No Promises: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  I blush seven times harder than before. “Eden, don’t tell me that!”

  He smiles and stands up. “We need to get cleaned up and dressed. I bet everyone will be here soon,” he tells me as he pulls me up, then leads me to the bedroom.

  He opens the door to our room. I’m pleased to see the glass on the balcony door has been replaced. It looks like nothing ever happened in here. I find I missed this place and my beloved jacuzzi tub.

  CHAPTER 56

  EDEN

  I sit on the bed, watching my mate as she braids her hair. “I’m so glad that’s over, Alyssa. You have no idea the relief I feel, knowing you’re safe again.”

  She rises, done fixing herself up. “Ready to go downstairs? They’re sure to be here by now.”

  Her confidence is back and she glows with it. She chose a tight-fitting, navy blue dress, which fits her body like a glove. It occurs to me that many men would rather their wives not dress so sexy. Yet I love her to be full of confidence, and if she feels like dressing this way, I’ll be damned if I let some insecurity in me bring her down.

  Taking her by the waist, it reminds me of how I held her when I brought her home from the hospital after her accident. I smile at her, then place a gentle kiss on her perfect cheek. “I have to hold you close to me right now, princess. I almost lost you today.”

  She giggles as she leans into me and we walk down the staircase. “I love you and relish your attention. Your quick thinking saved us all.”

  Niles is at the door to the formal dining room. “Your friends and family have been waiting for you. Please come in and sit down,” he instructs us.

  “Good evening, Niles. It’s so nice to see you again. I’ve missed you,” Alyssa tells him.

  His eyebrows raise slightly. “Well, I missed you too,” he states stoically.

  My eyes scan the room quickly. I notice Galchobar is here, as well as my family and Alyssa’s, and Kyle and Laura. My eyes catch Kyle’s. He’s staring at my wife, his mouth slightly open.

  Alyssa blushes and clings to me. She sends me, ‘I can’t do this. Get me out of here.’

  I tighten my arm around her waist and send her, ‘You got this, princess. Keep up that confidence you have back.’

  Galchobar rises and comes to us. “Good evening, Alyssa. I see everything has turned out well, all the way around,” he says as he motions to Kyle and Laura. “It’s a shame you were drugged. Thankfully, Eden was given the answer to your dilemma before it caused you permanent damage.”

  Alyssa smiles at him. “Thank you for coming this evening, Galchobar. It’s nice to see everyone after the day I’ve had.”

  “Everyone had to see you, Alyssa,” I tell her as I take her to sit at the table. Purposely, I seat her next to Kyle, then I sit on the other side of her.

  The quicker she faces her embarrassment, the better.

  She looks at the tablecloth as if it’s a work of art. I know she doesn’t want to look at him. I guess Kyle does too as he takes her by the chin and makes her look at him. “Hey, girl, you look a hell of a lot better than when I saw you last.”

  “Please don’t remind me,” she mumbles.

  Kyle looks past her to meet my eyes. He seems confused, so I say, “She asked about her state when I brought her home. I had to explain what we had to do.”

  Laura leans up and looks at me. “Her state?” she asks.

  Kyle gives me a slight head shake and I smile.

  Shit, Laura!

  Alyssa takes Kyle’s hand, moving it from her face. “Have you thought about what I offered you, Laura? About becoming a member of The Phoenix Foundation. Kyle’s a member, you know,” she says, and Kyle’s eyes go wide. “It just happened. Don’t be upset with him.”

  Laura’s voice becomes high pitched. “Kyle! You joined the cult?”

  Kyle closes his eyes and he turns to her. “It’s not a cult and I’d like it if you joined us,” he says, then turns back to look at Alyssa. “You didn’t tell me you asked her that, Ally.”

  “Are you mad?” she asks him.

  “I’m not mad, Al,” he says. “A bit confused, but not mad.”

  “I want her to know,” Alyssa says, making the rest of the people at the table gasp.

  Galchobar clears his throat. “My dear Mistress Fontaine, perhaps we should talk privately for a moment.”

  Alyssa radiates confidence and I suddenly feel sorry for the old guy. “Are you going to tell me I’m not allowed to ask my best friend to join our organization, sir?”

  “I would never dare to tell you such a thing,” he says, with a bow of his head.

  Laura lets out a sudden laugh. “What in the hell?”

  “Laura, maybe we should drop this and talk about it later,” Kyle says as he puts his arm around her.

  “Now’s best,” Alyssa says. “This secret has gone on long enough. I feel as if I’m lying to her and I don’t like it. Kyle is in love with her and she him. It’s not fair to him to have to hide this from her. This is something which hurts me to make him do. I want no more of it.”

  Kyle looks at her with a frown. “Don’t do this because of me, Ally. I can’t allow that and you know it.”

  Laura pushes his arm off her shoulders. “You can’t allow her?” she asks with a glare. “This man bows to her as if she’s the damn Queen of New Orleans and you tell her you can’t allow her to do something? Tell me, Kyle, when did you get this power over her?”

  “She needs to know,” I say as I turn my attention to Galchobar. “She’s not a threat. Her character is good and she’d be a help to our causes.”

  Laura stands up and looks around at us all. “Wait one minute, Eden. I’m not about to join this thing. You may have pulled Kyle in, but I’m not going to be suckered into anything.”

  The tall-stemmed glasses, one filled with red wine and one with water begin to shake in front of Laura. “Sit!” Alyssa says quietly.

  Laura sits down immediately. “Ally! What are you doing?”

  The glasses stop shaking and Laura looks at them. Alyssa leans over to Kyle. “I want to show her how we communicate.”

  “Ally, you’re going to freak her out,” he says as he shakes his head vigorously.

  Laura leans up to see them better. “How do you communicate?”

  Alyssa meets her stare. “Tell Kyle anything you want. Any little detail or a long detail. Anything you want. Then he’ll tell me, only he won’t be speaking to me out loud.”

  “This is crazy,” Laura says, then pulls Kyle back and whispers quietly into his ear.

  Kyle’s eyes go wide and he smiles. “Maybe you should say something else. Because this is real, Laura, and that just might bite you in the ass.”

  “Just do your little party trick, Kyle,” Laura says with more than a touch of sarcasm. “Only I want to stand behind Ally, so I can make sure you don’t mouth the words to her.”

  Laura moves to stand behind my mate and watches Kyle like a hawk. Alyssa’s cheeks turn red as Kyle sends her whatever it was Laura said to him. She looks up at Laura and says, “You dirty girl. You better come here and let me whisper that back to you, or you will die of embarrassment.”

  Laura’s smirk fades as she leans down and Alyssa whispers in her ear. She stands back up and says, “No fucking way!”

  Alyssa nods her head, as does Kyle. Laura throws her arms in the air and goes back to her chair, plopping down on it. “Okay, how’d you do that?”

  “Telepathy,” Alyssa says, then takes a sip of wine. “If you don’t mind, Laura, I’m starving, so let’s get this all out in the open and as you eat the delicious dinner we’re about to be served, you can let it all settle into your mind.”

  Laura gives a faint nod and Kyle wraps his arm around her shoulders. “Go for it, Al. I won’t let her run off or pass out.”

  Alyssa smiles, then says, “Eden and I can transform into large—well, maybe large is too small of a word. Do you think large is adequate, Eden?”

  “I like the word giant. It suit
s us better,” I answer.

  Alyssa nods in agreement. “You’re right. We can transform into giant birds. They call us Phoenixes and we help people. Along with that little gift, we have telepathy with each other. I also have it with Kyle. That’s all the gifts we’ve been given so far. Oh, yeah, and we can make things happen. Like I made you sit and shook the glasses. Little things like that. I don’t know if Kyle can.”

  Laura turns her head to look at Kyle. “You have some type of powers too?”

  He shrugs. “I’m extra strong and I think I can sense danger, but I need to practice that more.”

  “Why?” Laura asks.

  “That’s an excellent question, Laura,” Alyssa says. “Eden and I were chosen before our births by Our Creator. The wedding was not a theme wedding. It was an ancient one. Galchobar, here, is an immortal. He officiated the very first wedding of the original Phoenix couple.”

  “Shut up!” Laura says as her eyes roll to look at Galchobar.

  “I will not,” Alyssa says with a laugh.

  Laura looks back at Alyssa. “You gave Kyle powers. Can you give me some?”

  “It wasn’t me who gave him powers. I don’t have that kind of power. It was Our Creator,” she answers.

  Looking up at Kyle, Laura asks, “But why you, Kyle?”

  Instead of answering her, he turns to look at my mate. It’s she who answers. “Laura, I’ve had love in my heart for Kyle for several years. As he’s had for me. When the change began to happen in me, he got stuck in my heart. It pulled him along with me.”

  “He’s yours?” Laura asks.

  My wife nods. “But only a bit of him is. The rest of him can be yours, or whomever he chooses. I belong to him in a way as well. He’s my primary guardian,” she says, then looks back at me. “Please help me think of another name for him, Eden. I detest that title.”

  “Of course, princess,” I say as I place a kiss on top of her head. “Laura, he is her protector. Nothing physical can happen between them. You will never lose him to her.”

  Kyle looks at my wife and smiles. “You got that right, doesn’t he, Al?”

  “Yeah, Romeo. So, with that all said, let’s get our grub on. I’m starving and Laura needs to eat something to help her with the shock.”

  Kyle kisses the side of Laura’s head. “You’re stuck with me, baby,” he says. “Say you’ll join us.”

  Laura looks at my mate and nods. “How can I refuse? Your secret is mine too now. How about you show me the birds after dinner?”

  Galchobar halts any answer. “I’m afraid you must wait for the ceremony to initiate you into our flock, dear girl.”

  Alyssa shoots him a look. “Why?” she asks. “And what are they going to do to her? They made Kyle and Eden lion toys and poor Kyle had to see us all go up in flames. I don’t want that for her.”

  “It’s not up to you or me, Mistress Fontaine,” he says, then the maids bring in the trays heavy with food and all conversation on the subject ends.

  CHAPTER 57

  LAURA

  As shocking as it was to hear the things Kyle, Ally, and Eden told me, I find I’m handling it all pretty well. Ally has me a bit worried about the initiation into the flock, but if they all got through it, so can I.

  They explained more as we all hung out in Eden and Ally’s suite last night. We slept in a couple of their extra bedrooms they have. Kyle felt uncomfortable sleeping together in such close proximity to Ally, which at first made me mad. Then, when I really thought about their telepathy, and how she might see what would’ve surely happened between us, I had to agree with him.

  Their lifestyle is fantastic. This evening we sit at the swimming pool back at their mansion. We lounged the day away as we played in the water. But any minute now, the fun will be over and we will have to do another workout with the beast known as Beck.

  Since I have no superpowers, I’ve decided to get as strong as my human body will allow me to. I don’t wish to be left behind in all their missions. I have to find some way to make myself useful.

  The patio door opens and a nicely-dressed woman with dark brown hair walks out. “Shit!” Eden says, almost under his breath.

  I look at him, as do Kyle and Ally.

  Why in the world would he say that? Then I find out.

  “Eden!” the lady cries.

  He stands up. He’s wearing nothing but his swimming trunks and sunglasses. She goes straight to him, hugging him tightly.

  I sit in my lounge chair, looking at her over my sunglasses. She is just about the same height, weight, and build as Ally. It’s uncanny.

  Eden turns her to us, introducing her. “This is Linda Banks, the woman who has chosen all of our clothes. This is Kyle and that’s Laura. She’ll be joining our foundation very soon, so you’ll be seeing a lot of her.”

  She finally takes her arm from around his waist and moves towards me. She extends her hand for me to shake. “It’s so nice to meet you, Laura. I met Kyle at the ceremony,” she tells me in a very professional voice.

  “It’s lovely to meet you too. I have to thank you for all the beautiful things you’ve sent to us. We’re all very happy with your taste,” I say, to assure her.

  Then Eden says, “Would you like to join us, Linda? I’m sure Alyssa has a bathing suit you can use, as you are the same size.”

  My eyes dart to Ally, who has a jealous streak a mile wide. She can’t be happy with this woman who keeps touching her husband. I’d have a fit.

  “How nice of you to invite me, Eden,” she tells him as she puts her hand on his shoulder. “I would love to take a quick dip with you. With all of you.”

  Ally speaks up as she looks over her expensive sunglasses at her husband, “Eden, how nice of you to invite Ms. Banks to join us, but you must have forgotten we were just about to go in and get ready to leave. Remember, we’re going to go work out with Beck?”

  He smiles at her. “I did forget about that. Sorry, Linda. Maybe another time then?”

  “Oh, pooh,” she pouts.

  “Sorry,” Ally says.

  I bet she’s not!

  “Well, I’ll have to take you up on that swim another time, then. I just came over today to make sure Laura and Kyle’s things were moved into the correct room,” Linda says as she turns her attention to Kyle. “I managed to get both of your things into Alyssa’s old closet, as you two will be staying together in that room. That is what you requested, right?”

  Ally looks at me, a little surprised. “You two are staying in the same room now? I thought that Kyle would be in Eden’s old room,” she says. “What happened to that plan?”

  I look back at her and say, “The ginormous picture of you in that room is a bit overwhelming for me, Ally. I can’t have my man falling asleep looking at that thing. It could be bad for our relationship.”

  “The picture can be taken down. Don’t make yourselves uncomfortable because of that. I can have it out of there before you go to bed tonight,” she offers.

  Kyle jumps into the conversation. “Ally, it’s okay. We’re not uncomfortable at all. We want to stay together.”

  “I see,” she says as she stands up. “Well, we should head inside and get ready to go.”

  Eden grabs her cover up and drapes it across her shoulders, then pulls his shirt on. “Let us walk you out, Linda,” he tells her as he wraps his arm around Ally’s waist, then takes Linda’s hand, leading her back to the patio door.

  Kyle and I lag behind a bit. As we come into the foyer, we see Eden and Ally at the front door with Linda.

  “It was nice to see you again, Linda,” Eden says.

  She turns to Ally. “It was really nice to see you, Mrs. Fontaine,” she says.

  Ally speaks through clenched teeth, “It was nice to see you again too, Ms. Banks,”

  Linda quickly pecks Eden on the cheek, then hurries out to her car, which I see is a rather expensive Mercedes.

  “Nice car. She must make a lot of money,” Ally says.

  “Oh, yes
, the foundation pays her very well. She works really hard, you know,” Eden says.

  “Oh, don’t I know that,” she says, and her teeth are still clenched.

  “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Eden asks her as they walk up the staircase several steps in front of us.

  She turns to look at him in astonishment. “It was excruciating, Eden!” she yells.

  He pauses, looking into her eyes, then begins moving up the stairs again. “You’re getting better. I couldn’t tell you were jealous at all. Well, not about me anyway. When you found out that Kyle and Laura would be sleeping together, your feathers seemed to get a bit ruffled,” he tells her

  I guess Eden thought we were far enough behind them that we couldn’t hear him. I glance up at Kyle and ask, “Is Ally mad?”

  “She’s seeing red, but I’m not sure why,” he says and I bolt after her.

  “Alyssa Shaylee Devlin Fontaine, I want to talk to you right now,” I say, sternly. “Sorry, Eden, I have to talk to my best friend for a minute or two,” I apologize to him as I take her by her arm and pull her to her bedroom. “I don’t want Eden to hear what I have to say to you.”

  “What the hell, Laura?” she asks.

  I usher her into her room and close the door behind us. “Ally, I’m tired of this thing you have for Kyle.”

  “I don’t have a thing for Kyle, Laura. I’m a happily married woman now,” she says as she pulls back from me.

  “The hell you don’t. What was that crap out there? I saw the look on your face, Ally. When he told you we wanted to stay together, you were pissed. You might as well admit it,” I fire at her.

  “Well, I wouldn’t call it pissed. I would call it concerned. I don’t want you to rush into things and hurt each other. I’m just looking out for both of you,” she says.

  “Rush into things? Really, Al?” I say as I gesture to her. “Look at you. Talk about rushing.”

  “Eden and I are different. We can’t ever leave each other. If you tire of Kyle, you can leave him,” she tells me.

  “What makes you think I’ll tire of Kyle?” I ask.