An All Night Man

by Brenda Jackson

  "It's not fair,” Mallory finally said, leaning closer to him, her bare breast brushing against his arm. “You have on clothes but I don't.”

  He smiled, giving her a slow once-over. “You look good naked.”

  She returned his smile. “If I remember correctly, so do you.” She reached up and ran her hand beneath his T-shirt, letting her fingers skim across his hairy chest. He released a sharp intake of breath with her touch. Talk about not playing fair.

  Deciding not to waste time he took a step back and whipped the shirt over his head. The only things left were his jeans and boxer shorts and he planned to dispense with both quickly. However, it seemed that Mallory had other ideas when she slowly unzipped his pants and eased her hand inside.

  It took every ounce of self-restraint he possessed not to come right then and there the moment she touched him. It had been a long time since any woman had touched him and no woman could touch him the way Mallory could. Her fingers were soft on his hardness, and each time that she stroked him, she increased the risk of him being pushed over the edge. When he did he wanted to be inside of her.

  Heat began simmering through his veins and he briefly closed his eyes when he felt her push back the opening to his jeans to pull his shaft out. He reopened his eyes, aware of the shallowness of his own breathing as Mallory's capable hands continued on the path of total destruction, unrequited pleasure, sliding her fingers over him, pulling on him, letting the tips of her fingernails gently scrape along his hypersensitive skin.

  He tipped his head back and gloried in how her touch was making him feel, wanting to get inside of her with a force that had him nearly gasping for breath. He had to stop her since he was less than a heartbeat away from climaxing just where he stood. “Now who isn't playing fair?” he said in a throaty whisper, taking a step back out of her reach and quickly removing his jeans and boxers.

  He watched as she licked her bottom lip. “Umm, I feel extremely naughty.”

  He gazed into her beautiful face while standing before her stark naked. “And I feel extremely horny and I know of a way to take care of both.”

  He watched her eyes darken and knew she was dying to find out what he had in mind. The one thing he'd always liked and enjoyed about Mallory was her willingness to trust him on all levels when it came to giving her pleasure. Whenever they shared a bed, making love had always been an adventure and they had enjoyed the activity with wild abandonment each and every time. Just thinking about some of the things they'd done made his blood boil.

  He reached out, picked her up in his arms, and walked over to the bed and placed her in the center of it. Desire, the likes he'd never experienced before, suddenly overwhelmed him and some unnamed emotion that was new to him took control. For a brief moment he thought of how good she looked in his bed, and he admitted that she had always looked like she belonged there.

  Suddenly, a part of his brain hurled the question at him as to why he had ever let her leave in the first place and he knew the answer. Fear. He had gotten scared when she had begun getting under his skin. His heart thundered at the memory of how he had turned possessive and how the thought of seeing her each day would send shivers of excitement up his spine.

  "Hunter.”

  The sound of her calling his name made his chest tightened and he marveled at how she could still affect him. Mallory Standish was the most fascinating woman he had ever met as well as the most sexy.

  And he wanted her and was driven by a need to have her.

  He made a small sound in his throat as he slowly joined her on the bed. And as he gently reached for her he realized that he had her back where she belonged, in his bed, and that he wouldn't ever let her go again. Hunter caught his breath at the depths of his thoughts. He wasn't exactly sure why that revelation had come to him at this particular time; all he knew was that it had, and he meant it.

  Instead of teetering precariously on the edge, he had definitely fallen over.

  Mallory's heart began pounding deep within her chest as Hunter's predatory gazed slammed into her, making her feel things she had never felt before. Her sexual appetite was high and from the look in the deep brown of his eyes, she knew so was his.

  They had not made any promises to each other; the notion of anything beyond this night hadn't even been discussed, yet she was willing to go all the way with him, sleep with him again, in a way that made had her breathing ragged.

  "You're hot, Mallory.”

  His observation brought a heated smile to her face. She was more than hot, she was burning to a sexual crisp.

  "I can tell by your scent,” Hunter said further, leaning over her and whispering the words in her ear. “You're hot for me, aren't you?” he asked, positioning his body over her in way that kept their middle parts from touching.

  "Yes,” was the only response she was able to give before he slanted his mouth over hers, tasting her with the skillful stroke of his tongue. He was kissing her in such a way that had flames racing through every part of her body, especially between her legs, making her wetter.

  "Ahh,” she whispered through her lips moments later when he finally released her mouth. She could actually hear the thumping of her heart as his tongue feasted on her breasts. Moments later he moved his mouth to the center of her chest to lick off the beads of moisture that had gathered there.

  "Hunter ...”

  He then pressed his forehead against hers, holding her gaze hostage, demanding her full attention, which was hard to do when his fingers had made their way between her legs, intent on stroking her sensitive flesh.

  "Are you still on the pill?” he whispered the question against her ear.

  Mallory grasped his shoulders thinking if she didn't hold on to something she would surely pass out from the feelings he was evoking within her. “Yes.” She could barely get the single word out.

  "Good. And I meant what I said, Mallory, I haven't made love to another woman since so you don't have to worry about me not being safe, okay?”

  "Okay.” Again the word was forced from her lips. “And I haven't been with anyone else either.”

  Her words touched him, pleased him tremendously. “Then lead me home,” he whispered, in what sounded like a strained voice. “Take me inside of you, Mallory. Please.”

  Mallory's breath caught as she squeezed her fingers around Hunter's hard arousal. His flesh felt hot to the touch and the moment the tip of him touched her opening, he threw his head back and released a deep-in-the-gut groan that could be heard throughout the room.

  She tried ignoring the sound as she continued to take him into her, almost losing it the moment his shaft touched her womanly core. Her muscles greedily clenched him, tightened, while he pushed forward, filling her to the hilt. She reached up and wiped the sweat from his brow as she fought to catch her own breath.

  "This is what I've been wanting the past six months, so much that I haven't been able to think straight,” he whispered through clenched teeth as he slowly began thrusting in and out, withdrawing then surging back inside of her again as if he could not get enough, at least not in this lifetime.

  Mallory lifted her hips to his, meeting him stroke for stroke, glorying in the feel of his length and thickness as it slid in and out of her, pushing her out of control at the sensations that were ramming through her body. Whether they had another encounter after tonight or not didn't matter to her at the moment. What mattered was that her body was getting satisfied and her wants fulfilled.

  She wrapped her legs around him, feeling incredibly dizzy with desire as he continued to thrust into her. And when he threw his head back and let out a torturous groan at the same moment that her body tightened when a climax roared through her, he tightened his grip on her hips and pushed deep into her as he, too, was consumed within the throes of passion.

  She felt his release inside of her as he furiously bucked into her while aftershocks quaked through her and went directly to him, toppling them both over the edge. She tightened her legs around him
, wanting everything he was giving and then some.

  For long moments, after the explosion was subsided, they lay there, unable to move, their breathing labored, their bodies still connected. Then slowly Hunter leaned up and kissed her, deeply, passionately. She felt him getting hard inside of her again and her feminine muscles reacted, tightening, clenching, and cradling his hard growing erection.

  "Ready for another round?” he whispered huskily, nipping at a sensitive area of her neck.

  The room had the aroma of sex, intoxicating and potent. Mallory wondered just how many more rounds they could go and knew that the sky was the limit. Tonight he would be her all night man and she would be his all night woman. And tomorrow she would not have any regrets, just more memories to add to all the others.

  "Yes, I'm ready,” she murmured, barely able to speak.

  "Good.” And he began thrusting into her all over again.

  7

  .

  Hunter slowly opened his eyes when he felt Mallory stirring beside him. He groaned heavily and wondered if he'd ever be able to get his body into anything other than a bucking position again. They had made love all through the night, nearly nonstop and if the truth were told he would gladly, without much thought, make love to her again. He gazed over at her body that was uncovered above the waist. Passion marks were everywhere and her nipples perked, as if ready to be licked and sucked.

  He closed his eyes against his renewed desire, as if that would help yet knowing that it wouldn't. He reopened his eyes and gazed at Mallory. As he continued to watch her, another kind of sensation began taking over him and it had nothing to do with sex.

  He shifted positions as he tried to rationalize what he was feeling and the one question that had haunted him all last night re-

  turned. Each and every time he had made love to Mallory he inwardly questioned why he would settle for a commitment-free life when he could have this every night. It was clearly obvious that he cared about her, and it was also pretty damn blatant that he felt a connection to her that he hadn't felt to another woman.

  Mental images of what they had done over the past ten hours flitted through his mind. Every aspect of their night had been incredible, not just the physical releases they had shared but the emotional release as well. He had to be completely honest and admit that he'd been dealing with more than the desires of the flesh. He had to finally admit that he'd also been dealing with the desires of the heart.

  His heart.

  It was the heart he could now admit that Mallory possessed. The mere thought of not being able to share another night like this with her was too difficult to imagine.

  He loved her.

  His breath caught at the thought that Hunter Sloan could love any woman, but he knew he loved Mallory. What other reason could there for him not wanting another woman since their breakup? What other reason could there be for him desiring her with a desperation that bordered on obsession?

  Reaching out, he gathered her close while she continued sleeping. His lips tilted into a smile. Mallory Standish had conquered the untamable Hunter Sloan and his body felt a satisfying warmth at the thought.

  As he closed his eyes and snuggled her closer into his arms, he knew that the mighty Hunter had fallen and he had fallen hard.

  Mallory opened her eyes and groaned softly into the hairy chest that cushioned her face, loving the manly scent of the man holding her in his arms.

  She shifted her body and felt an ache everywhere, especially between her legs. She didn't think she would ever be able to walk again and was glad it was Saturday; otherwise, she would not have made any of her appointments today.

  Hunter had definitely proven to be an all night man. He had the stamina of a bull and had literally driven her wild over and over again. At some point she had stopped counting how many orgasms she'd had and enjoyed each and every one he'd given her. She had wanted a night of passion and had gotten more than she'd bargained for.

  She wondered what category last night would fall in. Since they had made love numerous times before, it probably wouldn't be considered a one-night stand, especially since they weren't really involved anymore. The first time they had made love, the night of his parents' anniversary party, it had started out as a one- night stand and had ended up lasting for four months.

  Mallory closed her eyes knowing that would not be the case this time around. Hunter had made it pretty clear that he was not interested in anything beyond sex with any woman. She reopened her eyes and released a mental sigh when she thought of what had brought her and Hunter back together—even for a short while—which was her brother-in-law's unfaithfulness. She didn't care what Hunter said, those photographs he had taken of Lewis spoke volumes and she had to deal with how she would break the news to Barbara.

  She wondered why serious relationships, especially those between married people, always ended in pain. Maybe breaking up with Hunter had been the right thing to do six months ago. At the time she had been willing to take a chance and give her heart to a man but now she realized that would have been the ultimate mistake, considering how the men the Standish women had a tendency to fall for seemed to let them down. First it had been her father and now Lewis.

  She was intent on putting any thoughts of ever indulging in a serious involvement with a man out of her mind. Although she hated admitting it, it appeared that Hunter had the right attitude involving relationships—get physical but stay emotion-free. She hadn't understood his attitude six months ago but she understood it now.

  "Good morning, sweetheart.”

  She glanced over at him and saw that he was awake. Without allowing her a chance to return his greeting, he leaned over and kissed her hard and deep. Moments later he pulled back and smiled at her. “How do you feel?”

  How she was feeling could be summed up in one word. “Sore.”

  He nodded. “Then it's time for me to take care of you. I'll be back in a second.”

  She watched as he threw off the covers, got out of the bed, and walked naked into the adjoining bathroom. She slowly shifted her body when she heard the sound of water running and knew he was filling up the bathtub for her to soak in. He had done that very same thing the first time they had made love and he'd discovered she'd been a virgin. If the truth were known she would readily admit she had fallen in love with him that very night. There had been something about the tender and delicate way he had treated her both before and after their sexual encounter that had endeared him to her for life. Although she knew she still loved him, she would be satisfied with things not moving beyond this—the bedroom.

  She should have listened to her coworker, Gail Turner, who used to brag about her sexual exploits and say you should take a man to bed but never let him go to your head.

  She glanced up when she heard Hunter return. “Ready for a soak?” he asked coming over to the bed.

  "Yes.”

  Effortlessly, he brushed the covers aside, picked her up in his arms, and carried her into the bathroom. After placing her in the warm, sudsy water he knelt down and using skillful hands and expert fingers, he began massaging the soreness from her body.

  Mallory closed her eyes and leaned back against the tub when he freed one hand to brush his fingers through the thickness of her hair, actually making her moan.

  "How about if we get dressed and go somewhere for breakfast?” he asked, leaning down close to her ear.

  Without opening her eyes, she smiled. “That would be wonderful if I had more clothes to put on, but all I have to wear is what I wore over here yesterday afternoon.”

  He nodded. “Then how about if I go out and grab us something and bring it back?”

  She opened her eyes and met his gaze. “Or I could fix you something here,” she said softly.

  Like a little kid, Hunter's dark eyes widened. “Some of your mouth-watering pancakes?”

  Mallory chuckled, glad he remembered the breakfast meals they'd shared. “Umm, yes, there is that possibility. In fact, I—”
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br />   She never finished the rest of her sentence when he leaned over and captured her mouth in one hell of a mind-blowing kiss.

  Hunter anxiously tapped his fingers on the kitchen table to a beat buried deep in his head while watching Mallory stack pancakes onto the platter. Merely watching her was turning him on big time and it wasn't helping matters that she was wearing was one of his T-shirts that hit her mid thigh, and he knew for a fact she didn't have a stitch of underwear on underneath.

  Sexual hunger was riding him with the need to ride her once again. He was having anticipation attacks right and left, especially during those times when she would bend over to look into the oven to check on the sweet rolls she had decided to bake. Her behind was definitely a real nice piece to look at.

  His heart was hammering in his chest at the thought of just how much he loved her and how he had finally admitted that fact to himself. She was exquisite, gorgeous, and everything he wanted in a woman. His aunt had been right. Mallory was the best thing to ever happen to him and he couldn't wait until she brought up the subject of where they would go from here now that they had gotten back together. When she did, he would not waste any time telling her of his feelings for her and that he wanted them to move into a committed relationship.

  "I hope you have an appetite, Hunter.”

  Her comment recaptured his attention and he flashed her a quick grin. “Oh, you wouldn't believe the appetite I have, sweetheart,” he said huskily, watching as she walked over to the table carrying the tray filled with pancakes in one hand and the container of syrup in the other.

  She placed everything on the table and looked at him. “Why do I have a feeling that these pancakes aren't the only thing on your mind?”

  His gaze drifted over her body, then he stared intently into her eyes as he reached out and took hold of her hand. “Because they aren't. But since I plan to give your body a rest, you're safe for a while.”