To Love Read Online Free

"Did something happen at work?" Kelsey dropped her gaze but he lifted her chin again. He squinted. "What's going on?"
    Kelsey shrugged. "Someone said something that got me thinking, that's all." She chewed the corner of her lip, wishing she didn't have to do this. This man was everything she craved, and she wanted nothing more than to let him make love to her right now. Her body screamed, but her mind resisted. She had to do what was right for her whole being. "I'm not sure I can do this anymore."
    Shaun's hand dropped from her face and he took a step back. Confusion replaced the desire in his eyes. "This? You mean us?"
    "That's the problem, Shaun. There is no us. I—"
    "You were fine with this from the start. You knew how I felt about dating...about relationships. You said you were okay with this. No strings attached, remember?"
    "I thought I was." Kelsey sank into a chair and dropped her chin into her hands. "I think...I lied. To you and to myself."
    A curtain of silence fell between them.
    "So, what do you want, Kelsey?"
    She wrapped her arms around herself. She was afraid. But she had to say it, had to try. "Shaun, I want more. I know you're not in the position to give me that. And I understand. I know your past won't let you move on. But you can't heal if you don't open yourself up...give yourself that chance to get better."
    Shaun shoved his hands into his pockets. "What does that mean?" His voice was hard now.
    "I told you I'll be there for you. I'll listen. But you refuse to talk to me anymore. I want to help you, but you won't let me. You say you want to be friends, but you keep pushing me away."
    "I'm not ready. Kelsey, I'm not sure I'll ever get to the place you want me to be."
    Kelsey took a breath. "I guess there's nothing more to say, then." She dropped her gaze to the floor. "Let's be...nothing more."
    "Okay," Shaun said. With blurred vision, she watched his feet step away from the table.
    She followed him to the door, but before she could shut him out, his foot wedged itself in the opening. She opened the door again and gazed into his eyes, the grey in them reminding her yet again of a stormy sky.
    "This is not what you want." He slipped through the door and slammed it shut with his foot.
    Hypnotized by him, Kelsey couldn't move, couldn't talk, couldn't breathe. She stayed glued to the spot until he swept her into his arms and off her feet.
    She didn't fight him. He carried her up the stairs and into her bedroom, the room that had been the scene of so much of their lovemaking.
    He lowered her onto the bed and the springs squeaked when he sat down next to her. For a moment, he stopped doing anything, as if the energy had seeped out of him, as if it suddenly dawned on him that the reason she was not responding was that she had meant every word. He sighed and covered his face with his hands.
    Kelsey sat up. She wanted to remain strong, to stand her ground, to tell him to leave. Instead she reached out and buried her fingers in his hair, then traced her fingertips along his warm scalp. She drew herself onto her knees and kissed the back of his neck.
    Shaun tensed and then turned to face her. With one hand supporting the nape of her neck, he eased her down onto the bed and touched her lips with his, while he reached down to unzip her jeans. She pushed down his jeans along with his boxer shorts, and gasped as she felt his hardness against her hand.
    Shaun sat up, removed a condom from his pocket, and stepped out of his jeans. He slipped it on, and then he was on top of her again.
    Without bothering to remove their sweaters, he pushed her legs apart with his knees and lowered his muscular body on top of her, transferring his warmth to her. It took Kelsey a moment to catch her breath, and then he pushed into her. She cried out, the sound jagged in her throat. She moaned and he groaned as he ground into her, pushing, pulling, gyrating. Filling her and emptying her all at once. He sucked and nipped at her lips, leaving