Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology)

by Ali Parker

  "Yes. I spoke with Kent last night. We both feel it's a good thing that I continue on with the firm."

  "I agree. I'll be there in an hour to pick you up. Be ready. I don't like being late."

  The phone went dead. Bethany pulled it from her face and growled. He was back to being an ass. Memories flooded her - one in particular. Damon almost looked shocked the day before as he stood at the door, his face a mixture of emotions.

  "You love me?"

  Did he not think himself worthy of receiving love or had it just scared the hell out of him? Was he willing to love her back or was that proof that he was too self-absorbed to consider such a fallacy as love? She didn't know, and part of her didn't care. Emotions flying all over the place left her confused and feeling out of place in the middle of the large mansion, in the middle of this new life.

  She focused on packing for the next bit and dressed in a comfortable, but business appropriate, cream colored dress. Damon would most likely be dressed to impress. Looking like a has-been next to him wasn't going to fly. Bethany dropped her small suitcase in front of the door before walking to the kitchen in search of food. She ran her fingers through her long, chestnut locks, wanting him to notice how she had worked on her appearance to touch on the things he liked best about her.

  The sound of the front door opening had her heart stilling in her chest. She reached up and brushed her fingers over her upper lip, a shaky breath lifting from her. Everything was fine. They were going on a business trip. He would treat her like an associate and she would treat him like her wicked hot boss. She looked over her shoulder as her stomach tightened. No matter how much she wanted to hate him, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

  His blue slacks hugged his thin waist. The white polo shirt that slipped in just above his belt brought out the tanned creaminess of his skin, the darkness of his gaze. He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes never leaving her face.

  "You ready?"

  "Yes. Just hungry."

  "We'll grab a coffee at the airport. Let's go." He turned and walked from the room as Bethany reached out and touched her hand to the counter. She needed something to ground her, to pull her back into reality. Should she apologize? It seemed trite, and honestly he was as much at fault as she was for what happened between them the day before.

  She grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator and walked into the hall in time to see him pick up her suitcase.

  "I can get it."

  He looked over his shoulder and chuckled, the sound not joyous at all. "I have it."

  She shrugged as he walked out the front door, her eyes moving to the perfect curve of his ass. Remembrance flooded her. Watching him undress in the open door of his closet, his body the most beautiful she had ever seen. How badly she needed to connect with him physically even if they were miles apart emotionally.

  Bethany walked to her side of the car, breathing in deeply as she passed him. He looked up and turned his head toward her as if questioning her actions. She chuckled and got in the car, rolling her eyes at herself when alone. Was she really going to use their physical attraction to heal whatever happened between them?

  Yes.

  Even if it didn't assist in creating a long-term relationship and fostering love. The sensually delicious man getting into the seat beside her was every painfully good fantasy she had ever had. If he was slipping away, she wanted to create a few more memories before he was gone.

  Was she acting bipolar? Yes.

  Did she care? Fuck no.

  Damon got into the car and closed the door, started the car and pulled out without so much as a grunt toward her. She reached up and turned on the radio and the air conditioner before settling back. If he thought the silence between them was going to cause her to choke up an apology, he was wrong. She would surely give up eventually, but she wasn't near that breaking point just yet.

  *

  The drive to the airport should have been uncomfortable, but it wasn't. Sitting in silence and simply listening to the sound of him breathing had almost offered relief. She was lost to him and no matter what stupidity she threw at him or empty promises of being done, she wasn't. Her fingers ran along her thigh, her eyes closed as she contemplated reaching over and touching him.

  His breathing pattern shifted slightly. Looking over at him subtly, she wished for a different situation altogether. Would it still contain explosive attraction if their relationship wasn't so taboo?

  "What are you thinking?" He glanced over at her, the deep timbre of his voice sliding between her thighs and stroking. She bit at her lip and shook her head.

  "I don't want to say."

  "Embarrassed?"

  "By my thoughts, yes. By my actions yesterday, no."

  He chuckled, the smile lifting the side of his mouth, lickable. He pulled up to the front of the airport and nodded toward her. "I'll get the bags, just wait inside."

  She got out, grabbing her purse and walking toward the door. She glanced over her shoulder as Damon worked to get the bags out of the trunk. His eyes adverted to her, dragging down the back of her as his tongue darted out to lick at his lips.

  Good. His thoughts weren't far from her.

  It wasn't but a few minutes later they were checked in and headed down to the gate. Sitting in first class gave them a chance to arrive just before the plane took off, Damon having called in that they would be there just in time. She moved in front of him as they walked toward the opening of the airplane, his fingers brushing along her lower back as he moved up beside her.

  "Are you embarrassed?" she whispered, looking over at him.

  "Never. I say what I mean. Do what I want."

  "That so?"

  "I'm interested to hear your story about how I got everything wrong with Philip, as I'm sure you're going to work to save his ass, but I was in the right."

  She reached over and pressed her palm to the top of his slacks, dragging her hand over the curve at the front of his pants, her thumb brushing over him and flicking softly. His breath caught as he reached for her hand. She moved it before he could move it for her.

  Damon shifted her in front of him as they walked on the plane, the look on his gorgeous face a warning. They weren't on good terms. He hadn't relented yet and it would seem that until he did, she was going to beckon to his demands. He slid his hand around her waist and pulled her flush against him, the thickness of his center pressed against her. She stifled a groan. A quick glance over her shoulder to see him left her breathless, her body reacting violently to him.

  "You didn't sleep with Philip did you? I'd hate to kill the boy."

  She pressed back against him, her hand extending behind her to run her fingers along the side of his thigh.

  "No. There is nothing with Philip."

  "Why is that, Beth?"

  She turned and faced him, her hand coming to rest on his chest. "Because I want to belong to you. Simple really."

  "Find your seats, please." The chirpy voice of the flight attendant tried to interrupt the moment, but Damon reached out and held her to him as if they were beyond time and space, interruption and annoyance.

  "Then earn that spot."

  He nodded to their seats just behind them, motioning for her to sit down. The flight attendant sighed loudly and Damon turned to her before taking his seat.

  "Did you need to get something off your chest, ma'am?" he asked the woman.

  Her cheeks burned as she seemed to lose her thoughts. "Um no. It's nothing."

  "Good," he responded and turned back to Bethany.

  Bethany buckled her seatbelt, the leather chairs large and much more comfortable than anything she had experienced on a plane before. Damon sat down in the seat next to her and buckled his seatbelt as well. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh. Reaching over to take his hand, Bethany slid her fingers into his and pulled their entwined hands into her lap. He rubbed his thumb over hers, but kept his eyes closed and demeanor serious.
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br />   "I'm sorry about overreacting yesterday." She hated that she was apologizing, but sitting next to him, staring at him, left her no choice. Her heart begged for reconciliation, her body for the long hard fuck she planned to get while in Seattle.

  "Me too. I had evidence to prove my actions, but perhaps there is sometimes another side to the story." He glanced over at her. His dark eyes held her captive. A million questions seemed to rush across his thoughts as she reached over and brushed her fingers over his lips.

  "I'm not a cheater, but... we're not together."

  He reached up and took her hand, pressing his nose to the palm of it and kissing softly. His actions resurrected the feeling of his mouth on her, the passion on his face as he drank her pleasure over and over again. She whimpered softly, Damon's eyes adverting to her face.

  "I don't date, Bethany. My body you can have. My heart isn't for sale. If that leaves us bankrupt then it is what it is." He pressed his teeth against the thick part of her palm, tugging softly before licking at the same spot. Damon turned, his hand sliding into her hair as he pulled her toward him. Bethany closed her eyes, her mouth open and waiting for the warmth of his tongue. His kiss was angry and filled with the mixed emotions of spouting about not wanting love and yet desperate for it like the rest of humanity.

  She breathed him in, her hand sliding along his as she mumbled, 'mhm' against his mouth. He tightened his grip on her hair, his tongue rolling along hers. The sensuality of his motions left her dizzy, the ache in her chest only outdone by the one in her lower stomach. He broke the kiss, rubbing his nose along hers as he glared at her.

  "Delicious..." he whispered, closing his eyes and kissing her again. Every nerve ending came to life, hot desire sliding down from their kiss to touch every part of her. Needy and emotionally strained from the day before, it wouldn't take much for him to have her naked, wet and panting hard.

  She broke the kiss, sliding her fingers over his lips to keep him from moving back in. Her eyes widened as his other hand slid up her thigh, his thumb brushing by the front of her panties.

  "I can smell you. Divine." He growled softly, moving to pull her fingers into his mouth. He sucked them, his eyes locked on hers. She pulled her fingers from him, a soft growl leaving her. "I need to taste you again. So perfect, Beth. Most delicious thing I've ever had drench my tongue."

  She moved from him and laid her head back, his fingers slipping under her panties and dipping into the mess he had made as she groaned softly.

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  STAGE LEFT

  Bright Lights Billionaire Series

  Chapter 1

  Riley

  "It's here! It's finally here!" Charlotte bounced on her toes as we waited in the line for our tickets.

  "We're not going to get a seat." I glanced over at her and couldn't help but grin. She was head over heels in love with Ethan Lewis, but so was half the universe. The child-star had grown into the sexiest man in America, or so the magazines touted. I moved up behind a group of teenage girls, giggling wildly as they worked through all the details of the handsome actor’s last movie.

  "Stop being negative. We're getting in. I'll sell my soul if I have to." Charlotte nudged me with her shoulder.

  "That's not going to get us more than a small popcorn." I gave her a cheeky grin and took another step up. The line for Ethan's new movie, Down Under was around the side of the movie theater, and it was the final showing of the night.

  "Very funny. Just get our tickets. I'm going to stare at the movie poster with the rest of the teenage girls and lonely women." She tossed her long blond hair over her shoulder and shook her hips as I chuckled.

  The number of women crowded around the movie poster was a little concerning. Ethan was beyond sexy, but nothing more than the average jock on campus. He played his parts well, and unfortunately, most girls had convinced themselves that he was the new James Bond that he played on the big screen. The youngest man to be invited into the Bond world, and if nothing else, I had to hand it to him. He was a brilliant businessman.

  What would it be like to have people lined up outside the movie theater just to see me?

  I stepped up as the clerk glanced up with a weary look on his face. "How many tickets?"

  "Two, don't you want to know which movie we're here for?" A smirk lifted my lip.

  He shook his head. "Let's see... you're a girl at the movies with your girlfriend on opening weekend for Down Under. I'm thinking you're probably following the rest of your female companions into theater three."

  I laughed. "It's been a long day, I take it?"

  "You've no clue." He handed me the tickets. "Theater-"

  "Three. Got it. Best of luck tonight." I walked toward Charlotte and paused, pulling out my phone and taking several pictures of her as she muscled her way closer to the poster of Ethan looking like a billy-badass. "Smile."

  Charlotte turned toward me and cheesed hard for the picture. She stuck her tongue out as if she were licking the dirty plastic beside her, and I cringed, but took the picture anyway.

  "Let me see." She reached for my phone, and I handed it to her before looping my arm into hers and dragging her toward the theater.

  "Come on. I don't want to fight the hordes of horny women to get our seats." I kept my arm locked in hers, pulling her along as she moved through the pictures, not paying a bit of attention. At times it felt like we were still fifteen and not about to graduate college. Charlotte hadn't changed a bit over the years, which kept us both young, or so I told myself.

  "God, Riley. He's so fucking hot. Please get in a movie with him so I can touch him." She snuggled up against me as I handed the attendant our tickets.

  "I need to find an open audition for one of his movies, and then I can." I let out a frustrated sigh under my breath. There were too many people around us, leaving me to feel like a cow in the middle of cattle being forced to move. There was no way in hell I would ever be an A-cast actress. Having people pawing at me left me wanting to crawl in a corner and shake like I had demons living in me.

  I chuckled at the thought.

  "Are you talking to yourself again?" Charlotte glanced over at me.

  "We've known each other for the last eighteen years. Do you really need to ask me that?" I held the door and let her go through before moving back into the line of women. "I'm the only one that won't argue when I have a brilliant idea."

  "You're so weird, but you knew that." She glanced up from the phone as we rounded the corner. "This place is oversold. There are two seats at the very back. Come on."

  She bounded up the stairs as I glanced around and shook my head. My stomach was a ball of knots. Acting I adored with a passion inside of me that wouldn't quit, but talking with random people and shooting the shit? Hell no.

  I walked up the stairs as a few girls whipped past me, almost knocking me over.

  "Sorry!" they called over their shoulders.

  "It's all good. It's Ethan Lewis. I get it." I smiled, talking under my breath as I made my way to Charlotte. I dropped down in my chair and reached over, clamping my hand on her knee as it bounced like a jack-hammer. "You all right?"

  "Yes, but dude, this guy is the wettest dreams I have. I love, love, love him." She squealed as the lights dimmed.

  "He's all right." I shrugged.

  She popped me in the arm, and we both chuckled. I could play it cool with the best of them, but seeing a new movie with the handsome billionaire in it left me a little breathless too.

  I leaned back and snagged the popcorn from her as the previews started. My mind slipped into the same place it always did. My acting career, or lack thereof.

  I'd worked so hard to pimp myself out since I was a teenager in drama clubs and had found a bit of success in various commercials, but when it came to films or movies, I just couldn't find the door to knock on. It was a tight knit community and outsiders, no matter how talented, just weren't accepted.

  A preview for another movie that Ethan was do
ing in the coming months appeared on the screen and pulled me from my thoughts.

  I glanced up and let out a soft sigh, praying like hell that Charlotte didn't hear me. She would never let me live it down.

  The smirk that lifted his perfect lips caused my stomach to contract, my nipples to harden. The guy was good. Really good.

  His warm brown eyes filled with compassion as he reached out and touched the face of the girl who played his fling in the movie.

  The whole movie theater started to make girlie noises. I wanted to roll my eyes, but didn't want to miss the kiss.

  "Kiss her," Charlotte whispered and moved to the edge of her seat.

  I gripped the side of my chair, wanting to move up too, but refusing to play into the hype.

  "It's just a preview, Char. Jeez." I forced myself to sound as sarcastic as I could before I licked my lips. He appeared to be a damn good kisser, the kind that would promise to leave your knees weak.

  His voice was deep, sexy, delicious. "You don't have to go, Tanya. Stay with me. Just tonight."

  Charlotte squealed as he moved in for the kiss. The screen cut to an action scene, and the sound of disappointment filled the air around us. I let out a tight chuckle.

  "Wow." She dropped back in her seat. "What is it about that guy? I swear I need a cold shower or a vibrator."

  "You don't have to go, Charlotte." I turned toward her and touched her face, lowering my voice as the girls around us laughed.

  She swatted me away. "Okay. Keep it up. You're going to be in a movie with him one day, and when you are... don't say I didn't tell you so."

  "Please." I turned around and started to eat the popcorn again. "It's never going to happen, but if it does, I'll be sure to describe the fake kiss in detail for you."

  "Every wicked lick of his tongue, please." She grabbed a handful of popcorn and missed her mouth with most of it.

  I smiled and turned back to the screen as the movie started. The cheering that occurred when Ethan came on screen let me know right away that I was in for a long two hours.