Up All Night Long: From Lust to Love (Romance Anthology) (72 page)

Chapter 12

Jon

"Do you always threaten cops?" He chuckled as he stood, moving to look at the large painting of the ocean on her wall.

"Do you always accuse the innocent because the guilty are good at what they do?" She moved to stand beside him, the soft skin of her arm brushing against his. He glanced down before looking over at her.

The black t-shirt and slacks fit her persona well. Clean, simple, dangerous as fuck.

"Kate. Did Adam say anything to you that night?" He turned toward her, looking down as she shifted her gaze up to rest on him. The light orange rays of color that stretched from her irises mesmerized him. She was one of the vipers she spoke about, but increasingly more dangerous. Her beauty would drag anyone in, her pseudo-innocence drowning them before they even knew what happened.

But would she strike?

How long had it been since he wanted a woman so badly? He shifted his eyes to take in the beauty of her features, little nose so perfect and cute, her lips thick and luscious. He moved back, his heart pounding in his chest violently just before his hand lifted to touch her.

"He asked me not to find you. Said not to get you involved." She turned from him, walking back toward her desk. She broke the spell and for that, he was grateful.

"Why?"

"I didn't get to ask that, Jon. I was trying to call the ambulance and trying desperately to stop his bleeding." She reached up, her fingers pressing to her lips as her face softened. She couldn't have been more beautiful. Innocence sat on her like a well-worn coat, his need to protect her raring to life.

"You cared deeply for him?"

"Yes. He was in love with me." She sniffled and rolled her shoulders, her expression changing to the hardness he was getting used to seeing from her.

"Were you in love with him?"

"I already answered that, detective. He was a friend. I loved him enough to be heartbroken when he died, but as anything more than a friend, no. He and I suffered together with our addictions." She shrugged. "We spent a lot of time talking about our demons. I just wish I could have done something to save him."

Jon moved to stand before her, reaching out and touching the side of her face like he had wanted to since first laying eyes on her. She backed up and he let his hand drop. She was scarred on the inside. Far more than he imagined from her tough exterior. "Kate..."

"I have to get to the bar. I own the place, remember? It's likely to fall apart without me." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Have a beer on me. Just don't tell them you're a cop."

"Why?" He smirked as she turned and walked toward the door. He moved in behind her, his eyes running down the length of her back to the perfect curve of her tight ass.

She looked over her shoulder and he jerked his gaze to her face quickly as she smirked. "You'll likely get roofied, tied up and beaten."

"Nice. I'll remember that when I bust you guys for drug trafficking soon."

"Gotta catch us first."

"I'm on top of it."

She turned and walked backwards slowly, her tongue darting out and wetting her mouth as he stopped, unable to take another step. She was beyond sexy, his body lighting on fire as truth engulfed him - she didn't kill Adam. She was likely going to kill him by burning him from the inside out, but his brother wasn't her victim.

"I bet you're pretty good at being on top." She winked and turned, disappearing into the crowd as he growled under his breath.

He was supposed to be gathering evidence, pushing the case forward, and all he could think about all morning was how she must look in her panties, what her breasts felt like beneath his lips and hands. He turned and adjusted himself, his eyes meeting up with the deadpan stare of the large guy she let run the bar.

Marcus...

"I thought you were headed out of town?" Jon sat down on a barstool, his stare pinning the big guy moving slowly, as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"You ready for me to disappear, cop? Give you a chance at my girl?"

"I'm not so sure I think she's your girl." Jon pressed a little to see where the conversation might lead.

"I rescued her from total depravity a few years ago, found her dad and offed the old man so she'd have this place. I run it with her and spend my nights buried balls deep in her." Marcus leaned forward, the look in his dark gaze very much that of a killer. "Think what you like. I'm not interested."

"You offed her dad? That a confession?"

Marcus laughed and turned back to grab a beer for the guy next to Jon. "Too bad you're a cop after my girl. Two strikes against you. I'd almost consider giving you a beer for free just for the balls you got to ask that question."

Jon smirked and reached to check his phone. "Kate said to get a beer on her. I wonder which one would taste best running down her perfect body."

"Corona's always my favorite." Marcus chuckled and reached for the beer, leaving it in front of Jon and giving him one last warning over his shoulder. "Hurt her and I'll fuck you up beyond recognition."

So they weren't together. Just a facade. Jon turned on his stool as he lifted the beer to his lips. No doubt they were fucking, but that was just part of life. He needed to spend his nights buried deep in someone too. Time just didn't allow for it. He checked his phone again, concentrating more on the message from Seth now that Marcus was gone.

"Captain wants an update on the Peterson case. Come into the station tonight. Text me if you need my help."

Jon slipped the phone back into his jeans, his button down shirt dressier than he would normally wear. He knew he would need to stop by the station sometime that night. Trying to make it up the chain at his age meant overdoing it often. He finally found Kate, the bombshell laying into a drunk chick pretty good. He lifted the beer to his lips again, a smile tugging at his mouth.

Kate reached over and jerked the trashy girl up, dragging her toward the front of the club and leaving her to the bouncer at the door. She turned and caught his stare, her tongue darting out to tease him. He got up from his seat, his need to forget about all the shit that spun around them pushing him forward. He wasn't on duty for another two hours. He planned to act like it.

Someone pulled at his shirt, tugging him onto the dance floor and he moved through the crowd toward the middle, his eyes still following the beautiful girl who had captured his fantasies. Her brow lifted as he lifted his beer in a silent thanks for the drink.

A sexy little fox slithered up the front of him, her hands snaking around his waist as she rolled her body against the front of his. He didn't pay her much attention, his hands kept to himself, his eyes for the owner of the establishment. It wasn't but a few more seconds of watching the girl that Kate's expression changed. He chuckled and untangled the chick from him, moving to meet the one he wanted at the edge of the floor.

"What're you doing?"

"Having fun. I'm not on duty for another two hours." He reached out and slid his hand over her hip, the soft curve of her body beckoning him to throw his chips all in for this one. "I'm not allowed to have fun?"

"Not with her." Kate glanced over at the girl, giving a warning look that would scare most grown men. "She's here every week and has probably slept with every man in New Orleans at least twice."

"How about you then?" Jon moved around to the back of her, his fingers spanning out on the tight flatness of her stomach above her shirt. He pressed himself against her back and started to move to the music.

"Sudden change of heart, detective?" She looked over her shoulder, her expression softening slightly.

"How the fuck can I help myself? You’re every guy's wet dream."

"Am I yours?" Kate turned slowly, her hands resting on his chest as she glanced up at him.

He lost his ability to utter a word, the woman tempting him beyond gorgeous. He licked at his lips, pulling her closer and sliding his hand around her waist to the top curve of her ass. She fit perfectly against him, her body thick where it should be and soft.

She took his beer, her eyes hooded as she licked the rim of the bottle and pressed it to her lips. He leaned in and ran his nose along the column of her neck as she took a long drink of the liquid. He breathed in deeply and brushed his lips over her ear.

"I haven't stopped thinking about you since yesterday when you ruined my illusions of remaining chaste for a while."

She turned quickly, her lips so close to his. He leaned in, but she pressed on his chest, stopping him.

"No. I don't need more strife in my life and you don't either."

"I know you're not with Marcus and I'm not thinking I'm going to be able to stop myself from jumping off this cliff."

"You don't even know me."

"I need to."

"What if I don't want to? What if I'm waiting for Marcus to realize how good we are together?"

"Give me a night. You won't remember why you ever took him to your bed." Jon moved back, reaching up to slide his hand along her neck, his fingers brushing past the soft locks of her hair.

"What a change in you, detective."

"I realized something tonight."

"What's that?"

"That most people can fake sadness or indifference, but loss has a certain stamp to it. It's impossible to replicate."

"How does that speak to your sudden desire to be in my bed soon?"

"Not soon... Tonight."

"How does that speak to your sudden desire to be in my bed tonight?"

"I saw it on you when you spoke of Adam tonight. You pushed into the painful parts of my own inadequacies as his brother. You didn't have to do that, but you did because he mattered." Jon rubbed softly along the tight muscles of her neck, her eyes closing as she sighed softly. She was beyond angelic, her long eyelashes laying on her high cheekbones, the darkness of her silky hair leaving him breathless.

"I can't do this. I don't want to." She opened her eyes, hard emotions that cracked her tough exterior allowed him a glimpse of the real her.

"Nothing to do. Just let me do my job and help me where you think you can." He leaned down and brushed his nose along hers. Her hands slipped around his waist and pulled him closer. "Go do what you need to do. Find me when we can get away for the night."

She moved back, the pretty little thing panting softly. She loved sex as much as he did from the look on her face. He had a few things he was sure she could teach him, but he had several lessons of his own to deliver.

"Yeah," she whispered and turned, her shoulders visibly stiffening as she moved through the floor, owning the place very much like he was sure she would own him soon too.

Chapter 13

Kate

How had he done that?

Kate pressed her fingers around her throat and rubbed softly as she moved through her club, taking stock of the people and looking for troublemakers. Marcus moved from the front toward her and she almost ran to him. He was safe. Jon wasn't.

"You okay? What's the matter?" Marcus stopped in front of her and reached out to touch her arms.

"Yeah. Just too much stimulation tonight."

"The cop?" Marcus looked over her shoulder as she nodded in response. "I told him to watch himself. He fucking with you?"

"I wish. I haven't wanted anyone in a long time. Why do I now?" She turned to watch Jon walk back to the bar, his movements sensual and controlled.

"He's a good guy with bad guy appeal. He's tough and yet maybe could be someone you could see yourself with for the long haul." Marcus shrugged. "I don't like it, but I support you. You know that."

She looked over her shoulder at her best friend. "When are you leaving?"

"I can stay a few hours if you want me to close up things. Go on and I'll lock up and then get out of here."

"That's in like four hours, Marcus." She turned back to him, concern brushing across her at how she would feel if Marcus was talking about taking a girl upstairs to take
her
place. She would be fine with it if it meant he might find love. They hadn't spoken about love - ever. They were simply a safe place for the other to land, a clean body to find release with.

"We fucked for seven hours the first time, remember?" He smiled and leaned down, brushing his lips across hers. "I'm going to lose you, aren't I?"

She pressed into the kiss before taking a step back. "I don't know. I feel confused and jumbled up inside. I don't know this guy, but something says I'm going to."

"Well, I'm here if he fucks with your heart. I'll beat his ass."

"You're not mad at me?"

"Never. Chances are it won't work anyway." He shrugged and chuckled as she swatted at him. "He better not get your ass. That's mine to de-virginize."

"Really? Is that all you think about?"

"Actually, yes." He laughed and nodded toward the bar. "Get out of here. Leave this place to me, but warn that fucker that retribution awaits him if he even upsets you."

She nodded, turning and walking toward Jon as she steeled her resolve to play it cool. No one would know the torrent of emotions that blasted through her. The idea of loving someone or having someone to hold her at night left her scared as hell. How long had she wished for that? So long that she had finally given up and settled for pure carnality instead. Maybe Jon was just looking for a good fuck.

She was okay with that. It was all she knew anyway.

He looked up, a smile touching his perfect mouth. "Hey. Everything okay?"

"Marcus is closing up. I hate crowds like this."

"You own a club and you hate crowds?"

"They aren't usually this big. Fucking festival. Let's go upstairs and figure out where we go next."

"With us?"

"No, you horny bastard. With your brother's case. We need to figure out how to deal with this before we go barging into the middle of hell. You don't slip into the devil's lair without a plan on how to take him down first."

He smiled and stood, looking toward the back of the club. "Tell me where to go and I'll meet you there after I run to the restroom. Probably best if we don't leave together."

"Agreed. Go out of the front of the club and a few feet down on the left is the door to my place. The code is 0325."

"March 25th. That's Adam's birthday."

"I know. I kept the code that way in case he ever needed to come over. Most people can't figure out that the door on the street leads to an apartment."

"I'll be right up." He moved off the stool, finishing his beer as she watched the strong muscles of his arm bunch up with his efforts.

She turned and walked to the front, her body ignoring her mind's cries to chill the fuck out. Heart racing, palms sweaty and nipples budded so hard they ached. She nodded to the girl at the front counter and slipped out into the massive crowds of people. Reaching up, she pressed her fingers to her nose and growled, the smell of piss overwhelming.

Kate stopped by the door to her place, punching in the numbers and moving in as someone grabbed her arm. She turned as a young Asian guy pulled at her.

"Come on baby. It's a party and you is hot!"

"Let go." She tugged her arm from him as one of his friends started toward them.

"Markie, just pick the bitch up. Take her with us."

"Yeah," the guy yelled, turning back toward Kate and reaching for her again. She let the door close and turned to get a good angle.

Raring back she swung, her fist connecting perfectly with the tip of his small nose. He screamed and stumbled back, hitting the ground as blood poured from his cupped fingers.

"Bitch! She broke my nose." The guy screamed as his friend started toward Kate. She rolled her shoulders, more than ready to fuck up every guy that thought to come at her like they might take advantage of her.

Jon moved in front of her, stopping the guy. "Not happening buddy."

"And I suppose you're going to stop me?" The guy was half Jon's size. He had to be kidding with his question.

Jon pulled out his badge and held it up. "Wanna get butt fucked in jail tonight? The guys in New Orleans don't care what you're sporting up front. It's the back door they want access to."

The guy held up his hands and stumbled back, mumbling, "Naw... naw, I'm good. Sorry dude."

Jon turned and moved toward Kate. She shook her head and turned to open the door to her place, slipping in and holding the door for him.

"So much for us not being seen together," she spoke over her shoulder before taking the stairs up.

"Whatever. Danger is imminent for both of us. It's the worlds we've chosen to live in."

"Very different worlds. Remember that." She chuckled.

"I don't think so, but you're entitled to your opinion."

She scoffed at him before moving to her door, leaning over to unlock the door and walking into the smell of the vanilla candle she left burning. She turned to watch him walk in, his eyes moving around the room as if assessing everything before looking back at her. He closed the door and turned, locking it.

"Want something to drink?"

"No. The beer was good. Talk to me."

"About Adam?" She moved to the couch in her tiny living room, the TV the smallest he'd seen.

"About whatever you're holding back. Your place is safe I assume."

"The guys on the street that did this are new to town. I don't know them, but one of their thugs came by the other day to invite me into business with them."

"You said no, I hope."

"Of course I did. Come sit down." She reached down and tugged her pants leg up, unzipping the black boot that rose up her calf. "Take your shoes off if you want."

He sat down and slipped his shoes off before leaning back and turning his body toward her as she glanced over at him.

"How do you know they are the ones that gunned Adam down?"

"The guy basically admitted it. The only other big name in town for dope wouldn't have done things the way these guys did."

"What would he have done?"

Kate finished with her other boot and turned to face him, tucking her legs under herself. "They would’ve tortured him and killed him in a rundown facility far from here."

"You act like you've seen this place."

"I'm not the same girl I was when I was younger, Jon. No digging into my demons tonight. Stick to the subject."

"Give me the guy’s name and his location."

"I don't know his location and I'm not sure I'm ready to part ways with his name."

"Give me something, Kate. You want closure on this. I do too."

She got up and walked to her dresser, reaching up and removing her necklace and earrings as she watched him watch her in the large mirror before her.

"I found something in my pocket the day after Adam died. I think he slipped it in there, but I can't be sure. It's a note and part of it cryptic as fuck."

"Let me see it." He stood and moved to stand behind her, his gaze heated, but he kept his hands to himself.

She reached over to the small heart-shaped box and pulled the note out, turning to face him as she handed it over. A sad smile slipped across his face.

"Much like your code on the wall outside, this was a code Adam and I used when he was younger. I have a safe at the bank downtown." He paused as his hand moved to the front of his shirt, working to undo the buttons. She took a step back, not sure she was ready for sex with him. It had been another lifetime where she let a man take her without drugs or alcohol to numb her desires for love. This wouldn't be good with the torrent of emotions already racing through her.

"Jon." She reached out to stop him as he glanced up at her.

"It's okay. I just want to show you something."

She nodded as he finished. He dropped his shirt behind him and lifted his arm high in the air, the small tattoo on his ribs beautiful and detailed. How had she missed it the other day? She moved in and reached up, running her fingers along the tribal design. In the center lay the numbers from the message on her note. 24, 64, 88.

"You had this tattooed on you?"

"Yeah, so that I would always remember the code. It's on his side too. It’s freedom from a few deals I made in my past life. I haven't always been a good guy." He smiled and turned, bending over and picking up his shirt.

Kate reached out and took it from him, tossing it toward her laundry basket. "Obviously the reference to 'Jon' is you. What is 'blue'?"

"The code. Adam always said that if he ever called and needed me the code word would be red. I would know then that I had to get to him. He never used it."

"So what's blue mean?" Kate swallowed hard, tears filling her eyes. She already knew.

"It meant he was in peace. That nothing was wrong and all was right." Jon glanced away from her, his hands coming up to rub his face. "I keep thinking if I just pretend it wasn't Adam that I won't have to face what's coming."

"What's coming, Jon?" Kate asked, reaching out and softly brushing her fingers along his pec.

He reached up and took her hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing her fingers softly. She closed her eyes and let the world disappear for a minute, nothing but the soft brush of his lips mattering.

"Regret. Guilt. Loss."

She opened her eyes to see a tear drop down his cheek. Her heart burst open at the sight of him letting down his guard.