Echoes of the Heart, Casey, L.A. [reader novel .txt] 📗

lot of layers so as I pressed my lips to hers, I began to remove them. Her coat was the first to go, then her jumper. When her leggings hit the floor I reached to palm her pussy through her lace knickers but I paused because she winced.

I opened my eyes and stared at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Her face was flushed.

“Risk,” she licked her lips. “Last night was the first time in a long time for me. We did it so many times . . . I’m sore.”

I felt my eyebrows rise.

“But in your kitchen . . . you said you had a lively sex life.”

“I only said that because I knew you had had sex with so many women,” she mumbled. “I had sex with two guys to see if I could have a physical relationship with another man. I couldn’t. The last time was five years ago.”

“Two blokes?”

“Two.”

That was still two too many for my liking but the sheer level of jubilance I felt was un-fucking-real.

“No need to look so happy about it.”

“I am happy, I know our time apart meant we could do what we wanted but holy hell am I happy, baby.”

She frowned. “Wish I could say the same about you.”

That was a low blow, but I deserved it.

“Do you know you’re the only woman I’ve had sex with when I’m sober? The only woman I remember being with?”

Frankie blinked. “What?”

“I’ve taken drugs or drank a shit load in order to be with others. Their faces were always blurred, their hair was never red and their eyes were never green. I always saw you staring back at me. Last night, that was the first time I was naked with a woman while being completely sober and do you know why?”

“Because you’re sober now?”

“I’ve been sober for six months and still didn’t have sex when I’d gotten the offers. The reason is you, Frankie. Having sex with other women is a blur of nothingness . . . I only remember you. I only want to remember you.”

She pressed her face to mine, I put my arms around her body and held on tight.

“Now I wish I wasn’t so sore.”

Surprise laughter bubbled up my throat.

“We can always play a little.” I slid my hand down her behind. “I’m wicked with my tongue, as you know.”

“Hold your horses, big man.” She schooled her features. “I’m here for a reason.”

I sighed. “I know.”

“You know?”

“I just found out before you got here about the video . . . I pretended to be asleep because you sounded mad downstairs with May.”

Frankie tried to appear angry, but her lips were twitching too much for her to be really mad.

“You’re so cute,” she said.

I tried to kiss her but she moved back as she sat up. She ended up straddling me, which I was more than fine with. I got comfortable under her, put one hand behind my head and the other up her T-shirt so I could hold onto her bare waist. She had the tiniest waist. She had wide hips, thick thighs and a big arse but everything else was tiny. Except for her mouth.

“Are you gonna shout at me?” I asked, rubbing her skin with my thumb. “Because if you are, I vote you must always sit on me when you do it.”

Frankie rolled her eyes.

“I’m not gonna shout, this isn’t your fault, but I am freaking out.”

“I know.” I nodded. “I get it, this is the first time any sort of spotlight has been on you. I know you’re scared but it is honestly okay.”

“I just don’t get how us kissing on the pier is more newsworthy than May and Anna having sex in the diner’s car park.”

Risk laughed. “Because all that video of May shows is the car rocking for ages . . . in the video of us, it’s clear to everyone what we’re doing. It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that I’m weak for you.”

I wanted to make this all better for her because she genuinely looked stressed out over it, but there was nothing that could be done. Once something was made public, there was no taking it back.

“This is a big deal, Risk.” Frankie stated. “You should see the awful comments about me under that video on YouTube. So many people think I’m fat and ugly and—”

“Stop it.” I interrupted. “Look, trolls are all over the internet. People like that are miserable and haven’t got a good word to say about anyone because they’re sick inside. You could be the most flawless, kind-hearted woman to walk this earth and you will still be dragged through hell and back because I kissed you.”

Frankie frowned down at me.

“I just . . . why be mean?” Her shoulders slumped. “The world has enough hate, why not be kind?”

“Darlin’.” I smiled up at her. “You’re a sweetheart, other people are mean-hearted. That’s just the way it is. The best thing for you to do is never read the comment section on anything you’re posted on. Ever. Your mental health will thank you.”

She nodded. “So I’ve just to ignore it?”

“That’s what I do.”

She nodded. “Can I ask you a question? As I read those comments, a woman’s name popped up a lot. I just want to be certain you’re not in a relationship of any sorts with her because if you are whatever is happening between us is over.”

“I’ve no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Nora.”

One word. That’s all she needed to say for me to sigh.

“No, Nora and I aren’t in any sort of relationship and we never have been. I haven’t seen her in months, babe. I swear. The media . . . they twist everything.”

“I believe you.”

Her trust in me made my heart soar. Frankie exhaled a breath then she glanced down at her positioning on my body and she froze.

“Are you . . . naked?”

I grinned. “No, I’ve got underwear on.”

She scooted back and looked down to make sure that I was telling the truth which made me snort. She stared down at my stomach, reached out and ran her fingers over my abdominal muscles,