Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (83 page)

Chapter 10

Nate

I couldn't stop licking my lips. Never in my life had I imagined a woman tasting so good. Janice had no taste when she came, and she rarely let me between her thighs, but if she did, I didn't remember it. But Elizabeth's flavor was strong, delicious.

"Stop thinking about me." She brushed by me as I stood at the front of the plane, waiting on her. The soft curves of her voluminous ass teased me back from my almost calmed state.

"That's easier said than done." I walked down the stairs behind her. "You're rather addictive, but I'm sure you knew that."

I didn't look at her as we walked toward the stretch limo waiting at the end of the tarmac for us.

"Perhaps." She moved to the back and gave the driver a warm smile. Jealousy raged deep inside of me, and I pushed it back down. It was silly. Childish.

"Hi, Miss Barron. Nice to see you again." The driver's eyes moved over her as if she just walked out of his fantasies.

I understand buddy.

I cleared my throat and extended my hand. "I'm Nathaniel. Nice to meet you..."

"Parker. Nice to meet you as well." He nodded my way before reaching for Lizzy's bags, making small talk with her as I put my bags in the back and lifted my hands to the sky, stretching and feeling like a million bucks. She wanted me. I had no doubt.

I'd play along with her games, and help her score the deal we were after, but once we got into the hotel room, all bets were off. I wanted her to limp away the next day with nothing on her mind but the hope that she'd soon find herself trapped beneath me sweaty and screaming in pleasure again.

"You're doing it again." She moved past me before giving me a cocky grin over her shoulder. "I can tell."

"How?" I opened the door for her and snorted.

"Well for one, your erection is quite noticeable." She got in the car before reaching over and stroking me.

"I can't help that." I put her hand back into her lap to make sure I didn't turn into a mindless fiend over needing her touch. I had to keep boundary lines up, or the woman would own me like it seemed she did everyone and everything in her life. She was a vixen, and a dangerous one. "Keep your hands to yourself today. I've had all I can take without pulling you into a room and ravaging you, Liz. I haven't had sex in three months."

"What?" Her voice spiked, sending desire to dance around in the pit of my stomach. She cared, though she didn't want to. A smirk tugged at my lip. "If I had a man with a cock like yours, I'd worship it."

"Worship him or the cock?"

She laughed. "Both?"

"Good to know." I lamented as she moved to her side of the car, missing her nearness almost immediately. It was for the best. I needed to work on figuring out my future, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized how badly I wanted her to be some part of it. Physically we were going to be explosive, but on every other level we were too compatible to ignore it. We drove each other crazy because there was something unreachable laying between us, and we weren't the kind of people that enjoyed denial for too long.

She didn't want anything but sex though, and for now... I was good with that. I have a lot of rebuilding to do in front of me. It wasn't her burden to bear, nor would a woman like her deal well with it. Or maybe I wasn't giving her enough credit.

She pulled out a file and dropped it in my lap. "Read this over and be ready to pick up on part two of the presentation as it's outlined."

"I can still taste your pussy on my lips." I licked at my fingers as I flipped through the file.

She growled softly next to me. "Watch it, Nate. I only play for so long."

"And then what do you do, Lizzy?" I glanced over at her, sucking one of my fingers into my mouth.

"Then I take what I want... no matter the cost."

*

Her words echoed in my head the rest of the ride to the office, searing me with need. Was I something she wanted? In her bed? Between her taut thighs? Pressed to the back of her, working my way into forbidden places with her?

"In her life?" I whispered roughly and swallowed the thought as I leaned forward and checked my appearance in the bathroom mirror. I wasn't ready for another heartache, and where she might be fine with a fuck buddy, I could hang on for a while, but only so long. "You should have your man card taken."

I laughed at myself before walking back out into the hall to find her standing outside of a conference room door, talking to an older guy who seemed quite amused with her.

"Why in the world haven't we met before, Elizabeth? Are you sure you're happy at your firm? I have several positions I'd love to get you in." He reached out and squeezed her shoulder.

I bet you would. 

"You ready, Nathaniel?" She glanced over at me, not at all appearing flustered by the guy coming on to her so strongly. Did men always objectify her like that? Had I just not noticed it before?

"I am." I extended my hand to him and introduced myself before taking a spot next to her. The sweetness of her perfume rolled over me, and I couldn't help but lift my hand and smell my fingers as the video she'd prepared played in front of us.

She glanced over at me as her eyes widened a little and whispered, "Really?"

"So fucking delicious." I breathed in again softly and shrugged. "Best thing I've tasted since I was a boy at the candy store."

She popped me in the chest hard as the video ended and walked to the front. "As you've seen, we have several options for you. With your current target audience, I honestly feel like video three is our best bet."

A woman with long blond hair spoke up, the scowl on her face showing that she was less than pleased with something. That or the bitch had just sucked a lemon down her windpipe.

"Why not show that video first then." She chuckled sardonically and glanced around. "Who is this firm again?"

"We're the top advertising agency in the world." Elizabeth chuckled and glanced at me. "Tell her why we save the best for last."

I glanced over at the woman as she turned her attention to me. Her eyes widened a little as if she spotted something she liked. Good for her.

"It's the last thing you see, the thing you'll remember most. You'll likely vote for it. Simple marketing, honestly." I turned my attention to Lizzy. "The vote should first go to anyone in the room who is part of the target audience."

"Nathaniel is right." Elizabeth worked the audience for the next few minutes, answering questions, directing, manipulating and leaving them breathless. She was a tiger. Ruthless. Determined. Fucking hot as hell.

I moved to the back and leaned against the wall, watching her in action. How in the world a woman like her would let a guy like me between her legs was beyond me, but much like she'd exploited the room, I was going to exploit and explore every opportunity she gave me.

"That's all we have. We'll give you today to talk it over and make decisions. Time is money." She picked up her folder, gave them a smile that would melt hearts and walked toward the door. After we got into the hall, she glanced over at me. "The CEO and his wife are joining us for dinner. Should be fun."

"Why is that?" I leaned into an empty room and reached out, grabbing her and pulling her in there with me. The window from the hall into the office was high, not that I was too worried. Something about her made me careless and willing to risk it all.

I pressed her to the door and ran my hands over her hips before leaning in and pressing my lips to the side of her neck in a myriad of slow, sensual kisses. It felt good to rock against her, rubbing the hardness I'd worked so hard to gain in the gym against the softness she was born with.

"Because you get to see another side of me." She gripped the back of my neck and pulled, forcing me back.

"I want to see the backside of you. Lifted in the air for me as you shake." I leaned in and pressed my mouth to hers, forcing her open and rolling my tongue against hers. The soft groan that left her spiraled down and buried itself inside me, waking me up again and teasing me to lock the door.

"What makes you think I'd lift my ass into the air for you? Do I look like a kitten in heat?" She nipped at me before pushing at my chest. "Besides... I'm in charge in the bedroom, or didn't you know that?"

She turned and opened the door before glancing over her shoulder as I tried to slow my thoughts as they plummeted toward completely inappropriate. "Besides, I quite like the idea of tying you to a chair and teasing you until you break."

"And if I don't break?" I reached out and squeezed her ass before moving toward her for more.

She walked out into the hall and had the nerve to laugh at me. "All men break, Nate. I just have to figure out where that point is for you."

"Why would you want to do something like that?" I moved up beside her as energy burst through me. I had a reason to wake up in the mornings. A reason to look forward to the coming days, no matter how fucking bad they got.

Her.

"Because, you're the type of man who returns favors." She pushed on the door that led to our cubicles.

I stood in stony silence and let the door close in my face. "A man who returns favors?"

Did she want me to break her? Is that what all of this was about?

Every inch of me lit on fire. Warmth spread out like tendrils of pleasure from the center of my stomach and pulsed violently, weakening me.

Could lust be this delicious? This damning?

If so, I wanted more of it. All of it.

All of her. I could break her, but only if it meant she would let me put her back together again.

Otherwise... I wasn't interested.

Chapter 11

Elizabeth

I was grateful for having Jen book two separate rooms for me and Nate at the hotel, though the disappointment on his face haunted me. Was I just a means to find pleasure for him? That's all I needed to be.

Now if I could get my head wrapped around that and nothing else. No promise of a first date, or soft kisses under the moonlight. No hope of a ring or a wedding dress.

Tears burned my eyes as I locked the door to my hotel room and walked to the single bed in the middle of it. I dropped down on the edge of it and pressed my hand to my face, letting a few tears fall in my weariness. How long had I been playing a part that didn't fit me at all?

"Too long," I whispered and dropped back on the bed as a sob lifted up from my chest. I hadn't cried in years. Not since finding Steven in bed with another woman and filing for divorce. I knew what Nate was going through, though I wasn't sure I would ever admit it. Having packed up from Seattle after my life fell completely apart, I left everything I was and drove to San Francisco, promising myself I would be a new woman. A different woman. And I was.

But the cost was steep, and security came with a host of other things, loneliness being king. How someone could be in a crowd of people, being pawed at and adored from every angle and feel completely alone was beyond me, and yet it was my story.

I rolled onto my side and pulled my knees up to tuck into the fetal position as I let my shoes drop to the floor beneath me. Nate was threatening to change that. It wasn't about the sex, but the passion I felt around him, the desire to open up far more than my legs for him.

Terror rushed through me, and I squeezed my eyes closed tightly. I could get through the trip, and then tell him it was fun and we were done. I needed to protect myself from him. Had to. At all costs.

He was a good man, a loving man with great values and a strong sense of leadership. My position should have been his, but I'd used my intelligence and charm to outwit him after arriving at the firm. I wanted to feel guilty about it, but I couldn't. Survival looked different to everyone, and taking the top spot at the firm was part of my plan. It allowed me to look down and experience my staff from afar, never having to look them directly in the eyes.

Then they would know my truth. Nate was getting too close as it was.

A knock at the door caused me to get up and let out a soft sigh.

"Elizabeth? We need to get going if you want to get there early. I know you like being first." He chuckled, and the sound of it, even through the closed door, affected me.

"Give me ten minutes. I'll meet you in the lobby. Get us a car ready." It wasn't a question. I wanted it to be, to give him the option of doing what I wanted, and being exactly who I needed him to, but that would leave me open for the stark realization that he wasn't just the man in my sexual fantasies, but in all of my fantasies.

"All right. Hurry up, and wear your hair up. I like it like that."

I rolled my eyes and stripped out of my business suit before changing into a black cocktail dress and working to fix my make-up. I wanted so badly to deny him by leaving my hair down, but I just couldn't force myself to do it. I worked my long locks up into a messy bun, put on some perfume and a necklace my mother gave me and left the room.

I prayed like hell the whole way down the elevator that he would want to fuck in his room and not mine. I needed a place to retreat to when we were done, and I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't leave my room. He seemed far too much like a man who wanted to snuggle and chat afterward.

"Not happening," I murmured and spotted him as he stood by the door. A pretty blond was laughing at something he said, and my stomach tightened at the thought of him enjoying himself with her.

Steven cheating on me under my nose for five years left me expecting everyone to pull out a sharp blade and plunge it in my back the minute they got the chance.

I gave Nate a tight smile as I passed him, but quickly turned my attention toward the valet as if nothing mattered.

"Evening, ma'am. What can I do for you?" The younger guy slid his hands in his pockets and gave me a cute smile.

"She's with me." Nate moved up beside me, reaching out and touching my lower back before glancing down at me. "I got us a Lexus. That okay?"

"Perfect." I didn't turn my attention to him, but instead took the keys to the car and got in before Nate could say anything.

He chuckled as he got in the passenger's side and buckled up. "You like to drive? Why am I not surprised by that?"

"All right, so Tom and Melba Darrington are who we're having dinner with. He loves golf, graduated from MIT and she's a housewife with no kids and loads of time on her hands. They love oriental food, traveling and playing golf together. Talk about your kids. They love the idea of kids, but don't have any themselves. I think they've adopted an orphanage as their top charity." I pulled out into the busy city streets and turned to find Nate watching me closely.

"You look incredible. I love your hair like that. I'm not sure I've ever seen a woman as beautiful as you, Liz." He reached out and brushed his fingers over the curve of my shoulder, leaving me breathless by nothing more than his adoration.

"Did you hear what I said? Drop the school boy crush and get your head in the game." I turned my attention back to the road and flipped through the radio stations. "This would be a huge win for us."

"I'm fucking you tonight." He moved closer and pressed his mouth to the side of my neck as his hand pulled up my skirt, his strong fingers squeezing my inner thigh.

I took in a sharp breath and nodded. "I know. In your room, please."

"Don't want to cuddle?" He brushed his nose by my ear. "We could talk about our problems and become far more than lovers."

"Not happening." I pushed at his chest and hit the gas. I was barely holding myself together, which was rare. He had a way of unwinding me with nothing more than the lusty promises of carnality. It wasn't anything I hadn't heard a million times before from various lips over the years, but from him... it sounded different. It felt so much more real. It was the opening of a door that I wanted to keep slammed shut and locked.

With a hundred bolts.

"All right. I can talk about golf and the kids. No problem." He ran his hands over his thighs and lifted his hips before working to reposition his cock.

"You have to do that a lot?" I gave him a quirky smile and forced myself to keep my hands on the wheel.

"Only around you." He turned and looked out the window closest to him, cutting off the conversation between us.

I had most likely offended him with my brash response to post-sex intimacy. Good. Maybe it would keep him at bay where he needed to remain.

We pulled up to the restaurant, and I got out, giving the valet the key as my phone buzzed. I pulled it from my purse and cringed. My mom.

"I need to take this. I'll be right in. They should be here any minute." I glanced over at him.

"Of course. The reservations are under..."

"My name." I turned and lifted the phone to my ear as I walked down the sidewalk a little. "Mom? You okay?"

"It's Melba, Elizabeth." The older nurse who stayed by my mother's side most days let out a weak sigh. "She's not doing so well. They have her resting right now, but she had an episode an hour ago."

"I'm out of town, but I'll get on the first flight-"

"No. They have her on some heavy drugs so she can sleep. Just come tomorrow. She should wake up around lunchtime, okay?"

Pain laced my chest, but I forced it back. "Right. Does she..."

"No, sweetheart. She has no clue who we are or where she is. It's all part of the-"

"Disease. I'm aware." I pressed my fingers to my eyes and tried hard to keep myself from feeling anything. Now wasn't the time.

"Okay. It's going to be okay. Just come tomorrow, and we'll work on getting her to remember you. I still have the picture album you brought by, okay?" The nurse had been a godsend, and I loved her like the aunt I'd never had.

"Okay. Thanks, Melba."

"Of course. Be safe."

I dropped the phone in my purse, took a long shaky breath and tucked the most painful realization I had deeper down inside of me.

My mom was dying, and she was all I had left in the world.