At First Hate (Coastal Chronicles)

He released me, and I slipped off of his lap. I panted in the water, looking up at him with worship in my gaze. He grinned, standing out of the water and showing off his erection, long with need.

“Bend over the tub,” he instructed.

I arched an eyebrow at him. “Ready again?”

“Always for you.”

Then, he guided me to the side of the Jacuzzi tub. His hands grasped my hips, and suddenly, he was at my entrance. His fingers probed my opening, and I squirmed, wanting more of him already.

“So wet.”

The tip of him met my opening from behind. I wriggled backward until I got the entire head inside of me. He chuckled softly and then slapped my ass. I cried out in surprise and jerked around to look at him.

He winked at me. “Like that?”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but then he spanked me again, his dick pushing all the way into me. I moaned instead, my eyes rolling into the back of my head. His growl of approval was all I needed to hear before he drove into me again and again. His hand came down on my ass, and he took me until I thought I was going to explode.

“Derek,” I cried out. “Oh God.”

“Yes, baby,” he said, running a hand down my back. “I’m close too. Come with me.”

A few minutes later, he cried out as he emptied himself deep within me. His orgasm triggered mine. I could barely stand as we both finished. When he finally withdrew from within me, I collapsed into the water.

His hands came to help me up, cradling me against his chest. Sleep felt so close. I was in a euphoric state that I’d never even known existed. New heights that I’d never reached.

He kissed my hair. “That was perfect, Mars.”

“Perfect,” I agreed, lost to this man.

“Happy birthday.”

I snuggled in closer. “I love you.”

Derek froze with his arms around me for a whole second. The longest second of my entire life. Then, he relaxed, drawing me in closer. But he didn’t say anything. Not a word. Just kissed me.

I swallowed. The fear that had evaporated with our sex marathon came back full force. “You… you don’t have to say it back. I just, I don’t know. I wanted you to know.”

“It’s okay.”

And somehow, that made it so much worse.

29

Harvard

November 17, 2013

Derek still hadn’t said he loved me.

And I hadn’t been stupid enough to say it again.

I’d thought that things would change afterward, but it was all remarkably the same. The same lab dates. The same Law Library study sessions. The same sailing expeditions. We were busy, but we were together. So, maybe it didn’t matter that I loved him… and he didn’t love me.

Maybe.

“You can’t stay in here all night,” Misty complained. She’d already changed into something straight out of Martha’s Vineyard. “There’s a huge party tonight. It’s Harvard/Yale.”

I wrinkled my nose and turned back to my work. “You know I don’t care about football.”

“I know, but again, it’s Harvard/Yale.”

“You keep repeating that like I care.”

“It’s your third year. I’d think you’d get into it by now.”

“I care about Duke. The rest is meh.”

“Come on. I bet Derek wants to celebrate.”

“I’m sure he does, and he is. He went to the game with his boss or something. He said he was meeting friends.”

Misty huffed. “Suit yourself. Don’t say I didn’t ever do anything for you.”

I laughed and pulled away from my work. “Is it that important to you?”

“Kyle’s bringing a date,” she said with a pouty face.

“Ah.”

Misty and Kyle had dated fall and spring semester. They’d had a falling-out this summer, and she wanted him back. I hadn’t realized he was dating someone new.

“All right. I’ll go with you.”

“Yes!”

Misty had come prepared. She’d brought me an outfit to wear to the party. A red minidress that was impractical in this weather and that I never wore anymore anyway, but it was what I had. I slipped out of my lab coat and into the dress. Misty passed me red lipstick, and then we were out the door.

The party was not far from the labs. The house party was packed and warm inside with all the body heat. I texted Derek when I got there to let him know I was out with Misty. The text never registered as Read though. I didn’t know what he was up to. Normally, he at least texted me throughout the day. His boss must have gotten him drunk at the game.

I shook my head and pushed through to the kitchen. I took a beer and followed Misty into another room. She found Kyle almost right away. He was with a blonde that I’d never seen before. Instead of just going to talk to him, she found Matt and danced seductively with him. I leaned against the wall to watch the showdown, nursing my beer and wishing I were still in the lab.