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

by Ali Parker

  "Sadie. Yes, she's a peach for sure."

  "Says you’re dating the boss."

  "Oh yeah? That's new to me." She shrugged. "We're all going dancing tomorrow night. You should come. Would be good to get to know everyone. I plan on doing so myself."

  "So you'll be there?"

  "I plan to." She smiled as someone tapped Philip on the shoulder, the voice soft and muffled. He looked back over at her and waved.

  "Seems the boss wants to see me. I'll catch you later. Pleasure meeting you, Bethany."

  He left, and she stood beside her desk, leaning over and putting her hands on the smooth surface. Why was an office setting so seductive? Was it the taboo of thinking about getting caught being intimate with someone at work? Was it the smooth, hard surface of the furniture that you might leave prints along, your evidence etched into the scenery?

  She smiled at the thought, her expression changing drastically as she looked up to see Sadie standing in her door, her hand on her hip.

  "So, just so you know. The new guy is mine."

  Bethany stood up and moved toward the other girl, stopping beside her file cabinet and tilting her head as a smirk drew her lips up.

  "The new guy, Philip?"

  "Yes, Philip, you ogre. He's mine, and don't think for one minute whatever is going on with you and Damon matters. He uses everyone here. We've all had our turn in his lap." She smirked and looked out into the hall before turning to focus on Bethany. "Philip is mine. You can play with Damon until he's tired of you, but once that's done … no going after the new hottie in the office."

  "And if I do?" Bethany asked, her voice soft and almost menacing.

  "Then I'll make sure you lose your job here. Quite simple really. Kent thinks of me as a daughter. I'll tell him something about your ethics being a bit off and you'll be gone. Try me on it, just don't come crying to me when the cards fall the way they will."

  "Interesting. I think I'll leave mine and Damon's love affair up to fate. I haven't sat on his lap, by any means, but he sure has bought me a lot of jewelry lately." She picked up the small heart on her chest and rubbed her fingers along the diamonds as she let her stare beat into the other girl.

  "He does that to everyone."

  "Doubt it."

  Bethany turned and walked to her desk, reaching in her bag and beginning to pull out various cords. She ignored the other girl until Sadie huffed loudly and left. She was trouble, and the kind that Bethany planned to dispose of. Damon was right about one thing—the girl would scream rape from the rooftop if she thought it would get her fifteen seconds of fame. Sad, really.

  *

  Bethany checked her watch, her appointment with Damon set for later in the day. She still had twenty minutes, but hated to be late to anything. He would point it out if she wasn't early anyway. She stood up and stretched, walked down the hall and slipped into the bathroom to make sure she looked good for her meeting. After checking her teeth, she reached into her shirt and readjusted her breasts, before tugging at the material of her navy blue skirt to make sure it laid flat. Her white button down shirt made her breasts look too big, but maybe that wasn't such a bad thing, seeing that she wanted to see him squirm like he had made her do since the moment they met.

  She turned around and checked her back, a soft growl at the size of her butt. She hated it, and yet it seemed as though all of the guys on campus coveted big butts. Why, she'd never understand.

  She walked to the elevator and took it up to Damon's floor. Linda was not to be found sitting at the large desk she usually occupied. Bethany walked around the small lobby for a few minutes before pressing her ear to Damon's door.

  Nothing.

  She walked around Linda's desk and looked at the flat desk calendar that laid on the woman's perfectly clean office space. Damon had nothing before her and nothing after her. Maybe he was in his office and Linda had needed to leave. If he got angry with Bethany for coming in early, she'd just deal with it. He was going to be her brother, so whatever he threw at her would be invalid. Her excuse of wanting to be on time was more important than his tantrum over losing control of his calendar, thanks to her.

  She knocked softly on the door, no sound coming from the other side. Pressing her ear to it, she heard the soft mumble of his voice and knocked again. She thought she heard him tell her to come in, but apparently nothing could have been further from the truth.

  Being careful to open the door quietly, she slipped her head in and looked toward his desk.

  The vision of him seared into her memory. His eyes were closed and his head was back as he sat in his chair. His hand bobbed up and down, his chest rising and falling much too fast for anything he should be involved in at the office. He bit at his lip as he whispered to someone.

  Bethany wanted to shut the door, needed to close it and run. He had someone under his desk and she could only imagine what the woman was doing.

  As badly as she needed to go, her curiosity wouldn't allow her to. Her eyes moved down toward the top of the desk, and she saw a mop of blonde hair being pulled up, but only slightly. His hand was lost in someone's hair—a blonde. Linda?

  Surely not.

  He groaned softly and shifted, his hips gyrating forward as he opened his eyes, his focus on the door. A smile touched his mouth as Bethany caught his attention.

  Her heart stopped in her chest, fear freezing her in place.

  "That's it, baby. Take it all. Such a good girl, so talented to fit so much in your pretty little mouth. Suck harder, and let me fill you up."

  He never took his eyes off of Bethany, his hips lifting again as Bethany moved back from the door. A soft moan echoed from the room as she moved back, and she heard the sound of her name on his lips as he beckoned the woman kneeling in front of him to do exactly what he told her to.

  Bethany carefully shut the door, turning and pressing her back to it as she tried to catch her breath. Thankfully Linda wasn't in the lobby or embarrassment would have stained them both. Sadie was right about Damon. He was a player and had plenty of women on his lap and everywhere else.

  What had she thought? She would show up and things would change?

  "This is what you get. He's your fucking family. Grow up and stop being a pervert."

  She walked away from the office, numb to everything around her. Ben tried to stop her to talk, but she blew him off, her excuse the swirling pain in her stomach. She hadn't lied, and there was absolutely no drama in the soft echo of her voice. She was physically ill, not at the fact that Damon was a disgusting bastard, but at the realization of how badly she wanted to be the blonde kneeling before him.

  She left without telling anyone, her care not for her job or anyone else, but for the desperate need to get away. She needed to breathe fresh air and clear her head. She needed to talk with Krista, who would be the only one to understand.

  A text message caused her phone to buzz as she walked toward her car. She waited until she was seated in the blessed silence to check it. Shock slammed into her.

  It was from Damon.

  I'm coming to dinner at Dad's tonight.

  Be there.

  No lies between us.

  No drama from you.

  No complaining when I give you exactly what you want.

  Chapter 11

  I'm coming to dinner at dad's tonight. Be there. No lies between us. No drama from you. No complaining when I give you exactly what you want.

  The drive home was torturous. Bethany held her phone in a shaky hand, her desire to text him back almost consuming her. What would she say? How did she respond to that?

  I don't want anything from you? Lies.

  What did she want exactly? A fling? Hot sex on the balcony to sate her lack of attention and attraction from other men for the last few years? She sighed heavily, pulling into the driveway of the mammoth-sized house her soon-to-be stepfather lived in. She turned the car off and sat in silence for a minute, her nerves pulsating along the surface of her skin.

&nbs
p; If he played it off as a joke, things could return to normal and she would just never mention seeing him in his office with the blond. She could keep her mouth shut. Her eyes closed as she dropped her head back, the phone tight in her grip.

  "How do I always get myself into this shit?"

  A tap on her window had her jumping, her knee hitting the steering column hard.

  Matthew. The almost stepbrother that acted like family and not a starving lion on the sexual prowl.

  "You staying in there? Drive through service for ya? Like Sonic." He smiled and backed up as she got out of the car, reaching in to grab her briefcase.

  "Hey you. No, just long day at the office."

  "That sucks. You're off early though, right?"

  "That's about the only good thing that happened."

  Matthew reached over and took her bag as she walked beside him into the house. The smell of tomato sauce washed over her, basil and red wine as well. She breathed in deeply and reached for her bag.

  "What is that heavenly smell?"

  "The sauce for the chicken that Martha is working on. Go change into something comfortable. The good-looking brother is coming for dinner tonight, so no tempting him with your business attire." Matt winked and slipped into the kitchen before she could respond.

  "Yeah, well, I'd rather he didn't." She turned and walked quickly to the room she was occupying for the week. Whatever happened that night, she could deal with it. She was a big girl and more than capable of pushing Damon back, putting him in his place and reminding him that he wasn't God's gift to women.

  "Too bad he totally is."

  *

  "Why are you pacing the floor?" Bethany looked up as her mother spoke, the older woman leaning against the opening to the kitchen.

  "Um... stressed I guess."

  "About what?"

  "Work and school starting soon. I don't know." She shrugged, her body stiffening as the front door opened behind her. She looked over her shoulder as Damon walked in, a soft smile on his lips - one she hadn't seen before.

  "Hi Karen. Bethany. How are the two most beautiful girls in my life doing?"

  Karen laughed and walked toward him, hugging him quickly and giving Bethany a yeah right look as she walked toward the kitchen. Bethany almost reached out and stopped her mom, the thought of being in the hall alone with Damon giving her heart palpitations. He moved toward her, pulling her into a warm brotherly hug.

  "Hey you. I'm so proud of your work at the office. Where's Matt?" He spoke loudly enough for the others to hear, her arms hanging board straight by her sides as he pulled her in. The smell of him wafted over her, cologne mixed with sex. She stifled a groan, his lips brushing by her ear.

  "Like what you saw, Beth?" He nipped at the edge of her ear, his actions hidden as Matt walked out and Damon moved back with ease.

  "Well, there is the big man." Matt walked over and shook hands with Damon, the smiles on their faces genuine at seeing one another. A vast difference stood between them in way of character and even looks, but each of them seemed happy to see the other, a big hug following their handshake.

  "Actually, you're much bigger than me." Damon moved back and patted Matt's stomach. "What the fuck you been eating, babies?"

  "Yep and I'll eat yours too, so stop making so many."

  They laughed and Bethany shook off the heavy emotions that pressed against her, the ache in her lower stomach for more attention from the wayward devil before her. Matt looked over at her, extending his hand. She moved toward him as he pulled her to his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

  "How lucky are we, Bro? We finally have a sister to blame all our shit on. Why is the toilet seat up? Bethany. Why is the milk empty and in the fridge?" Matt paused as Damon piped up.

  "Totally Bethany. Ugh, girls."

  She glanced at him, his facade a good one, or perhaps the sly, sensual side of him was the facade and this was his real nature. Without doubt she would be finding out soon.

  "Let's go watch the sun go down on the balcony." Matt moved toward the back door, holding it open as Damon and Bethany moved out in front of him. Bethany looked over as Damon asked his brother to grab them a few beers from the kitchen, her heart contracting painfully in her chest.

  "I'll get them. I'm the girl." Bethany smirked and moved toward the door, Damon's hand reaching out to grab her forearm as he laughed.

  "You’re a brilliant girl and our guest. Matt?" Damon smiled with warmth she didn't know someone could fake so well.

  "Yeah, of course. Be back in a few minutes. I'll get us a plate of something to munch on too." He walked into the house as the smile slid from Damon's face. He turned toward her, using his hold on her to tug her away from the glass doors.

  "You didn't answer my question." His tone was deadpan, his face a mask of indifference.

  "What question?" Her voice was soft and unsure. She growled internally at letting herself be pulled under his spell. He was no better than the frat boys at school. Hit it and ride on. She wasn't interested... right?

  "Did you enjoy watching me this afternoon?" He reached out and pulled her toward him, his hand a vise grip on her waist. He pressed her to the wall of the house, one hand sliding down over her hip and around to the top curve of her rear as his other hand slid along her jaw, pulling her to look up at him as he shifted his hips, his body tucked into hers from the waist down. She closed her eyes and groaned softly, her body betraying her.

  "Did you like it, Beth? Was that you under the desk? You with your beautiful mouth licking and sucking pleasure from me?" He leaned in, lifting her chin slightly as he dragged his nose along the column of her neck.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered, reaching out and sliding her hands along his waist. Soft panting gave way to embarrassment, warmth coating her neck and cheeks. She had to get out of there. Where was Matt?

  "Of course you do. I had my eyes closed for most of it, my hand gripping her silky hair, my body reacting violently for one reason."

  Bethany opened her eyes, her chest rising and falling much too fast as air seemed in short supply. He leaned in further, his body flush against hers as he rolled his hips again.

  "What reason?" she whispered, looking up into his eyes, needing his kiss beyond anything she remembered wanting.

  "I just let her be you and I came harder than I have in ages." He nipped at her mouth as the door opened and he moved back with ease, a soft laugh leaving him as he turned to Matt.

  "What?" Matt asked, walking out with drinks and food balanced in his arms and against his chest.

  "Just listening to Bethany tell me a few stories of the intern. You know that crazy one that's always trying to get into my pants?"

  "Oh God. The redhead?"

  "Yeah. She's after the new guy now. Right, Beth?" Damon looked over his shoulder, the guy before her not the one that held her captive against the wall at all.

  "Yep. Sadie is a total bitch." Bethany steeled herself, moving from the wall and brushing her shirt down in hopes of it hiding her budded nipples. She reached for a beer, lust rushing across Damon's gaze once more before he seemed to effectively hide it for good.

  "Well, steer clear of her, Bethany. I think Damon's had more horror stories on this one than any before." Matt popped a piece of cheese in his mouth as Bethany took a long slow drink of her beer, wishing it were something much stronger.

  She listened to the two guys talk about how crazy girls were, their laughter causing a smile to lift the side of her mouth. A soft tick pulsated along her neck, her blood pressure elevated, her heart racing at the idea of belonging to the alpha before her. It would never happen. The taboo alone would leave them both unable to be anything more than incredible sex and longing, most likely only on her part.

  Damon seemed to be perfectly fine with having a different woman every day, his appetite varied and more focused on lust than love. Perhaps he had it right. Maybe the way through life was to taste and try lots. To not stop and focus o
n one person, but enjoy many. She looked away to roll her eyes, her thoughts ridiculous. He was teasing her, playing a dangerous game and yet, she loved it. It had been far too long since anyone grabbed her sensitivities and demanded control of her desires. She glanced over at him, Damon's dark gaze shifting to her as Matt laughed about something.

  A shiver ran through her and he seemed to take notice, his tongue darting out to lick at his lips before he took a drink of his beer. The door opened behind her, the sound of her mother's voice catching her attention.

  "Dinner's ready guys. Come on in and let's eat."

  Bethany started for the door, Damon's hand softly wrapping around her wrist, stopping her.

  "Matt, go ahead. We'll get all of this stuff and be right in. I wanted to talk to Bethany about something really quickly anyway."

  "What?" Matt tilted his head, his eyes shifting between the two of them.

  "The balance sheet audit for a small manufacturing company and why the debits didn't exactly...”

  Matt cut him off, throwing his hand in the air. "Okay... don't bore me with that shit. I'll be inside."

  Bethany smirked as Matt walked away, cursing their intelligence as he did. Bethany gathered the dish they had been sharing, her eyes averted from Damon completely.

  "What did you want to ask me?" She looked up. Mistake.

  His stance whispered confidence, his eyes hungry with unfulfilled lust. Bethany swallowed hard and took a small step back, stopping herself before taking another. She would not appear weak in front of him, no matter what.

  "I didn't want to ask you anything. The taste of you on my tongue has been driving me wild." He licked at his lips again, his fingers coming up to brush by his mouth.

  "Yes, well, I'm not a blond." She shrugged and turned to walk toward the door, Damon moving in to walk just behind her. She kicked herself internally for such an ignorant response. She sounded jealous and petty, namely because she was.

  "I find it funny that you think I like blonds." He held the door open as she stopped beside him, finding a bit of courage as she looked up at him.