Page 54 of Juliet's Echo

“I left because my body betrayed me.”

A tear escaped despite her efforts to stop it.

“No one could hear me. I couldn't hear me. And I panicked.”

Every accusation I'd thrown at her suddenly felt stupid.

Selfish.

“If it weren't for that,” she continued, wiping angrily at her face, “I'd have gladly helped kick Nazir's trifling ass and been in handcuffs right beside you and my best friend.”

Without control over my thoughts or actions, I pulled her into me and embraced her. Surprisingly, she allowed me to. Her body softened against mine as she settled in my arms and exhaled slowly, like she had been holding that breath for far too long.

Realizing she had found comfort in my arms, I squeezed her a little tighter.

“And Choo-Choo doesn’t let people dictate his music. If he listens and you're trash, no meeting. If you meet with him and he doesn’t like your vibe, no contract. Your talent and personality got you that deal,” she spoke into my chest.

Damn. Reassurance from someone you're fond of is a motherfucker.

I released her and stepped back, using my hands to raise her head to look at me. I signed, “I'm sorry.”

More light shone in her face than a Christmas tree. Emotion overtook her, and she leaped into my arms, throwing hers around my neck and giving me the biggest hug.

I gently lifted her off the ground, fully indulging in the moment.

When I sat her back down, she ended the hug by pulling back to look me in the eyes, keeping her hands gently placed on the back of my neck. Her perfume drifted between us, sugary and fruity, and for one reckless second I wondered what she would do if I closed the slight gap between her lips with mine.

“You learned,” she spoke softly.

“Learned what?” I asked, dazed by her softness.

“To signI'm sorry.”

I chuckled softly, still holding her.

“Well, it was eitherI'm sorryor Juliet, you are the most obnoxious, inconsiderate person I ever met in my life.”

“Well, either way, you learned,” she chuckled.

“I want to learn more.”

“I can teach you ASL,” she delighted.

“That’s cool, but I want to learn more about you. About your condition, your interests, your goals. I want to learn Juliet Everette. I want to know—”

Before I could complete my sentence, she crashed her lips into mine.

We began kissing feverishly, and her soft moans vibrated in my mouth. Still cradling the back of my neck, she pulled me deeper into her and gave me her tongue. That shit sent a nigga's blood straight to his dick.

I started sucking her tongue as if there was a center I was trying to reach.

Carelessly, I began groping and squeezing her ass. We continued to kiss nastily, and I felt her hand travel to my waist, one making its way farther down as she began massaging my rock-hard dick through my jeans.

“Fuck,” I moaned into her mouth, temporarily breaking the kiss.

I lifted her up and headed for the small couch.

No, I wasn’t going to fuck her in a small closet-turned-lounge room in her brother’s studio.