his libido in check long enough to show Echo exactly what being a water demon was all about. “Tell me one thing,” he whispered, insecurities creeping into the moment. “If Onyx hadn’t told you that I was down here pouting, would you be here right now?”

Echo shook his head, and Eyce felt his heart sink. “Onyx didn’t tell me anything. If he hadn’t kicked me out of the room, I’d still be there, though.”

Eyce appreciated the honesty, and logically, he knew he had no right to feel hurt by it. He just couldn’t get past the feeling that Echo was settling for him when it was Onyx that he really wanted.

“I could still be there if I really wanted to,” Echo said quietly. “I think I’m needed more here, though.”

“You don’t have to babysit me because I’m PMSing,” Eyce said gruffly.

Echo snorted and rolled his eyes. “Nothing I can say is going to make you happy. So, why don’t you just shut up, kiss me, and then take me upstairs and fuck my brains out?”

“I don’t want you to settle for me,” Eyce blurted and immediately wanted to smack himself in the head.

“Okay, I didn’t want to play this card, but I’m going to anyway. It’s no secret that I can have any of you whenever and wherever I want.”

“I hate to break it to you, but that pretty much goes for everyone. If Fiero wanted me to suck his cock in the middle of the supermarket, I’d do it.”

Echo grinned. “We’re going to have to test that theory.” Then he shook his head and became serious again. “Look, if I didn’t want your cock up my ass, I wouldn’t be here. So, can you please stop whining? You’re getting on my nerves.”

Eyce still wasn’t totally convinced, but he decided to let it go. He was being an idiot, and he knew it. He had a gorgeous man in his arms, practically begging for him, and he was wasting time by overanalyzing everything to death.

“What did Hex say to you?” he asked as he carried his mate out of the kitchen and through the living room.

Echo nibbled at the skin on Eyce’s throat. “That we could use his shower.”

Chapter Ten

He smiled all the way to Hex’s room, but inside, his heart was breaking. How could Eyce doubt that he needed him? Had he done something to make the warrior think that? They’d all been preoccupied lately, but Echo tried to give his men as much attention as possible. Sometimes it was like being a single mom with seven kids. He always had to juggle his time and make sure they each received his individual attention. It was exhausting, but damn worth it.

“You still with me?”

Echo kept his limbs locked around Eyce and tried to smile. “I’m good.”

“No you’re not.” Eyce slowed when they reached the top of the stairs. “I’m going to make it okay, though. I’m sorry I was an idiot, baby.”

“No more talking.” Echo tightened his arms around his mate’s neck and pulled himself up to press their lips together. “Show me what I’ve been missing.”

Eyce grinned mischievously. “You got it.” He pecked Echo’s nose and set him on his feet inside Hex’s room. “Get the shower started.”

When Eyce started stripping out of his clothes, it didn’t even cross Echo’s mind to hesitate. He hurried into the bathroom and chuckled under his breath when he found the shower already running. Hex would be getting a big thank-you later.

Sliding back the glass door, Echo stepped inside the large shower stall and sighed happily as the warm water beat against him from not only the shower head but the six jets embedded in the tiles. Gods, he loved Hex’s shower. Grabbing the liquid soap, he washed quickly before moving on to his hair. By the time Eyce stepped into the shower behind him, Echo was squeaky clean and panting with anticipation.

He kept his back to Eyce, his body thrumming with arousal as he eagerly waited for his mate’s touch. The corners of his lips turned down in a confused frown when it never came. “Uh, Eyce?”

“Quiet.”

Echo gulped audibly at the husky quality of Eyce’s voice. Instead of answering verbally, he bobbed his head in understanding. When his lover still didn’t reach for him, Echo started to turn around, but a large hand on his shoulder stopped him. “Do. Not. Move.” Eyce sounded as though he was holding on to his control by a thread, and it only ratcheted Echo’s lust higher.

The heat from Eyce’s hand disappeared, and Echo whimpered in protest. His cock jutted from his groin, throbbing painfully and flexing with each beat of his thundering heart. His balls were already drawn tight, aching for release. His skin tingled, his hole clenched and relaxed, and his muscles quivered with need. “Please,” he sobbed.

“Quiet,” Eyce demanded again.

So Echo snapped his lips together and dropped his head submissively. He’d do whatever his lover wanted if Eyce would just touch him. Instead of the feel of his mate’s strong hands on his skin, though, something began to happen with the water. The jets no longer pulsed, but seemed to flow out in a steady stream to swirl around his body.

Echo gasped, but otherwise said nothing. Water wound around his wrists like liquid ropes, lifting his arms and pressing his palms flat against the tiles in front of him. The same happened with his ankles, the water spreading his legs wide until the sides of his feet rested against either wall.

“Eyce!” A wave of water smacked against his ass hard enough to sting, and Echo bit his lip and groaned. It was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. He was already fighting back his orgasm, and Eyce hadn’t even touched him yet.

When those hot, rough palms finally smoothed over his upturned ass, Echo thought he’d blow then and there. Water trickled down his crease, and his cheeks separated as though held by soft, wet fingers. The snick of a bottle cap reached his ears over the pounding of his heart and the roar of the shower.

Eyce’s slick finger found his fluttering opening and caressed it lightly as he skimmed his lips along the back of Echo’s neck. “Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

“Men aren’t beautiful,” Echo panted. “I’m ruggedly handsome.”

Eyce chuckled. “Beautiful.” Then he cut off any protest Echo might have had by pushing the lubed finger through the guarding ring of muscle and pumping into Echo’s ass.

Groaning at the welcome invasion, Echo struggled to remember how to breathe. The water licked down his chest, stroking his skin like a lover, then swirled around his cock. The touch was light, too light, but it sent Echo’s pulse racing to dangerous speeds. The water trickled lower, forming a mini whirlpool around his aching sac and squeezing it gently. “Please, please,” he whimpered.

A second finger breached his needy hole as Eyce’s lips continued their assault down Echo’s neck and across his shoulders. Two fingers became three, and Eyce sawed the digits in and out of Echo’s ass a few more times before he finally pulled them free. Echo didn’t even have time to bemoan the loss before another whirl of water looped around his waist and lifted his feet from the shower floor.

A blunt pressure nudged at his back door, and Echo cried out when Eyce thrust home, impaling Echo on his thick cock all the way to the root. Eyce didn’t pause, hesitate, or start out slowly. He gripped Echo’s hips, jerking him backward as he slammed into Echo’s passage in a hard, demanding tempo.

His mate grunted and growled, his sharp teeth grazed down the side of Echo’s neck, and Echo’s entire world centered around the throbbing cock plunging into his hole with a reckless abandon.

The fire started in Echo’s belly, spreading quickly until it engulfed his entire body. Little electrical pulses chased each other along his spine, and his head began to swim with the need to come. He never wanted the intense pleasure to stop, but honestly didn’t know how much more he could take. Echo felt like he was being consumed by the overload of erotic sensations.

Just when he thought it couldn’t get any better, the swirling water around his rigid cock increased in speed, and the whirlpool around his balls flicked against his perineum. Wet warmth slithered up his back, over his neck, and through his hair. Then his head was jerked back on his shoulders and tilted to one side just as Eyce roared loud enough to shake the glass door.