At First Hate (Coastal Chronicles)

I shivered at that one touch. I knew what I wanted, and I was drunk enough to ask for it. “My place isn’t far.”

He took my hand without another word and drew me out of the party. I texted Brin to let her know that I was leaving. She probably wouldn’t see it until later, but it didn’t really matter. I wanted to let her know that I was safe.

Duke was on fire—both figuratively and literally—as we headed to my place. I was glad to have Derek at my side as we walked through the madness. I wouldn’t have felt safe otherwise.

Derek reached down for my hand and threaded our fingers together. I gulped and looked down at where we were connected and then back up at him. This felt surreal. How could this be happening? This was Derek Ballentine. He’d been my enemy for so long that it was disorienting how fast everything had shifted.

I opened the door to my place and let Derek inside. “Do you want a drink?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

I went into the kitchen, reaching inside and drawing out two beers. When I turned around, he was there, taking them out of my hands and setting them down. I opened my mouth to say… who knew what. But before I got a word out, he had me pressed back against the fridge. His hands ran down my sides, and all my thoughts fled as his lips tipped forward against mine.

This wasn’t like any of the other kisses we’d had before this. Derek was claiming me. He wasn’t hurried. He was completely sure of himself in this moment. He knew what he wanted, and I was it.

“You’re so short,” he murmured against my lips.

His hands traveled down my ass and to the backs of my legs. He effortlessly hoisted me up, as if I weighed nothing at all. Then, he deposited me on the kitchen counter, pushing his weight between my legs. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as I was suddenly almost on his level.

“That’s better,” he growled.

He ran fingers down my bare legs and then up, up, up and under the hem of my skirt. His lips were back on mine, dizzy and disorienting. I wanted more, and yet everything was moving at lightning speed. Hands on my inner thighs, his pelvis pressed forward against mine, out lips wet and perfectly in sync.

I could feel the hard length of him even through layers of clothing, and everything in my mind went blank. I didn’t know quite when it had happened, but I could deny this no longer. I’d kept him on his toes so long that I’d done nothing but deny myself what I wanted. I didn’t want to deny anything anymore.

“Mars,” he breathed. His finger rested on the lace of my thong. He trailed the line of it experimentally.

My head dipped backward. “Oh God.”

“You like that?” he asked, deep and breathy.

“Yes,” I gasped as he touched the apex of my thighs and ran back and forth over my clit.

“You’re already wet for me.”

My cheeks colored at the words, but he wasn’t wrong. His teasing all evening had left me wet, and now, with his mouth on mine and his dick pressed against me and that finger trailing along my clit… I was positively soaked.

“Derek, please,” I groaned.

He grinned devilishly. “Oh, I like that.” He kissed down my neck, and I tilted my head for more. “Say my name again.”

“Derek,” I all but whispered.

“Again.”

He slipped under the material of my thong, and he dragged a slicked finger over my clit.

“Fuck,” I gasped. “Derek, oh God.”

He nipped at my collarbone and then withdrew. I whimpered at the loss of him, but he just hoisted me up off of the counter. His hands on my bare ass as he carried me out of the kitchen. Our drinks forgotten.

I pointed him in the direction of my bedroom, and he toed the door open before dropping me back on my bed. Then, he sank to his knees before me, drawing my thong over my hips and discarding them onto the floor.

“What are you…” I managed to get out before he descended onto my clit, sucking and licking me. I gasped, my hands fisting into the comforter. “Derek!”

He pushed my legs open, spreading me wider for him. I bucked off the bed at the first touch of his fingers at my opening. He spread my lips apart and then trailed lazily through the wetness at my sensitive core. Expletives left my mouth at his practiced touch. Then, without notice, he sank two fingers deep inside of me, plunging in and making me cry out in pleasure. All the while, his mouth was still attached to my clit, building everything to a crescendo.

Suddenly, everything went cataclysmic. My body seized and then exploded in waves as I came at the behest of his mouth. I shuddered all over, covering my face with my hands. I came down from the high to find him still on his knees, just watching me. He slowly pulled both hands away from my face and pressed a kiss to my lips.