13. Dream life

Two weeks have passed, and everything still feels better in the dreamscape. The horrors and haunting presence seem like a distant nightmare, but here with Echo, it's peaceful. I hold onto this calm like it's my lifeline.

"Okay, so... what if I stayed here with you, like, all the time?" I start, twirling a leaf between my fingers and grinning like a schoolgirl. The leaf matches the white flowers on my pastel gray summer dress that barely reaches my mid-thigh. "I know what you're going to say! Yes, I can't stay with you, I belong in the human world, but just hear me out, okay?"

Echo rolls his eyes, takes a deep breath, and licks his lips, a playful smile spreading across his face.

"Okay," he says, that dimpled smile making my heart flutter uncontrollably.

He looks like something out of a dream, which makes sense since he's literally a citizen of the dream world. Still, every time I look at him, I can hardly believe someone like him is—well, mine. Because that's what we are—kind of exclusive.

I say ‘kind of' because it's hard to define the dynamics between two inter-realm species. We see each other every day in my dreams, but since he's also protecting me from malevolent shadows and a mysterious being that controls them, it's complicated.

One thing is for sure, though. For the past two weeks, since Echo nearly died from the shadows invading my subconscious, it's been blissfully calm. I've been living my dream life, both literally and figuratively, and I couldn't be happier.

Actually, it's been so idyllic that I've come to a conclusion. As long as I can keep falling asleep, by whatever means necessary, and Echo is by my side, I'm happy.

I'll take the pills. I'll knock myself out. I'll take boiling hot showers just to pass out.

"Do we…" I muse, dropping the leaf onto my lap and twirling a strand of my hair. "Um, can we have kids here? You know, like… Can the two of us actually procreate?"

Echo's eyebrow arches, his playful smile transforming into an amused smirk as he looks at me with a twinkle in his eye. He leans back against a tree, crossing his arms over his chest, managing to look both casual and impossibly charming.

"Kids, huh?" he muses, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "You really don't waste any time, do you?"

I can feel my cheeks getting warm and red, but I keep looking at him, trying to show I really want to know the answer. Honestly, I never thought I'd find someone I could contemplate eternity with, but then the impossible happened.

Who else would be better to spend forever with than the guy who can make forever possible? No aging, no pain—just miracles, amazing sceneries, and mind-blowing sex.

"I'm asking for science, okay?" I laugh. "I'm just curious about it, that's all."

Echo chuckles, a sound that makes the nearby clouds shimmer slightly.

"Well," he begins, his voice taking on a teasing note, "considering I'm made of dreams and you're very much human, it would be quite the endeavor. But then," he pauses, leaning forward, his face inches from mine, his breath mingling with the cool air, "who knows what happens if we just keep trying?"

I pucker my lips. We've certainly tried enough times already.

"That's not a real answer," I grumble. "You're supposed to be honest, not give me half-truths!"

"But I am," he replies, pulling back slightly but keeping his gaze locked on mine. "I'm telling you all I know."

"Which is nothing. You just don't know, do you?"

"Oh, I know a lot," he groans. Then, in a flash, he leaps at me, his hands at my waist and his lips kissing my neck as I giggle loudly beneath him. "I know exactly how much you like not knowing and keeping yourself guessing. It turns you on, doesn't it? That pesky uncertainty…"

He gently presses me down onto the soft checkered blanket beneath us, and the world around us seems to blur.

"Hey," I manage between giggles, trying to catch my breath as he trails kisses along my collarbone, each touch sending sparks of delight through my veins. "This isn't fair. You're just distracting me, so I won't notice how unknowledgeable you are, mister. I can see through you."

He lifts his head, his eyes gleaming with playful intent. "You see through me?" he replies, his voice low and enticing. "Oh, it's me who sees through you. You just want to feel me between your legs again, hm? You know I aim to please."

"Mm, sure you do," I mutter, my resolve melting under his intense cobalt gaze. But honestly, my body feels spent.

I've lost count of how many times he's made me come during this night's dream alone, not to mention the entire two weeks we've been meeting like this daily. I didn't know it was possible, but even my astral form gets exhausted after that many orgasms.

"Anyway, your turn," I point out as he props himself up on his elbow. He leaves his hand on my thigh, stroking my sensitive skin in slow, gentle motions.

"Right," he breathes. "I have one. If you could do anything in the real world that I can do in the dreamscape, what would it be?

"Like a superpower?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

I scoff.

"That's a no-brainer. I'd want to fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Doesn't matter if I just slept for a whole day; I want to be able to dive back into sleep right away."

"Oh yeah?" he asks, his face nuzzling into my shoulder and his teeth nipping gently at my skin."Nothing about fixing the world, ending poverty, hunger, and all that stuff, huh?"

My cheeks redden.

"Yeah, I guess… Call me selfish," I exhale, my fingers tracing the contours of his back. "But it feels like nothing can make my world better. Maybe it's just better to take care of myself and escape from it all."

He laughs softly against my skin, the vibration sending a warm shiver through me. "And if I were there with you? Wouldn't that make your world a better place?"

"Oh, it would change everything…" My words trail off as I imagine the possibilities, his presence blending the lines between dream and waking life. "If you were there... it would fix the goddamn planet for me," I admit, the thought bringing a genuine smile to my face.

Echo's eyes sparkle with mischief, and a sly grin spreads across his face. "Well, isn't that a delightful thought?" he teases, his voice dripping with slyness. "Imagine me, hopping around in your world and wearing you out every night so you'd sleep just fine. We could dive into some of that earthly chaos together."

"Chaos, huh?" I pinch him playfully. "I was thinking more along the lines of breakfast in bed, lazy Sundays... you know, normal life stuff."

"Oh, I can do breakfast in bed," Echo chuckles, propping himself up on his elbow to look down at me with an impish twinkle. "Breakfast in bed, moonlit dances, picnics in real flower fields in the middle of nowhere, you name it."

"Mm, yes. Because in the real world, things always go smoothly. No flies, spiders, or wasps to keep us company," I muse skeptically. "Such a delight indeed. Besides, good luck finding a spot like that untouched by people. The real world's crowded, babe."

Here, unlike on Earth, we can be anywhere we want. Right now, we're in the middle of a rose field. The best part? These roses don't even have thorns. They vary in size from normal ones to gigantic ones, and some even resemble small, red, rose-shaped daisies.

Echo looks at me from beneath his thick, black eyelashes. "You're just spoiled already, my Little Soul," he quips.

"Maybe I am," I concede with a playful shrug. "But can you blame me? You've set quite the standard here in the dreamscape. Everything's always so... perfect."

"You're perfect," he says, lifting my chin gently with his hand and making me look at him. The words send a pleasant shiver down my spine as his gaze, intense and adoring, seems to look right through to my soul.

He's the perfect one and doesn't even acknowledge it.

"Flatterer," I tease, feeling my heart skip a beat at his compliment. Honestly, I think this place—the rose field without any thorns, the air filled with their sweet scent—just became my new favorite spot. "Anyway, my turn for a question. Was the day Cam summoned you the first time you saw me?"

"No," he responds slowly, his voice a deep, velvety whisper. "I had been watching you long before Cam ever thought to summon me."

"You had?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, curiosity piqued. "Then why didn't we meet earlier than that?"

"I needed an invitation," he replies, his gaze still locked with mine, earnest and unflinching. If it didn't leave me so confused, I'd just accept this answer and lean in to kiss him.

But his reply ignites something within me. I know I must press further or I'll regret it. For the past two weeks, I've experienced firsthand how amazing my dreams with Echo can be. Unfortunately, it's also highlighted just how vast the gap is between these dreams and real life. When I'm out there alone, all I want is to come back here. I find myself constantly thinking about our time together, replaying our conversations, our touches, wishing I had something real and tangible out there to make it all feel real, to confirm I'm not losing my mind. Because sometimes, that's exactly how it feels. Like I'm just crazy, with no proof to tell me otherwise.

"How come? Aren't you my guardian spirit?" I ask, sitting up straighter and picking up the leaf I had dropped earlier. I twirl it between my fingers again. "Shouldn't you be able to just... you know, guard me right from the start?"

"It doesn't work like that," he replies, still lying down. "Actually, it's very similar to how things operate here in the dream world. Intention, Claire, that's the key. Everything is based on permission. You must want it to happen, just like you needed to want my help for me to even attempt it. You had to choose to let me in. Otherwise, it just wouldn't happen. The doors for me to reach you would have stayed closed."

The leaf stops spinning between my fingers as I process his words. Then, a troubling thought clicks into place, even though I don't want it to.

"Wait, just like with the shadows?" I ask.

For a moment, I expect him to deny it. He and the shadows are completely different beings. There's no way my beautiful Echo could be compared to those shadowy abnormalities.

But then he tenses up, and I find myself tensing up with him.

"Sort of," he admits. "It's just that the shadows are more invasive, as you've unfortunately found out."

My head spins. Every mention of the shadows strips away a bit of my comfort, erasing the blissful daze I cling to. I usually manage to shake it off. But now, Echo's response just makes me recoil, the unpleasant memories flooding back.

Still, there are things I have to know. My curiosity won't let me rest.

"So… what? Before this, you were basically…" I pause, unsure how to continue. "Watching me? And, um... why? How long?"

He watches me, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes before a mischievous smile curls at the corners of his mouth. He shifts his position, propping himself on one elbow, bringing his face dangerously close to mine again.

"My Little Soul, you're stacking questions now," he teases, his voice a soft whisper with an undeniable hint of amusement. "That's more than one, you know. We agreed on one at a time, didn't we? Don't tell me you're trying to be naughty again."

I inhale sharply, ready to argue or press for answers, but the words melt away as he closes the gap with a kiss that silences me. The world shifts slightly, the kiss deepening, pulling me further from my spiraling thoughts.

When he pulls back, the dizziness is gone.

"Said the guy who didn't even answer my first question properly," I whisper back. There's no bite in the way I say it, and I realize I'm already losing the will to resist. I couldn't even begin to describe how this man affects me, even if I tried. He dismantles all my defenses, leaving me exposed for him to see.

If only things were different. If only he were just some guy I'd met in my everyday life, I'd shut him out the moment I sensed danger—not because he lacks anything I'm looking for in a man, but because I'd be too frightened to open up.

The universe knows I've had my fair share of letdowns. Trusting someone only to have them obliterate that trust is the worst feeling. The thoughts that follow, the self-reproach that makes you question all your choices... I never want to experience that again.

That's why if Echo were just a human, unable to delve into my mind and see my very essence, it wouldn't work between us. I wouldn't feel like I'm falling in love.

But the way things are… I think I am.

"I think you and I both know just how naughty I can be," he purrs, his hand pressing against my thigh, rubbing it up and down. Warmth spreads through me, each stroke lighting a flame inside. A desperate whimper escapes my lips as he makes me burn up so quickly.

"Yes, very," I say, tugging his hand higher until it slips under my skirt. My nipples tighten painfully under the thin fabric, and I already know that even though I'm spent and aching from how much we've done tonight, it's not enough. It will never be enough.

"Do you still hurt?" he asks, his voice a low timbre. We played the game of questions because I needed a little break, though neither of us said it out loud. He knows I still hurt, but he's asking anyway. And fuck, I love it.

"Is that your question?" I exhale, as his finger brushes against my clit. It's a faint touch, just a tease, but it sends a jolt of pleasure through me. Underneath my pale-green dress, I'm wearing a sheer white thong, the mesh stretching from my pelvic bone to my labia. His finger grazes my clit gently underneath, driving my nerves crazy.

"Would you prefer me asking something else?" he counters, his lips finding my neck and planting soft, slow kisses. My eyes roll back.

"Yes…" I answer. The game be damned, I need him to ask that one question I've been waiting for all night. Because every moment I don't feel him inside me feels wasted.

"Would you let me fuck you, my Little Soul?" He purrs, his voice dripping with desire. "Would you let me fuck you even though your pretty pussy still hurts? That's the question you want, isn't it?"

"Yes," I breathe, spreading my legs impossibly wide, beckoning him to get on top of me. But as he pets my clit, he doesn't move an inch.

"Well, then…" Another kiss lands softly on my neck. "Before you answer, I need you to do something. Trust me, you're gonna love it."

He waves his hand, and the clear blue sky shifts to a deep navy, darkness enveloping us while the air remains pleasantly warm.

"Wha…" I start, barely opening my eyes as a wave of pleasure washes over me.

"Just wait."

Around us, the field of roses begins to glow, small points of golden light twinkling among the blooms like tiny lamps. The navy sky, the red roses, and the yellow lights blend together into a scene straight out of a movie. Then, as if on cue, stars sprinkle across the sky while the fragrance of roses intensifies, mingling with a scent I can't quite place.

Echo reaches out with his free hand to pluck a few petals from the nearest rose, bringing them to his nose to savor the smell. Then, with the most devilish smile, he brings one petal to my lips.

"Taste it," he instructs.

I comply, taking the petal between my lips. Its delicate scent adds to the already heady aroma around us. He watches intently as I taste the petal's sweetness, his eyes shining under the starlit sky.

And then, it hits me.

A surge of white-hot bliss arcs through me, making my spine arch and a loud whimper escape my lips. My head tilts back, my jaw slackens as the petal dissolves on my tongue, releasing a sweet liquid that trickles down my throat.

It's indescribable, this sensation flooding through me. My senses sharpen, my body weakens from the deep ache between my legs, and my heart races in my chest. Goosebumps spread violently across my skin, like the highest fever has taken hold of me.

"Now, Claire," Echo's voice murmurs near my neck, his hot breath caressing my tingling skin. "Tell me you want me to fuck you now."

"Oh god!" I cry out, overwhelmed by ecstasy before he even touches me further. "Yes, Echo, please... Please fuck me."

Colors blur together like swirled paint as I lose all sense of gravity. He finally nestles himself between my legs and pins me to the blanket so I don't float away.

The moment I feel the hard bulge in his cream boho harem pants against me, my hips grind shamelessly. The pants don't constrict his erection, allowing it to spring up rock hard, twitching against my pussy. I miss the touch of his fingers, but this is so much better. When my skirt rides up and he uses his hands to expose my breasts, I don't mind at all. I am so turned on, it hurts.

"Look at your nipples, all hard and swollen," he murmurs, pinching one and rolling it between his fingers. His teeth had grazed them incessantly before, and even now, taken by the rose-petal-like storm, I still feel the ache.

Yet I'd never tell him to stop. Not even if this dream started to collapse and the sky fell onto us.

"Not… enough," I rasp, my throat clenching as tears swell in my eyes from sheer pleasure. I need him in me. Now. "Can't wait…"

His low, airy chuckle makes my whole body tremble in anticipation. I love his wild, dark side. He might be my guardian spirit, but he's no angel. There's a raw, edgy quality to him. Sometimes, I think he likes to torture me a little. Likes to see me cry.

He certainly does now.

"Mm, are the feelings a little too intense now?" he coos. There's no sympathy in his voice, only lust mixed with sadism. "Do you feel like bursting from all that ache inside you?"

There's no need to turn me on any further. I was already dripping wet when we were cuddling minutes ago. Now, even breathing makes my inner muscles clench, the friction enough to spin my head.

"Yes!" I shout. "Fuck, Echo… Please."

But he only licks his lips, eyes hooded with relish. "Mm, so sweet," he muses.

When I'm on the brink of losing my mind, he finally slips his pants down and slides my thong aside, revealing the sticky mess I've become. His gaze is dark and heavy as he never stops looking at me.

"I'm going to enjoy this very, very much, my Little Soul."

And then, with my lips parting and voice dying in my throat, he enters me in one fast stroke. My hands find his hair, gripping it so strong my muscles shake. Honestly, even if I could rip it out, I would, unable to stop myself as the feeling of being so impossibly full hits me like a tsunami.

"Oh, my… Oh, my g…" I cry out. "Oh, fuck!"

The first orgasm hits me fast. It's sudden, more intense than anything I've experienced here in the dreamscape. I feel like a stick of dynamite exploding, pleasure washing over me in relentless waves as I tremble uncontrollably in his arms.

I couldn't recall my own name if he asked me. I don't make a sound, I don't even breathe. I just exist, suspended in time, a bundle of nerves and pure energy. Only when I remember I'm human do I take my first breath, as if I'd journeyed to the land of the dead and returned.

Oh, how can it feel this good?

"Yes, Claire, you're perfect." Echo pumps into me, his dark voice spreading hot delirium through my veins. "Fucking perfect."

I made up my mind long ago, but in moments like these—moments I wish could last forever in the dreamscape—I harbor my darkest wish. I'd give anything to stay here forever: to be kissed, cared for, and fucked on magical blankets in magical flower fields.

I never want this to end. I want Echo to keep driving me to tears of sheer pleasure, savoring each one as he moves within me, in and out.

Yes, if I could, I'd make this last forever. A never-ending high with no come down.

"It's like your pussy draws me in on its own, my Little Soul," he groans. "Like it never wants me to leave." He's right. He can read my thoughts and knows this is exactly what I desire—for him to remain a part of me like this forever. Cocky fucker. So damn cocky and arrogant, and just about perfect for me.

"More," I manage to say.

"More," he agrees.

He lifts my arms above my head and holds them firmly in place, his lips crashing into mine. He tastes just like the rose petal did, and I'm hit with another wave of that intoxicating high. I don't know how it's possible since I didn't see him consume any petals, but I've long since stopped trying to make sense of anything here. This realm operates beyond conventional laws; it's governed by intention and intuition, two forces that constantly vie for dominance.

What matters most is that I feel like this.

"Good?" he asks, his fingers tightening around my wrists.

"Yes," I gasp. "Fuck, I can't take it... I'm going to c—"

Another orgasm sweeps through me before I can finish the sentence. Whatever magic those roses contain, it's ruling my world now. My vision blurs, then darkens, and I feel like I might pass out from how good it feels. Echo's here to hold me through it all as saliva drools out the corner of my lips, my eyes water, and my fingers try to rip his hair out.

"Such a good fucking girl," he groans to my ear. Flicking his tongue out he starts sucking at my neck, licking off all the sweat and grazing teeth against my pulse. "Taste so good, too."

My hips are bucking against him, making him go even deeper, giving him room to make the strokes longer. I can feel his balls clapping against my cheeks when he buries himself as far as humanly possible.

"Think you could give me one more?" he asks, his body going rigid on top of me. We're polar opposites—me, a wet, hot jelly-like mess, whereas him, hard and rigid and more animalistic than I've ever seen him.

When he releases my wrists and propels himself upward, planting his hands on either side of my head, I see his eyes glinting curiously, mouth open, cheeks flushed like never. He looks drunk, like he's high off me just as I'm high off him.

"I don't… know," I tell him honestly, strength leaving me. Every bit of me shakes and feels limp, tired yet buzzing with ecstasy. If I come one more time, I might just give out under all those sensations.

"Just one more," he pleads, hot breaths leaving his mouth. "Come on my dick just one more time, Little Soul. You feel so fucking good when you do."

Desperate, he supports himself with only one hand, lifting the other to plant it on my naked belly. He slides it down the pelvic mound and lower, finding that tight spot between us and flicking my clit.

Oh… Shit.

Even if I could muster the strength to move my tongue and tell him I can't handle it anymore, it would be pointless. He knows exactly what I'm feeling, and I'm certain he doesn't want to stop. He's fully aware of the delicious despair I'm in, the deep ache that's become my prison.

I want it to continue, but each stroke, each flick of his fingers, feels like it's teetering on the edge of torture. Yet, among all the pain, the orgasm shines bright, visible to me like a light in a tunnel. I can see it, I can even bask in its rays. But it's just so damn unachievable. I can't reach it.

"Come on, baby," Echo purrs. He keeps pumping into me, in and out relentlessly in perfect rhythm. His hips roll beautifully, so sensually that it makes my heart ache. "One more."

I whimper, sweat coming into my eyes and mixing with the tears. My eyes hurt from rolling back so much, and my fingers stiffen around his unrippable hair. But then, when he flicks me one more time, I shatter. The light comes and devours me until I see nothing.

"Yes…" I hear Echo's voice even though I can't see him. Then, somehow, I just know he's still muttering words of approval, even though I can't really hear them. They're drowned out by the ringing in my head.

I don't know how much time passes as I float in a vast expanse of black water, my senses muffled, feeling almost nonexistent. But eventually, it ends, and I feel Echo release himself inside me.

When it happens, I'm almost relieved it's over. Almost, because it might have been the most incredible sex I've ever had, yet it left me completely immobilized. I doubt I could have endured it even a moment longer.

"I could die happy right now," I mumble as he pulls away and lies down next to me on the blanket, his lips shiny and his eyes sparkling.

"Oh, no way I'd let you die like this," he says, his voice steady.

I can tell he means it. He's totally sincere. But for some reason, the words ‘like this' hit me hard, making my stomach tighten. Maybe it's just the aftershocks of the orgasm, I think to myself.

Right… that's gotta be it.