Love to Hate You

When Love & Hate Collide

I was lecturing myself in the mirror, furious with how much Eddie had consumed my thoughts. I had even thought of him while I was getting ready, wondering if he would like what I wore. I was going insane.

I took a deep breath and washed my hands. I was here with Steve. It was fine. He was sweet and kind and always told me how pretty he thought I was. He didn't give me butterflies or make my heart pound, but he was sweet.

I groaned and shook my head. I needed to get back to him. I didn't want to. I should just go home.

I walked out of the bathroom, but before I realized it, someone pushed me back in, their hands on my waist. I yelped as the door closed and the lights flipped on. I looked up and my heart started pounding. Eddie's eyes were burning into mine, his eyes full of that emotion that had started appearing the last couple of weeks.

"You make a habit of trapping girls in small rooms?" I snapped, trying to play it cool, but acutely aware of how close we were and that his large hands were still on my waist. I was pressed against the bathroom door. His eyes flashed.

"Why are you always such a bitch?" he hissed, leaning close to my face. My face flushed, but I felt a surge of anger.

"Takes one to know one," I replied, smirking at him. His eyes narrowed and they shot down to my lips. We sat in a heavy silence, our breathing becoming labored. He pulled me closer, still watching me. "Do you plan on letting me go anytime—"

"Shut up, Victoria," he ordered.

Before I could respond, he pressed his lips to mine. I melted into him, kissing him back and wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. He pressed into me, kissing me deeper and harder than I had ever been kissed. He pulled away from me, and I tried chasing his lips until he buried his face into the crook of my neck. I sighed and felt him smile into my neck before kissing it, leaving love bites in his wake. He bit my shoulder and I yelped, eliciting another smile from him. He pressed his lips to my ear, and I felt my body shudder.

"I'm glad you wore this shirt tonight," he whispered before kissing me again. 

I smiled, knowing he meant he enjoyed the easy access to my neck and collarbones. He moved back to my neck, biting and sucking at it. He snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me tight and I gripped at his hair, gasping. He sank his teeth into my shoulder one more time and came back to my lips. He didn't kiss me, just got close to my face, his lips ghosting mine. My heart was pounding.

"Have fun explaining your hickeys to Boring-ton," he whispered, kissing me softly as my eyes widened. He dropped me and quickly left, leaving me with my head spinning and face flushed. I slapped my hand to my neck and looked in the mirror, embarrassed but excited by the bruises that were blossoming on my neck.

I took a deep breath and went back out to the party. I felt my stomach drop when I saw Robin and Steve on the couch, talking animatedly. I covered my neck with my hand and smiled at them when I walked up.

"Steve – do you think I could borrow your jacket? I'm a little cold," I lied. He beamed at me and nodded, standing to help me pull it on. I popped the collar to cover my neck and sat back down. Steve wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned into him, still distracted. I glanced around the party and locked eyes with Eddie.

He was smirking at me, his dark eyes crinkling. He took a sip from his beer and winked at me before blowing me a kiss. I felt my stomach flip and looked away. I hated that he was in control here, and how he made my stomach toss and turn. I tried to pay attention to Robin and Steve, but they were wrapped up in the conversation they were having with each other.

I looked around again, and Eddie had moved. He was still directly in my eyeline, but now he was talking to some burn out girl, leaning close to her and making her laugh. I felt jealousy burn a hole straight through my chest and a wave of fury when he looked over and winked at me. He knew what he was doing.

Two could play that game.

I set a hand on Steve's thigh and leaned further into him. I laughed loudly at a joke he told, and he grinned at me. His arm around me tightened, and I batted my eyes at him, playing up the flirting. Vickie came over, sitting by Robin and taking her hand. While Robin was distracted, Steve looked at me.

"Having fun?" he asked.

"Of course!" I replied. I glanced back and noticed Eddie glaring at me, now ignoring the burn out girl who was talking to him. I smiled at Steve. "I'm going to get more beer."

Before I stood, I placed a soft kiss on Steve's cheek. His grin grew and he nodded as I walked away. I didn't look at Eddie as I sauntered by, turning down a hallway. I knew he was following me. I felt his presence come up behind me, his large hands settling on my waist again as he guided me to an empty room.

He closed the door and turned the light on. It was a guest room, with dated furniture and accessories. I turned, still being held by him, as he walked me towards the bed. His eyes were furious.

"What's wrong with you? Were you trying to make me jealous?" he seethed. I set my hands on his arms, squeezing his biceps.

"Did it work?" I responded coolly. His eyes softened and he wrapped his arms around the small of my back as he watched me.

"Yes," he admitted before kissing me again.

This was so different than when I was with Steve. There was so much passion and a strong desire for one another that we seemingly couldn't quench. He was all-consuming, making my head spin and every hair on my body stand on edge. We fell back into the bed, and he held himself over me, working down my neck again.

"I seriously love this shirt," he mumbled as he kissed my shoulder. I laughed and brought him back to my lips, kissing him hard. His hands were everywhere, all over me, making my head foggy. I smiled and rolled on top of him, straddling him. I placed my hands on his chest and kissed him deeply one last time before hopping off him. He sat up, absolutely incredulous.

"What the fuck?" he whined, making me grin. I fixed the jacket and smoothed my shirt out.

"I've got to get back to my date," I teased. He groaned and fell backwards onto the bed. I grinned and crawled back onto him, biting and nipping at his neck. He tried to hold me, tried to keep me on him, as I clambered off again. He sat up, and I leaned close to his face.

"Enjoy your hickeys, Munson," I whispered, kissing him quickly and racing just out of his reach and back to the party.

It was fun being in control.

I was giddy when I got back to Robin and Steve. They were still talking about something, deep in conversation. I saw Eddie walk back out to the party and we looked at each other. He smiled at me. This smile was different than any I had ever seen on him before. It was goofy and joyful and made my heart catch. I grinned back at him, and he winked.

"Boring-ton," he mouthed, making me snort. I turned back to my friends and smiled as Robin kissed Vickie's cheek. She looked back to me, grinning. I felt my stomach drop and tried to smile through it.

What was I going to tell Robin?