Josh tries to pull away, but Echo’s grip only tightens. “What the fuck, man?” He whines.
“She asked you to stop.” Echo hisses, his voice cold and lethal. “She shouldn’t have to ask twice.”
There’s something about Echo’s tone that makes my blood run cold. If Josh doesn’t stop, he won’t walk out of this grocery store alive.
“Let him go.” I hear myself say.
Echo’s eyes flick to me, and for a second, I think he might not listen. Then, slowly, he releases Josh with a controlled precision that somehow feels more threatening than the violence he just displayed.
Echo’s expression is calm as he steps back and adjusts his cuffs like nothing happened. He doesn’t look like he just grabbed someone at all. He looks like he just dealt with a minor inconvenience.
Josh stumbles back, clutching his arm to his chest. “Are you fucking insane? You could’ve broken my arm, man.”
Echo doesn’t give him a response. Instead, he moves closer to me and wraps his arm protectively around my shoulders.
I can feel the heat radiating off of his body in waves. It’s the same heat I felt yesterday when I was on top of him. When his hands were guiding my hips. When I was so close to coming, I could taste it.
Stop.
Fuck, I need to stop thinking about that.
“You should go.” I tell Josh, barely recognizing the sound of my own voice.
Josh’s eyes dart between us, disbelief hardening into something ugly.
“Are you serious right now?” Josh’s voice cracks. “Is this why you’ve been avoiding me? Because of him?”
Yes.I think to myself. But being honest right now feels like I’d be throwing salt on the wound. Still, I need to say something.
“Yes.” Echo answers for me.
My head whips toward him, but if he notices, he doesn’t react.
“She’s mine now.” He continues, his eyes locked on Josh with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. “She has been from the moment we met. Whatever this was?” He says, gesturing dismissively between Josh and me. “Is over.”
The air leaves my lungs. This isn’t just him being protective. This is him marking his fucking territory.
Josh scoffs. “Unbelievable.” His gaze cuts to me, andthere’s hurt there, but there’s also a lot of anger. “Dahlia, are you not going to say anything?”
“I’m sorry.” I mumble, shaking my head. “I promise I’ll text you later and explain everything. But please, just go.”
Josh hesitates, his fists curling as his eyes flick between Echo and me, then after a few tense seconds he turns to leave. The moment he’s out of sight, I elbow Echo hard in the stomach and slide out from under his arm.
“Ouch.” He says mildly. “What was that for?”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I hiss, keeping my voice low. “You can’t just show up here and do that.”
“What? Stop him from touching you without permission?”
“I was handling it.” I hiss.
Echo’s brow furrows. “You were panicking.” He says, his voice softening slightly. “I could see it on your face, Bambi. The second he grabbed you, you froze and started shutting down.”
He’s right, but there’s no way I’m admitting that right now. “That doesn’t give you the right to assault him in the middle of a grocery store.”
“I didn’t assault him. I removed him.” He steps closer, and I instinctively step back. “There is a difference, Bambi.”
“Is there?” I’m shaking now, adrenaline and anger and frustration coursing through me. “Because from where I’m standing, you just assaulted someone and claimed me like I’m some kind of property.”
