Echoes of You: Chapter 35

The crowd at The Brew hadn’t thinned all day. We had officially hit tourist season, and things wouldn’t stop until fall. But it was a welcome reprieve. It meant I didn’t have a chance to stop and think—not unless someone forced me to like they were now.

Janice Peabody gave me a pitying look, but there was a hint of excitement in her eyes—like an addict jonesing for a fix. Only her drug of choice was gossip. “I can’t believe this. What is going on with our beloved town lately?”

The truth was that darkness was everywhere. In the places you expected and in the ones you didn’t.

“I’m fine, nothing to worry about.”

Janice gaped at me. “Nothing to worry about? There is an attacker in our midst! Now, it’s likely that horrible father of yours—why they let him out of prison, I’ll never know—but—”

“Ms. Peabody,” Aspen said, coming alongside the woman and handing her a bakery bag. “I’ve got your lunch all wrapped up here. I even threw in an extra cookie.”

“Oh. Well, that was quick,” Janice said, sounding disappointed.

I would’ve laughed if she hadn’t reminded me that the entire town was likely talking about me.

Aspen gave her a bright smile and a wave. “See you next week.”

Janice opened her mouth as if she might argue but then closed it. “You both stay safe. There’s a monster in our midst.”

Aspen’s shoulders sagged when Janice disappeared out the front door. “That woman…”

I winced. “Sorry to bring drama in the door yet again.”

She pinned me with a stare. “You have nothing to apologize for. I can’t begin to tell you how many times she’s tried to pry information about Cady’s dad out of me.”

My jaw went slack. “Are you serious?”

“I wish I were kidding. She’s a piece of work.”

A guy who looked to be in his early twenties opened the door, carrying a massive bouquet in a vase. “I’ve got a delivery for a Madison Byrne.”

Aspen let out a low whistle. “Someone’s a lucky girl.”

A shiver of unease passed over me. But they weren’t white lilies. Instead, it was an artful array of pale pink roses. “That’s me.”

He handed me the flowers. “Enjoy.”

“Thank you.” I tugged the card from the flowers.

Nausea swept through me. But even that reaction had me second-guessing myself. He hadn’t said anything threatening. Nothing that could get him into trouble.

I tugged my phone from my pocket and hit Nash’s number. He answered on the second ring. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine. I just promised I’d call if anything happened, and I got some flowers from Adam.”

Nash was quiet for a beat. “I’m on my way.”

“You don’t need to leave work.”

“I’m on my way,” he gritted out.

“See you in a second.”

Aspen watched me with a worried look on her face. “The ex?”

I flipped the card around so she could see it.

Her expression shifted, growing darker. “It’s a threat without outright saying as much.”

I studied the card again. She had a point. “He’s always been good with words.” Knew exactly the things that would cut a person to the quick.

The bell over the door jingled, and Nash strode across the space. He glared at the blooms as if this happening was their fault. “Let me see.”

I handed him the card.

He let out a low growl. “He’s good. I’ll give him that. He’s threatening you without saying anything that could get him looked at harder.”

“Aspen just said the same thing.”

Nash’s gaze cut to my friend.

She shrugged. “I’m familiar with that breed of asshole.”

My stomach twisted at that. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was the story behind Cady’s father. But Aspen had never opened up about it, and unlike Janice, I wouldn’t pry.

Aspen waved Nash off before he could say anything. “Why don’t you take Maddie home? I can close up.”

“No, I can stay. And you have to pick up Cady.”

Aspen took the flowers from me. “She has a play date with Charlie, so I’m free as a bird. And you’ve already been pushing it by working with a concussion. Go home and rest. I’ll toss these in the trash.”

“Thanks,” I said. But I hadn’t agreed because of Aspen; it was the look on Nash’s face. There were too many shadows in those gorgeous green eyes.

Nash slipped the card into an evidence bag. “I just need to drop this at the station.”

“Okay.” I grabbed my purse and followed him out of the café.

Nash didn’t take my hand or drape his arm around me. He stalked down the street as if he were headed to burn down the world. Each step twisted my insides tighter.

He opened the door to the station, and I entered behind him. Nash handed the bag to the young woman on duty. “Give this to Law. He knows it’s coming.”

“Of course.” She hurried deeper into the station.

Nash moved back to the door, and I kept trailing right behind. He strode around the building to the parking lot, beeped the locks on his SUV, then opened the passenger door and held it for me.

I slid inside and buckled my seat belt as the door closed. A second later, Nash was behind the wheel, and we were pulling out of the lot.

He stayed quiet for the entire ride home. Each second that passed set my nerves more on edge. I hated the silence and everything that meant Nash was holding himself back from me.

When he parked, I quickly got out of the SUV before he could come around and open the door. I couldn’t bear another moment of him not looking me in the eyes or saying anything.

I pulled my keys from my purse and started toward the door. I got there before him, unlocking it and pulling it open. Clyde’s happy bark greeted us.

The sound soothed something in me. And the sight of a pile of Nash’s stolen shoes made a smile almost reach my lips. I gave the dog a good scratch. “Let’s get you out.” I walked to the back door and opened it so he could have a good romp in the backyard.

Clyde ran for the grassy area, making a beeline for the rope toy he often tossed in the air for himself. I left the door open so he could come back in when he was ready and strode back into the living room.

Nash leaned against the kitchen island, staring out the window, a look of nothingness in his eyes that killed me.

I moved until I stood right in front of him. “Don’t shut me out.”

He blinked a few times. “I’m not.”

“You haven’t said a word since we left the station. You won’t even look at me.”

Nash’s jaw worked back and forth. “I’m just trying to keep myself in check.”

My brows furrowed. “In check?”

“Maddie…do you have any idea how angry I am right now? Someone attacked you last night. I had to question your piece of shit dad today. And now your ex is sending you flowers that are most definitely a threat. I’m two seconds away from losing it.”

And he thought that would scare me. The knowledge hit me like a ton of bricks. If there was one thing Nash would never want to do, it was instill fear in me. He’d rather cut off his own arm.

I lifted my hands to his face. “Don’t hide from me.”

His jaw tensed beneath my fingers. “You don’t want this.”

“Yes, I do. I want all of you. Whatever you’re feeling.”

“I can’t.”

My hands moved along his jaw until my fingers fisted in his hair. “You could never scare me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do. Let me in.”

“Mads…” My name was a plea.

My mouth met his, taking. “Let me in.”

Nash’s hands dropped to my hips. “I can’t. I’m not in a good headspace.”

I kissed him again.

Nash answered me this time, his tongue gently stroking mine. But that gentleness was a lie, more of Nash hiding himself from me. I nipped his bottom lip as I pressed myself into him, my fingers pulling tighter on his hair.

Nash’s control snapped.

His fingers dug into my hips through the cotton of my dress, pulling me flush against him. I felt him hardening against me, and the sensation had everything in me pulling tauter. My body yearned for Nash, all of him, even that anger.

“Mads…” This time, my name was a warning that he growled low.

I stepped out of his hold. A mixture of relief and disappointment flickered across his face.

I bent, grabbed the hem of my sundress, and pulled it over my head. I let the cotton sail to the floor and stood before him in nothing but a lacy thong, bra, and my ankle boots.

Nash swallowed hard, his eyes raking over me. “If I’d known this was under that dress, you’d never have made it out of the house this morning.”

The corner of my mouth kicked up as I moved toward him. “Is that right?”

“Damn right.”

The moment I was within arm’s length, Nash grabbed me and spun me around so I faced the island. The cool surface was the complete opposite of the heated blood running through me.

Nash’s hand ran slowly down my spine. “You want all of me?”

“Yes,” I breathed.

His hand dipped lower, squeezing the globe of my ass. “Even the monster I can be?”

I arched back into him. “Even that.”

Nash’s fingers slid between my legs, pulling my thong to the side and teasing my sensitive flesh. “Does that turn you on?”

Two fingers slipped inside, stroking.

“You turn me on.”

Nash made me feel safe to explore anything and everything with him because I trusted him to never hurt me.

His fingers twisted inside me, making a moan escape my lips.

“That’s it. Tell me how you feel,” Nash said.

I pushed back harder against his straining erection. He nipped my ear as his other hand found my clit. He circled and circled, getting closer to exactly where I wanted him. Where I needed him.

“Nash…”

“Tell me.”

“More,” I pleaded.

“More what?”

His fingers were just shy of where I wanted.

“More you.”

Nash chuckled. “Give me the words, Mads.”

“You inside me. Your fingers on my clit.” The words tumbled out before I could second-guess them. I never talked like that. But with Nash, I could.

A second later, his fingers were gone, and he roughly tugged my thong to my ankles. I tried to turn, but Nash’s hands caught my wrists. “Hands on the counter.”

His voice was coated in rough demand.

My fingers splayed on the island, and I didn’t move. Nash released me. A second later, I heard the telltale sound of a zipper, the release of each metal tine echoing in the quiet kitchen.

His hand trailed down my spine. “So damn beautiful.”

I sucked in a breath.

“Last chance, Maddie. I can walk away and take a very cold shower.”

“I want you. All of you.”

It was all Nash needed. He thrust inside me in one powerful stroke. There was no easing into things, he simply took. And I met his every move.

I braced my hands on the counter as Nash took me harder, each thrust just shy of pain—the delicate balance only driving me higher. My legs trembled, and my inner walls began to quiver.

My mouth fell open on a silent plea—for more or less, I didn’t know. Too many sensations wracked my body.

Nash reached around, his hand pulling my breast free of my bra. His finger found my peaked nipple, and he twisted.

This time, my plea wasn’t silent. It pierced the air, laced with need and want.

His hand dipped lower, finding that bundle of nerves. Nash didn’t circle it this time. He went straight for it. He pressed, and I shattered. There was no easing into the orgasm; it was complete annihilation.

My walls clamped down on Nash, and he let loose a shout as he emptied himself into me, my orgasm wringing him dry.

As the aftershocks subsided, Nash dropped his head to my shoulder, breathing hard. My body trembled as he slipped from me.

“Was that too much? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

I turned in Nash’s arms, looking up at the man I loved. The man who, still mostly clothed, had just given me the most intense orgasm of my life. “If that’s how you deal with anger and stress, I’m gonna have to brainstorm some ways to piss you off.”

He burst out laughing, pulling me closer. “I love you.”

“More than I thought possible,” I whispered back.

I stiffened in his hold as I caught sight of something in the hallway.

Nash instantly straightened. “What’s wrong?”

“I think Clyde saw us,” I hissed.

Nash turned to see our dog standing at the edge of the living room, one of Nash’s socks hanging from his mouth and a confused expression on his face. Nash shrugged. “He’s a dog.”

I smacked Nash’s chest. “We could’ve traumatized him.”

Nash grinned. “He’d better get used to it because I plan on doing this again.”