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

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Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) Page 76

by Ali Parker


  She glanced my way, her dark brown eyes filled with intensity. The new ad she was proposing to the old geezers in the board room was risqué and yet it would make us a pretty penny if we could get past their conservative sensitivities.

  Her long black hair was in a messy bun, and her glasses left her looking like a sexy librarian that belonged over the edge of a desk getting spanked. Too bad she was the senior advertising agent at our firm.

  "Right. Thanks, Elizabeth. Great opening, as per usual." I reached for the clicker in front of me and pointed it toward the screen. She gave a subtle motion that I should stand. I blew her off. My cock was raging hard from watching her and the last thing I wanted to do was scare everyone in the room with my sexual immorality.

  I hit the button and glanced around the room at the white-haired cast of clowns that ruled our world. "If you'll pay attention to the screen, I'll first show you the new ad, and then we'll walk you through our projections on why it's the next big thing for us."

  Grumbling ran around the room, but I ignored it. I'd been in the business since I got out of college almost fifteen years before. Elizabeth had her position above me only by a margin, and even though she was someone I admired, if I even got a hint of blood in the water... I was taking her out. No questions asked.

  My eyes moved over to run down the full length of her as she dimmed the lights for the video. Her tight pencil skirt tugged over her luscious curves, leaving my pulse running higher than it should. She leaned against the wall and glanced over at me, giving me a tight smile before turning her attention back to the presentation.

  I couldn't force myself to stop staring at her. Everyone's attention was on the screen at the other end of the room from me, but mine was working hard to figure out how to seduce the woman ten feet from me that haunted my lustiest dreams at night.

  Stop it. It's not happening. Think of Janice. The kids.

  The kids. That doused my need in cold water. I'd do anything for my two kids, including staying in a loveless marriage to a princess that had turned into the wicked witch of the west years ago.

  I waited a few minutes before getting ahold of myself, and then rose to my feet as the video ended. "As you'll see, the ad is a little more sexually charged than we've produced and promoted before, but our client is looking to gain an edge against the competition, and with their target audience being males between the age of eighteen and twenty-eight, we believe adding something more sexually charged is the answer."

  "It's slutty. I don't like it." One of the board members glanced down the table at me. "It's not our brand at all. Figure something else out."

  "Now wait a minute, Frank." Elizabeth moved from the wall and walked to the front of the room. She lifted her chin a little and straightened her back as she pressed her hands to her hips. The movement caused her breasts to jut out, and damn if my cock didn't twitch beneath my slacks. The woman was going to be the death of my career. "This isn't just about sex, but about the emotions that go along with it."

  She leaned over and pressed her hands on the shiny table before him.

  "Explain." His voice softened, and I could see him melting like they all did. Where she didn't need anything more than her intelligence to move mountains, her impossibly beautiful face and wickedly hot body didn't hurt. Not in the slightest.

  "What emotions does sex bubble up inside of you? When you think about making love to a sexy woman? Maybe back in the day, when you found someone attractive and couldn't stop thinking about them. What emotions?"

  I hated the fact that the words slipped from my lips as I watched her work him. "Fulfillment. Acceptance. Power."

  "Yes. Good, Nathaniel. Power." She smiled and turned her attention back to Frank. "Power, my old friend. That's what we want to pull from deep within the center of these men we're targeting. Power is sexy as hell. You need this new car to appear powerful, and in return... get laid."

  "A lot." One of the other members spoke up and everyone chuckled.

  Frank shook his head. "I get it, but I don't like it. Take the woman out of the second frame with the thin dress. I can almost make out her panties, Elizabeth. That's not needed, and the networks might very well ban it."

  "I agree." I moved back from the table and clicked onto the frame in question, the one of the pretty blond with a little too much appeal. "We could have her in a similar dress that left more to the imagination."

  "We discuss this and the reasoning for the need for a heightened punch at this juncture in the video." Elizabeth's eyes narrowed only slightly as she locked her jaw. She wasn't happy with me, but it was all part of the game. She didn't have the right to win all the time. We weren't fucking, nor would we ever be.

  I was loyal to a fault to the witch of the west.

  "Agreed, but I think Frank has a point." I stopped beside the screen and crossed my arms over my chest. "How about this... we'll rework that frame, send out both videos, and you gentlemen can vote via e-mail by tomorrow morning."

  "I like that. Thank you, Nathaniel." Frank stood. "Are we done here?"

  "We are." Elizabeth moved back and pulled something from her briefcase as everyone filed out of the room. As soon as the last member was gone, I let out a quick breath and walked toward her.

  "Not bad. I think we're going to win this-"

  "If you ever come up against me in front of everyone with no warning again, I'll eat you alive." She jerked her head up and took the last step between us, pressing her perfectly manicured fingernail into my chest. The passion on her face was scorching. Every cell in my body screamed for me to close the distance between us.

  Grab the bitch and tongue fuck her until she shuts up. Show her. Now.

  "You're gonna need to fast before we start that kind of event, Lizzy. I'm a big guy and you're not nearly enough woman to handle me." I gripped her hand and pulled it down slowly, dragging her single digit down the front of my body and casting her away just before she hit the top of my belt.

  The way passion moved across her strong gaze left my stomach clenching, my cock growing thick and hard in record time. Only she could do it, and I was far beyond addicted to her power over me, though I hated it with a passion.

  "I'll handle you like I do every other man in my life." She cupped me and leaned in, brushing her nose past mine. "One fucking bite at a time." She nipped at me before dragging her nails on the underside of my balls and picking up her briefcase. "Don't fuck me over again, Nate. You won't enjoy me returning the favor."

  I couldn't speak, nor did I want to. The moment needed to stay where it was. She was in charge, and for the first time in my long life, I wanted to pass the baton of dominance to her and ask her to fuck me up in any manner she felt possible.

  I wouldn't. Not ever, but the idea left me so close to coming it hurt.

  Walking to the open door, I leaned out and watched her walk down the hall before closing the door to the conference room and pressing my back to it.

  My heart was at the base of my throat, beating wildly as I panted. She'd been an unruly vixen since joining the firm five years back and taking my next promotion from underneath me. I pressed my hand over my bulging erection and let out a groan as my hips undulated several times.

  Though I never intended it to happen, I came hard standing there, my mind envisioning nothing more than her in my face.

  "Fuck," I groaned and gave myself over to it. I needed attention, and even if I had to start giving it to myself... something was going to have to change. It had been three months since Janice let me make love to her. And thanks to that… I was primed to make the biggest mistake of my life.

  I couldn't remember ever wanting something so bad, so desperately as I wanted Elizabeth. On her knees... choking.

  Chapter 2

  Elizabeth

  A growl left me as I walked down the hall from the conference room. Damn Nate for stepping on my toes in front of everyone. Payback would be a bitch.

  He was having marriage problems, or so everyone in the offic
e had been whispering behind closed doors. He was by far the sexiest man I'd seen in years, so his marital demise was something to be celebrated by the attention-hungry women in the office.

  I could give two shits about his relationship with his wife, or his innate need to stare at me like I was the next thing he planned to sink his teeth into. He was a thorn in my side and had been for the last five years.

  Between his perfectly cut chestnut hair and deep blue eyes, I was trying not to drool. That would be if I were completely ignoring the thick swell of his chest or perfectly tanned skin. His goatee and the tat on his shoulder that pressed through his lighter color shirts left my blood heating.

  Fucking hot as sin.

  Frustration raced through me as I walked into my office and slammed the door. As much as I hated drama, I couldn't help myself from overreacting more often than not. It was the main reason I was happily single. Most men I'd met were dull, plain, stagnant. Drama was almost a necessity.

  "No fucking thank you." I dropped down into my chair and leaned back as a soft knock resounded at the door. "Come in."

  My secretary, Jen, poked her blond head in the room and smiled. "You doing okay?"

  "Yeah, just hate dealing with those guys. Come on in." I motioned for her to close the door. Everyone around the office was intimidated by me to the point of muttering a shaky greeting and getting out of my way. It was better that way. The fewer feelings involved in my work life, the better. More shit got done.

  "How was the meeting with the board?" She sat down and crossed her legs as she leaned back.

  "It was good and bad, I suppose." I let out a soft sigh. "Nate and I have spent hours working on this project, perfecting every piece of it, and he has the balls to agree with Frank over one of the shots we used of Vanessa. The one he wanted!"

  "No way. Without talking to you?" She lifted her eyebrow as she visibly paled.

  I chuckled and shook my head. "He did it on purpose. He loves to push his power onto me from time to time."

  "But you're his boss." She crossed her arms over her chest.

  "Yes, and we were in a room full of men, and he had one thing in common with all of them that I didn’t." I stood up and picked up my phone.

  "What's that? That he's a guy?"

  "That he has a cock, but same difference I suppose."

  She laughed. "You're not going to be able to compete there."

  "Sure I am." I grabbed my purse and gave her a saucy smile. "I'll just take ownership of his."

  "His job?" She stood as well.

  "No, his cock."

  *

  The jazz bar I haunted from time to time was busier that night than I found comfortable, but sitting at home and thinking about Nate was likely to drive me past the point of insanity. How many nights had I worked myself into a frenzy with the sound of his name leaving between long moans and short pants?

  "Too many," I grumbled and glanced up at Cliff, my favorite bartender, as he stood smiling at me like I had some great secret I might soon share. "What?"

  "You want another martini, Liz?" He leaned forward and tugged the empty glass from my hand.

  "Sure. One more, but that's it." I smiled and glanced around. "When is the music starting?"

  "Soon. Maybe fifteen minutes." Cliff poured the drink and watched me. He could have been my father's age, but much more welcoming than my old man. "Can I ask you a question?"

  "Shoot." I took the drink and lifted it to my lips.

  "Why in the world is a beautiful woman like you sitting in a bar alone? It honestly puzzles me every time you come in here. I think about it half the night when you leave."

  "You think about me all night?" I gave him a smirk as he chuckled.

  "Who doesn’t? You know the power you have over men." He cleared his throat and stood back up. "Why not find you a good one, and make him treat you like a queen?"

  "He doesn't exist." I glanced to my left as a blond frat-boy-grown-up type sat down and gave me a wide grin.

  "Who doesn't exist?" the guy asked and extended his hand. "Ethan."

  "A man who can fuck all night." I extended my hand, enjoying far too much the way his eyes widened.

  Cliff chuckled and tapped the bar top in front of the guy, getting his attention. "She's way outta your league, buddy. What can I get you to drink?"

  I rewarded Cliff with a chuckle before getting up from the bar and taking my drink to stand to the side of the room as the band moved up on stage.

  A soft yelp left me as someone moved in behind me, the bastard having the nerve to run his hand over my hip and splay his fingers over my stomach.

  "Were you serious, or just going for the shock effect?" The blond from the bar. Ethan?

  "About what?" I glanced over my shoulder as I pulled his hand from me and turned to face him.

  "About looking for a man who could fuck all night?" He took a quick drink of his beer and licked at his lips.

  "I never said I was looking. I said he doesn't exist." I shrugged and turned back toward the stage. He was handsome, but not in a threatening way. The image of his face would fade the minute I walked out the door, but Nate... Nate's voice, his smell, his looks would ride me hard late into the night. I could almost feel the intensity of desire for him as I stood there with my nipples budding.

  "I think you're wrong." Ethan moved up to my right and pressed his shoulder against mine.

  "Am I?" I glanced over at him and let my voice soften. Seduction was fun, and I was single. If the stud beside me wanted to prove himself capable of an all-night fuck fest, who was I to deny him?

  "Yes. Let me prove it to you." He licked at his lips and reached out to brush his hand over the small of my back. "I'm thinking you'll believe in lots of things when I'm done with you."

  "That does sound quite blissful, but here's the rub... most men never want to be done with me." I finished my drink in a few gulps and stepped back. "I'm not interested in anything long-term. I want a hard fuck and then you get out."

  "Fuck yes." He turned to face me and touched my cheek. "Where have you been all my life?"

  I laughed and pulled his hand from my face before entwining my fingers into his. "Shut up with the lines. They're useless against my powers. You leave when we're done. No snuggling, cuddling or talking about anything. I don't care where you're from or where you're going." I lifted his hand to my mouth and licked at the pad of his middle finger. "I'm in charge."

  "I'm good with every bit of that." He gripped my hand hard and turned, walking us out of the bar like his ass was on fire. "Where do you live? Close by?"

  "Nope. Let's go to your place." I waved back at Cliff and walked out to be greeted by the bright lights of the city. People moved around us with purpose, and I tucked myself against his side as we moved toward what I assumed was his car.

  "I'm right up here. I work and live down here." He opened the door to a large ornate building and ushered me in, not speaking another word until we were trapped in the elevator together. "God, you're so fucking hot."

  He pressed his hands to my sides and leaned down, consuming my mouth. His tongue pressed against the crease of my lips, and I opened up, letting him in. The sloppy way he licked at me was neither sexy nor appetizing. Good thing it wasn't his tongue that I was interested in.

  I reached out and cupped him, stroking his budding erection and finding it much smaller than I expected. Ice water ran through my veins as the elevator stopped.

  He moved back and reached for me. "Come on, baby. Let me show you what a real man can do."

  "Let me see your dick." I moved up and held the door to the elevator open.

  "What?" He glanced around. "Right here?"

  "Yes. Pull it out and show me what I'm playing with tonight." I tilted my head a little to the side and lifted my eyebrow, challenging him.

  "Right, but it's not about the ship. It's the motion it creates in the ocean, right?" He unzipped his pants and pulled out his cock, leaving me with no desire to take another step forwar
d.

  "For some women, for sure. Not me. I want to be stretched to the point of fear." I pushed at his chest. "Nice to meet you, handsome. Good luck with life."

  The door closed and I pressed my back to the wall, hating life. Hating myself.

  Hating Nathaniel Jenkins with all of me.

  Chapter 3

  Nate

  "Janice?" I walked into the house to the smell of something garlicy, though it was too late for dinner. After cleaning myself up at the office, I spent another three hours trying to get the presentation adjusted for Frank's suggestions. I could deal with Elizabeth and her angst the next morning, though I'd have preferred to see her again that night. She was long gone by the time I packed up and headed home.

  "Mom's upstairs." My son, Patrick, walked out of the kitchen with a plate of pizza. He was entering high school that fall, and yet still looked like a four-year-old kid to me. "She's in a mood too."

  "Right." I refused to talk negatively to the kids about Janice, though I didn't have to. They could see every bit of the shit for themselves. She'd started changing after having our little girl, Samantha, and never stopped. I almost didn't recognize her as the pretty brunette I'd fallen head over heels for in junior high.

  "Pizza night, Daddy!" My little girl bounded out of the kitchen with a piece of pizza on her plate. Her shoe caught something and she started to fall toward me as a cry left her. I reached out and caught her and the plate, smiling at her innocence.

  "You almost ate it, and I'm not talking about the pizza." I kissed the top of her little head and helped her up.

  "You're my hero, Dad." She smiled up at me.

  I reached down and wiped the tomato sauce from the side of her mouth. I couldn't help but wonder if any of her dinner made its way into her mouth. "Am I? And what if I'm really a villain?"

  I leaned down and glanced from side to side, forcing my face into a grimace.

  She giggled. "That's Mom."

 

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