A Promise Made (Promise #2)

by Anissa Garcia

  Her breath caught in her throat as I moved closer, my nose grazing her jawline. I wanted to grab her, and show those pansy boys this woman was mine. I saw her eyes darken, her mouth part, and all I could do was try to keep my body restrained under the confines of my jeans.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered, letting her hand run from my elbow to my shoulder, wrapping around my neck. “I have an idea.”

  The drive to wherever Marla was leading me was filled with unspoken tension, both of us stretched back like rubber bands ready to snap at any moment. I was instructed to park my jeep into a long driveway. She rummaged through the picnic basket, grabbing the blanket we had used earlier. Her smile was mischievous as she cocked her head forward. “Come on, let’s go for a small hike.”

  “A hike? It’s late.”

  “Where’s your sense of adventure, McKenzie?”

  It was dark outside, but we used our phone flashlights, and I told her to step carefully. Climbing on jagged rocks wasn’t something I had planned on, and I didn’t want her getting hurt. “Are we sneaking into a closed park?”

  “Kinda,” she giggled, and my heart and crotch stirred simul-

  taneously. Why I found this act of rebellion from her so damn attractive was beyond me. Perhaps the fact that it was so unexpected gave me a slight thrill. Fuck, I was falling for this woman.

  We finally hit the lake and she set the blanket down. Her hand patted the rock beside her. “Come sit with me, Josh” she said with a peaceful tone. The city was beautiful, the dark sky peppered with bright stars. We stayed noiseless, enjoying the sounds around us.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” she asked as I found myself staring at her. The way the dim moonlight shined on her skin, she was like my own angel who was unaware of just how stunning she was.

  “What’s the deal with Holden? Are you seeing him?” The words didn’t come out as eloquently as I had liked them to, but I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted her to be mine.

  Those shining brown eyes dimmed, along with her smile. “You don’t hold back, do you?”

  “Not when it comes to this,” I remarked.

  She looked confused. “To what exactly?”

  “Us.”

  “Us?” She chuckled, turning her body toward mine. “I didn’t get a memo informing me of this us. I must’ve missed it somewhere.”

  I didn’t take her sarcasm well, not when I was trying to get my point across. I grabbed at my cap and lifted it off my head with one hand as the other shuffled through my hair. It was a nervous gesture as I tried to grab the words I wanted to say. I placed it back, wriggling the bill to sit just right over my forehead. I locked my fingers together, resting my elbows on my knees. “I think there should be.”

  “Do you now?” She tilted her head, studying me, making me want to crawl out of my skin, she was so damn sexy.

  “I don’t want you dating that guy, or any other guy.”

  Her head straightened, a crease formed between her brow and her light smile turned into a grimace. “Excuse me?”

  There I went, putting my damn foot in my mouth again, being bossy. Why couldn’t I word things right? “I don’t mean to be overbearing, that’s not how I meant it.”

  “Sounded like that.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Besides aren’t you dating around? That’s how it works, doesn’t it? Date five girls at once, pick one who seems like the best choice leaving the other ones as a backup plan.”

  “You’ve never been a backup plan, sweetheart. You’re the fucking prize.” My voice was swift and fierce as I whispered it to her with intensity. Her mouth parted as she inhaled. I wondered what I had said wrong this time. She was just a challenge? No, because I wouldn’t put myself through this shit on purpose. “What, Red? You going to throw a rock at me?”

  She swallowed, shaking her head, those big eyes looking extremely vulnerable. “No, that’s…the sweetest thing anyone’s said to me.” A suffusing silence took over before she murmured. “I’m not dating Holden.” I looked down and grinned shyly, reaching for her hand. Before I could grab it, she spoke again. “Who’s Evelyn?”

  I paused, reflecting on how much I’d tell her. “She’s an ex.”

  “You two keep in touch?”

  “Only when she needs something from me.” I looked into her eyes, disappointment shooting from them. Why did I all of a sudden feel guilty for not revealing more? Every woman I had dated took a small piece of me with them, and I gathered they weren’t worthy of it. That’s why I felt guilty. Marla deserved all of me, and I wanted to give that to her. It was difficult opening certain wounds I thought were healed, only to find digging through the scar tissue hurt. But I would tell her. Little by little, I would open up about everything. This, I could handle. “I indulged her too much in our relationship. Anytime she needed something, I was there to give it. Much like your sister with your parents. I gave, she took. Over and over.”

  “And now?”

  “No more.”

  “But she still calls,” she said with doubt lacing her voice. “She wants money?”

  “Money, connections, a job. Who knows this time? Last time she wanted a place to stay for a few weeks. We had broken up after she left me for a hotshot producer.” My humiliation made me sick as I discussed it with this woman, but she needed to know. “He was married, had a family, but she swore they were in love and he was leaving his wife. He did. They moved in together. Two months later, he went back to his family, and she was stranded.”

  Marla empathized with me as she leaned over and clasped my hand with hers. It was soft, warm and welcoming. “You let her stay with you?”

  “She convinced me to give her another shot.”

  “You didn’t.” She exhaled, shaking her head as I didn’t react. “You did? How long?”

  “Two years.” I tightened my grip on her hand, studying the way my fingers swirled with hers.

  “Let me guess. For most of that time she was with someone else?”

  “You’d guess right,” I’d managed to say. “I wouldn’t give up on her. I should’ve. Evan warned me. Hell, even his mother told me to be careful. They knew she’d hurt me.”

  “Why did you stay?”

  “I confused what felt good with what was right.” I paused, recalling the pain that hit my chest when I found out Evelyn had been seeing someone else again. And the person who had told me? Zach. I hated the fucker for a while. I blamed him for telling me, but I came to my senses when I confronted her, and got a bullshit answer. I knew she had put the blinders over me, and she was damn good at it. “I put my faith in the wrong person.”

  Marla swallowed, gnawing on her lower lip, a line of worry etched over her forehead. “How did you recover?”

  “Slowly.” Truth was I could’ve let that woman break me, make me into a cynical asshole trying to take revenge on the world of women. But I loved them too much. I respected them too much. And I knew this woman in front of me, above all else, was making me believe in a way I hadn’t before.

  My eyes focused on hers, my heart pounding against my chest. “Marla… I’ve been trying to play it cool for a while now, but the truth is, I liked you from the moment I set eyes on you.” Studying her keenly, I caressed her face, feeling her tremble under my touch. I could see uncertainty, but I persisted. “You’re an amazingly smart and beautiful woman, and to hell with it, I want you to be with me. I don’t want to date anyone else. Only you, love.” Only ever her.

  “But…” My heartbeat must have resembled a hummingbird’s wings. It fluttered as Josh, with a voice as sweet and heady as honey and whiskey, asked me properly to be his girlfriend. It had been assumed in my other relationships that the course was commitment. With Aiden that had worked, with Ryan, not so much. The other guys never stuck around long enough. But this guy must have been from a fairytale. He was a mythical unicorn. Then I recalled what he said when he had interrupted my quest to speed date. He wasn’t just a guy. He was a man. In the truest form. And not only a
man, a gentleman—chivalrous and all.

  That picture seemed pretty, but when I stepped back and viewed accurately, the whole thing was one confused mess. “You don’t live here.”

  “I know.”

  “And I do live here.”

  “I know.”

  “So, then, it’s exclusive ‘til you leave?”

  “It’s exclusive until you don’t want me anymore.” He was careful, attempting to earn my trust, which he was already attaining. And sitting here beside him in the still evening air, on the shore of the lake, a warmth ran throughout my body that resembled comfort. I brought my hand up grabbing his cap and sliding it off, scooting my body closer to his. I cupped his cheek, feeling the prickly whiskers on my palm, as my thumb grazed over his full lips. He closed his eyes, leaning into my touch, his hand covering mine.

  “Only you, Josh,” I whispered, leaning forward, taking his mouth captive. It was a bold move, my brain letting go of insecurities eating away at me. Oddly, however, that faded into the background as he responded, his tongue tasting mine as my fingers clawed through his unruly hair.

  A roused rumble released from him as I dug my fingers into the warm skin of his arms wanting more. I was greedy, a puddle of pure need, as his lips broke contact from mine. Josh’s fingertips trailed along my jaw, his eyes taking in my demanding expression. I wanted to implore him not to stop, the eager heat rising to a bonfire, but his finger sat over my mouth, as if he was telling me to let the flame gradually build. “You have no fucking idea how much I want you.” My stomach dropped at his words—words I had longed to hear, but before I could say anything further, he continued. “We should go.”

  I clasped his wrist before he could stand. “Stay put,” I urged. I stood, holding a finger out to him, facing him head on. My smile couldn’t be contained as I kicked off my shoes and began to unbutton my blouse. This is what I wanted to do. Kick back, feel at ease with someone who liked me as much as I liked him, and let my soul soar. My job, hell, my life, demanded me to be regimented and controlled. I missed exploration, spontaneity, fun. I knew Josh did too, and he needed this as much as I did.

  His lips parted as his eyes widened, and a coy smile played over him. “Just what do you think you’re doing, Miss Sullivan?”

  I licked my lips, unsnapped my jeans, and leisurely slid them down my legs. I could hear his breathing pick up as he watched me strip. He cleared his throat, ran a hand through his hair, and glanced around as I reached for the clasp of my bra. “I don’t want someone to see you.”

  I chuckled, “Josh, we’re at Hippie Hollow. It’s a clothing-optional public park.” My eyebrow raised as realization dawned on him.

  “You had this planned out, didn’t you, you minx?”

  “It was a hope,” I shrugged my bra off, letting it hit the blanket beneath us. His starved eyes focused in on my chest, glided down my stomach and over the rest of me.

  “You’re really beautiful.” The words left his mouth on a labored exhale.

  I stretched my hand to him, waiting for him to take it. “Well, are you joining me, Mr. McKenzie?”

  I yanked him up, and as he stood, my hands tangled with his as we reached for the hem of his shirt. I barely had time to focus on the ink covering his skin as he unbuckled his belt and swiftly tugged off his jeans. We scampered hand in hand toward the water that summoned us and he smiled. “It’s going to be fucking freezing, you know that, Red?”

  I nodded. “We’ll keep each other warm.”

  “Good, because my balls might turn into raisins after this.”

  I bellowed out in laughter as we hit the edge of the shore. “Okay, let’s do this. One…” I started the countdown.

  “GO!” He interrupted and tugged me with him as we ran forward, both of us screaming when the cool water hit our skin. The rocks beneath us took a dramatic dip and we treaded out as our bodies sunk under the water. Any inhibitions left us as we swam near one another. “Fuck, this is fucking cold!”

  “You can handle it,” I splashed him with water, which in turn caused him to reciprocate until he clasped my wrist and pulled me to him. He wrapped my arms around his neck as his fastened at my waist and we floated together, weightless and free.

  His chest was pumping in and out, as he stayed fixed on me. “I like this.”

  “Me too. It’s good to let loose once in a while,” I said, finding his confidence in the way he held me so reassuring. He wasn’t trying to be smooth, play a game with me, or turning on the charm. He was present, fully himself, and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

  “Get over here, love,” he commanded softly, hauling my body closer to his, the friction magnifying the heat my body felt. I shuddered as I felt him hard. “Wrap your legs around me,” he insisted, and I obeyed as his sturdy chest pressed against mine. His lips descended, kissing me with resolve. His hands roamed, lowering to my bottom and pulling me as close as we could get. Our tongues tangled in a silken dance as my hands clawed through his hair, and I felt undone. I needed all of him—on top of me, inside me, filling and claiming me. I felt his breath taking in mine, giving life to each other with each inhale and exhale.

  Moving his mouth along my neck to my collarbone, he nipped with his teeth, the sensation sending chills up my spine. His hands gripped my hips under the water, and I felt on the edge of losing it. I was aching for reprieve. “Touch me,” I trembled and let out a sensual sigh as he complied, letting his fingers dip into the center of me. I clung onto his neck as my body responded so easily to him, and I was drowning in the awareness of the power this man held over me.

  “I need you. I want all of you,” he groaned, plunging his head lower, pushing my breast up as he took it in his mouth.

  “Take me then, McKenzie. What the hell are you waiting for?” I panted as he gazed powerfully at me. He laughed, the smile so big it crinkled the corners of his eyes, softening his intensity.

  I don’t know how, but before I knew it we reached the blanket, our limbs tangling as we continued our exploration of each other. The rock underneath me was uncomfortable, the night air chilling us both, but in the heat of the moment, it didn’t matter. I could only see the size of him, the strength, and the hardness of his beautiful body as I raked my hands over every inch of rippled muscle. His hand trailed down to where he’d left off in the water, and I closed my eyes as he circuited around the bundle of nerves begging to be stroked. He then dipped his finger inside of me.

  A thin cry escaped my mouth as my hips buckled, requiring him to move faster where I needed liberation. Instead he tormented, kissing his way down my body with those velvet lips, licking my navel with indulgent strokes, as he stirred his fingers in and out of me in an unrelenting rhythm.

  My body felt like a coil, and it was ready to pop, but his movement shifted, and my release was denied as he started a different pace. “Please,” I cried softly, as I felt the crescendo about to hit. “Don’t stop, Josh.”

  “I want to taste all of you,” he mumbled as his mouth was then sucking me, moving in time with his fingers. I cupped the back of his thick neck, burying him closer to my body. Each stroke and plunge of his tongue was a new sensation—so sweet, yet torturous, and wanting my appraisal. I gave it with each groan my mouth released. The intensity was alarming as my legs began to quiver. I strained against him, and ecstasy finally surged through me hitting like a tidal wave. My body pulsated in time with my heart, and it was only when he subdued the stride of his fingers was I able to catch my breath.

  His mouth made its way up to mine and kissed me tenderly. “I think that was the most beautiful thing I’ve heard and seen,” he said delicately. He reached for the pocket of his jeans and procured his wallet.

  “I’m sure that can’t be true,” my lazy tone rang out. I was spent, and he was too remarkable at what he did. We had only just begun, we were outdoors, and it was the most reckless I’d ever been, but I couldn’t wait for more. I wanted him to let go of that perfect control because of how I affected him.
“Glad to see you’re prepared, Mr. Muscles.” I smiled as he grabbed the foil packet.

  “Always prepared, and never one for bullshit.”

  I chuckled, but it dissipated into anticipation and nerves as he sheathed himself. I barely handled what his fingers did to me, I wasn’t certain how I would deal with what he offered next. He was large, thick, and all man. My thighs pressed together, the eagerness of how he would feel within me making me hot all over again.

  Those plush, full lips traveled my body, stopping at my breasts and toying with each nipple, sucking, biting, and kissing until I was squirming under him, pleading for more.

  “I love the way you sound,” he groaned into my neck as he positioned himself between me and nudged my thighs wider. A grin played over him as he examined me and rubbed over my aching core. The tip of him grazed my entrance, and he grabbed himself, hesitating before navigating inside of me.

  “God, you’re driving me insane on purpose,” I whimpered as I dug my nails into his taut shoulders, motivating him to move forward.

  A rough laugh escaped him, then a sharp inhalation caught in his chest as he pushed inside—parting me, stretching me, the feel of him so deep I could burst. I gasped as he thrusted, drawing in and out with a deliberate pace. His hand braced the back of my head, holding me to him as his body took over mine.

  We moved slowly at first, his eyes unblinking. Every grip and tug took my emotions to a higher level. His hands were gentle as he bent his head nipping my neck and whispering words I couldn’t hear. He moved his arm under my knee, opening me up as he withdrew and lunged with full force as I moaned against him.

  His eyes were on me, his brow furrowed in attentiveness, as if at any moment he could lose the grip he held on whatever it was he was trying to govern—his hunger, his passion, his need for me to feel safe. I tugged on his lip with my teeth, biting down, causing a rumble within him, letting him know he could cut that thread and go wild. Identifying the cue, he placed his hand between us where we were joined. He pressed his fingers down hard, sinking them over the center of nerves begging to be gratified.