Meat Market Anthology

by S. Van Horne

  “No,” she answers softly with a small shake of her head.

  “Good.” I run my fingers through her hair. “I would have to follow you to Arizona if you did.”

  “Would you have really followed me to Arizona?”

  “I’d follow you anywhere,” I admit, knowing in my gut it’s the truth. There would be no way in hell I could live with her that far away.

  “Jay?”

  “Yes?

  “Don’t break my heart,” she whispers, her vulnerability clear in her voice, and all I can think about is somehow easing her mind.

  I sit up and shuffle us around so that her body is straddling mine. My hands are on her face, and our eyes are locked.

  “I promise.” And I mean it. “This. Here. What we are doing right now, baby, this is the start of something,” I begin to tell her but her eyes turn slightly sad.

  “I’ve had my heart broken before, Jay,” she shares, not that she needs to remind me.

  “I know, sweetheart.” I was painfully aware of each time she’d taken a chance and what the outcome had cost her. I’d been there, through each breakup, passing the tequila or ice-cream, depending on how bad it had been.

  “Those guys. They were nothing. They don’t compare to what I feel for you.” Fuck, if her words didn’t make my chest puff up like a peacock. “You have the power to obliterate me,” she admits, and my heart thunders against my rib cage. Hearing the words and what she means by them, makes me want to pump my fist in the air, all while reassuring I would never take advantage of it. She loves me.

  “Rocio Padilla, I swear to you, baby, your heart is safe with me.” The need to tell her more bubbles at my throat. I don’t give a rat’s ass whether it’s too much too soon.

  “Are we really doing this?” Her shy but bright smile shows her excitement, and the air crackles between us.

  “We are. This is it. You and me…I know this is just starting, but in a way, we both know this has been a long time coming.”

  “This is crazy.” She giggles, her nose nuzzles mine, and my arms tighten around her as I roll her onto her back. “Oh, my God! You’re going to hurt yourself.” She laughs.

  “Hardly,” I gruff, settling my body between her legs and kneeling before her.

  Dark, silky tresses lay across the pillows. Her eyes are on me as my hands go to the hem of her black tank top and pull it up to reveal her satiny skin. I lean forward and kiss her tummy. Her soft moan feeds my need to taste more.

  “Tell me you’re mine,” I breathe into her skin. My fingers are hooked and ready to pull down the sexy blue maxi skirt she is wearing.

  “Jay.” Her fingers tug softly on my hair, and I look up at her. “Jay…” she says my name again, and I drape my body over hers and kiss her. Her taste fills depths in my soul I didn’t know were empty.

  “Tell me, beautiful,” I coax, licking the crook of her neck, causing her body to arch deliciously into mine. “I’ll give you exactly what we both want,” I mumble against the corner of her lips before nuzzling her nose.

  “I’m yours, Jason.” Her hands cup my face. Her eyes are warm and so full of love, I know life will never be the same. “I’ve always been yours,” she confidently adds, and I kiss her. Softly. Sweetly. Somehow restraining myself. Taking my time with her, we both get lost in the moment, making out like a pair of teens under the moon.

  Her hands skim the skin on my back under my shirt and every nerve in my body is on fire. A growing ache surrounds me. It’s more than just about wanting to get my dick wet and sinking into her. It’s about connecting with her. Being as fucking close as humanly possible, becoming one and never letting go.

  I see something flash in her eyes, and as if on the same page, she starts to tug on my shirt, and I help her. Anticipation and heat swirl around us, growing with every touch, and clothes start to fall away.

  Both of us are in only our underwear, and I can’t take my eyes off her. My hands clench at my side as I take a deep breath, trying to hold onto control. I want to beat on my chest at the sight of her in purple. She wore it for me, and because of that, I can’t decide between drawing out the moment, slipping off her sexy as hell purple silk, lace-trimmed boy shorts achingly slow, or ripping them from her body. Her hands slide to her stomach, and I grab her wrists.

  “Don’t,” I warn, still taking my fill of her body. My mouth waters at the sight of her bare skin.

  “Jay.” She doesn’t say anything else. She doesn’t have to. I know that tone.

  “Don’t hide yourself from me,” I plead, giving her a small kiss.

  Just like that, I don’t have to decide how I am going to take her. The decision is made for me. I need to show her exactly just how damn beautiful she is. No matter how much it costs me.

  ROCIO

  His hands slip away from my wrists, but he doesn’t let go. Instead, he entwines our fingers and walks backward, and I follow. I would follow him anywhere if he promises to always look at me the way he is.

  He kneels in the center of the pillows on the ground and tugs on my hands until I join him. His face comes closer, and his lips hover over mine. Offering him all my trust and faith that what we are about to start is the real deal, I shut my eyes, ready for his kiss. But it doesn’t happen. Instead, he kisses the corner of my mouth so gently, I don’t know how I’m even breathing.

  “Lay back, beautiful,” he tells me. His body is straining like he’s trying to stay in control. I can’t believe it. Jason Somers is holding his body tensely, about to lose control, because of me. I don’t question him. Lying back, my hair is fanned on top of the pillows. I’m oddly comfortable with my nudity around him, though my heart rate is probably rivaling that of a hummingbird’s. I watch as he takes off his boxers, and I can’t help but lick my lips at the sight of his thick cock, erect and jutting forward.

  He moves between my thighs, and holding his body slightly above mine, he kisses my neck and begins to move south. With every touch of his lips, he tells me how beautiful I am, how lucky he is that I am letting him do this, and that he’s been an idiot for having wasted so much time. Every word feeds my soul in an unexpected way.

  During his sweet torture, my hands clench the pillows below me, and my toes curl inward while my back arches up. The moment his mouth reaches my nipple, I can’t hold quiet. He licks, suckles, and nips my breasts. Taking turns, he makes sure to give each one his undivided attention, driving me wilder with every swipe of his tongue.

  His mouth leaves one nipple with a loud pop and heads south, peppering kisses around my belly and stopping at the waistline of my boy shorts.

  “You wear these for me?”

  “Yes,” I pant, and his hands clench around the material, making me wetter than before. With a loud rip, he tears the delicate purple fabric and brings it to his face to smell the damp material. Smelling me.

  “Fuck,” he growls, and I lose sight, because the moment his face is right where I need him, my eyes close and I drown in nothing more than the sensation of his lips, tongue, and slight scruff.

  The way he eats me, I can tell he’s getting off on the act just as much as I am, and I let go. I let myself drown in everything he is doing and making me feel. A riptide swirls about and around me, pulling me in deeper until, without seeing it approaching, I crash and explode into a million tiny, little pieces while I pant for air.

  His mouth doesn’t disappear. If anything, he stays there longer, kissing and taking light swipes at my oversensitive skin. He kisses both my thighs before bringing his body over mine. Needing to touch him, I cup his face. His blue eyes are dark and intense, and his thick cock is lined up perfectly with my entrance.

  “Rocio,” he voices in a strained tone, and I lean up with my lips right below his as his hands clench beside my head.

  “Love me, Jason,” I gently demand, knowing it’s what we both crave and need more than anything in the world.

  His forehead dips, touching mine as we share the same air in this intimate and beautiful mome
nt. In one hard thrust, he pushes into me, and my legs wrap around his waist. I take everything he has to offer and give him all of me. It’s not romantic and soft. Every thrust is hard and punishing. Us being together has been a long time coming, but nonetheless beautiful. We’re both sweating under the shining stars until we close our eyes and almost simultaneously reach our peaks and see nothing but white as pleasure explodes in and around us.

  CHAPTER SIX

  JASON

  I PULL A LIGHT THROW blanket I thankfully had the foresight to bring out over us. I listen to her breath, while her head rests on my chest, and I hold her as tightly as I can manage. The steady inhale and exhale is so damn peaceful.

  “That was…” she starts to say but stops and pops her head up. The feeling of her upper body on mine is fucking magnificent. “Unreal,” she finally finishes, and I hold my body still.

  “Unreal?” I ask, and she smiles so brightly, I feel it in my damn throat. Why did we wait so fucking long to get here?

  “I love you, Jason Somers.” By the way she’s suddenly pressing her lips together, I can tell she hadn’t intended on being so truthful, but I’m not about to let her take it back.

  “My girl loves me.” I kiss her slowly, then pull away so I can look into her eyes when I finally tell her what I have been holding back for far too long. “I love you, too, Rocio Padilla. I’ve loved you for a very long time.”

  A tear falls down her cheek, and I wipe it away with my thumb. I kiss the tip of her nose and then stand us both up and carry her to my bed. Seeing her dark hair spread out on my pillows and her bare skin under my sheets makes my body come alive. Mine. She’s mine, here in my bed to do what I please. My balls are heavy, filling and tightening as I stroke myself and watch her eyes flash with desire.

  We make love again and again. Even when my body is spent and needs time to recuperate, I keep going, pleasing her. Watching pleasure wash over her is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever experienced. The night turns into early morning when we can’t do anything other than lie next to one another and talk in hushed whispers.

  We talk about the past, about when we both figured out we cared about each other as more than friends. How we knew it was love. We even quietly talk about the reasons we didn’t do anything about it. The risk of the other not feeling the same and losing our friendship had been too great to take. The conversation flows freely and is without judgment. We decide to put our best feet forward, and determine to leave the past behind us now that we are finally together.

  When I bring up the future and her dark eyes sparkle back at me, my chest fills with hope and pride. This beautiful woman lying in my bed, who knows everything there is to know about me, is the one to walk beside me for the rest of our days. Sure, someone could look at me and think I’m crazy for predicting such a bold future, but I couldn’t give a fuck.

  I know, without a doubt, our future is full of endless possibilities. No matter what life has in store for us, she will be beside me. My best friend is also my girl. The only woman I have, and will ever, love.

  THE END…FOR NOW.

  Our Families: Thank you for the constant support, love and encouragement you give us daily. The time we spend away from you is often wondered if it is worth it. But seeing the smiles and hearing “the you got this” from you is what keeps us going every day. Thanks for allowing us to share ourselves with the world…even when you don’t want to at times.

  Our Editors: Jennifer, Cassia, Emma, Tonnie and Kathleen. Thank you for the time you took out of your schedules to edit these stories. You all are amazing people and we can NOT be the authors we are without your editing skills. We look forward to working with you again.

  Our Proofreaders: Emma and Momma. Thank you for making sure the final work is as correct as it can be. Without proofreaders, we would have many more issues with our stories than we realize. We can’t thank you enough for making sure it is as perfect as it can be.

  Our PR Companies: Beyond the Click, Eyecandy and Enticing Journey – Thank you for all the pimping and promoting you did. Thank you for getting the bloggers signed up and for supporting this anthology. I know we were a pain at times but we couldn’t have done this without your help.

  PFC Charity: Thank you for being a hero to so many people who battle this cancer daily. Thank you for supporting the families that are the strength these men lean on when they don’t know if they can hold out much longer. We are in awe of your selflessness that you show by doing what you do daily.

  Author and Blogger Friends: Thank you for the support you’ve shown us even when you had no clue what we were doing. Having friends that share, support, pimp and just lean on is often overwhelming. There are times we sit here in awe that people in this community are so kind and help without a second thought. There is no way this anthology would be where it is today without your help.

  Our Readers: Thanks for taking a chance on this anthology and also these ten authors. We hope you enjoyed the stories from not only your favorite ones, but also you found a few new ones to follow.

  S. VAN HORNE

  S. Van Horne was born and raised in the small town of Belton, Missouri, which is a part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. She’s from a very large family and is the oldest of six. Growing up, she didn’t have the easiest life. She learned quickly that family means everything, even if it’s the type that you get to pick for yourself.

  She met the love of her life at the early age of twenty and was married just after nine months of meeting him. Shortly after marriage, her husband rejoined the U.S. Navy and they moved from Kansas City and started their journey together. Currently they have two amazing children, a boy and a girl, and are still enjoying the Navy life.

  She spends her days being a wife, mom, reading books, writing her latest novel, watching her beloved Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals, watching movies, hanging out with family and friends and having girls’ day at least once a month.

  You can find S here:

  http://authorsvanhorne.com

  RIANN C. MILLER

  Riann C. Miller lives in southeast Kansas and writes steamy contemporary romance stories. When she’s not reading or writing, she spends time with her friends and family or you might catch her watching a baseball game with a beer in her hand.

  You can connect with Riann here:

  Website:www.riannmiller.com

  Goodreads:http://bit.ly/1OUfX3S

  Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorrainnmiller

  Twitter:https://twitter.com/rianncmiller

  WINTER TRAVERS

  Winter Travers is a devoted wife, mother, and aunt turned author who was born and raised in Wisconsin. After a brief stint in South Carolina following her heart to chase the man who is now her hubby, they retreated back up North to the changing seasons, and to the place they now call home.

  Winter spends her days writing happily ever afters, and her nights zipping around on her forklift at work. She also has an addiction to anything MC related, her dog Thunder, and Mexican food! (Tamales!)

  Winter loves to stay connected with her readers. Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact her.

  www.facebook.com/wintertravers

  Twitter: @WinterTravers

  Instagram: @WinterTravers

  TRACIE DOUGLAS

  Surviving on caffeine most days, Tracie Douglas lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, two dogs and one really fat cat. She spends her days chasing children and fur babies, all while maintaining the illusion of sanity.

  Her nights are spent toiling away at the keyboard, creating a world filled with hot men and strong women. She loves to read and write all types of book but tends to lean on the darker side of the spectrum. She’s pretty handy with a crochet hook too.

  Tracie loves to hear from her readers!

  Facebook:www.facebook.com/authortraciedouglas

  Reader’s Group:http://bit.ly/2t7iPIr

  Goodreads:http://bit.ly/1RuenWm

  Email: tr
aciedouglas.author@gmail.com

  GWYN McNAMEE

  Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, writer, wife, and mother (to one human baby and two fur babies). Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.

  When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels). An admitted shoe whore, Gwyn’s closet rivals Carrie Bradshaw’s and is constantly expanding.

  Gwyn loves to hear from her readers!

  She can be found here: Facebook-

  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGwynMcNamee/

  Twitter-

  https://twitter.com/GwynMcNamee

  Instagram-

  https://www.instagram.com/gwynmcnamee

  FB Reader Group-

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1667380963540655/

  Newsletter-

  www.gwynmcnamee.com/newsletter

  Website-

  http://www.gwynmcnamee.com/

  TRINITY ROSE

  Trinity Rose (AKA Jamie Cercone) was born and raised in southwestern New York. Never in her wildest dreams did she see herself become a writer. But with one sentence, “You read that shit so much, you should just write it!” from her hubby the rest is history. Now this devoted wife, mother of two awesome kids and RN writes about alphas, strong willed women and badassery. When she’s not writing, playing mom, performing her wifey duties or saving lives you can find her surviving on Nutella, Halloween, purses and reading.