Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (21 page)

She moaned and arched her back, her small body rolling with the rhythm of his assault as he took her with his mouth, his hands, and then his own body. Her moans fueled the fire within him to hear her more, to feel her pleasure, to do anything for her. He stroked her hair as he slowed, her lips puffy and swollen from his kissing, his teeth having nipped at her over and over again.

"So beautiful, baby. Never in my life could I imagine someone like you wanting me."

She rolled them over, sitting up and reaching up to pull her hair into a messy bun as her hips began to roll. He closed his eyes and reached up to hold onto her hips as she took control of their lovemaking. Her words twisted with the exhale of her moans.

"So good..."

Chapter 25

The night had been like nothing she'd ever experienced before, her body sore and sated beyond belief. Soft light filtered through the room as she rubbed Jake's chest, her body tucked against the side of his, her legs wrapped around his. He was sound asleep, the subtle rise and fall of his chest the only way of knowing he was alive and well. His face was tilted toward her, his long eyelashes resting on his high cheekbones.

Her heart swelled in her chest, the man beside her scorching her with his passion. He'd spent hours learning what made her come unglued. He did things she'd never even known possible, the memory of them causing her to groan softly. To lose him would be the end of her. She squeezed her eyes close tightly and fought back a wave of nausea at the deep feeling of loss that rolled over her.

Surely this time things would work out - they had to. It was her turn.

Kari lay there for a few more minutes before slipping out of his grasp and going to take a long, hot shower. He'd fallen asleep an hour before the sun rose, but she couldn't bear the thought of sleeping and then waking to their night having been nothing more than a dream.

She washed quickly and walked back into the room, a large white towel wrapped around her and Jake coming to, his hair a mess and his eyes bloodshot. A smile crept across his perfect mouth as he sat up.

"Hi, beautiful."

"Hey, you." She walked toward him, sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached over and pulled her down on top of him, the towel pulling loose. He kissed at her neck and chest, rolling with her and pinning her under him.

"I want more of you," he mumbled, pulling at the towel as she pulled it back up, laughing.

"I have to get home to help Sicily. You can have more of me anytime you want. I'm reserved for you."

He looked up, his eyes filled with warm emotion. "You're mine?"

She shrugged, her eyes moving around the room until he leaned closer, filling up the space in front of her. She laughed at the adorable expression on his face.

"If you want me, then yes," Kari responded.

His eyebrow lifted just before he leaned down to kiss her. It was soft and sweet, lingering just long enough for her to feel the truth in his words. He moved back and rolled off, standing up and letting the sheet fall behind him as he rubbed his beautiful stomach.

"I don't think it's about want anymore. I need you." He looked over his shoulder and winked at her as she sat up, scooting to the edge of the bed as she watched him walk without a care in the world to the bathroom. If she'd thought he was breathtaking in his clothes, she'd been slapped with realization that without them - he was borderline heavenly. She flopped back on the bed, just trying to catch her breath for a few minutes.

*

They said their goodbyes as he dropped her off at her car, Kari leaning into him as he pulled her into a tight hug. The look on his face spoke volumes about his feelings for her. She could only hope that her own mirrored his. To tell him that she was in love with him only after a week of knowing each other and spending one night in each other's arms seemed ridiculous, and yet she wanted to so badly. She reached up and kissed him, her fingers brushing along the soft short beard that dusted his strong jawline.

"I'm going home to get a nap, and I'll meet you downtown on the square around two or so?" He kissed her again as she agreed and climbed into her car. He stood there, watching her as she drove off, Kari's heart thumping violently in her chest.

She picked up her phone and dialed Lisa, putting the phone on speaker so she could drive.

"Hey, you headed home? Sicily is having a fit over needing you to pick out colors for our painting adventures today." Lisa huffed and Kari smiled, the familiarity of her friend’s voice roping her in and tugging her back down to reality.

"Yeah, I'm headed home. I should be there right before lunch. We can go by and pick the color and get over there."

"You have a good time? No getting lost or anything, right?"

"No getting lost. I did end up having sex all night with a really hot guy though." Kari laughed at the sound of Lisa choking on something.

"You did not!" Lisa's voice lowered as she yelled in the background. "Sicily, get your ass down here. Kari had sex."

Kari laughed again and shook her head as Sicily squealed in the background and Lisa's voice filled the car again.

"We want details. Now."

"I'll tell you guys when I get home."

"Uh no. You have a four hour drive. Tell us now!" Sicily yelled into the phone.

"So I got here yesterday and you'll never guess who the guest coach for the team was."

"OH, MY GOD. You got it on with the hottie coach?" Lisa yelled as Sicily spoke up, her voice serious.

"I thought he hurt you. That doesn't sound like a good idea."

"Yeah well, we made up - like really made up." Kari laughed and enjoyed the doting of her friends. They were jealous and she was loving every minute of it.

"Was he fucking awesome?" Lisa asked before yelling 'ouch' as Sicily must've popped her.

"So far beyond that. I'm still trying to recover from him."

"How do you feel? Like emotionally?" Sicily asked.

Kari thought about it for a minute and shrugged. "I don't know. He's all I've thought about for the last week and being with him yesterday, and making love to him all night... I don't know."

"You love him," Sicily filled in the blanks for her.

"I think I do, but I don't want to, you know?"

"Love is messy. Just let it be great sex, Kari." Lisa sighed, Kari understanding all too well.

"I'm not sure what my heart is willing to do, guys, but let me let you go. Just wanted you to know that I'm headed home."

Lisa laughed. "You did not. You wanted to make us jealous that you got laid by some hottie coach."

"Yeah, that too." Kari laughed. "You have no room to talk. I'm sure you and my poor innocent brother sexed it up all week. However, I don't want ANY details."

"You'd be proud of her, Kari. They didn't sleep together," Sicily spoke up.

Kari sat in shock, the idea of her brother and Lisa not sleeping together seeming too foreign to accept. They were both complete nymphos.

"Why didn't you guys sleep together? Not my fault, right?"

"No, we just felt like something was happening between us that wouldn't be healthy with the distance, so we kept to a few great make out sessions and that's it."

Kari could hear the depression lingering around the edge of her friend's voice. Lisa did have feelings for Marc, and most likely he had them too. Not good.

"Well, I'm proud of you. You behaved and I acted like a total slut last night."

"What's the world coming to?" Lisa asked as Sicily reminded Kari to hurry, but do so safely. She hung up and enjoyed the spring day, her windows down and her hair flying around the car. Her heart was on fire for the boy of her dreams and her body was marked from head to toe with his passion. She wanted to be his as he had claimed that morning.

"God, please let it be true."

*

Kari pulled into the drive, her eyes heavy from staying up all night. Getting out of the car, she stretched, her heart almost stopping at the yelps of her friends as they rushed out of the house and toward her.

"What?" she yelled and moved toward them, shutting the car door behind her.

Lisa wrapped her up in a big hug and squeezed so tight her back popped.

"Nothing. We're just glad you're home and that you had a magical night with Mr. Big Stuff." Sicily clapped her hands, her smile wide and filled with adoration.

"Was he 'Mr. Big Stuff'?" Lisa asked, licking at her teeth as she moved back. Kari swatted at her and rolled her eyes.

"I'm not answering that." Kari walked around to get her bag out of the car as Lisa pouted and Sicily chided her.

"Are you up for helping us paint today? I know you have to be tired." Sicily reached for her bag, and Kari gladly handed it over.

"Yeah, and Jake's going to join us this afternoon. He went home to sleep a little and then he'll come." Kari smiled, her heart fluttering at the idea of seeing him again.

"Oh nice. Big muscles to help us get the job done and he can get up on the ladder for the high spots." Sicily motioned for Lisa to get the door, the bossy redhead moving in front and holding it.

Kari stopped by her friend and looked at her for a minute before going in. "You okay?"

Lisa looked down and sighed, the dark circles around her eyes giving reason for concern.

"No, I don't think so."

"What's up?"

Lisa shook her head. "We can talk later. I don't want to get into it right now."

Sicily started banging stuff around the kitchen, the noise catching Kari's attention. She looked back to Lisa as they shut the front door and stood together.

"Did something go down with you and Sicily?"

Lisa shook her head. "No, I just miss Marc."

"Oh... Oh." Kari reached out and pulled Lisa into a hug, rubbing her back. She had started to fall for Kari's brother. This was what Kari had been worried about from the get-go.

"It's all good. I'll get over it." Lisa moved back and walked to the kitchen, her voice changing to hold false happiness. "What're you cooking?"

"I was going to throw together some quesadillas for lunch. I have chicken and veggies and our tortillas are going bad soon. That sound good?"

Kari sat down at the kitchen table, her long weekend catching up to her.

"If I'm not cooking it, I'll not be complaining about it. Sounds delicious." Lisa sat down beside her and smiled wickedly. "I want details of the night. For real."

Kari laughed. "You got it, just later. I'm exhausted."

"Go take an hour nap and then we'll go. I'll make you a quesadilla to take in the car with us." Sicily walked toward them, reaching out to rub Kari's back.

"Yeah, I think I will go lay down." Kari stood and stretched again, her body sore, eyes burning. "Get me up about fifteen minutes before we go so I can brush my hair and stuff."

"Will do. Gotta look good for your new man." Sicily waggled her eyebrows as Kari walked from the kitchen, her steps labored, but her heart light and excited about the afternoon with her friends and Jake.

"I'm glad you picked the paint. I never would have gone for a teal color." Sicily looked back at Kari from the front seat, Lisa driving as they pulled away from the home improvement store. They'd spent thirty minutes looking for colors and would be late meeting Jake. Kari texted him to make sure he knew. He responded to take her time, he wasn't going anywhere.

Let's hope that's true.

"When is opening day for the bakery?" Lisa looked over at Sicily.

"I'm thinking we should be ready to go at the first of May. That's still three weeks away, and there is a little more work to do. What do you guys think?"

Kari nodded, looking up from her phone. "I think we can totally get it together in the next three weeks. What all is left to do besides paint? Anything really difficult, or just getting equipment and tables and stuff?"

"There's just mostly cosmetic stuff that needs to be done, and then fixtures and furniture. We're almost there. I'm thinking if we pull together, that is if you guys will help me, we can get it done."

Lisa snorted, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Of course we're going to help you. Seems like we might have a hometown hero willing to help too, thanks to Kari's hot ass."

Kari laughed as Sicily reached over and slapped at Lisa. "Try not to be vulgar in front of Kari's new guy."

"Oh I've already tried to sleep with him before he was Kari's." Lisa laughed and pulled in beside him.

Kari chuckled and leaned up, Jake looking over and waving at her. She slipped out of the car without responding and walked toward him. He shut his door and reached for her, pulling her into a warm hug and leaning down to press his lips to hers, his kiss hot and demanding.

He breathed in deeply and rubbed his nose along hers. "Ummm... damn I've missed you and it's only been a few hours. We're in deep trouble, I think."

Kari laughed and moved back, slipping her hand into his and walking with him toward Sicily's car.

Lisa waved and Sicily smiled warmly at him. "Hey, Jake."

"Ladies. I heard you needed a master painter. He was busy, but they sent me, so apologies up front."

Lisa smirked and Sicily laughed as Kari shook her head.

"Get over here and grab the paint cans with me. We just need some muscle, no need to master anything." Kari opened the trunk and started pulling out supplies. Lisa and Sicily moved to open the door.

"You get a nap?" he asked, reaching over and taking the paint from Kari.

"A small one. You?"

He nodded as Kari closed the trunk and they walked toward the shop. "I did, but I dreamt of making love to you the whole time, so I think I'm more exhausted than when I laid down."