Promise Me

by Kristin Mayer

  “What do you need from me?” His eyes searched mine as he waited for a response.

  “Just hold me, and never let me go.” My emotions were spent, and I wanted to be loved and cherished.

  “I promise, Sam. You’re mine forever.”

  The smell of baked goods greeted me when I walked through the doors of the deli. This was the first chance I’d had to see Edna. We had been back from Atlanta for two days, and Mark’s family was coming into town tomorrow. After meeting my parents, the mess with Greg, and the continued hyperexcitement from his family, I needed help grounding myself.

  As I entered, Edna cheerily greeted me, “Hey, I missed my baker.”

  “I’ve missed you, too. What are we making today?”

  I gave her a huge hug that she returned in a grandmotherly way. After grabbing my apron off the hook, I made my way to the sink to wash up.

  She was pulling things from the shelves. “Oh, I figured we would do some lemon sugar cookies, so you could give Mark his favorite cookies.”

  “With the lemon icing?”

  “He’d have my head if I sent anything else.”

  “Yes, he would,” I said, chuckling.

  Mark could eat almost an entire dozen of the cookies if left to his own devices. He lost his willpower around them, which was funny.

  She popped me with the towel as I was drying my hands. “We have twelve dozen to make, so get your tokus in gear and start mixing.”

  After I gave a noise of elation, I began mixing ingredients together. This was the best kind of therapy for me. The stress of the last few days started leaving me as the beaters went around and around.

  We were icing the fourth dozen that had just come out of the oven when Edna asked, “So, you survived your first fight?”

  “How’d you—”

  She gave me that look that says, I know all.

  “Never mind. Yes, we did. We worked through it, but I feel like there’s something bothering him. He’s been more uptight than normal, but because of his schedule, we haven’t been together a lot since we got home. Plus, his parents get in tomorrow, and I’m a little on edge, thinking about how overwhelming they can be. Don’t get me wrong—I like them. They are wonderful, but they are making assumptions about Mark’s future with me, things Mark and I haven’t even discussed yet.” Focusing on the beaters, I added, “Things I’m not ready to discuss yet.”

  She picked up a cookie and started to ice it. “Have you talked to him about any of it?”

  “No. I don’t want to come off as being insecure, and I don’t want him to think I’m hinting at the big M word when it actually terrifies me. I don’t even want to talk about it. That’s what his sister and mom dance around with the Thanksgiving and Christmas plans they make. He has enough on his mind with the upcoming season.”

  The cookie was iced, and she pulled it away. “Right now, this cookie is moist and delicious. It’s ready to eat and enjoy. If I store it and freeze it, it will keep until I’m ready to eat it. If I leave it out on the counter, it’ll dry up, be brittle, and break at the touch.”

  I smiled at her analogy and gave her a salute, reading her loud and clear.

  She continued, “Don’t let things go too long without being preserved. They have the ability to become fragile.”

  If I ever move, I’m kidnapping Edna and taking her with me.

  My whole world was righting itself again as I walked through my front door, exhausted from my afternoon of cooking with my favorite deli owner. I was sad, thinking about how I would be working full-time in a few weeks. It would be harder to work in these baking sessions, but I would figure out a way. It was too important to me. Mark was out with the boys tonight, doing some male-bonding team thing.

  After fixing a sandwich, I sat down on my couch, relieved to get off my feet.

  The last few nights, Mark had been busy with various team functions that were for the players only. After what we had just gone through, I thought it made Mark nervous to be leaving me so much. It had been fine with me as it had given my mind a chance to continue healing from the whole Greg incident. I liked having time to myself. During college, I had stayed busy every part of my day to keep myself distracted.

  We had been staying at my place for the last few nights. Each night, I would text him while he was out, and I’d ask which place he wanted to stay at. I would receive a reply, saying, Whichever you prefer. Just let me know. I just want to be with you. In the middle of the night, he would then slip into my bed and make love to me until the early morning hours.

  My phone beeped.

  Mark: It’ll be late when I get back. After dinner, heading out for a few drinks with the team. I hate that it’s been like this all week. I’m sorry.

  Me: I promise, it’s fine. Going out is part of building the team. I understand. You’re still there for me because the BFFF hasn’t been broken out yet. My place or yours?

  Mark: Mine.

  That was short. He was grumpy. Normally, I would at least get a, Damn it, Sam, which always made me smile.

  There’s no need to get riled up about it until we talk this evening. Then, I could ask him what was going on with him and also let him know how overwhelmed I was feeling with his family.

  After cleaning up, I got my stuff together to go to Mark’s, and then I headed over before it got dark.

  Later, my phone beeped again with a picture text. It was from Missy, the head cheerleader who had been hanging all over Mark at the steakhouse. All the team had my number because of my job.

  Opening the text, I saw a picture of a girl hanging on Mark. His face was clearly not interested as he looked like he was trying to sign something.

  Poor guy.

  Missy had probably stalked them there and waited for the perfect opportunity to take the picture.

  Can we say desperate?

  I knew she wanted him, and as long as she kept it to this kind of stuff, we wouldn’t have any problems even though it pissed me off that she was trying to start shit.

  Time for some fun. I hit Forward and sent the picture text to Mark. I wanted to warn him about his entourage.

  Me: Looks like you are having fun with more than the boys there, Sport.

  Almost immediately, I got a text back.

  Mark: Who the fuck sent that to you? It was an autograph. That was it. I’m trying to get home to you as soon as possible, but it looks like it’s going to be a while.

  Me: I know. Geez, I’m not accusing you. It came from Missy. She’s stalking you tonight, it would seem. Where are you guys?

  Mark: We are at The Hound. Shit, she’s a bitch.

  Me: Is there a past there I should know about?

  Mark: We’ll talk about it later, but it was nothing.

  Me: Okay. Not worried. Have fun. See you soon. Love you.

  Mark: Love you, too.

  My heart sank, thinking about him with another woman and how irrational that made me. Hell, we’d both had past relationships, and I wasn’t mad. It pissed me off that regardless of what he had done with Missy, she was trying to stir a nonexistent pot. An idea emerged, and I ran back to my condo and changed. Missy was going to get the picture of where Mark and I stood loud and clear.

  I pulled into the parking lot and gave myself one last look in the rearview mirror. I added one final sheen of lip gloss. After locking my car and adjusting my nightclub dress, I walked into the bar. My dress was a loose scoop neck, halter red dress with a low V-cut back, and the length hit mid-thigh. It hugged my body perfectly. My hair was down and full. By the looks I was receiving on my way into the club, I knew Mark was going to flip his shit in a good way. My red fuck-me heels alone would have him inside me in no time.

  There was a line outside the club. Hoping my looks would get me in versus having to let my boyfriend know I was here, I walked up to the bouncer, and he undid the rope and let me in. I gave him a little wink, which earned me a smile. Upon entering, the music coursed through my veins. I saw Mark seated across the bar with
some of the other guys, and of course, women were behind them, waiting for the chance to score a player this evening. The smell of lust was heavy in the air.

  Lust away, ladies. He’s mine.

  Missy made eye contact with me and darted her eyes to Mark.

  Bitch.

  By the look in her eyes, she was probably wondering if I was going to throw one of those hissy fits because of her text. She would understand this evening when Mark came to me, not the other way around, that he was mine. I gave a little wave, which confused the hell out of her, and I continued walking to the dance floor, passing by Mark. He didn’t see me as he was facing the bar, talking with the bartender.

  I received a couple of catcalls as my body moved to the music. I knew the best thing was to always ignore them as I let the music take me over. My hips swayed, and my hands went up in the air. The third song started playing, and a light gleam of sweat coated my skin. Some unwanted bodies had tried to get close to me, but I knew how to keep my distance from strangers without losing my rhythm. It was freeing. I was lost in the beat when familiar hands came around my front. I knew it was Mark.

  His mouth came to my ear. “Hey. Wanna dance?”

  Mark pulled me to him. Our bodies joined, and we began moving together. His head came down and kissed the exposed part of my neck, and I tilted to the side to give him full access. The crowd had thickened and was pressing in on us. The pulse of the music drove us. We moved until we were both a hot mess, and neither one of us had said a word through multiple songs of the most hip-grinding, dirty dancing I had ever done.

  After nibbling on my earlobe, Mark said, “Let’s say bye to the boys, and then I’m taking you home. I think all these assholes got the picture of whose bed you belong in.”

  Turning to face him, I kissed him hard as his hands stroked my back. His leg went between my legs, and we started moving again. Our hot tongues danced with each as our bodies moved as one. We were both sweaty and hot. We were about to be a sexual explosion out here if we didn’t leave soon.

  Pulling back barely, our lips still touching, I responded, “Now, all the girls who were hanging around, hoping for a shot with you, know who you’re taking to bed tonight.”

  He grabbed my ass, bringing me closer to him, and it only increased my sexual need for him.

  Mark bit my lip and then said, “I like you a little jealous. Let’s go before I lose my remaining bit of self-control.”

  He turned and pulled me through the crowd. As we were walking, he must have noticed someone looking at me because he shifted me in front of him and walked us to the bar.

  We were approaching some of the players as he whispered in my ear, “Give me your keys. We’ll get your car tomorrow from Gavin. He rode here with me. I won’t survive the car ride without being able to touch you.”

  The sexual innuendo caused me to shiver. After I swiftly retrieved them from my red wristlet, he snatched them from me right as we pushed through the throng of waiting women to the bar.

  Mark spoke hurriedly to his teammate, “Gavin, here are the keys to Sam’s car. We’re going to head out.”

  Gavin was the running back for the team. He was lean and muscular with dirty-blond hair that trailed right below his ears in a crazy, unrestrained sort of way.

  “Sure thing.” Gavin turned his eyes to me. “Good to see you again, Sam. Nice to see that someone tamed this fucker.”

  He punched Mark on the shoulder, and Mark gave a look of triumph as he pulled me closer.

  With an exaggerated wink, I responded, “I do what I can. I do what I can. If you’re looking for someone to tame you, Missy is right over there.”

  That caused Gavin to choke on his drink, and I laughed.

  He sputtered, “Fuck no. She’s crazy.”

  I gave a sassy smile, and Mark pushed the keys closer to Gavin. Mark was obviously growing impatient with our little banter.

  My mouth started to open to say something else when Mark cut me off, “See ya later. Thanks, man.”

  Gavin chuckled. Before he had a chance to respond, Mark turned us from the bar and started pushing me through the crowd and out to the truck. We were practically running through the parking lot as he dragged us to his vehicle. The air felt cool compared to the club, causing my nipples to bead as it hit my dampened body. When we made it to the truck, he turned to me, and his eyes went to my chest.

  I pushed my chest out, slightly accentuating my pointed nipples, as I asked, “You didn’t want to stay for drinks with your friends?”

  “You’re funny, Sam. Get in the damn truck.”

  He pulled me to the passenger side of the truck, opened the door, and put me in the front seat. Mark went to his side of the truck, climbed in, and turned the key. The truck roared to life before he peeled out of the parking lot. My right hand slowly trailed down his body until I made it to his groin. When I squeezed, he momentarily closed his eyes and groaned. The club was about fifteen minutes from our condo complex.

  Torturing him the entire way there is going to be fun.

  I unbuttoned the top of his jeans and slid the zipper down. I leaned in toward his ear, barely tracing his lobe with my tongue. “I’m about to have my merry little way with you the entire way to your place.”

  His arms flexed, and I moved slightly back in order to untie my halter dress, letting it fall, exposing myself to him. I sat up a little and slid it down the rest of my body, ensuring to rub against him as much as possible. It worked.

  “Fucking hell, woman. Someone might see you.”

  “Don’t stop, and they won’t see me.”

  I left my red stilettos on and lay slightly back against the middle of the bench seat.

  “Sam…”

  The false warning in his voice let me know I had already won, and he wanted this. However, it was still fun to play with him.

  “I’ll take care of myself real quick, and no one will see me.”

  He groaned and had a hard time keeping his eyes on the road. One of my legs was on the truck bench, and one was dropped off onto the middle of the floorboard. As I moved one hand down to my nipples, my other found his released cock and began to stroke it. I arched my back as I made my way down to my clit in order to give him as much visibility as possible. I rubbed my clit, building my orgasm quickly. I wanted a quick release while he watched me come. Flicking my clit had that drug I craved releasing through my system.

  The truck made a hard left, forcing the tires to squeal, and then we came to an abrupt halt. I barely had time to look out the window to see that we were in a dark alley before Mark tackled me to the bench. He pushed his pants barely past his ass, and then he was entering into me.

  “Fucking hell. I need you, Sam.”

  “Please, I need it hard. I need you.”

  He started really moving then, and all I could hear was the raw slapping of skin, our heavy breaths, and moaning. He lifted my ass, giving his dick a better angle to hit that perfect spot, and I was coming, screaming in bliss. He followed suit and bit my shoulder as he was rubbing out the last of his orgasm.

  “Fuck, that was hot,” he muttered.

  “Hmm…I’ll have to remember that.”

  We both breathlessly laughed as we tried to slow our pounding hearts.

  All of a sudden, he rose and stroked the side of my face softly, searching my features. “Move in with me, Sam?”

  “What?” My breath caught in my throat. Shit, this is a serious step.

  “I want you to move in with me. I had this elaborate plan to ask you tonight when I got home, but I need you with me.”

  He continued holding my face lovingly, even when I tried to break the intense connection. There were no barriers between us. I was raw and exposed. My mind raced as I thought everything through.

  I tried to stall, giving an answer without answering, “I am with you every night.”

  He was persistent. “Not the same. I won’t pressure you, but I want this. I don’t care which place we move into as long as it means we
’re together.”

  I breathed in deep, searching for what I wanted. When I had asked Edna if it was going too fast and if we needed to slow down, she had simply responded, Let your heart be your guide.

  In the dim light, he searched my face, waiting for my answer.

  My mind spun in a million different directions. “What if—”

  He kissed me to stop my train of thought.

  “Sam, this is forever. We can go at whatever pace you want. It doesn’t change anything if you say no for now.”

  “It’s all so fast. You’ve been so tense these last few days.”

  My heart knew exactly what I wanted, but I had to be sure that he really wanted this and that he wasn’t just asking me in some sexual bliss haze.

  He pulled back slightly and gave me an earth-shattering stare. “I was tense because I was nervous about asking you to do this. This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, Sam. We started building this last year in Vegas, and once we finally got our shot to be together, it all snapped into place quickly. This feels more than right to me. It feels perfect. How does it feel to you?”

  I sidestepped his question one more time, checking one more time, needing confirmation one more time. “Do you really want this? It means dealing with all my stuff and makeup and craziness.”

  “I’ll happily take it all.” His eyes were growing with excitement.

  I arched my brow, and he grabbed me closer to him.

  “I have a condition then,” I said.

  “Anything.”

  “You have to help me break it to my parents.”

  He didn’t hesitate as he stated, “Deal. All that matters is that I have you. I’ll take any other consequence.”

  With that, he sealed his lips to mine, and then this time, he made love to me in the dark alley.

  “Yoo-hoo! We’re here!”

  I stirred and groaned, trying to retreat into the warm body next to me from that awful racket that was penetrating my blissful slumber.

  “Mark? Sam?”

  That voice was so familiar. Where have I heard that voice before?