Promise to Keep

by Jessica Wood

  “Mmm, baby. That feels good. I love the way your mouth feels on me. Want to have a quickie before class?”

  My cock was rock hard from my dream about Chloe, but it didn’t feel right to have sex with another girl when the one girl I really wanted to be inside of was Chloe. Peeling myself from her arms, I said, “Not right now. Professor Bielman is handing out the take-home final at the beginning of today’s Econ. lecture. I can’t be late.”

  I retreated to the shower, locking the door so she couldn’t follow me in. I don’t know why I’d called her late last night. It was the first night I’d had to myself in a while, and the first time the frat house wasn’t having something going on. So I was sober and ready to call it a night. I even got a chance to catch up with Chloe. I felt like shit hearing what she had been going through and I hated myself for not being able to make time for her the previous times she’d called and texted. I was going to tell her that I wanted to visit her this weekend before finals started. With my parents’ divorce, I was heading to my grandparents’ house in Vermont with my mom and spending the winter break there, so I wasn’t going to see her at all. But when I was about to suggest a visit, she brought up her drunk night with some guy. I never thought she was the type to get drunk and sleep around. But maybe she was having just as much fun in college as I was. So when I’d gotten off the phone with Chloe, I’d remembered the cute brunette that’d given me her number the night before, and I ended up giving her a call.

  There was a point during the call when I had an urge to tell Chloe how I felt, to tell her I loved her. But I held back, just like all the other times I had. I wanted her to know, but when it came down to telling her, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. What if she didn’t say she loved me back. Or worse, what if she said she loved me but just as a friend. I wasn’t sure I could take that amount of rejection. Plus, once she knew how I felt, it would put a huge strain on our friendship if she didn’t feel the same way. Eventually, the awkwardness might drive her away from me and then I wouldn’t even have her as a friend. That wasn’t worth the risk. It was better to keep things the way they were. At least this way we would still be best friends, and I’d still have her in my life. Then there was always our pact. When we both turn thirty, she promised she would marry me. I couldn’t imagine loving anyone else. I knew I could hold out until I was thirty. I just hoped that she would, too.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Spring 2005

  Twenty Years Old

  CHLOE

  “It was so good seeing you this week, Charlie.” I beamed down at him as I pushed him down the driveway to where my car was.

  “You too, kiddo! I can’t believe you have to work during spring break.”

  I gave him a small smile. “I don’t mind. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere for spring break.”

  “Oh? What’s Jackson doing?”

  “His spring break was last week, and he did that whole Cancun spring break trip with his fraternity brothers.”

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “How come you aren’t going on some crazy spring break this week?”

  “Work, remember?” I gave a whatever-shrug.

  “You should have ditched school the week before and gone with Jackson to spring break,” he teased. “You shouldn’t be missing out on all the fun just for work.”

  “A girl tagging along with a bunch of frat guys on a spring break trip to Cancun.” I laughed. “I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be doing plenty of things on this trip they don’t want a girl to witness.”

  “You’re probably right.” Charlie laughed. “Ahh, to be young and irresponsible again.”

  “Yeah.” I knew I didn’t have the normal college experience like Jackson has. I can’t remember the last time I actually felt young and irresponsible.

  “So what’s up with you and Jackson anyway?” He looked at me and I saw a vague hint of concern in his eyes.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are you guys still good friends?”

  “Yeah, we are. We’ve hit a rough patch our freshman year because we weren’t really on the same page with how to be best friends when going to different schools, but I think since then, we’ve gotten the hang of it. We try to catch up every couple of weeks, but it’s definitely harder to be in each other’s day-to-day lives.”

  He nodded with understanding. “Yeah, long distance does make everything harder.”

  I frowned, wondering if he was talking about himself. Uncle Tom mentioned that his law firm in Chicago had let him go because they couldn’t create a work-from-home position for him.

  “Anyway, I better get back inside and help mom with put the dishes in the dishwasher.”

  “Okay. It was so good to see you, Charlie.” I knelt over and swung my arms around him to give him a big hug.

  “You too, Chloe. So when am I going to see my favorite cousin next?”

  “Maybe in two weeks? And for the record, I’m your only cousin, but I’ll take that as a compliment.” I scrunched my nose at him.

  “Correction,” he didn’t waste a second countering me, “you’re my only immediate cousin. But I should warn you, I have a number of distant cousins you’re competing against for that top spot. So don’t get too comfortable at number one.”

  I giggled, “Damn, does that mean I need to continue to be nice to you next time I see you?” I teased back.

  “Wait, you’ve been nice to me?” His words came out in an exaggerated tone of surprise.

  “Ha, very funny,” I replied sarcastically. “Well I’ll see you soon. And I hope you’ve been doing well at home.”

  He shrugged cheerfully. “Not bad. Life’s pretty easy when you’re on an extended vacation.”

  I smiled down at him, but on the inside I felt the guilt, which now permanently lived there—twisted in the pit of my stomach. It’d been over a year since the accident, and Charlie had been released from the hospital five months earlier. Since then, he’d been continuing his extensive physical therapy as he adjusted to life in a wheelchair and living back at home with Aunt Betty and Uncle Tom.

  There was a period right after the accident where Charlie hadn’t been his happy-go-lucky self. During this time, he had fallen into a deep state of depression. He didn’t want to see anyone or be taken anywhere. It’d killed Aunt Betty and Uncle Tom to see him in such a state, which only intensified the all-consuming guilt that I’d tried to live with.

  But at some point, he’d somehow accepted his fate and the always-cheerful and optimistic Charlie I’d always grown up with, had returned. He acted like nothing bad had ever happened to him. While I was happy to see Charlie happy again, seeing his ability to make the best of everything only reminded me of the part I played in his fate, and this only fueled my determination to continue my secret job as an escort.

  After I waved goodbye to Charlie and reversed my car out of the driveway, I looked down at my watch to check the time. I had to work in the city tonight and it was a new client, so I didn’t want to be late.

  It’d been almost a year since I’d officially become an escort for Madam Celine. While I didn’t love what I did and would always need a hot shower after a client had left, each time became easier than the last to compartmentalize what I was doing with these men. What was most important, and what I’d always remind myself, was that I was able to pay for Charlie’s medical bills without Aunt Betty and Uncle Tom needing to sell the house. And it was the relief I’d see on their faces, when they’d get their monthly payments in the mail, that kept me going.

  As I pulled up to the valet line in front of the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Philadelphia, the valet came around to my side of the car to open the door for me. I gave him my keys and grabbed my tote from my backseat. I quickly went to the restroom in the lobby to get ready before heading up the elevator to the hotel room listed on the instructions Madam Celine had emailed me.

  When I got to Room 509, I noticed the door was propped open by the bar latch. My inst
ructions told me that this new client liked to incorporate mystery into his fantasy and I had to make sure to play along.

  “Hello?” I called out in a soft, seductive voice, as I gently pushed through the door and walked inside. I found the room dimly lit with soft jazz playing in the background. The room appeared to be empty. My eyes spotted a white notecard and a black silk blindfold on the console in the entryway. I walked over to it and read the note:

  Chloe,

  I want you to feel everything I do to you tonight. Put on this blindfold and wait for me on the bed. When you’re ready, just tell me how wet you are for me and I’ll come out of the bathroom.

  - Ian

  My eyes darted over to the closed bathroom door and realized my client was already here.

  I felt the three shots of vodka I’d had a few minutes ago in the restroom work their way into my system, loosening my inhibition, and arousing my senses. I sucked in a deep breath and mentally prepared myself.

  Just like Jax said. We’re both single. Sleeping around is just a part of the whole college experience. Casual sex is not a big deal. Don’t be so serious all the time, Clo.

  I repeated Jax’s word to myself. Over the last year, it’d become something of a mantra that I’d chant before I’d meet my clients.

  Letting out another deep breath, I took the blindfold from the console and walked over to the bed. I positioned my body provocatively before putting the blindfold on. As I felt the cool silk brush against my face and blind me completely, I couldn’t help but feel a little vulnerable and scared. But I quickly pushed the thought from my mind and tried to get into character. This may not be something the normal Chloe would do, but the sexy, adventurous, and uninhibited Chloe likes a little mystery and casual fun, and she is going to enjoy herself tonight.

  “Hey, baby. Come on out and feel for yourself how ready I am for you?” I purred in my most sexy voice.

  I heard him walk into the room, and by his sudden inhale of breath, I knew he liked what he saw.

  “Damn, you’re more beautiful than I had imagined.”

  I gasped in surprise when I felt his rough hands move across my body like he owned me.

  “What do you want to do to me tonight?” I asked, trying to stay in character.

  “Tonight, baby, I’m going to show you how a real man fucks a beauty like you. Now, tell me you want to be fucked by a real man.”

  Something about his voice put me on edge, and I suddenly felt uneasy. But I quickly brushed it aside as I willed the vodka to work faster through my system.

  “I want to be fucked by a real man like you, baby.” I flashed Ian a smile, motioning him to get closer to me. “Now show me what you got.”

  He didn’t need to be asked twice, because a second later, I felt the sensation of his hot wet mouth upon my bare neck, throat, and shoulders. He kissed his way down my chest, slowly peeling away the layers of my dress until my breasts were exposed. I gasped in surprise and pleasure as he took my full breasts into his firm hands and roughly fondled them.

  Then I felt his hungry mouth engulf my breasts and suck my nipples, one at a time, flicking them eagerly with his tongue as he groaned in pleasure.

  I threw back my head and arched my back, inviting him to explore me further.

  “Fuck, you taste amazing,” he said through ragged breaths and I knew he was close to losing control.

  “Baby, you’re making me so wet,” I purred. I reached for his hand and pulled it down my inner thigh and guided his fingers along the wet fabric of my panties.

  “You’re so wet for me, you’re driving me so crazy, I can’t wait another second to be inside you.”

  “Give it to me, Ian. Show me how a real man fucks,” I encouraged.

  “Once I fuck you, Chloe, you’ll never forget it,” he groaned as I heard him rip open a condom.

  I moaned in response and squirmed my body to show him my anticipation.

  I cried out suddenly as he spread my legs wide apart with one swift movement and pulled down my panties.

  “Tell me how much you want this,” he demanded as I felt the tip of his erection move up and down my wetness between my thigh.

  “I want to feel you deep inside me,” I panted.

  I heard him groan in pleasure as he plunged himself all the way inside of me in one fast thrust.

  “Fuck, you’re so hard and big, baby,” I cried out as I rocked my hips in time with his thrusts.

  He drove himself inside of me in rapid succession, and to my surprise, he didn’t last long. In just under a minute, he’d reached his climax as he plunged into me one last time before he spasmed uncontrollably and reached his release.

  Seconds later, I heard him fall back onto the bed next to me with a satisfied grunt.

  I let out an obligatory sign of satisfaction. “Baby, that was amazing.”

  He chuckled. “I can’t believe how tight your pussy is. I wanted to go for longer, but you drove me crazy and I just completely lost it.”

  I smiled. “I’m here to make you happy, Ian.”

  “Now, take off your blindfold, Chloe. That’ll make me happy.”

  His demand sounded abrupt, but I didn’t think anything of it. I obeyed and removed the blindfold off my face.

  I turned to flash Ian a sexy smile, but when I met his eyes, I gasped and leapt away from him.

  “It can’t be!” I gasped, suddenly feeling queasy.

  The man who was smiling back at me, the man that had just been inside me, the man who was my new client was John Pierce. Jackson’s father.

  He smiled widely at me as he got up and approached me. “Don’t play coy with me, Chloe. You knew it was me.”

  “No!” I shook my head violently, both in disagreement with his statement and in utter disbelief that it was him that was standing in front of me at this moment. “I didn’t know it was you! How can you even say that?” I quickly put on my clothes, feeling sick to my stomach.

  “But we’ve been so close for all those years, you must know the sound of my voice by now.” He had an almost evil grin on his face, and I wasn’t sure if he was taunting me or actually delusional.

  “Mr. Pierce, we can’t be doing this.” I shook my head violently, wishing that the last fifteen minutes hadn’t happened.

  “Chloe, what did I tell you about calling me, Mr. Pierce? It’s John to you,” he laughed, “or Ian—it’s my middle name after all. But with how close we’ve become, especially in the last half hour, I don’t think Mr. Pierce sounds right at all.”

  Suddenly I felt my stomach churn and I ran as fast as I could to the bathroom. I locked the door behind me before turning around and throwing up into the toilet, feeling more sick by each passing minute.

  Tears flowed down my face and clouded my vision as I sobbed, trying to figure out how this had happened—why this had happened.

  Then a knock came at the door. “Chloe, let’s talk about this. Let me in,” Mr. Pierce said from the other side of the door.

  “We can talk just fine with the door between us,” I managed to retort.

  “Come on, don’t be like this. I’m not sure why you’re so upset. We’re not doing anything wrong here.”

  We’re not doing anything wrong here? I screamed inside. “You’re Jackson’s dad! What happened wasn’t right. It’s forbidden.”

  I heard him laugh. “Forbidden? Forbidden by who? We’re two single, consenting adults having a good time. And before you took off that blindfold, I don’t think I was the only one having a good time. Now what’s wrong with that?”

  “But you’re Jackson’s dad…he’s…he’s my best friend.” I felt my body numb with shock.

  “So? Who cares if I’m Jackson’s dad. This has nothing to do with him.”

  “But this has everything to do with him!” I heard myself scream at the door.

  “Why? Is Jackson your boyfriend and I didn’t get the memo?” There was a mocking tone to his voice, which hurt and angered me at the same time.

  “No, b
ut…”

  “Well there you go then. You and Jackson are just friends. From what Madam Celine tells me, you’re single. So explain to me what’s so wrong about that?”

  I opened my mouth but then closed it. I wasn’t sure what to say, because I didn’t have a clear answer. Even though it wasn’t technically wrong, in the legal sense, it felt very wrong to be having sex with Mr. Pierce.

  “Ask yourself this: if Jackson was a girl, and you were best friends with my daughter, would you still think our interaction would be forbidden or wrong?”

  “I…” I didn’t know what to say. There was some truth in what he’d just asked. There was something that felt wrong with what’d just happened because Jackson was a guy, and maybe I wouldn’t feel as strongly about it if Jackson was a girl. But as hard as I tried, I couldn’t wrap my mind around why it would be different.

  “Do you like Jackson or something?”

  His question made me feel uneasy. Like Jackson? Like my best friend? That was something I’d never thought about before.

  “Well I should tell you now that you should stop wasting your time. Jackson sees you as his sister and friend, nothing else.”

  The thought that Jackson thought of me like a sister made me more upset than I could understand.

  Then another question came to me. “How did you arrange this? How did you find me? And why? Why me?” My questions rushed out in rapid succession as my brain tried to process how all this had happened tonight. How can life be this twisted?

  “Well I discovered Madam Celine and her services recently. Since my divorce, I’d gotten really lonely, and quite frankly, horny. So I was going through her portfolio of girls, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I landed on the page with your pictures.” He let out a loud sigh of pleasure, and I could tell he was leaning into the door between us while he spoke.

  “But why me?” I repeated. “There are so many other options, girls much more popular with Madam Celine’s clients than I am. Why did you have to pick me? You’ve known me since I was a kid. Wouldn’t that make me the last option you’d pick in her portfolio of girls?”