Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (32 page)

Chapter 8

She was far more than I expected, the tight little pink t-shirt hugging her breasts and leaving a little bit of skin showing at her mid-drift. Her bright blue eyes were alive with the need for adventure, her lips thick and so fucking hot. Long blond hair that appeared thick and silky sat on her shoulders. My damn fingers itched to sink into it, pull her head back and make love to her mouth for a few hours before moving on to the rest of her.

I followed her out to the dance floor, taking in the fullness of her long legs and beautiful little ass that filled up her jeans perfectly. She turned to face me and I'd seen that look too many times not to know exactly what she wanted. The girl was looking for a long night of fucking. Too bad it wouldn't be me giving it to her. My cock almost lamented over the fact.

I never slept with a woman that I would approach or choose on my own. Too dangerous for my heart.

She pressed herself to the front of me and the smell of vanilla mixed with the strong burn of Jack Daniels washed over my senses. I stifled a growl and the desire to pull her closer and run my hands over her curves, memorizing them before I started my assault. I had to keep my hands and my desires on lockdown. This wasn't about a night, or a week of passion, but a job that would pay off my remaining debt and give me a few months to look for the right job instead of jumping to something new that I hated more than the hospital.

I let her play her game for a few minutes before dropping the bomb on the pretty little thing. The expression on her face was priceless and I thought for a minute she might slap me. It was fitting, and wouldn't have been the first time I'd gotten a bit of what I deserved. I should have been upfront with her, but she moved in too quickly.

"Yeah. Great," she muttered and turned, walking toward the back of the club and hitting the door with more force than I figured she wanted to put on display. She was a fit thrower. I would have bet money on it. Pretty little rich girl that got what she wanted, when she wanted and she did the playing, but never got played.

Well, you just did.

"Is there some reason you didn't want to tell me who you were before we went to the dance floor?" She spun around, anger sitting on her intriguing features.

"I didn't get a chance, ma'am. My directives tonight were to locate you and talk for a few minutes. You came on to me."

"I wasn't coming on to you. I wanted to dance. That's all." She spat her words at me as she crossed her arms over her chest, which only seemed to accentuate her breasts. They were smaller than I was used to, but I wanted to spend the evening bathing each of them with my tongue until she writhed below me.

Stop it. It's not happening.

"That's all you wanted? Not interested in seeing where my tattoos go anymore?" I chuckled and leaned against the wall behind me, slipping my hands into my pockets. My cock was thick and working its way to full attention, but I didn't care if that was apparent or not. She could take the thought home with her and ponder on the size of it for a while.

Her eyes moved down my chest and rested on my hips for a minute before jerking back up as I cleared my throat.

"I like tats. It's that simply really." She shrugged and glanced toward the door. "We've met, so I'm going back inside with my friends. Good luck getting anywhere with a woman tonight. Your cologne is too strong and you need a haircut."

She started for the door and I stood, grabbing her and pulling her to me. I shouldn't have, but I never was one for rules. Pressing her to the side of the building, I tilted her face up toward me with a quick push of my thumb to the soft skin of her chin.

"A pretty girl like you should take more care to hit on a man that looks like me. Not all of us are good guys." I rocked against her as she moaned softly, her eyes closing as her fingers dug into my sides. She was all in. It wouldn't take much of anything to get her to strip for me and dance around if I wanted her to. "If I take this job, you're going to follow my rules and I'm not your daddy... I won't put up with your shit."

Her expression changed and she jerked from me, the loss of her softness against me missed immediately. Anger burned her gaze again and I swear my body lit fully on fire for her.

"Fuck you."

"Nice tongue you got there." I chuckled and pulled out my phone, glancing at the pretty ten-year-old picture of her. "Why are there no pictures of you with your father online?"

"What?"

My question seemed to throw her off, so I repeated it slowly, as if she needed the extra time to work through the meaning of each word.

"I understood the question, asshole. I was asking why you would want to know." She growled at me and took a step in my direction, her approach having meant to be a form of aggression I would guess. She wasn't intimidating, but I could teach her to be.

"Then ask why, not what." I shrugged and slipped the phone back into my pocket. "Don't leave with anyone tonight. You're better than that." I turned and walked toward the road, ready to leave now that I'd seen her and made my decision.

"You're leaving? Just like that?" Her voice held a hint of hurt in it, which was the only reason I looked back.

"Yeah and you should too. This place is known for dropping roofies in drinks. Ask for a beer from now on and tell them you want to see them open it or do it yourself."

"You sound like my father." She turned to walk back toward the club and I spun around and walked backwards, wanting to see her for a few more minutes before making my exit.

"I like your father. He's a good man."

"You don't know anything about him." She paused by the door, her need to keep me there and interested in her almost palatable.

"I will soon."

"You're taking the job?" She let out a long aggravated sigh.

"Of course. It's the easiest job I'll ever have. Watching a spoiled brat slut herself out on Monday nights and lay around the beach the rest of the week? Cheesecake." I knew my words would piss her off and I stifled the smirk that went along with her loud yelp of anger.

"Fuck you." She pulled the door open to the club and turned around before I could respond. "You're not staying at my house. You can sleep on the porch, but we're not sharing the house together."

"Yeah, we are. I want the big room too for my gym equipment. Make sure you clean it out for me." I was just being a dick at this point, but she was so fucking cute now that she was mad.

"Hell no. Find your own place and don't think you're coming anywhere near this." She brushed her hand down the front of her body as I chuckled.

"I'm not the one who wanted to see what was under your clothes, baby doll. Don't flatter yourself. You're too soft for me. Not my type at all." I tugged my shirt off as her eyes went wide.

Bingo. I was exactly the type of man that made her wet and needy. Good.

I turned to the sound of her yelling something about talking to her father about his choices. A chuckle rose up inside of me as I pulled the shirt back on and got on my bike. The world had been a bit dull as of late, but this sweet little piece of ass was going to bring it back to life for me.

Starting the bike, I pulled out and glanced back toward the alley, Chloe still standing there, her finger now in her mouth as if she were biting back the urge to come after me. I waved and got the bird from the pretty rich girl.

I was taking the job for sure. Nothing could stop me from living the roller coaster this girl would put me on.

I was too much of a masochist not to.

Chapter 9

Two Days Later

I couldn't get him out of my mind and it was driving me insane. By Wednesday morning I was pacing the floor in the living room waiting for my next encounter with him.

Why isn't he here yet? Did he not take the job?

My father and I'd had a brief conversation the day before over Ian and I had grumbled, but agreed to whatever decision dad made. I couldn't have hand-picked a better fit for my wildest fantasies, but it almost felt like torture knowing that he would spend the summer with me. He was an ass and a half, but that was part of his charm.

Part of his contract with my father had to be about keeping his hands off of me. I would work like crazy to make that the hardest commitment he ever kept. A smile brushed across my lips as I thought back to the scene in the alley on Monday night.

He had been so cocky, so full of himself, and yet he wanted me just as much as I had wanted him. He might have convinced himself that he didn't, but the huge bulge at the front of his jeans told a very different story.

I groaned at the remembrance of him pressed against me, his body so fucking hard and his forcefulness beyond sexy. My body ached for something to have happened between us, but as my luck would always have it, we were soon to be business partners and nothing else.

Slumping down on the couch I let myself dive deep into a whole different version of the events on Monday night. I was panting by the time I pulled myself out of the sweaty fuck-session with my soon-to-be bodyguard. Having only been with guys that I would classify as boys, I couldn't imagine how good it would feel to have a man show me the ropes, to take me on a journey of discovery about what we were capable of together. I groaned as need fucked me hard already.

"Call already. Get over here. What's taking so damn long?"

My phone buzzed as if on cue. I answered it, not thinking to check the number. Mistake.

"Hello?"

"Chloe-bear. It's Jeremy, baby. How are you?"

I groaned internally. Of course it was Jeremy. Who else called a grown woman Chloe-bear? Creepy.

"I'm good, buddy. How are you?"

"Ugh. You know I hate it when you call me buddy. It reminds me of my failures." He laughed and I forced myself to do so as well.

"I was about to run out the door, so let's make this quick and I'll call you later when I have a little more time." I lifted my hand in front of my face and checked for nicks in my fingernail polish while he droned on about the Taylor Swift concert that he wanted to take me to.

"So, are you going to be able to go with me?" His tone was hopeful, and where I was over the brief infatuation with the good-looking creeper, I still hated to crush anyone.

"I'm not sure, but I'll let you know when I call back. You know how my dad is about my schedule." I snorted and closed my eyes, ready for the torture to end.

"Yeah, speaking of your dad. How is he? Any more situations come up since that horrible mess a few weeks back?"

Here we go. Moving from me to my dad like he always does.

"Nope. He's being super careful and Pauly is on full alert. That guy's the best thing that ever happened to my father."

"Yeah, like you were the best thing that ever happened to me." Sadness again.

"All right, Jer. I'll call you later, okay? Have a great day. Hugs and kisses." I hung up before he could respond and dropped the phone on the couch beside me.

"Fucking creepy," I mumbled and checked my other hand, satisfied that my bright pink nail polish was perfect and I looked the part.

Having a bodyguard was probably a good thing seeing that my father kept receiving death threats and I had an old boyfriend that reminded me more and more of Norman Bates.

My phone beeped and it was Jessica with her tenth request to come to the house for a few days. I texted her back that I would let her know the minute she could come over and the phone rang.

She obviously didn't like my response.

"Hey girl." I stood and moved toward the bedroom, digging through my closet for a pretty dress to wear to my father's office. I was done waiting around to find out what the hell was going on. I would just go visit and get the scoop from the source.

"Hey yourself. When can I come hang out with you? You've been home three days and I've only gotten like two hours with you."

"Soon, girlie. I told you that I'm trying to work through some shit with my dad."

"Like what shit?" She sounded incredulous.

"Like him wanting me to have a bodyguard and me not wanting that at all. It's like wearing a ball and chain around." I sighed and pulled the dark blue dress off the hanger that my father hated most. It was girlie, but showed a little too much of my legs for his liking. Good.

"Hmmm... That's interesting." Jessica laughed and I smiled, always having loved the openness of her laugh. "Have you met the guy he's hiring? Is he old or young? Ugly? Hot? Big?"

"He's beautiful with big muscles and delicious tats running down into his shirt. I want to strip naked and bend over every time I think about him like I’m a cat in heat. It's great." I rolled my eyes and tugged my pajama bottoms off, grunting softly.

"Oh shit. That can't be good." She laughed again and I flipped her to speaker so I could continue getting ready.

"Nope. He's a total ass too."

"Does he drive a bike?" The girl knew me too well.

"Fuck yes. I swear he crawled out of my deepest fantasies and now he's here to haunt me."

"Tell me more. I need a fantasy to crawl into."

"He's got dark brown eyes and brown flippy hair that falls into his eyes. I've only seen him once, but he's sick levels of confident. His bike is big and from what I can tell, his cock is a monster."

"Oh my God, C. You saw his package?"

"No. I wish." I pulled my shirt over my head and worked to get my bra on while keeping my tone even. "He and I got into a bit of a fight outside of the club, and to prove his point he pressed me against a building. He was hard, or getting there."

"Oh wow. So he's totally into you?" A soft chuckle resounded from the phone and I smiled again before pulling the tight cotton dress over my head.

"I guess, but it's not going to go anywhere. He needs the job and I need the protection. Fucking Jeremy has called every day since we broke up. It's getting old, but I don't want to tell him to fuck off and have him go postal." I picked up the phone and walked to the sink to fix my hair and work on my make-up.

"Do you think he's capable of that?"

"I don't know. He's in L.A. anyway, so another problem for another day."

"Well, be careful. I don't like the sound of that shit."

"I will, boo. I'm going to go visit my dad to see where this stuff is going with Ian and I'll call you later."

"Ian? Is that the hottie bodyguard's name?"

I laughed. "Yeah. Even his name is hot."

"I smell trouble."

"I just smell sex and candy." We both laughed and I hung up, grabbing my keys and heading into downtown La Jolla to find my dad and figure out what was coming next.

The drive to the office was long and arduous, the traffic heinous for the middle of the day. I parked in a no parking zone and got out, tired of driving around and knowing that my dad would pay the ticket.

I gave a quick wave to the people at the security desk and walked through the metal detectors as the alarm went off. I didn't have a badge, but I rarely did. They would clear me, they always did. I paused by the elevator and let out a long sigh.

"Why aren't there more elevators in this God forsaken building?" I growled and pushed the button with impatience. I couldn't seem to get myself under control and trying wasn't going to help anything. Nerves had me on edge and left me acting like the spoiled-ass brat that I was raised to be.

I got into the small metal box as a whole crowd of people moved in with me.

"Did hell open its doors and offer ice water or was there a special on burritos today?" I grumbled and got a few nasty looks, which forced me to face my shitty comment.

Stop it. You hate this part of you. Pull yourself back and stop acting like that.

My foot tapped on the floor as I tried to swallow the angst that burned along my chest. Did my father hire Ian, and if so, why wasn't he at the house with me already? Could I force him to like me? To adore me like most guys did?

The elevator opened and I pushed my way through, making pissy noises until I popped out of the opening. I straightened my dress and glanced back, growling, "Fucking ridiculous."

Yep. I had officially gone off the deep end. No pulling myself back now. Time to own it.

I didn't stop by the front desk receptionist as the pretty brunette looked up and asked how she could help me.

"Don't bother," I grumbled and walked into my father's office without knocking.

The young guy in a suit in front of him stopped mid-sentence and glanced up at me, his eyes going wide.

"Dad. We need to talk." I pressed my hand to my hip and gave my old man the look that screamed, 'now before I melt down'.

"Right." My father glanced at the guy and stood. "Jonathan, this is my daughter, Chloe. I'll pick back up with you this afternoon?"

"Of course, Sir." The handsome suit turned toward me and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Yep." I turned away from his hand and pressed my hands on the desk between me and my father. "Where in the hell did you find the guy?"

"Um, which guy would that be?" My father glanced toward Jonathan with an apologetic look and then gave his full attention to me.

I waited until the door closed behind me. "Ian. The bodyguard. He's a total thug and I'll not have him guarding anything. Least of all, my body!"

The door opened and I turned angrily.

Ian slipped in and nodded toward us. "Mr. Moore. You wanted to see me?"