An Echo in the Mafia (Echo Reid, Reid Family Book #1)

Echo

She could have ignored him, sent the flowers back, rehomed the puppy, and never let him kiss her. Deep down, she wanted everything he told her she should have, she wanted it all with him because he made her feel like he could.  

Then he surprised her. She watched him bend, watched him compromise, watched display patience with her that she didn't think he had. Sure, he was selfish and demanding but what could she expect from a criminal? He pursued her in a relentless and almost criminal manner, but he was... a criminal. She knew there would caveats to this, she accepted it. She wasn't some dumb child, she knew what she was getting into. The more time she spent around him, the more she was able to use her logic as she wanted to, to be reasonable and cool minded. She was becoming a version of herself she enjoyed. 

Maybe she only loved him at first because of what he brought out in her but it was all the secret parts of him that made it so she would love him forever. For one, he was secretly more kind and forgiving than he let others believe, he was tender and gentle, he was smart. He was every bit as human as she was, and he was every bit as flawed. He hid behind a facade of control, a modicum of security, when really he was afraid. He was afraid that he would lose again, like he'd lost before. 

Although right now, as he lay lazily against the head board, holding out a small pouch of blue berries to her with a child like grin, he looked nothing like the vulnerable man she knew him to be. 

"Thanks." She said, taking a couple of berries and popping one into her mouth. Leave it to Luke to always have a healthy snack to offer her after... vigorous... activities. 

"So." He said, leaning forward and scooping up the blue silk that was pooled on the side of the bed. "not that I'm complaining but care to explain?"

"Ah... that." She said, turning bright red. Damn it. She was hoping he wouldn't bring it up. She had sworn over and over again that she would never wear something like that. She may have upped her everyday fashion sense, but she was never going to be brave enough to wear something like that. 

"If you have any more of these you're not sharing with me..." He began to say but she shook her head. 

"No, just the one." She said, reaching over to grab it but he snatched it above her reach. 

"And tell me, what made tonight special enough for you to wear it?" He asked, amused by the way she was blushing furiously. 

"You weren't supposed to see it." She said and he raised his brow. 

"I'm sorry. Were you expecting someone else?" He teased. 

"I meant you weren't supposed to see it tonight." She said, leaning forward and falling into his lap as she missed the slip. She sighed, shuffling around to move away but he caught her firmly with his arm and nestled her closer to him. 

"So when was  I supposed to see it?" He asked, using a hand to gently massage her scalp as she settled comfortably against him. 

"Saturday." She said. He looked down at her and his grin widened, revealing a long line of pearly whites. 

"Our anniversary?" He asked. "I don't know why but I didn't peg you for the type to think about those things."

"Anniversaries? I've heard they're important." She said with a shrug. 

"They are. Drinks, dinner, dancing..." He said, running his fingertips along her arm, "Slow, sensuous love making, this would have been very appropriately romantic. But you, my little Echo, are the farthest thing from romantic."

She frowned. 

"Yeah, I know. I'm trying." She muttered. 

"So why were you wearing this tonight?" He asked. 

"I put it on to try to convince myself not to be a coward." She said. "I was starting to chicken out about wearing it on Saturday." 

"Which is why you ran to hide under the covers when I got home." He said, "But I told you I was coming."

"I know." She said, "I just figured I'd have more time to change... then I couldn't find my sweats... I ended up diving under the covers when I heard you coming down the hall."

"And here I thought you had planned this seduction." He said with a pout.

"When have I ever planned a seduction?" She said with a sigh.

"Wasn't that your plan for Saturday?" He asked and watched as she blushed yet again. "You know, Echo, one look at you and I'm yours to do anything you like."

She sat up, looking into his eyes. 

"You could ask me for anything any time but..." He said, placing a hand behind her neck, "but when you wear something like that... it's almost unfair. I don't stand a chance against you."

He pecked her lightly before bringing her back against him. 

"I guess the surprise is ruined." She said a few moments later. 

"Trust me, I was surprised." He said. 

"But I wanted to surprise you on Saturday. Luke, I mean it, I'm trying to be more romantic, I just don't know how." She said.

"It doesn't come naturally to you, I know that, It's fine." He said and she shook her head.

"It's not." She protested, pulling away to face him again. "Like tonight, I thought it was sweet that you called me even if you were already coming home. I wanted to tell you that I missed you, I wanted to tell you to hurry. I wanted to call you hours ago to see how you were, and I wanted to go see you but I just couldn't bring myself to say any of it without sounding awkward."

"I wanted to hear it." He said with a nodding, running his hands along her arms reassuringly, "But that's not you, Echo. I'm okay with that."

"I'm not." She said, "You always make me feel so cherished and loved, you constantly tell me and show me that you miss me, how you feel about me. I feel like such an oaf around you."

He laughed. 

"An oaf?" He said, watching as she grew frustrated with him and moved away but he reached out, pulling her right back. "Listen, my adorable little oaf, listen to me good."

Echo face him, a big pout on her face, her arms crossed. 

"You may not be the most demonstrative woman outwardly, but you are far from unromantic. You're trusting, you giving- you don't make demands I can't fulfill, you don't ask me for things I can't give, you don't ask for anything. You are always waiting for me, you are always on my time, on my clock, you adjust your life to fit mine. If that's not romantic, if that's not a gesture that proves love, I don't know what is. You make sure everything here runs smoothly, you never complain." He said, tucking the loose strands of hair behind her ears, "and when we're together... like this..."

Echo slipped a hand onto his shoulder, tracing the scar gently with her finger tips. 

"You're every kiss and touch and glance tells me everything you don't know how to put into words." 

She smiled at him gently, leaning in to kiss the scars tenderly before slowly moving her lips back up towards his ear. 

"I'll be happy to show you again." She whispered, instantly stirring up the passion that was always gently brewing between them.