Hate to Love

by R. S. Lively

  Feeling emboldened by the strength of his arms as he holds me, I reach my fingers through the waistband of his pants and slowly drag them along the fabric. I feel his muscles tremble beneath my touch, and I take another tentative step by resting my hands on the front of his belt. I hesitate, and Shane tilts his head to look into my eyes.

  "Is something wrong?" he asks. "Do you want to stop?"

  I shake my head.

  "No," I say. "I don't want to stop. It's just... I've never done this before. I’m a virgin. Does that bother you?"

  "Knowing no other man has ever touched you only makes me want you more." He presses his erection into me. "What do you want, Julie?" Shane whispers.

  A moan escapes my lips. "I don't know."

  He begins to unbutton his shirt, quickly shedding it and tossing it to the side. I can finally feel his skin on my fingertips, and I indulge myself for a few seconds by tracing the intricate tattoo work along his chest and shoulders.

  "Let me help you find out," he says.

  He takes my hands in his and runs them down his stomach back to his belt. I pull the end of his belt from the belt loop, then ease it through the gold buckle. It hesitates, and I tug to release the pin holding the belt closed. Once it pops free, I slide Shane's belt out of his pants and drop it to the floor. My fingers tremble slightly as I release the button and slowly lower the zipper. Shane ducks his head, capturing my mouth with his, and I allow the swirl of his tongue against mine to guide me forward. Slipping my hands under either side of his now open pants, I push them away from his hips, so they glide down his thighs and pool at his feet. Shane kicks them aside, and I open my eyes briefly to glance down at him. His erection swells against the front of his trunks, and I feel my pussy quiver.

  I've been so focused on the taste of his kiss and my slow progress undressing him, I haven't noticed Shane releasing the ties on the back of my dress. The ribbons loosen, and I feel the tight bodice of the gown pull away from my body. I draw in a deep breath, expanding my ribs, and the dress slips even further. The knowledge that I am wearing nothing beneath the gown looms in the back of my mind, but instead of feeling nervous or ashamed, I suddenly feel desired, and even eager to share my body with him. As soon as the dress falls the rest of the way down my body, Shane wraps an arm around my waist and turns me to lift me onto the bed. Gently settling down on top of me, Shane lays still for a moment. The slow pace we started with returns as he brushes his lips across mine before giving me a deep, languid kiss.

  Shane sits back on his knees, and I hate the loss of his warmth and the pressure of his weight pushing me into the mattress. I'm comforted when he takes my thigh and lifts my leg to rest it on his shoulder. Turning his head, Shane kisses his way from my knee to the arch of my foot, then slowly lowers my leg back to the mattress and repeats the attention on the other. When he's finished, he tucks his thumbs into the waistband of his trunks and drops them off the edge of the bed. We're both naked now, and I see Shane gazing down at me with a hunger in his eyes that makes my body tremble, and my heart pound wildly in my chest. There's nothing to keep us from each other now. Without saying a single word, I offer my silent permission for his touch. I know he is in absolute control. Shane is guiding me, teaching me, and moving at a pace comfortable for me.

  Shane touches his fingertips to my chest and pauses as if trying to feel the ragged rhythm of my breath and the rapid beating of my heart. Following with his eyes, he sends his hand down, creating a path along my torso that dips into my navel, and travels over the soft swell of my belly. There's no hesitation in his touch, no shame in the way he takes in every inch of me. Reaching the valley between my hips, Shane pauses and lifts his gaze back to mine. I draw in a breath, not taking my eyes away from him as he continues down my body, the pad of his finger sweeping over my hypersensitive clit. I cry out at the sudden intense sensation, but Shane doesn't stop. His finger moves further down, and I feel him gather some of the slick fluid my body has already created for him. The wetness makes it easier for his touch to glide through my most intimate curves and folds. He spends a few intoxicating moments tracing them, introducing me to pleasures only he can offer.

  Moving purely by instinct, I draw my thighs up slightly to my sides. The movement gives him greater access, and Shane eagerly takes my invitation. His finger presses deeper into my lips, then push fully into me. Crying out, I arch up off the mattress. Shane leans forward to kiss my belly, and his breath ripples down my body to join the other masterful sensations he is already creating with his hands. After a few dizzying moments, Shane withdraws his finger from my body. Sitting back again, he reveals his body to me. His thick erection strains toward me, and I bite my bottom lip as I reach forward to wrap my hand around it. Shane rests his hand on top of mine to guide me. His cock is warm and feels impossibly hard as it settles into my palm, and I wrap my fingers around it. I squeeze lightly, and Shane lets out a sound somewhere between a deep sigh and a growl. His head falls back as he guides my hand to stroke him. I let him lead me, but after a few seconds, his hand falls away, and I am allowed to explore him on my own. Suddenly, Shane reaches over and lifts me up by my upper arms, so he can pull me up into a sitting position. This causes my legs to bend on either side of him, bringing us even closer.

  He kisses me intensely for a few seconds before pulling away to climb off the bed. I watch as he crosses the room, leaning down to scoop his pants up from the floor. He reaches into a pocket and comes back to the bed. I see a condom in his hand, and my heart thuds heavily in my chest.

  "I always carry one with me," he says.

  I nod but don't say anything. I don't need any explanation. I don't need any words. Right now, all I need is Shane. He climbs back onto the bed and positions himself so my legs are on either side of him again. Tearing the packet open, he pulls the condom out. I watch as he settles the condom on the tip of his cock and rolls it down into place. Taking his hands under my hips, Shane lifts me and draws me forward, so I straddle his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck, meeting his eyes. Shane holds me steady, controlling my movements as he brings me down slowly. I don't take my eyes away from his as I gasp in response to his powerful body filling mine. I sink on top of him gradually, and soon I feel like I can't accommodate any more. Dropping my head forward to tuck into his shoulder, I draw in a breath. Seeming to understand, he pauses, and we take a moment to savor the first sensations of melding together. Soon he slips further inside and I am able to settle fully into his lap. Shane's hard erection stretches my walls and presses impossibly deep, sending tremors of delight radiating throughout my entire body.

  His fingertips press into my skin as he holds my hips, and begins to rock against me. The movement allows him to stroke deeply within me without our bodies having to separate. Unchained moans of pleasure spill from my lips, and I press passionate kisses along the side of Shane's neck. I let my hands slide down his neck and run along the muscular plane of his back. With every second, I surrender more of myself to him.

  After a few moments, Shane's grip lessens, and he eases me off his lap. I lay on my back on the bed again, but he quickly turns me over and guides me over on my stomach. I fold my arms in front of me and rest my head down on them, turning to look over my shoulder so I can watch him stretch his body over me. His weight pressing down into me while his body surrounds me makes me feel safe, protected, and wanted. This heightens my arousal and awakens even more desire for him.

  Shane tucks his arm under my chest, so he can take my breast in his hand. He kneads into my flesh gently as his other hand intertwines with mine. I grasp him even more tightly as I feel his hips press forward to enter me again. This new angle creates another wave of pleasure as his cock hits new, sensitive places within me. Shane's head rests on my back between my shoulder blades, and a second later, his tongue glides across my skin. The moment feels primal, intensifying the feelings rolling through my body.

  Suddenly his weight shifts as Shane pushes back on his knees. His surging erec
tion slides even deeper inside me, drawing a moan from my chest as I arch my lower back. My hips lift up to meet each of his thrusts, and Shane's upper body falls forward while he lifts my chest up to bring our bodies together. I turn my head and our faces move toward one another. Our eyes meet, and I hear his deep groans surround me.

  Each thrust stokes the fire growing in my belly, and I feel delicious pressure building throughout my hips and thighs. His name tumbles from my lips, and it pushes Shane over the edge. He withdraws from me long enough to roll me over again, before plunging back inside. He stares into my eyes as he thrusts into me. Suddenly he moves forward in one final, impaling thrust, and I feel his cock throb inside me. It shatters the pressure built throughout my body, and I feel myself crashing into an earth-shaking orgasm. My body clenches around Shane's erection and I let out a strangled cry as my spasms meet his pulses. I imagine him spilling into me, and my body milking him to draw him deeper, and meld us together more intensely.

  Another wave of pleasure crashes over me, and I bury my head against Shane's shoulder to muffle a scream. He presses his hand to my back to hold me close, and we remain like this for what feels like forever, as if we're suspended in time. Gradually, we melt into the bed. Our bodies seize control of our cloudy minds, and we curl around each other. Shane's lips touch the back of my shoulder, and along the side of my neck. As soon as his arms wrap around me and I kiss one, tasting his salty skin, I fade into a deep, satisfied sleep.

  Chapter Eleven

  Shane

  My body is still humming from Julie the next morning when I wake up. Before I even open my eyes, I reach over for her. She isn't in my arms, and I want to remedy that as soon as possible. The sheet beside me is still warm, but she isn’t on it. I move over slightly, and finally, my fingertips touch her. Opening my eyes, I see Julie sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to tie the strings on the back of her gown.

  "Don't do that," I say.

  "I have to," she says.

  "Why? If you tie your dress back on, you won't be naked, and I want you to be naked."

  "That's a bit of a problem since I can't exactly go to work naked. People frown on that."

  "It's Saturday," I protest. "You shouldn't be working."

  "Summer is too short for me to take days off," she says.

  I don't really understand what she's saying, but a second later it occurs to me she's referencing the end of her agreement with Mr. Slidell and the cut deadline. It's an unpleasant push back into the reality I've wanted to avoid since getting her into bed with me.

  "At least stay for breakfast. And you can't possibly go home looking like that. It's not exactly subtle."

  "I don't have any clothes with me," she says.

  "That's fine. I'll have something delivered for you."

  "You already paid for my gown, shoes, and new work clothes. Isn’t that enough?"

  "I happen to have it on good authority that you barely scratched the surface of the amount I thought you'd spend. You barely bought anything."

  "Would that good authority happen to be Sue?"

  I smile at the name of the woman who owns the boutique where I sent Julie, and who also happens to be the older sister of one of my teammates.

  "Maybe," I say. "We've been friends for a few years now."

  "I didn't know it was possible for you to be friends with a woman," she teases.

  "Another vote of confidence," I say. "Like I said. Think of it as an expense account. You deserve it for everything you're doing. I'll get something brought up to you, and I'll order room service for breakfast. Unless you're still full from last night."

  "No, I'm hungry."

  I'm not sure if Julie catches the double meaning, but my cock jumps in response to it.

  "What are you in the mood for?" I ask.

  "Pancakes."

  Damn. Not the answer I was looking for.

  She continues, "If I'm going to be here for a little bit, I'm going to take a fast shower."

  She sweeps out of the room still in her gown, and I groan as I roll onto my back. Grabbing my phone from the bedside table, I dial Sue. I hadn't planned on getting Julie into clothes this early in the day, but the protectiveness I've started to feel for her won't let me just send her out to do the most formal walk of shame I’ve ever heard of.

  Not walk of shame. There is nothing about last night she should be ashamed of.

  I explain the situation to Sue, and she assures me a courier will be at the hotel within the next hour. Thanking her, I end the call and then dial room service. Halfway through ordering her pancakes, I hear the shower turn off. By the time I am sliding my phone back onto the table, Julie is walking out of the bathroom wearing one of the hotel bathrobes and drying her hair with a plush towel.

  "You change clothes like a superhero, and you shower like a superhero," I say.

  "It's usually faster than that," she tells me. "But it took me a little longer to jackhammer off the layers of makeup Bindi put on me."

  "I'm just a little disappointed. I was hoping to join you when I got off the phone."

  Julie looks at me for a few, strained seconds.

  "Look, Shane. Last night was great. I had an amazing time. I'm not saying I regret anything, but I think we should put it behind us and pretend that it didn't happen."

  Am I really going to get the morning-after 'this really shouldn't have happened' talk?

  "Why?" I ask, pulling myself up to a sitting position.

  "Because it's a distraction from what we're supposed to be doing. Remember how angry Mr. Slidell was when he thought we had a conflict of interest because we knew each other when we were younger? Well, I'm sure he would consider this a disaster."

  "Is this about Joe?"

  Julie cringes.

  "Why would it be about my brother? He never crossed my mind."

  "Even though he can't stand me, and has probably never done anything but trash talk me?"

  "I'm an adult, Shane. What my brother thinks isn't really any of my concern. And the fact that you would even suggest that perfectly illustrates how much more work we have left to do. You are so incredibly arrogant that you have to believe there's something else going on behind the scenes to make me say no. It's not possible that I made the decision myself. No, it has to be because I don't want to upset my brother, which is creepy as hell, by the way."

  I can see she's getting angry, and my chest tightens. The last thing I wanted to do this morning was upset her.

  "I shouldn't have brought him up. I'm going to grab a shower."

  I don't bother to cover up as I walk toward the bathroom, and I notice Julie's eyes trailing after me as I go. Maybe I'll be able to change her mind after all.

  Turning the hot water up until it stings my skin, I stand with my back to the stream and dip my head back into it. I relax under the water until I hear a knock on the door.

  "Come in," I call out to Julie.

  I look around the curtain and see the bathroom door open just a few inches.

  "Breakfast is here," she says.

  "OK. I'll be out in a minute."

  When I'm finished, I walk out into the living area of the suite and see Julie eating. She's curled into a chair by the balcony doors, the sunlight coming through the open blinds surrounding her. Her legs are tucked under her, and she's twirling a piece of her wet hair around her fingers, just like in the recliner all those years ago. Without taking her eyes away from her phone, she reaches for the fork on a plate perched on the arm of the chair and takes a bite.

  "Is it good?" I ask.

  I make my way toward the silver cart sitting in the middle of the room, and down half a cup of coffee in one swig.

  "It is," she says. "How's the coffee?"

  "Not as good as when you make it."

  She rolls her eyes, but I see a hint of a smile on her lips.

  "I'm still not making your coffee. That career trajectory has officially ended."

  "That's a shame." I top off the cup from the cara
fe sitting on the tray, pick up my food, and sit down in the chair across from her. "You decided to quit?"

  "No, they decided to fire me. It seems trying to take a month of personal time when you've only been working there a few weeks makes you no longer welcome.” She takes another bite of her pancakes.

  "What are you reading?"

  "Morning news."

  My muscles tighten involuntarily.

  "Anything about our escapade last night?" She peers at me over the top of her phone. "I mean, us being late to the gala?"

  Julie shakes her head.

  "No. There's a mention that you were there, though. It's brief but positive, so that's good. At least there aren't any pictures from our run-in with Edna."

  "I think there was probably enough going on at that party to keep her amused. Who knows who was under some of those masks?"

  Julie laughs, and our eyes meet. The questioning in them is gone, but the heat remains. She starts to say something, but a hard knock on the door cuts her off. We both look toward it, and I stand to look through the peephole. A bellhop is on the other side, holding a large box in one hand and a bag in the other. I open the door, and he steps inside to put everything down on the counter in the entryway before accepting the bills I offer him and leaving.

  "What was that?" Julie asks.

  "I believe your delivery from Sue has arrived."

  "I thought I told you I didn't want you to buy me any more clothes."

  "And I thought I told you to think of it as an expense account. It's just a perk. You like to talk about how much money I make all the time. So, let me do something good with it."

  "I guess I can look and see what she picked out for me."

  "OK. Making progress. I can work with that."

  I set the packages on the table in the center of the room and Julie puts her breakfast plate aside before reaching for the bag. I watch her open it, and her face drops.

  "This is interesting," she says, reaching into the bag. "How much weight does she think I can gain at one party?"