Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2)

by Baker, Janice

  “You shouldn’t have mentioned anything,” I quipped with a smile.

  Matt chuckled and added in, “He’s been wanting to run into you down there for a while now.”

  “Great. I’ll make sure to wear my most unflattering outfit possible.” She walked to her bedroom to change. I looked back at Matt.

  “She doesn’t have anything unflattering. Poor Clark will be staring at her amazing body the whole time.”

  “I’m sure he’ll get over it. Nothing poor about that.” He gave me a thoughtful look. “So you went to the bar last night looking to see if anyone would want you? Why? Your date was groping at you all night long.”

  “I just…” I shrugged not knowing how to explain it. “Just wanted to see if anyone would pick me up, that’s all. It’s stupid. I know.”

  “Nothing stupid about needing to be wanted. Desired.” He smiled that smile of his. “You could have just called me, you know.”

  “You’re off limits, remember?”

  “You and your stupid policy. No one is going to know what we do, not to mention – who cares?”

  “I care. I made the stupid policy so I need to be the one who definitely follows it. If someone were to find out what we did, I’d be the laughing stock of the whole Human Resources field. Who would want to hire me then?”

  Matt nodded in understanding. “Well, we could be discreet. Hell, it would be easy enough since we live right across the hall from each other.” Why did he make it seem so simple? Or was I making it to be such a big deal? It’s not like I didn’t want to be with him again. God knows he’s been the center of all my fantasies since I met him.

  I took a deep breath, trying to keep strong in my resolve. I can’t bend on this again. We had one fantastic night and it was supposed to rid us of this sexual tension we have. It feels like it just made it stronger. I swallowed knowing I had to continue being the strong one. “It’s just that we shouldn’t. We need to just stay friends.”

  “Friends,” Matt repeated as he pressed his lips together and clapped his hands. He stood up and tousled my hair. “I’m going to run out and grab something to eat. Do you want anything? I could bring something back for you.”

  I smiled at how sweet he can be and tried to think of the stupid things he did at the office to piss me off. Somehow nothing was coming to mind. “Nah, I’m okay for now, but thank you. I think I’ll just catch some more sleep.”

  He nodded. “I’ll text you later and see if you’re up for going out tonight.”

  “Thanks.”

  ******

  After sleeping for several hours, I woke to Aubrey staring at me. I know most people would think that’s terribly weird. Well, it really is, but Aubrey and I have known each other for so long, I’m used to her doing that. She doesn’t do it often. More so when something is really troubling her. She explained to me one time that it calms her. She has major issues that she’s been dealing with for so long, I stopped asking if I could help her.

  “You alright?” I asked her as I turned onto my side, pulling the sheet closer to me.

  She shrugged and then laid down next to me. “I have to leave tomorrow for two months. Marcus backed out because his wife went into labor early. So I have to fly to San Antonio to set up the hotel.”

  I nodded knowing how often she has to do this. She started out helping set up new hotels and now they’ve continued to ask her to do them alone, without giving her a promotion. I keep telling her she needs to ask for one and tell her constantly how much more she should be paid for the job she does. Since she’s the single girl, she’s asked to pick up the jobs everyone tosses aside. “Two months. Last time it didn’t take you that long. Maybe you’ll be back sooner.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Are you upset about it?” I asked trying to figure out what was bothering her.

  “No, not really. Just another city to explore,” She said with a faint smile. I glanced over at my clock, noting it was four o’clock.

  “What time is your date tonight?”

  “I’m meeting him out at eight.” I nodded as she took in a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about you and Matt,” she said slowly. “Remember how we were talking about the next one could be the one?”

  I started to protest by saying, “Aubrey, I don’t…”

  “No,” she interrupted me as she sat up and crossed her legs. “Just hear me out. He seems like he doesn’t want a relationship either right now. So maybe, just maybe, if you guys are friends, you could always work into a relationship. You promised you’d have our happy ever after.”

  “He’s not going to be our happy ever after, Aubrey. You should see him at the office, not to mention all the women that were falling all over him at the conference. You know I can’t handle that with all my insecurities.” I sat up, pulling the sheet around me, matching her sitting crossed legged. “Charles was always supportive when I felt insecure. I’m pretty sure Matt’s not that type at all. He likes me at the office. Confident Vanessa where I know what the hell I’m doing because I’m at the office. But outside all that, I can’t deal with him being looked at all the time.”

  “But you’ll never know until you try. And what if he likes that you’re just a little insecure?” I scoffed.

  “What man ever wants an insecure woman?” I shook my head.

  “He likes the type of woman he can take care of too. I can tell. He took care of you last night.”

  I couldn’t argue that. Not many guys would stay to do that. I gave her a thoughtful glance and then flopped back down, facing her. “I’m scared,” I admitted, feeling exactly that.

  “I know. But you’ll never know until you try.”

  “Aubrey, I still have to completely break it off with Charles. He thinks were on some break.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “I…think I’m ready to move on. I just don’t think it would be with Matt,” I paused and briefly closed my eyes. “Not that he would want anything to do with me.”

  Aubrey shook her head and adamantly said, “I think you’re wrong.” She huffed out a deep breath. “I think he’s got issues of his own. I watched him at the wedding. I think the girl that was there broke his heart. You’re each other’s next one.”

  I gave her a small smile. I know how much this means to her. She was thrilled at first about Charles for me. Until she heard little things he would say to me; stuff she considered mentally fucking with me. Not to mention that he never gave me an orgasm.

  My phone rang out with a text bringing us both out of the thoughts we were having. Aubrey jumped up and grabbed my phone off my dresser where I left it. She smiled brightly and then bit her lip. Tears filled her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She looked up at me and gave a slight nod of her head. “He’s definitely the one.” She tossed my phone on my bed and headed out my door.

  I glanced down at the text from Matt and smiled.

  Matt: Are you up yet, Gorgeous? We’re hitting Allure tonight. I won’t take no for an answer.

  I smiled bright as my heart flipped. Gorgeous again. Hmm, I like that. I bit my lip wanting to text him back. I was still tired and really didn’t want to go out. I decided to text him after my shower, knowing I’ll feel better after I take one.

  I took my time using my best shower gel. I washed my hair twice with my most expensive shampoo and conditioner. I took my time shaving my legs, making sure to get every curve. I wanted to feel better so I could go out with Matt. Ugh. And Clark. I’m sure he would come along too. I dismissed that thought quickly, attempting to focus on Matt. Matt and his gorgeous smile. What was I doing? Friends. I had deemed him a friend only and he had accepted that.

  I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a fluffy towel around my body and hit the play list on my phone. I danced to the rhythm, shaking my hips and throwing my hands up in the air. I dried myself off while dancing to the song. I pulled the towel back and forth along my back before whipping it off and throwing it
across the bathroom.

  Gorgeous, he called me. I feel gorgeous and sexy as hell. I chuckled at the name Matt used for me, but then I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and dismissed anything that might bother me about my body. Instead I focused on my full breasts, my sexy curves and my flat stomach. I continued to dance to the music and strutted into my bedroom to grab some panties.

  I heard a loud scream and realized it came from me as I glared at Matt sitting on my bed leaning back on his elbows with that damned half smile. My heart was pounding from anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t figure out which. I quickly covered myself, the best I could since I was naked. In my own bedroom. I ran back into my bathroom and slammed the door as I heard him chuckling.

  “Come on out, Vanessa. I want to see you dance like that some more,” he called out as I stood behind my bathroom door breathing heavy. Naked. He saw me naked. Well, actually that wasn’t the first time I tried to reason with myself. Anger started coursing through me as I realized he was in my bedroom. I grabbed my towel off the floor so I could go back out there and yell at him.

  I whipped the bathroom door open and stomped over to the bed. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

  He was sitting up by then, still smiling that sexy smile as he licked his lips. “I’m just here as a friend. You know, to help you pick out clothes for tonight. Aubrey let me in,” he told me with a shrug.

  “I…You…I,” I stammered trying to find the right words. “You are not allowed to be in here. You can’t see me naked.”

  He glanced down at my towel covered body and licked his lips as he pressed them together and gave his head a slight shake. His eyes were so bright. “I’ve already seen you at your finest, Vanessa. Nothing can shock me now.”

  Was he talking about me throwing up last night or when we had sex? I dismissed that silly question in my head and got back to the point. “Well, that doesn't give you the right to be in here. I don’t go walking into your room when you get out of the shower.”

  “I would love the hell out of that, if you would,” he told me as he stared right into my eyes, making me melt.

  “Well…I don’t. So…don’t do that to me.” I tried to regain some sort of composure. As much as I could with a towel around me and naked as God made me. I walked over to my dresser and pulled open my lingerie drawer. I felt heat on my back and my heart picked up knowing he was right behind me. I glanced into the mirror to see him standing behind me, staring down at my neck as if he wanted to kiss me. I stood up straight, still looking forward into his reflection as I asked, “What on earth are you doing?”

  He stared back at my reflection and smiled. “I just wanted to help you pick something out.”

  Asshole. I clutched my towel tighter to my body. As pissed off as I was right now, having Matt right behind me, remembering what he did to me, turned me on beyond reason. I glared back at him as I realized I needed to mess with him just as much as he was with me. I smiled to myself as it dawned on me what I needed to do to Matt.

  I pulled out my sexiest royal blue demi bra. The one I saved for special occasions to make me feel extra sexy. He wanted a show then I’ll give him one. One that he can’t touch. He wanted to use this ‘friends’ thing to get closer to me. Fine. I can play his little game.

  I turned slightly, feeling how close he was right behind me, my elbow brushed against him slightly. He took a small step back, chuckling to himself, as if he won this little game of his. I confidently turned around completely and dropped my towel. I watched that smug smile drop immediately as his eyes dipped to view my body. As his smile dropped, mine appeared. I was going to have a great time messing with him.

  I pulled the bra to my stomach and began to fasten it around my back, when it dawned on me — I had help today. I tilted my head to the side, trying not to smile too much, as I cupped the bra just below my breasts. “Matt, since you’re here to help me, as my friend, could you please fasten the hooks?”

  I slowly turned around and glanced back to see his expression. I watched him swallow as he stared at my ass. “Matt?” His eyes shot up to mine, glazed over with lust. Desire. This was going to be fun to taunt him tonight. My new friend.

  He stepped forward and his hands brushed against my back. His mere touch was going to drive me insane, but I was determined to play his little friendship game.

  I felt the last hook as he hitched it and I turned around, tossing my wet hair over my shoulder. “Thanks, this bra always gives me trouble.” I said as innocently as possible. I’m sure he’s heard that from many of his girls, although I’m sure they can do it with more of a pout and some stupid childish voice. I can’t do that.

  I cupped the material of my bra over one breast with my hand, pressing to make it plump. My other breast was showing in all its glory. My nipple fully hardened into a tight bud. I glanced at him to make sure he noticed. His eyes were glued to them. I slowly pulled the strap of my bra over my shoulder and then did the same with my other breast, pulling my strap up slowly. Then I pulled my bra up from underneath, making sure to prop them properly in the cups of my bra. This was the one bra that barely covered my breasts. I rarely wore it considering if I bend over, my full breasts usually pop out. But for tonight, I was going to wear this bra and make sure I picked the perfect top to accentuate how wonderful this bra really made my breasts look.

  I was still half naked so I turned around for the matching panties. The panties that barely cover my ass cheeks. I pulled them from the drawer and then gingerly put them on, making sure to give him a little show. I pulled my panties up slowly as I gave a slight sexy wiggle to my ass, making sure to push my cheeks out a little more than I would if I were getting dressed by myself. My hands glided just under the elastic of my panties, making that snapping sound.

  I turned around smiling. “What should I wear, friend?”

  Matt took a step towards me and wrapped his hands around my waist pulling me into his hard body. Control. I have to have control. He started this game and darn it, I was going to win.

  His head dipped down in an attempt to kiss me. “Matt. You’re my friend, remember? A date would have waited patiently in the living room for me to dress,” I teased him, trying my best to keep any sort of smile from my eyes.

  “You’re kidding right? That little show and you want me to keep my hands off you?” His voice dripped with pure annoyance.

  “You started this. You think you can sit here ‘as a friend,’” I used air quotes. “And sit on my bed while I walk out into my own bedroom naked under the pretense that you’re going to help me dress? Now you can be my friend and help me pick out clothes.” I pushed him back onto my bed to sit. He gave me that damn sexy half smile and that fucking eye brow whipped up. He licked his lips and smiled fully.

  “Fine. We’ll play your little game. For now. But don’t think I didn’t notice how wet you are for me.”

  I smiled back. “I’m not wet for you, Matt. I was thinking about how I just pleased myself in the shower.” I walked over to my closet and started to flip through clothes and heard him give a slight groan. I bit my lower lip to keep from laughing.

  I grabbed my Lucky Jeans. The ones that fit my ass just perfectly and look fantastic from behind. I slipped them on, making sure to bend just slightly as I pulled them over my ass. I glanced back at Matt to see him smirking.

  Picking out my lowest cut top, the one that will definitely show the full tops of my breasts, I held it up to me and turned around. Matt was staring at my ass and quickly flipped his gaze to my eyes.

  “Do you think this top will work for tonight?”

  “I don’t know, I’d need to see it on you,” he teased with a small smile. I nodded and slipped it over my head, tugging it just enough to make sure it did exactly as I intended.

  I heard Matt exhale a huge breath as I watched him stand up and stride over to me. He bent his head, taking me by surprise, as his lips grazed softly on the globes of my breasts. My breath hitched and my heart beat wildly out of
control as he grabbed my hips and pulled me tightly to him, making sure to grind his hard cock to me. “If you want to continue this game, you’ll need to change to a burlap bag or something. ‘Cause if you wear this outfit, I might have to have my hand on your ass and my other hand down your shirt all night. I won’t be able to keep my hands off you, Gorgeous.”

  Again, I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Gorgeous. I took a deep breath and tried to regain composure. What I really wanted to do was allow him to take me right now. His eyes were gazing into mine, his smile reaching his eyes as he bent down to kiss me. As difficult as it was, I turned quickly to duck away from his kiss. I was having a tough time keeping it together and wanted nothing more than for him to throw me onto my bed.

  “I have to go put on some makeup and do my hair,” I quickly told him breathlessly as I walked into my bathroom to my vanity. I inhaled deep breaths to try to calm myself and try to keep from letting him attack me. This little teasing act was turning me on as much as it was him.

  I started applying my make-up as he walked in behind me. I watched him through the reflection in the mirror as he walked over to the other side of the vanity and hopped up onto the counter.

  He cleared his throat as if he were trying to contain himself also. “So Aubrey told me she’s leaving tomorrow for San Antonio for two months. How do you feel about that?”

  “About what? Her leaving or going to San Antonio?” I joked.

  “Smart ass. Leaving for two months.”

  I shrugged. “It’s her job. She does this all the time.” Although I’ve always had Charles to call if I was scared to be alone. I frowned thinking about that difference.

  “What was that for?”

  “What? My frown?” I shook my head. “I guess you’re right. I didn’t think of that really. I usually had Charles to call if I really needed someone,” I told him as I applied my mascara. I glanced over to Matt and watched him look at me thoughtfully. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Well, I…I just want you to know that if you get lonely or scared or something, that you can just call me and I can come over and hang out with you.”