Chapter Ten

Shane

"Better?" I ask.

Julie gives a moan of acknowledgment and leans her head back. We are sitting on the floor in the suite I reserved for the night, half the room service menu spread out in front of us. We've nearly eaten our way through all the dishes, and I finally feel full.

"That was delicious," she sighs.

"That's one of the things I can't stand about galas like this. A few years ago, all the events were dinners. You might have a cocktail hour, but there would always be a formal dinner, and then maybe dancing after. Most of them were long and boring, but at least I got to eat. I guess there's some sort of trend going on now though of catering with only little snack foods. Party planners must think it's sophisticated."

"Maybe it's to make sure people don't try to linger too long at the events. If they only give you a little bit to eat, you might not be so keen on stretching out the night," Julie says.

"I never thought of it like that," I say.

"This is much better, anyway," she says.

"I agree," I tell her. I turn back to the TV in front of us. "OK. I'm lost again. Tell me again what's going on."

"That's Jessica's 'I know who the killer is' face. She's just heard something or seen something that magically made her figure out the whole mystery, even though no one else around her has pieced any of it together."

"And she always does that?"

"Yep," Julie says, nodding as she tears off a piece of a mozzarella stick and eats it. "Some fans of the show back in the day figured out that her little coastal Maine town would be the murder capital of the world. The murder rate is something like once and a half that of Honduras."

I laugh.

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely. That little English teacher right there dealt with almost 300 murders in that town."

"Did they ever start to think she was the one doing it? I mean, once somebody I knew encountered their second or third dead body when nobody else was around, I'd be cutting some social ties."

"Yeah. I think four is probably my limit before I take you off my Christmas card list," Julie says.

She reaches up and starts pulling pins out of the complex twist her hair is styled in.

"Wow. You're pretty understanding."

"Living on the edge."

As the pins come out, her slick brown hair starts tumbling down her shoulders in graceful waves. I involuntarily reach out and run my fingers through a strand before resting it on her back. When I look at her, she's gazing back at me with a hint of uncertainty and desire in her eyes.

"You look beautiful tonight," I say.

"You've already told me that," Julie says.

I nod.

"I know," I say. "But it bears repeating. You look amazing."

"Definitely different than usual," she says.

"I like you that way, too."

A breath slides between her lips, and I notice a slight flush form over the swells of her breasts peeking over the neckline of her gown.

"I remember the last time I saw you," I say.

"Me, too," she says softly. "You and Joe had been practicing, and you came to our house. Somehow in all the years the two of you were friends, you hadn't ever come over."

"You were sitting in that awful recliner," I laugh. "I've never seen anything like that chair."

"Our father loved it. It was his favorite place to sit." She sounds sad for a few seconds, then laughs. "Joe still has it in the living room."

I reach out to touch her hair again. The strands feel like silk between my fingers.

"You were playing with your hair while you read. I had trouble not staring at your lips."

"No, you didn't," she says. "You barely even realized I existed."

"That's not true," I say. "I definitely knew you existed. That wasn't the first time I saw you, you know."

I comb my fingers back through her hair and stroke her cheek softly with my thumb. My stomach tightens, and I feel my breath deepen.

"It wasn't?" she asks.

I shake my head.

"No," I say. "I saw you before that. You didn't even realize I was there."

"When was that?" Julie asks.

"Just a few weeks before that," I admit. "I came over, and Joe had to do something. He told me to just wait outside, that he would only be a few minutes. While I was standing there, though, I got bored and wandered into the backyard. That's when I saw you. You were on a lounge chair. With a book, of course. You were only sitting there in the chair for a few seconds, then you got up and went over to that treehouse. The one in the huge Oak."

"That's still there, too," she says. "I loved going up there. I felt like I was in my own world. I could just be alone, and nobody would question me, or bother me."

"I remember wondering what you were doing up there," I murmur, leaning slightly closer to her.

Julie slides closer and leans to bring her mouth close enough to my ear that I can feel her lips just brush my skin as she speaks.

"I was reading," she whispers, then giggles.

Unable to resist any longer, I turn and catch her mouth with mine. Julie gasps slightly, then presses forward, resting into the kiss before I pull back and look at her. Our mouths play against each other slowly at first, then with greater confidence. When they part, I stand and reach my hand down to her. Julie hesitates for a second before taking my hand, letting me help her to her feet. Without saying a word, I guide her toward the bedroom. We step inside, and even though it's only the two of us in the suite, I close the door behind us. I want the privacy. I want to give us our own space completely closed off from everything going on in the outside world.

I step up to Julie and trace the side of her face with my fingertips before tucking one beneath her chin, tilting her face up as I lower my mouth to hers.

Julie

Pushing all logic and hesitation from my mind, I draw Shane closer to me with a forceful kiss. Despite the intensity, I don't feel any urgency in how he approaches me or the way we explore each other. This is something I've never experienced. I've never felt the rush of need I feel for Shane, or the indescribable desire running through my mind. I don't let myself hurry. As desperately as I want him to touch me, I also feel like I'm getting lost in the delirious pleasure of his kiss, and the warmth of his hand, as Shane cups his palms around my face to hold me closer.

Shane pulls away from the kiss just long enough to run his hands down my body and wrap them around my waist. He draws me even closer to his body and holds me tightly, pressing deeper into our kiss. I trail my fingertips down his chest, enjoying his hard muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt. I'm glad he has already cast aside his jacket, and it's only this single garment between my hands and his strong chest. The intensity of Shane's breathing tells me that he feels the same lust and desire for me, and this sends a thrill through me.

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 erection 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.