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

by Ali Parker

  "So much for us not being seen together," she spoke over her shoulder before taking the stairs up.

  "Whatever. Danger is imminent for both of us. It's the worlds we've chosen to live in."

  "Very different worlds. Remember that." She chuckled.

  "I don't think so, but you're entitled to your opinion."

  She scoffed at him before moving to her door, leaning over to unlock the door and walking into the smell of the vanilla candle she left burning. She turned to watch him walk in, his eyes moving around the room as if assessing everything before looking back at her. He closed the door and turned, locking it.

  "Want something to drink?"

  "No. The beer was good. Talk to me."

  "About Adam?" She moved to the couch in her tiny living room, the TV the smallest he'd seen.

  "About whatever you're holding back. Your place is safe I assume."

  "The guys on the street that did this are new to town. I don't know them, but one of their thugs came by the other day to invite me into business with them."

  "You said no, I hope."

  "Of course I did. Come sit down." She reached down and tugged her pants leg up, unzipping the black boot that rose up her calf. "Take your shoes off if you want."

  He sat down and slipped his shoes off before leaning back and turning his body toward her as she glanced over at him.

  "How do you know they are the ones that gunned Adam down?"

  "The guy basically admitted it. The only other big name in town for dope wouldn't have done things the way these guys did."

  "What would he have done?"

  Kate finished with her other boot and turned to face him, tucking her legs under herself. "They would’ve tortured him and killed him in a rundown facility far from here."

  "You act like you've seen this place."

  "I'm not the same girl I was when I was younger, Jon. No digging into my demons tonight. Stick to the subject."

  "Give me the guy’s name and his location."

  "I don't know his location and I'm not sure I'm ready to part ways with his name."

  "Give me something, Kate. You want closure on this. I do too."

  She got up and walked to her dresser, reaching up and removing her necklace and earrings as she watched him watch her in the large mirror before her.

  "I found something in my pocket the day after Adam died. I think he slipped it in there, but I can't be sure. It's a note and part of it cryptic as fuck."

  "Let me see it." He stood and moved to stand behind her, his gaze heated, but he kept his hands to himself.

  She reached over to the small heart-shaped box and pulled the note out, turning to face him as she handed it over. A sad smile slipped across his face.

  "Much like your code on the wall outside, this was a code Adam and I used when he was younger. I have a safe at the bank downtown." He paused as his hand moved to the front of his shirt, working to undo the buttons. She took a step back, not sure she was ready for sex with him. It had been another lifetime where she let a man take her without drugs or alcohol to numb her desires for love. This wouldn't be good with the torrent of emotions already racing through her.

  "Jon." She reached out to stop him as he glanced up at her.

  "It's okay. I just want to show you something."

  She nodded as he finished. He dropped his shirt behind him and lifted his arm high in the air, the small tattoo on his ribs beautiful and detailed. How had she missed it the other day? She moved in and reached up, running her fingers along the tribal design. In the center lay the numbers from the message on her note. 24, 64, 88.

  "You had this tattooed on you?"

  "Yeah, so that I would always remember the code. It's on his side too. It’s freedom from a few deals I made in my past life. I haven't always been a good guy." He smiled and turned, bending over and picking up his shirt.

  Kate reached out and took it from him, tossing it toward her laundry basket. "Obviously the reference to 'Jon' is you. What is 'blue'?"

  "The code. Adam always said that if he ever called and needed me the code word would be red. I would know then that I had to get to him. He never used it."

  "So what's blue mean?" Kate swallowed hard, tears filling her eyes. She already knew.

  "It meant he was in peace. That nothing was wrong and all was right." Jon glanced away from her, his hands coming up to rub his face. "I keep thinking if I just pretend it wasn't Adam that I won't have to face what's coming."

  "What's coming, Jon?" Kate asked, reaching out and softly brushing her fingers along his pec.

  He reached up and took her hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing her fingers softly. She closed her eyes and let the world disappear for a minute, nothing but the soft brush of his lips mattering.

  "Regret. Guilt. Loss."

  She opened her eyes to see a tear drop down his cheek. Her heart burst open at the sight of him letting down his guard.

  Chapter 14

  Jon

  The note tore him in half, the girl finishing the job with her soft touch. Her eyes filled with tears and his own soon followed. He hadn't cried since high school when his father died. Once in his life. It was only appropriate to let himself feel something at the loss of his baby brother. He took a shaky breath and reached for her, needing the comfort of the strong woman before him. She lifted to her toes and pressed her warm fingers to his face, pulling him down for her kiss.

  He leaned into her, his hands sliding around her waist, one trailing down to cup the perfect curve of her ass, the other getting lost in her hair as his body lit on fire. He pressed his tongue deep into her mouth, Kate taking his offering and sucking long, strong pulls on it. He groaned and wrapped his fingers in the silky locks of her hair, the need to explore every inch of her driving him toward madness. He pressed his hips forward, grinding himself against the softness of her stomach as her fingers dipped into the back of his pants, one sliding down to squeeze his ass.

  Her nails scratched at his soft skin as he continued his assault on her mouth. He moved them toward the couch and she purred softly. He broke the kiss, needing to see her expression.

  "Fuck you're beautiful." He leaned down and kissed her again, wrapping her in a tight hug and engulfing her with his body. Pausing at the couch, Jon tugged the bottom of her shirt up, tossing it behind him as her breasts sat heavy in her little black bra. He breathed in quickly through his teeth before sitting down on the couch and reaching to move her in front of him.

  "Just sex. Just fucking, okay?" she whispered, her eyes a little wider than they should be. She was scared. Why? How many times had she given Marcus access to her body?

  "Okay, baby," he whispered, not sure what her reference was to. Did Marcus hurt her? Just sex? He ignored the demand to push the subject, the soft skin of her stomach taking his attention. She reached for the front of her slacks, but he caught her hands, looking up at her.

  "No. Just relax and let me take my time. You don't like what I'm doing and you just tell me, okay?"

  She nodded, the strong woman that ran the club still downstairs. The unsure girl in front of him left his cock even harder, his heart pounding at the idea of needing more than sex from her.

  "Oh," he whispered to himself, leaning in and pressing his face softly to her middle as realization washed over him. She just wanted sex... not love. He reached up and rubbed his hands up her ribs, around her back and made quick work of her bra, pulling it toward him and growling softly as he eyed her breasts. Her little pert nipples were rose colored and hard as pebbles.

  "Oh what, Jon?" she whispered, her voice sultry and soft. He swallowed the need to groan, the sudden worry of not being able to hold his own with her rushing up to choke him. He shoved it back down and leaned in, his hand sliding round one of her breasts as he leaned up and sucked her nipple into his mouth. She moaned softly, the slight jerking of her hips giving him confidence that she needed him as much as he needed her.

  He licked at her body, moving back to
look up at her. "Oh, you just want sex and want me to leave your heart be..."

  "Yes. Exactly. Glad you understand." She knelt before him, her hands steady, her eyes filled with lust as she worked on his belt and zipper. He lifted his hips as she pulled his pants from his body, his underwear being discarded next.

  "Not my style, but for you I'll try." He sat up, his erection throbbing as he pressed it to her stomach, his lips finding hers again in a long hot kiss. Her fingers wrapped around him and he groaned against her mouth, his need to thrust into her hold almost overriding his control. He pulled her fingers from his shaft and tugged at her to stand again.

  She did, grumbling under her breath as he chuckled. He made quick work of her slacks, the tiny black silk left for his eyes to wander across was wet at her center. He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to it, licking around the edges of her panties as his fingers dug into her perfect thighs.

  "No," she whispered.

  "Yes." He moved to his knees on the couch, pointing down at the unoccupied cushions. "Lay down and hush. I'm going to taste you. I haven't stopped thinking about it all fucking day."

  "It's too intimate." She crossed her arms over her chest, defying him.

  He laughed and reached up, pulling her down and forcing her to lay before him. "I'm not interested in your setbacks, Kate. I want you open to me tonight. Just tonight, and if you don't feel anything in the morning, I'll walk."

  "Fine, but I'm not laying here while you pleasure me and I do nothing for you." She got back up, bending over and slipping out of her panties, her ass bared to him. He couldn't help himself as he reached out and slid his fingers down the glistening skin of her bare sex, his mouth watering as he growled at her again.

  "I'm going first. Lay your ass down, woman."

  She turned and forced him back as she crawled on top of him. Never had he witnessed anything more beautiful than her taking charge. The look on her sensual features told him to shut the fuck up and do what she said. He laid down, reaching up to palm her breasts as they hung above his chest. Taking her just above her waist he pulled up, bringing her wetness to his mouth. He leaned his head up and pressed his tongue to her center, the salty flavor of her need undoing him.

  "No." She jerked from him as he growled loudly at her.

  Before he could figure out what the fuck she was doing, she had turned around, her knees pressed to his shoulders, her sex above his mouth, her lips sliding along his cock. He groaned and reached up, wrapping an arm around her ass as he pulled her down to him. She moaned loudly as he lapped at her, his hunger for more growing by the moment.

  He was far too big for her to take all of him in her mouth, but damn if she didn't try. He arched his hips as she sucked and licked at his erection, his balls so tight they hurt. Her hips rolled as he took his time with her, the girl knowing where her spots were and not afraid to force him to use them. He licked up to her ass, taking his time to make her squirm as she pressed her teeth into his cock. He groaned again, dropping away from her and closing his eyes.

  "I'm close. Stop for a minute. It's been too long. Kate..."

  She tugged at his sack with her fingers, her mouth working furiously as she sucked and sucked. He groaned, lifting up to bury his face in her sweetness. The bitch was going to make him come whether he wanted her to or not. It was about control and right now... she had it.

  The taste of her shifted and he reached up, pressing his thumb to her ass, forcing her body back to take him as he continued to lap at her. She screamed against his erection, the vibration sending him over the edge as his body convulsed. One hand pumping in and out of her, he reached around her to lock her head into place as he emptied himself into the wet warmth of her pretty mouth.

  He groaned over and over as he pressed his face against her, her body convulsing as she came on his tongue. He drank her offering, slowing his assault until she released him and jerked forward, a long hard shudder coming from her. He reached up and patted her swollen lips, running his thumb along her entrance.

  "Fuck, Kate. That was insane, baby."

  She moved off of him, her legs trembling as she reached for him. He got up and pulled her close, leaning down to kiss her softly. He brushed her hair back and ran his hand down her back, pressing her against him.

  "I haven't done that in ages. I forgot how good it felt to just let go." She pressed her lips to his chest as he leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

  "Haven't had an orgasm in a long time?"

  "No, haven't had oral sex. Feels too intimate for me." She shrugged, moving from him and walking to her bed. She got up on it, crawling toward the other end before stretching her arms out before her and laying her head down. "Come fuck me."

  He moved toward the bed, her ass in the air, her body so far beyond delicious that he felt his chest contract. He moved up on the bed, and got on his knees behind her before realizing what she was doing.

  Sex from behind was one of his favorite positions, but for her it was about not seeing who was behind her. It was about remaining removed from her lover. He ran his hands over her hips as her body contracted. Sliding his hand down her back, he splayed his fingers across her small frame to touch as much of her as he could. He took a hold of the back of her neck as she sighed loudly.

  Pulling up, he carefully repositioned her to lay on her back with her head on the pillows at the top of her bed. The look on her pretty face gave credence to his concerns.

  "What are you doing?" Her brow narrowed, her cheeks flushed with color.

  He moved toward her, hovering over her and letting his eyes move across her luscious frame, memorizing every curve of her perfection. "I'm making love to you, Kate."

  "No. We're fucking. Plain and simple. You don't want it? Leave."

  "Umm hmmm. I understand." He lowered himself on top of her, tucking his face into the side of her neck, her body so damn right against his. He slid his hands between her and the bed, grabbing the curves of her ass and lifting to position her perfectly for him. He was a big guy and he knew it. He paused, looking up at her as she growled at him.

  "If I hurt you, just stop me."

  "I'm not a girl, Jon. I'm a woman and I don't like this position."

  "Not everything is about you, baby." He tucked his face back against her neck and pressed himself into her. She groaned loudly as he forced her legs open, her body fighting against his size as he worked his hips to make room. "So tight, Kate. You like how well I fit inside of you?"

  "Oh God..." She arched her back and he thrust one last time, his body tucked inside of her as she clenched down on him.

  "Oh fuck. Take it easy on me." He pressed his teeth to her throat just before she rolled her hips, the wicked little vixen waking up and taking charge from beneath him.

  Chapter 15

  Kate

  He was breaking all the rules she had set for herself years before. All of his demands and desires aligning perfectly with her internal hot spots. His mouth all over her, the hot spill of his body onto her tongue. All things she and Marcus tried not to do, just to keep things very clean between them. Jon destroyed the lines, obliterating her resolve. She tried to gain back control as she crawled on the bed, most men more than happy to have a girl willing to take it hard from behind.

  Damn him.

  She lifted her hips, rolling them slowly to feel every thick inch of him push against the inside of her. He was huge and she had a moment before they moved to the bed of sheer panic. Marcus was a big guy, but Jon was packing something she hadn't experienced. He cupped her rear, his short nails digging into her flesh, which simply added to the experience.

  She dropped her legs from around his waist and let her knees drop open, her body exploding as she reached behind her to grab the headboard.

  "Oh fuck..." she screamed and lifted her head from the pillows as he pumped faster in and out of her. A spark ignited from his deep stroke and blew across her pelvis into her stomach, the heat from it consuming her thoughts.

 
"That's it baby. Come for me. So good, Kate. Let your body take what it needs. Open those thighs for me and take this big cock." He licked at her ear, his body slowing as she panted softly.

  He was beyond good at using his body as a tool to cripple her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged at his hair until he moved from her throat to look at her. He smiled as tears filled her eyes.

  "What's the matter, baby?" He moved his hand to wipe a tear that dripped toward her ear. "Did I hurt you?"

  She rocked against him, her chest contracting painfully as real emotion rose up in her. A time of wanting someone on top of her, making love to the deepest parts of her didn't exist. The new experience was exhilarating, overwhelming, terrifying.

  "Don't stop," she whispered, leaning up to capture his lips. His hands cupped the back of her head as he lowered her back to the bed and kissed her softly, his body rocking slowly in and out of hers, the friction electrifying.

  "Let me in. I won't hurt you." He kissed her again, moving down to run his nose through the damp skin between her breasts before licking at the soft skin of her nipple.

  "I don't know how." She looked down at him, finding herself wanting so badly to try.

  "This is a start." He smiled up at her and sucked her breasts into his mouth as he rolled his hips, the thickness pressing so far inside of her. She closed her eyes, losing herself to the tantalizing rhythm of his thrusts.

  She pressed her foot against the bed hard, throwing off his balance as they rolled. He continued the roll, pulling her on top of him and groaning as his hands rested on her hips.

  "God you’re beautiful, woman. You have no idea, do you?"

  "Hush." She sat up, leaning forward a little to press her hands to the thick muscles of his chest.

  He tightened his hands on her and lifted her up. She whimpered, his strength so hot. He lifted up and worked himself in and out of her, his teeth buried in his bottom lip as he grunted low and deep in his chest.

  Kate dug her nails into him, tilting her head forward so she could watch him take her furiously. She moaned over and over, her voice getting louder and less stable as she indulged in her deepest fantasies with him.