Alluring Promises Box Set (Books 1-3)

by Josie Bordeaux

  I took the elevator up, staring at the floor numbers as they lit up. Each floor number that lit up brought me closer to Matt or possibly my heart finally being crushed. I stood in front of his apartment door, my heart beating out of my chest. I raised my hand and knocked quickly before I changed my mind.

  I couldn’t help but smile in anticipation of seeing Matt’s beautiful blue eyes. I couldn’t wait to burst and finally tell him that I love him. I had practiced the way I would say it the whole drive down. My heart beat fast in anticipation as the door swung open and I happily exclaimed, “I…”

  Oh shit. I stared at the familiar gorgeous woman in front of me and glanced down at her amazing figure in very tight clothes. Oh God. He got back with Cassie. Already? I felt like I was going to be sick right then as tears started to well up in my eyes.

  “Nessa?” She asked with a sweet pretty smile as she pulled me into a hug. I wasn’t sure what to think about hugging the woman who probably just fucked the guy that I’m in love with and want so badly back in my life. She pulled back smiling as she opened the door wider, inviting me in.

  I glanced in the apartment, feeling like an outsider in his apartment as I took a step through the door. My heart caught in my throat as I looked up and saw Matt walking out of a room barefoot, wearing only jeans and no shirt. My eyes were drawn to his amazing muscular chest, the chest that my lips had kissed so many times. My hands had softly caressed every muscle on his body. I felt sick thinking that Cassie had probably just done the same.

  My breath hitched even though I wanted to run from the apartment, but my feet were stuck there like cement, mesmerized by the cute couple before me. He was still looking down at some pill bottle he had in his hand as he asked, “Hey Cas, where’d you put the…” He looked up at that moment and froze as soon as our eyes locked, but his facial expression didn’t change. My heart was pounding as I watched him walk toward the door still staring at me, still expressionless.

  He walked past her and I noticed she smiled at him and then glanced at me. Anger rolled through me that they had just been together and she had the nerve to hug me? That he just left and came immediately down here to fuck her? Is that how much he really loves me?

  My heart skipped a beat as his arm touched mine as he walked out of the door, leaving me no choice, but to follow him as he waved his hand signaling me through the door. As if I were the intruder in his apartment, but Cassie wasn’t. I felt a wave of nausea sweep over me as he closed the door behind me. I began to twirl my grandmother’s ring, terrified of what he would tell me and what I might say back. My heart began to throb with the pain of realizing I really was nothing more to him than another lay.

  I watched him as he gingerly put his hand on the wall and his other hand he placed on his hip, so nonchalant and uncaring. “What’s going on?” His deep voice was gruff and sounded angry. His facial expression matched his voice as he stared down at me. He wasn’t as surprised to see me as I had hoped; rather, it seemed like I was an inconvenience or an annoyance.

  He had the guts to stand there looking at me like that? As if I shouldn’t be here? My lips started trembling and I was so angry that I was going to cry. I took a deep breath and decided to let jealousy take over instead. I swallowed and tried to keep calm. “Did you fuck her?” Just saying those words caused tears to spill down my cheek and I angrily swiped them away. His features didn’t change at all. He kept the same expression as if it didn’t matter whether he screwed her or not.

  My heart stopped when he answered me. “Maybe. Why do you care?”

  A sob escaped my throat as the wall of reality hit hard. If I’m going to finally say it to him, I felt like I deserved to know before I tell him. My stomach churned, my heart caught in my throat just picturing the two of them together. Anger rolled through me as I yelled, “Did you or didn’t you?” I was frustrated that I finally did everything I was supposed to do in order to be with this man and he just left me back at my apartment to come fuck Cassie. Just thinking about that made me crazy with jealousy. I slammed my hands into his chest, pushing him against the wall with everything I had. “Dammit, I need to know if you just fucked her!”

  His body crashed against the wall and he held his hands up in the air. That damned half smile appeared as he looked down at me, mocking me. “Are you jealous?” His deep voice did nothing more than throw me into a fit of rage.

  I shoved him again, “Dammit Matt, just fucking tell me!” I screamed as I hit him again in the chest with my palm. His taunting did nothing more than start to confirm what I already knew. I just wanted to hear it from his lips, so I could hate him and move on.

  He tilted his head to the side and quirked up the side of his mouth, jeering at me with his words. “Why? Are you jealous, Vanessa? What does it matter if I just fucked her?”

  “It matters a lot, you asshole,” I screamed as I started to cry at the same time. I hit his chest again as I screamed, “It matters because I’m in love with you!” I finally said those words that I had practiced the whole drive down. The words that I’ve been dying to tell him since I first felt that way about him. Only when I thought about how I would finally say that to him, it was supposed to be said in a romantic and caring way, but instead I said it out of jealousy.

  I swear I thought I saw something spark in his eyes, but I must have been mistaken. He seemed to grind his jaw, like he’s always done when he’s pissed. “Did you drive down here to catch me with someone else or to tell me that?” His low gruff voice annoyed me that he seemed angry. He’s the one that just fucked someone and I’m the idiot standing out here pouring my guts out to him.

  I couldn’t help but stare at him, stunned that he had the nerve to ask me that. Visions of the two of them fucking flashed through my head, making my stomach drop and my anger rise. “I couldn’t wait to get down here to tell you and then I find you here — with her,” I cried out knowing it didn’t matter now as I realized it was over between us.

  Fuck it. Why am I still standing here when I knew this is the type of person he is? I knew that when we first got together. Shaking my head, I spun around on my heel and stormed down the hallway, brushing away my angry tears. Like a fool, I drove down here thinking that everything would be fine, that I would tell him that I loved him and he would pick me up, hugging me and telling me the same. Stupid.

  I reached the elevator and started frantically pushing the button so the damn thing would hurry up. I looked back quickly when I heard a door slam. Matt’s done with me completely. He went back inside to be with Cassie. That final message from him completely did it for me. It was over with him. I rested my head on my arm against the wall and pushed the button over and over again while my tears poured down. My heart was completely broken. The sound of the door closing wasn’t just to his apartment, but also to my heart.

  I started hitting the button harder, willing the doors to hurry up and open so I could leave, when I felt a presence next to me. I sniffled and lifted my head and noticed Matt. He now had a shirt on. Hmph. So classy of him to finally cover up after fucking her. Jerk.

  Matt casually leaned his shoulder against the wall and brushed back my hair, placing it behind my ear. “Were you with Charles at all since we’ve been together?” His eyes grazed my body before returning to mine. “Sexually?”

  Angry that he was just with someone and now he’s asking me that, I answered the same way he did to me. “Maybe,” I snarled as I glanced over to see the reaction I totally did not expect. He was smirking at me. As if what he just did to me was a joke. The only thing it did was piss me off even further, making me want to taunt him more. “He fucked me every time we were together. He fucked me in his car, in his apartment, we even screwed against the wall of his apartment building,” I lied avoiding his eyes and staring straight at the elevator. What the hell is taking it so long? My damn tears wouldn’t stop and it was angering me that I looked like such an emotional wreck.

  The elevator finally arrived and I turned to step onto it w
hen Matt grabbed me by my waist and spun me around, shoving me against the wall. My heart jumped practically out of my chest as the air rushed from my lungs from the force. As I looked up at him to question why he would do that, his lips were within inches of mine. He placed his hand on the wall above my head, still sporting that half smile as his eyes stared into mine. His glance down to my lips and the catch of his soul in his breath made mine hitch.

  As desperate as I was to taste him again, I pressed my lips together. “No,” I whispered, admitting the truth. “I never cheated on you.”

  His gorgeous blue eyes stared into mine. His face softened and his left eyebrow quirked up in that way that I both hated and loved at the same time. “Was it that tough to say?” He asked as he gave me that half smile, his adorable dimple showing.

  “That I didn’t cheat on you?” I was so upset that I couldn’t figure out why he would ask that.

  His lips were so close to mine, barely brushing against mine, making me want him so badly. “No. Telling me that you love me.”

  I continued to stare into his eyes, trying to contain the pain I felt from knowing it’s over between us. “Does it matter now? You ran down here and screwed Cassie and I’m the one standing here like an idiot.”

  He bent down, his lips grazed my ear making my breath hitch again. He whispered, “You’re not an idiot and I didn’t sleep with Cassie.” His lips ran along my neck as my heart pounded out of my chest. “She’s renting out my condo for the year.” I stood there stunned and completely relieved that he didn’t just sleep with her. His lips so close to mine, making me want to press mine to his.

  “Say it again,” He demanded with a deep growl. God, that’s hot.

  I swallowed again as my breath picked up, my heart beating with hope. I watched his eyes glance down to my lip as I realized that Aubrey was right. Matt needed to hear it from me. He needed to know that I was going to take a chance with him. I looked deep into his eyes as I repeated what was truly in my heart. “I love you,” I said it more slowly this time and making sure my voice matched how I felt.

  The corner of his mouth turned up into a half smile and that eyebrow shot up as he commanded again, “One more time, just to make sure you mean it.”

  I bit my lip and looked up to the ceiling wanting to laugh with relief before returning my eyes to his. I stared at him and told him with pure honesty, “I’ve never loved anyone more than I will ever love you, Matt Williams.”

  “I’m going to make you say that to me every single day Vanessa Hargrave.” He took his hand off the wall and cupped my face, caressing me with his fingers. “And I’m going to say the same thing back to you, every single day. I love you Vanessa.” He pressed me hard up against the wall and smiled. “I love you. I love you so fucking much.”

  “Do you?” I teased him, smiling and completely relieved that he was saying those words to me again and this time, not in the heat of making love, but because he really truly felt it.

  His soft lips pressing against mine roughly, as if he couldn’t get enough of me. I pulled him closer to me, wanting our kiss to seal everything we just said to each other. He pulled back, smiling, making me wonder if he was going to take back his words. “Only if you promise, you’ll always be my dirty little whore in the bedroom,” he taunted me as he pressed his forehead against mine.

  I laughed as I pulled him close to me, “And you keep trying to tell me you’re not romantic.”

  He smiled and pecked my lips again as he teased, “I’ll keep giving you romantic promises like that, if that’s your definition.” I kissed him hard letting him know that his idea of romance was definitely something I could work with.

  EPILOGUE

  Matt

  “LET me grab some clothes out of here and then the place is all yours,” I told Alex as I grabbed my duffel bag out of my closet. He was staying in my room for the party we were having to celebrate my decision to permanently move here. The party was my idea so I could get everyone together in one place and I could propose to Vanessa. My nerves were shot the more I thought about it. I wasn’t sure if proposing in front of everyone was the best idea. I was questioning the way I was about to propose to her, not about asking her to marry me. Asking Vanessa to be my wife was something I’ve never been so sure of in my life.

  I started packing up some clothes as Alex brought his stuff into my bathroom. I was trying to picture the scenario of proposing to her in front of everyone. The shocked look on her face. I hoped I was going to be able to surprise her, at least.

  “Uh. Hey, Matt?” Alex called from the bathroom. “I think you’ve got a problem here,” he sounded pretty worried. I couldn’t think of what it would be since the maid had been here just yesterday. I knew the place was clean, considering I always stay at Vanessa’s. As I walked around the corner to my bathroom Alex was standing there, his arms folded across his chest and his jade eyes were laden with concern. I followed his glance over to the counter and noticed a white stick lying up against the back splash.

  “What is that?” I asked as I leaned in a little closer inspecting the stick.

  “Pregnancy stick. One of the top things you never want to see on your counter,” he huffed. His voice wasn’t joking; he was darn serious. I walked towards the counter knowing Vanessa is the only other girl in here. I don’t think Tina would come use my bathroom, unless she was trying to hide it from Clark. Maybe it was Tina’s and she used my bathroom?

  I picked up the stick and analyzed it. A plus sign was clear as day and I wasn’t stupid enough to try to question what that meant. Pregnant. Either Tina or Vanessa. I looked at Alex as I continued to hold the stick in my hand as my mind tried to process the whole situation. “Do you think Tina would use this bathroom and take a test in here?”

  Alex shrugged and asked, “Why would she take a test in here?”

  “Why would Vanessa take the test in here?” That one didn’t make sense to me either. I whipped out my phone and shot a text to Clark.

  Me: When’s Tina’s period? I realized how weird that is to ask, but hell since he keeps track of that, I might as well use that to my advantage.

  Clark: She’s got it right now. Why the hell are you asking?

  Me: I’ll explain later.

  I looked over to Alex as I watched him lean over the side of the counter. “The box is in the trash too. It’s like she wanted it to be found.”

  We both looked at each other knowing what the other was thinking. I smiled, “You think she’s trying to play a prank on us?”

  “She told you she wanted to get you back. How long has she been saying that?” Alex asked with an all-knowing smirk.

  “A very long time, too long. She’s dragged it out to the point I thought she just wants to keep me guessing and will never pull one,” I told Alex.

  “You think she would really joke about something like this?” Alex asked. As I studied his face, I could tell he was concerned this might not be a prank. What if she really is pregnant? It’s not that I don’t want kids, I just didn’t think it would happen right now. I had no idea why, but the thought of her being pregnant actually made me smile and my heart picked up. In a good way. “You’re kidding me…” Alex smacked my chest, “You’d actually be happy, if she were?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t be ticked off. It’s gonna happen at some point. I guess this would just hurry things along for us,” I shrugged as I told him. I started inspecting the gadget in my hand a little closer. It just seemed too obvious that she would take the test in my bathroom. Then again, when would she take one in ours since I’m over there all the time? “Girls do this type of shit together, don’t they?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, if she were worried about something like this, why wouldn’t she just use Aubrey’s bathroom? Why use mine?” I shook my head laughing. “This doesn’t make sense at all. This has to be a prank,” I told him.

  “We’ll just have to watch her tonight and see if she drinks,” Alex said as he set his toil
etry bag on the counter and started to walk out.

  I smiled as I followed him out. “Good thinkin’. Let’s try to get her drunk tonight and see if she bites.” I missed Alex. We always worked really well together for these types of jokes. This prank was either going to be a great time teasing Vanessa or I’d find out if I’m going to be a dad. Either way would be fine for me.

  “LATE AGAIN FOR your own party, asshole,” Z exclaimed, laughing as he came towards me and shook my hand. “Hey, Alex!” He turned to shake Alex’s hand too.

  “Yeah, I had to stand outside their door knocking for like ten minutes,” Alex grumbled, laughing at the same time. I watched Vanessa’s face turn bright red as she took off to say hello to all of her friends. Alex threw me a nod as he watched Vanessa walk toward everyone at the bar. He was going to keep his eyes on her and be relentless if she took a drink. The thought was making me laugh and nothing even happened yet.

  “What’s so funny, brother?” Z asked as we started walking toward the bar.

  Alex chimed in, probably a little too excited about this whole situation. “We think Vanessa might be trying to play a prank on Matt, but we’re not sure.”

  Z pulled his brows in, but smiled at the same time as he looked at me questioningly. He might as well have fun with this too, right? I went ahead and explained what happened.

  “Whoa,” his face fell as he chuckled. “That’s pretty serious to joke about. Do you really think Vanessa would pull something like that?”

  Alex nodded. “She’s been wanting to get back at Matt for a very long time now. I wouldn’t put it past her to try something serious like this.” My buddy was way too excited about this. I knew he was hoping she wasn’t pregnant so he could try to get back at her somehow and his wheels were turning. I glanced over to the bar as I watched her step up there.