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

by Ali Parker

  His usual attire consisted of black slacks, shiny black shoes and a black shirt of some sort. Tonight was no different. He turned and looked over his shoulder, a smile brushing across his lips.

  "Boss?"

  "Do you have everything you need for tonight? Saturdays are nuts, as I know you know."

  "Are you offering me something, Katie?" He set his clipboard down and walked toward her, stopping in front of her and reaching out to touch the side of her face.

  She laughed sardonically. "No, you'll know when I'm offering. Answer my question. I have too much to do for your bantering tonight."

  "How about after work? Close the club at three and get high with me? It's been a while."

  She moved around the room, touching various boxes. "Only liquor in here, right? You know I don't want that shit in my house."

  "I know, boss." He reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward him. He slipped an arm around her and looked down, his gaze growing dark. "You need a release. Let's smoke a little and fuck like rabbits. Let me take care of you."

  She pressed her hands to his strong chest and looked up at him, the dark teardrop tattoos on his right cheek making him scary as hell to most, but she knew the guy underneath them. He bent down and brushed his lips across hers, his large hand cupping her butt as he pulled her closer.

  "You need it. Let me give it to you." He kissed her again, his face smooth and smelling of aftershave. She slid her hands along his face and leaned into the kiss. He could fuck like no one she had ever met, his body big and built for fighting or hard sex. She kissed him once more and moved back, licking at the sweet taste of peppermint he left on her lips.

  "Yeah. I need to forget who I am for the night."

  "I like who you are, Katie."

  "It's Kate. You don't forget who I am." She glanced over her shoulder. "Lust and drugs... that's all I've got to give. You sure you want it?"

  He smiled, a deep laugh leaving him. "I couldn't handle much more from you. That alone is overwhelming."

  "Good. Let's keep it that way." She turned and moved back down the hall, her body aching for the night to end so his promises could begin. It had been a few months since she'd given herself over to him last. Namely because they had been too busy, but even more so because she hadn't wanted him to leave after the last time they slept together. She wanted him to stay and sleep next to her, cook breakfast and shit.

  She shuddered at the thought of falling in love with someone that couldn't reciprocate it. No way. She would have to watch herself more closely.

  Loving someone was the easiest way to lose them. They would leave, or death would come knocking.

  It always did.

  The rest of the evening went off without a hitch, the crowd staying until the last call for alcohol came over the speakers. Kate stood near the front door, her arm pressed against the cool glass as she peered out. The streets were almost as busy as the club, the patrons stoked about Mardi Gras coming up that following week.

  "Only three more days until the all night event. You excited?" Beth moved up beside her, crossing her arms over her chest. The blond middle-aged woman had joined them just before Christmas, her accounting and organizational skills masterful. Kate couldn't count the number of times Beth had saved her money by adjusting their schedules or consolidating their liquor orders.

  "Excited? Fuck no. This place is a mad house. Look at it." She moved back to give the other woman room to look out into the streets through the tinted glass.

  "People love a party. I'm not surprised at all."

  "I am. It's Saturday. Mardi Gras isn't even until Tuesday."

  "Yeah, but we're in the heart of New Orleans, Kate. People are coming from all over the world to see this thing."

  "It's a drunk orgy. I wouldn't pay to fly somewhere and stay in a hotel to smell vomit and be desensitized by titties." Kate laughed and turned as Marcus walked up.

  "Someone say titties?"

  Kate laughed again as Beth swatted at him. "I'm out. You guys are so vulgar."

  "I was being sensitive to your lovely ears." Marcus winked at the portly woman before turning to Kate. Beth turned and walked away quickly, her business casual clothes mildly out of place.

  "It's almost closing time. You can go if you want and I'll shut everything down." Marcus smiled.

  Kate turned to face her partner in all things club related.

  "You go on up and take a shower. I want you relaxed when I get there." Marcus nodded toward the front door, motioning for her to go.

  "I thought you were bringing something to relax me." Kate lifted her eyebrow.

  He smiled and reached for her, dropping his hand as if realizing they were in the middle of everyone's view. "You'll not have a care in the world when I'm done with you. Go on. Seriously. You'll have this place to yourself for the first part of the week. Don't forget I'm going to New York for a quick business trip."

  "I hate it when you go up there. Those thugs are ruthless."

  "And the cheapest to buy the good stuff from. Stop talking and get out of here. The sound of your voice is making my dick ache."

  She scoffed and moved toward the exit, brushing by him and caressing his crotch softly. "We wouldn't want that, would we?"

  "Bitch." He laughed and turned as she walked out into the late-night activity.

  The water was hot and redeeming, the music from her phone soothing her nerves tremendously as well. She picked up the phone and turned it off before walking into her small studio apartment. No sound pushed through the floor of the small room before her, which was a good thing. It meant that the DJ had turned off the music and Marcus would be with her soon. She needed to forget the world and his weed would help. The sex was just an added bonus to remember what it felt like to be touched.

  She moved to her dresser, picking up her hairbrush and staring at the small white heart-shaped jewelry box. Her mother had given it to her before she ran away, it being the only thing she took from her previous life. One too many times of telling her mom that her new daddy wasn't exactly on the up and up and she was done. The man would have found a knife in his throat if he had tried to touch her and Kate wasn't a fool. She could see the way he looked at her. It left her skin crawling, her stomach turning. She found herself in the arms of a drug dealer, his promises forcing her to go with him in search of a new life.

  Worst decision of my life.

  She finished working the brush through her long black hair and set it down. She was careful to remove the top from the small ornate box, the hinge broken from the last time it was dropped on the street. She was lucky there was anything left of it really.

  A small piece of paper sat inside of it, Kate taking it out and setting the box back down. She opened it and held it up to her face, part of it still a mystery.

  Jon - 24, 64, 88 - Blue

  It had to be from Adam. He had to have put it in her pocket that night. She had found it just before washing her jeans, her obsession with checking her clothes before throwing them in the washing machine finally paying off.

  She folded it back up and put it away as a knock on the door behind her sounded. It would take some digging to figure out what the cryptic message meant, but she was sure Jon was the name of Adam's brother, right? Maybe not. He had mentioned the older boy a few times when spilling his insecurities out for her to hear, but the name failed her now.

  Opening the door, she moved back to let Marcus in, his eyes moving along the small white towel she had wrapped around herself.

  "Fuck, you look good."

  "Good. Give me the shit and I'll roll it while you clean up. I'm not fucking you after you've been sweaty and pawed at all night by better looking women."

  He moved closer, his hand reaching behind her to grab her butt as he pulled her in tightly. He leaned down and pressed his lips to the top of her head, breathing in deeply.

  "There is no finer woman than you, Kate Jarret." He rubbed her rear softly, leaning down farther to press his teeth to her
exposed shoulder.

  She moaned and reached up to run her fingers along his thick neck. He was huge and engulfed her with his size, but it made getting lost in him that much easier. She felt so small and feminine up against him, Marcus three steps beyond masculine.

  He moved back, reaching down to tug at the front of his slacks. His thick erection pressed against his pants, Kate's eyes moving across him as she licked at her lips.

  He pulled a small bag out of his pocket and extended it to her. "Here's the shit. You got papers?"

  "Yeah. Hurry... I want you." She turned and let the towel drop, looking over her shoulder as he growled at her. "There's a towel you can use."

  Chapter 6

  Kate

  Kate took a deep drag of the marijuana, the smell stinging her nose as she breathed in deeply. The bathroom door opened and she turned, still standing in the makeshift kitchen of her apartment naked. Marcus walked out, towel drying himself as he grunted toward her.

  "You look good."

  "Come get me." She extended the joint and released the breath she had been holding.

  He stopped in front of her and took the offering, lifting it to his full lips and sucking on it a few times. His large muscular front lifted with his efforts, his body on full display for her.

  Kate reached out and slid her hand down his semi-hard erection as he pressed against her hold.

  "Harder, baby. I like it rough."

  "I know how you like it," she whispered, licking at her lips as she moved toward him.

  He took another long drag as she pressed her tongue to his nipple, her teeth scraping back the sensitive skin as she moved down his body with wet sensual kisses. He reached down and pulled her back up.

  "No. Just fucking tonight. I need to be somewhere in a few hours. You can take your time with me next time."

  They rarely indulged in oral sex, Kate not one for sharing too much of herself with anyone. Tonight felt different... she needed intimacy after her hard week. Just wasn't in the cards.

  She took the joint and nodded. "Then get to it and stop standing around like you're waiting for an invitation. You're cordially invited to turn me into a puddle of sticky nothingness."

  He laughed and moved to sit on one of her kitchen chairs and motioned for her to come to him. He took his erection into his grasp and pumped the swollen flesh a few times as she walked toward him. Reaching up and turning her around, he tugged at her hips to sit on him.

  Kate reached forward with her free hand and pressed her fingers into the thick muscle of his thigh, groaning loudly as he lifted his hips and impaled her. She rocked against him as he growled, his fingers tightening on her.

  "How are you fucking tight every time, Katie? Like your body knows how to make me go crazy with need for you." He lifted her off of him, slamming her back down as he groaned again.

  "Stop being sentimental and work me." She lifted the joint to her lips as her thighs contracted, her feet pressing on the floor for traction.

  "Hush. Don't tell me how to fuck, woman." He rolled her hips, using her body to stroke his in uneven patterns. His movements kept her guessing, his size causing her to enjoy every deep thrust. She handed the joint back to him and took ownership of their rhythm.

  Leaning forward, she pressed her hands to her knees and lifted her ass in the air a little, rolling herself around him and bouncing fast.

  "Damn, baby. Most beautiful thing I've seen all week." The sound of him inhaling deeply resounded behind her as the world began to fade. The high was sinking in, the feeling righteous and redeeming. To not care about what was, or what would happen, was bliss. After the horrible few weeks she'd been through, the sex made everything better for the moment.

  His thumb slid from where their bodies connected up to press against her other opening. He rubbed his rough thumb over the sensitive spot and leaned forward, licking at her back as she released herself to the ecstasy.

  "You want it, Katie?"

  "Mmhmmm. Fuck yes."

  "Don't tell me. Show me, girl."

  Kate tucked her pelvis, slamming down on his cock, his finger buried inside of her now too. She screamed as the room burst into stars, her body twitching as Marcus wrapped his other hand around the back of her neck and forced her up and down. The smell of sex wrapped around her, the violation of her most private parts feeling so far beyond good that depravity suddenly sounded delicious.

  "So good," she moaned as a light sweat covered her jerking figure.

  "Fuck yes it is. Best pussy in New Orleans. Little ass is begging for me too, Kate." He patted her rear as his finger pumped in and out of her in rhythm with his cock. "Show me why I choose to spend my nights buried in you and not some other girl. Prove it up to me, baby."

  "Yeah," she whispered, his words blurring as she arched her back hard and squeezed, tilting her head back and turning enough to place a kiss on his bitter lips. He wrapped a hand around her throat as they fucked, squeezing a little until it was uncomfortable. The high left her with nothing but brilliant sensations, every touch, every murmur, every wicked hard thrust working to break her down.

  She moaned against his mouth, another orgasm riding her hard to bring it to life. "I'm going to come again. Deeper."

  "I'll come with you, beautiful." He kissed her again and slid his hands to her breasts, turning her and standing them up as he pounded into her over and over again. He tugged hard at her nipples as she buckled, her body lighting on fire from deep inside of her. She screamed his name over and over as he lifted her off the ground with his power. He spilled himself inside of her, not slowing until she begged him too.

  Pulling her flush against him, Marcus leaned over and kissed the side of her neck, licking softly at the flesh below her ear. His fingers brushed over her swollen sex, sliding up and down methodically. "Next time I'm not using my thumb. You've been promising for a while now. I want in."

  "Next time for sure." She went limp against him, her body humming hard as sweat dripped down her neck and slid between her breasts.

  "Let me get you in bed and then I'm out."

  "Yeah, get me in bed, you fucker. Lock me in so no one gets me."

  "No one's gonna get you. You belong to me. I'd slaughter the city if they touched you."

  "Hush." She pulled from him, gaining her bearings for a moment as she licked at her lips. The room spun suddenly and she reached out, grabbing the kitchen counter as Marcus's hands slid around her waist. He picked her up before she knew what was happening and the room faded into darkness before her.

  The morning sunlight beat against her tired eyes, Kate turning and hissing as she rolled over. The dull ache between her legs was delicious, the sensation making her want more of Marcus and less responsibility. She laid there for a few minutes, contemplating calling him. He wouldn't answer and she really didn't want to battle him on anal sex again. He was much too big for it and she didn't know if she trusted him simply based on his appetite and tendency to fuck hard and fast.

  Not that she was complaining.

  "Sex or clean up the bar?"

  She looked around the room and chuckled to herself. Obviously cleaning up the bar would have to be the winner. No one to have sex with. Over simulation from toys in her younger years left her swearing them off forever. Never would there be a man able to vibrate like a plastic cock made for quick fun. It was a rip off and left her sex life lukewarm at best.

  She got up, groaning loudly before making her way to the shower. A quick hot blast of hot soapy water and she was feeling good and whole again.

  "What about the note?"

  She glanced at her dresser, the mysterious message sitting in the small heart-shaped box. No time to think about it now. It might not have even been from Adam. She had worked a full shift in the bar that night too. Anyone could have slipped something in her jeans. Adam's brother wasn't even named Jon, was he?

  She worked a tight pair of jeans over her hips and pulled a tiny white tank top over her bright pink bra. No one would see her,
so the bra almost felt like an unneeded restriction. She slipped her black sliders on and picked up her brush, unlocking the front door and jogging down the stairs as she ran the brush through her hair. The club looked clean other than the lingering smell of sweat. They were closed on Sundays, so she usually spent most of it cleaning up and sleeping.

  Kate made quick work of opening up all of the windows, the bars on the front of all of them not allowing for anything but air to get through. The breeze picked up and moved around her as she paused, closing her eyes and exhaling slowly. Sex with Marcus the night before had been spot on. She needed a release and he was brilliant in bed.

  She walked to the back of the club, pulling her key from her pocket and unlocking the hallway to the offices and store rooms. She propped the door open and walked down the long dark hall, turning on lights as she did. It was stuffy back there, but the liquor needed a cool place to rest, so with no cellar, what she had worked perfectly.

  She paused at the door to the inventory room, turning on the light and looking around at the boxes and various bottles. Her and Marcus had checked out everything the weekend before and ordered a large shipment for the crazy week coming up. A million or more people would hit Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras. It was the time of the year she hated most. Having to get extra security and deal with the punk ass drunkards that would show up was aggravating and time consuming.

  Kate turned and walked toward the back door. She hadn't been back in the alley since the night Adam died. She needed to slip out there to see if there was anything the cops had missed. Not that she was a detective or knew what the fuck she was looking for, but someone had slipped that cryptic-ass note in her pocket. If it was Adam, did he leave something else?