Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (38 page)

Chapter 20

I woke the next morning having not dreamt of Amanda for the first time in ten years. Chloe wasn't in the bed next to me and for some reason panic rolled over me. I sat up and the scent of breakfast wafted through the open door. Letting out a long sigh, I flopped back down in the bed, fear threatening to undo the peace that our sex had produced deep inside of me.

"Baby?" Chloe's voice was soft and I closed my eyes, pretending to still be asleep. "Ian. Time to get up. I made you breakfast and I wanted to spend the day together before we have to drive up to L.A."

"Hmmm?" I rolled over and opened my eyes quickly, reaching out and grabbing her as she yelped in surprise. Fuck if she wasn't incredibly cute in the morning. I rolled and trapped her beneath me.

"You ass." She slapped at me, but I just pressed against her harder. The silky material of her nightie forcing me to reconsider our plans.

"I think staying here and exploring our deepest desires might be a better way to spend the day." I leaned down and kissed her as she struggled against me for a moment before sinking into the kiss.

She broke it, pushing at my chest, and sat up as I rolled off of her. "That's on the agenda for tomorrow. Get up and let's eat."

She slipped out of the bed and I lifted my head, wanting to see what she had on. A silky pink tank top and lace panties. Those damn panties had almost given me a heart attack earlier in the week when the little tart had pranced across the living room in them like I was an old girl friend from high school lounging on the couch. "Pain in the ass."

I got up and slipped my jeans over my legs and carefully tucked my arousal into them. It was going to be a long day of wanting to get her naked again and having to pretend she was nothing more than part of my job. Her father would be watching, and if Pauly was there, he'd want a full rundown. He was going to get the limited version - at best.

I hated lying. Always had.

"Do I have time for a shower?" I leaned out of the bedroom door and called down to her.

"Get your ass in here and eat or I'm never cooking for you again."

I laughed and walked toward the kitchen. It was a good thing to know. If the food tasted like shit I would simply skip off to the bathroom and save her feelings and my taste buds.

I pinched her ass and picked up a piece of bacon, deciding the shower could wait. This girl had my heart and my body... now she was after my hunger, and knowing her, she'd be getting it swiftly.

"I'm glad we waited to go to the mall here instead of San Diego. The malls are bigger and more extravagant here." Chloe pointed to the sign near downtown L.A. to show me which exit to take. I hated the city and tried to avoid it at all costs, but seeing that her father, my employer, wanted us there... we were there. I owed Pauly a big ass thank you for getting her car from Coronado for me. Without it, I would have the pretty girl on the back of my bike, which wouldn’t be so bad for me, but she might not like it for the extended ride north.

"Malls suck donkey dick." I turned the radio down and smiled at her as she chuckled. If she could handle my crude humor, she was definitely going to be my girl long-term.

"Well, you might think differently after today." She slid her hand over my thigh and sucked her thick bottom lip into her mouth. My hormones sprang to life at her promises.

"Oh yeah? How so?" I lifted an eyebrow at her and slipped my hand over hers, stopping her from going near my dick. If she started to rub on it, there would be no getting out of the car for a good twenty minutes until I got my imagination to calm the fuck down.

"Ever fuck in a dressing room?"

Her question shattered my thoughts of chastity. I'd be sporting a hard on all damn day.

"Um, no, but I'm an exhibitionist, so anything you want... I'm down." I moved her hand to cup my groin, the sensation of her nails running over me causing me to growl softly. "Tease."

"Teases don't put out." She tugged the hem of her dress up, revealing her naked sex.

I closed my eyes and groaned as we sat at the entrance to the mall. "No panties? Fuck, Chloe. You're going to give me a heart attack and then who's going to protect your body?"

"No one. You're the only man I want near it." She leaned forward and pointed as I released her hand and turned into the parking lot. "There's one up front."

"That's handicapped you silly girl." I shook my head and moved the small beamer to the back of the lot.

"So?" The innocence in her expression told me that someone had forgotten to teach her basic etiquette when raising her. Odd.

"So, you don't park there, baby. There are consequences for breaking the law and your daddy can't get you out of everything." I pulled into the lot and glanced at her.

"Whatever," she muttered and got out of the car, flashing a little ass cheek at me as she tugged the dress back down. I needed to shut the fuck up. I could help her grow up a little after we got tired of fucking each other all over the city. Until then, I would park on the goddamn roof if she wanted me to.

I got out of the car and locked it before grabbing her hand and pulling her back. She pressed against me, but kept her eyes adverted to the ground. I pushed at her chin a little, leaning down and smiling at her.

"I didn't mean to make it sound like that. I just wanted you to know why you couldn't park up there. Forgive me." I kissed her, not at all put off by having to apologize. We were from different worlds and she was sure to step on my dick before too long too. It was just going to happen.

"It's okay. I guess I didn't realize that there were more spots at the back. I just park wherever I want and my father seems to take care of it if I run into an issue." She shrugged and moved out of my hold.

"Come on. Let's get you something pretty to wear for our date this weekend."

"Where are you taking me?" Her mood lifted quickly and I was grateful.

"Up to Santa Maria. We'll take Pacific Coast Highway in your beamer seeing that it's a convertible."

"Oh, I love it up there. Fresh fish markets and flowers." She squeezed my hand and I took her in from head to toe.

Damn boy... you scored big this time. Don't fuck it up.

We shopped for several hours, the hordes of women around us and the gaggles of girls almost driving me mad, but I kept myself in check. An hour before we needed to go, I warned her that we would have to wrap things up soon.

She poked her head out of the dressing room and smiled. "Come in here and zip this?"

"Yeah. Sure, baby." I moved into the dressing room and stopped short. She didn't have anything but a sheer slip on. Her nipples were hard and screamed for attention, but the smile on her mouth is what threw me over the edge. "Naughty."

She laughed. "Sit down and shut up."

"Ahh... trying to take control again, I see." I moved to the bench and sat down, reaching for her and brushing my hand over the soft curve of her ass. She had to be the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on. Why she wanted me was another story altogether.

She turned her back to me and arched her back, leaning down and hovering above me. "Fuck me. I want to feel you inside of me."

I pulled her to sit in my lap and pressed my lips to the side of her neck while forcing her legs open for me with my free hand. "Here's the rule. No making any noises or I'll stop. Got it?"

She nodded, but didn't make a sound.

I reached up and latched onto her breast, squeezing hard as I sucked the soft flesh of her neck into my mouth and sunk two fingers into her wetness. I groaned softly as she stiffened, not at all expecting my stealth attack.

I pushed at her back a little and forced her to lean up against my palm as my fingers laid waste to her tight little pussy. She was trembling by the time she came and when she moaned, I didn't have the ability to force myself to stop from taking her over the edge. She came hard and I had to use every bit of willpower I had not to join her as her tight ass rolled over my erection.

I petted her sloppy wet sex a few times and whispered my thoughts, my voice hoarse and filled with untapped need. "Good girl."

Getting up, I pointed to the seat behind her. "Sit down and let me clean up this mess you've made."

I licked my lips and moved to my knees before her as she let out a whimper.

So fucking hot.

Chapter 21

My blood still hadn't stopping pumping violently through my veins by the time we reached the campus. Ian kept licking at his fingers or running them by his nose, which just sent me into another frenzy. The night beneath him had been like nothing I had ever experienced, the dressing room so incredibly hot. The few encounters with sex I had before him were incredibly lame if I was comparing.

He parked just outside of my sorority house and I got out of the car, fixing my dress and waiting on him near the back of the car.

"I live up there with a huge group of girls."

He glanced toward the house and I took his hand, squeezing it, and moving in closer to him. His jeans and dark t-shirt made him look like a sexy thug that belonged on a Rolling Stones magazine cover. I wanted more of him, but I felt like I had already pushed a little too much. He didn't seem to mind, but taking it slow would be the key to not looking like the stalker I was feeling like.

"Hey." He glanced down at me, his brown eyes impossibly beautiful. "You know we can't let your father or Pauly know that we're together. I don't want them pulling me off this job or hiring some other idiot to watch over you."

"I know." I released his hand and slipped mine into the pockets of my dress. "I'll behave at the event and you just promise to make it up to me tonight?"

"Anything you want." He leaned down and slid his fingers into my hair, pulling me close for a long probing kiss.

I broke it and licked at my lips. "I just want you."

"You got me, baby girl." He turned and looked over his shoulder. "Let's get over to the event and I'll check out your pad when we're done. I don't want to be late and have your father searching for us."

"Sounds good." I moved away from the car and glanced back at him. "Can you tell I don't have panties on?"

He shook his head. "No, but thank you for the reminder. You're going to be required to wear panties and sweats when we go out. It kills my concentration to know you're bare beneath that flaunty little dress."

"Panties and sweats would help?" I laughed as he rolled his eyes.

"Point taken."

Pauly walked out from a large group of people and waved, his smile warm.

"I like this guy," Ian muttered and smiled at me as I nodded.

"He's like a second dad to me."

"I think he could be a first one to me."

I started to take his hand, but remembered our situation and pulled back. "I want to know more about that tonight."

"Of course." Ian winked at me before extending his hand toward Pauly. "Hey boss."

"Hey guys." Pauly reached out and pulled me into a side hug. "This guy treating you right?"

"Yeah. He's a great guy." I glanced up at Ian, my smile sincere as my heart throbbed painfully in my chest. I was completely lost to him. He had the power to destroy me, which left me on the edge of being nauseous with worry.

"I'm starting to think the same thing." Pauly smiled and glanced at Ian. "I'll stay with Chloe for a minute if you want to go scope the place. You know much better what to look for in large crowds than I do."

"You bet. Keep her safe." Ian glanced down at Pauly and then me. "I'll be right back."

"I'm good. I'll go see my father for a minute." I smiled and forced myself to turn toward Pauly and not watch my sexy bodyguard walk off.

"So, you guys aren't sleeping together, right?" Pauly tilted his head and lifted his eyebrow.

"Um... no?" I chuckled as my cheeks burned.

Pauly laughed. "Do you love him?"

"Yeah. So fucking much."

"And does he love you?" Pauly turned and seemed to be watching Ian. I followed suit, letting out a sigh at how good he looked from behind.

"I don't know, but I hope so."

"I would say for sure he does. Men have an unspoken language and he just laid it down on me. It was a non-verbal threat. Watch my girl and don't let anything happen to her or I'll fuck you up." Pauly smiled and nodded toward a small tent behind us. "Your dad's back there. Let's go see him."

I turned and walked with my oldest friend toward the small white structure. "Is that really what he said?"

"That's what I heard." Pauly shrugged. "Guy code. You wouldn't get it."

"I guess not." I rolled my eyes playfully and walked into the tent, stopping in front of my father and reaching up to fix his tie.

"Oh, Chloe. There you are, pumpkin." He leaned down and kissed the side of my face.

"Are you excited?" I smiled up at him, not really feeling anything around him but nervousness. I knew he didn't know about me and Ian, but some part of me wanted him to. I needed him to accept us if there was a hope of the relationship blossoming past an infatuation on my part.

"No. It's just a song and dance. I'll be glad to have two weeks off after this. I need to just stare at a wall." He brushed my hair back from my shoulders. "How are you? Everything with Ian going well?"

"Yes. I actually wanted to talk to you about him."

Pauly cleared his throat and I glanced at him as he gave me the 'cut it out' symbol. I ignored him against my better judgment.

"Sure. What about him?" My father moved from me and picked up a small mirror. He worked to suck something out of his teeth, his attention not at all on me.

"Well, it's quite confidential and Ian doesn't know it, but I think I have feelings for him."

My father laughed. "What? That's silly. He's a man, Chloe. You're a girl. Besides, he's street trash with a hard body and a good eye. Don't be ridiculous and don't push anything with him. He knows his place. Don't confuse the poor boy."

I stood in shock, not quite sure how to respond. My father had always been for the underdog rising up, or was it just a strong platform to fool people from.

"Wow," I mumbled and turned, shaking my head as tears dotted my vision.

"Chloe. Come back, pumpkin. I didn't mean anything harsh by it," he called after me, but I didn't hear anything from the deafening sound of blood rushing by my ears.

My father wasn't at all who he seemed to be. Did any of the poor people who supported him know that he laughed at their poverty and attempts to rise up out of it behind their backs?

Pauly jogged up beside me. "Stay with me, sweetheart. We're not totally safe in these large events."

"Okay," I mumbled, half numb.

"Butterfly, don't let him upset you. He's not been himself lately and you know as well as I do that no one will ever be good enough for you." Pauly reached over and rubbed my shoulders.

"I guess. I just never expected him to be so... so desensitized."

"He's under a lot of pressure. Cut him some slack and he'll be back to the guy you know and love after a little bit of rest." Pauly winked at me and I nodded, dropping the conversation. There was no way my father's closest companion was going to be objective. I couldn't expect him to be either.

"I need to run to the restroom. I'll be back in a minute?" I smiled and pulled from his hold.

"I'll be right over there at the entrance gate. Just come find me."

"I can do that." I turned and walked to the bathroom, letting the fake smile on my lips fade. My father might be tired, but his nasty demeanor toward Ian hit me square in the chest. The guy had almost taken a bullet for my dad, changed his whole life to protect me, and was here again today, watching over both of us.

What else could someone do to prove their worth? Why did he have to prove anything? I walked into the bathroom and moved to the mirror to reapply my lipstick as my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out hoping it was Ian.

Jeremy. Always Jeremy.

"Hey you," I picked up and leaned in to apply a little more gloss to my lips. I wanted Ian to see me and hone in on them.

"Hey! I was going to come down to the beach this afternoon and wanted to see if you would be around."

"Yeah. I should. Just hit me up when you get there and we'll hang out."

"I would like that. I miss you, C."

"Awww... that's sweet." I closed my eyes, trying not to sound as fake as I felt.

"I'm surprised you're not going to your father's event on campus."

"Nope. Can't make it. Are you?" I cringed at the thought of running into him.

"No. I've already left town. I'll have to make it up to him. Does he like milk or dark chocolates?"

What? I shook my head and let out a shallow breath before moving from the restroom. "Both I guess."

A strong hand grabbed my arm as something pressed into my side. "I like both, too. Don't scream or I'll pull the trigger."

I yelped and looked over at Jeremy, the look on his face disturbing. “Jeremy. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you. You know the one thing I hate more than anything else?"

"What?" I walked with him toward the back of the bathroom and out to the parking lot. Terror washed over me and I knew my phone was my only hope.

He stopped by a black Honda and opened the passenger side door. "Liars. Get in you stupid cunt. You must think I'm an idiot."

"Of course not." I moved toward the opening and tried to think through a way to get out of the situation I was in. I couldn't get in the car. I wouldn't live to tell about it.

He plucked the phone from my hand and popped me in the side of the head with the butt of the gun as I cried out. "Get. In. The. Fucking. Car."

He didn't have to ask again.