Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2) (29 page)

“I had the most fan-fucking-tastic night letting you fuck me every single way.” She licked her lips and then bit her lower lip. I watched her eyes turn sad and I realized I was still taping her. I quickly turned it off not knowing what to expect. She swallowed as she looked around the room and then her eyes back to me. “Did I…Mmm…was I..” She took another breath and I watched tears well up again. “Was I any good?”

I didn’t waste a second answer her. “Fuck, yeah, you were,” I practically shouted. “Baby, you were amazing. I had a lot of fun with you.”

“Do you wanna fuck me right now?” She looked right into my eyes, as best as she could. “I know you do, Mmmmatt.” She reached her hands behind her back and seemed like she was starting to take off her bra. If I saw her incredible breasts, I might not be able to control myself.

“Hey…umm.” I tried to tug at her arms, but she slapped my hand away as she bit her lip. Her mouth turned up in the most seductive way.

Oh shit
.

Control. I got off the bed quickly and turned around, asking, “Where do you keep your pajamas?” I started opening up drawers, frantically searching for something thick and cottony that would cover her body and hopefully calm my raging hard-on.

From behind me, I heard her huskily slur the words I was hoping
not
to hear. “Hmm. I sleep naked, Mmmatt. Sans clothes, baby.” I closed my eyes hoping I hadn’t heard her right as I tried to regain some sort of control. Instead the most perfect image of Vanessa naked popped into my head. I quickly opened my eyes trying to regain composure. Unfortunately, I opened my eyes looking directly into her dresser mirror.

Vanessa was sitting upright on her knees in just her thong. Her hands were roaming over her naked breasts. Cupping them, pinching and tugging on her perfect buds. Fuck me. I’m so done for.

She bit her bottom lip, staring right at my reflection in the mirror.

Decisions.

A. She’s drunk as fuck. She’d be pissed as hell in the morning, more than likely at me, for taking advantage of her.

B. Damn, she felt so fucking good that night and I wanted so much more. If I take her now, I’d get to see her loosened up even more. I wonder how much more adventurous she would be.

C. You still don’t know how much she drank, Matt.

As I went through my stupid fucking list, I heard gagging behind me. I spun around, grabbed her off the bed and ran her to the bathroom just in time. I held her hair back out of her face while she emptied the contents of whatever it was that she drank.

Her drunk crying and admissions were…interesting. I was curious how she met the “blonde” date she was with tonight. In between her…you know, I decided to ask her about him.

“Aub tried to get me a guy m’parents would lick.” I stared at her for a few seconds as I tried to decipher what the hell she was trying to say.

“Why is Aubrey trying to find you someone new?” I asked, wondering why Aubrey was so hell bent on finding a new guy for Vanessa when she should be happy her friend is single now. Most women would love to hang out and hit the bars together, I would think.

“Cause my mom’ll never be happy with me,” Vanessa slurred as she stared at the wall behind me. Seeing the hurt in her eyes made me want to protect her from her mom. I remembered meeting her at the wedding and how cold she seemed.

Our conversation was cut off, as were my thoughts about her relationship with her mother, when Vanessa started her next session of relieving her stomach of a night’s worth of imbibing.

Nope. Not the most enjoyable night I’ve had. I heard my phone beep in the other room in between bouts. I grabbed it and read a text from Clark letting me know there was a hot brunette asleep on our couch. I let him know her name, well, actually her letter. He was a little pissed off since Tina wasn’t too happy that another woman was waiting in the apartment. After he calmed her down, he woke Giggly and grabbed her a cab.

Did I feel guilty? Nope. I had a hard time trying to figure out why. I mean, who the hell would prefer to be with a woman throwing up all night, rather than a hot young one, horny and waiting in his apartment. I’d be afraid to bring this one up with Izzy, knowing she would probably analyze that I’m in love with Vanessa or something. I’m not. Nope. Attracted to her, but no, not in love. There was no way I was in love with her, considering there are times she annoys me so bad I want to punch something.

It was several hours later and Vanessa had been passed out on my lap for quite some time. I carried her to bed and tucked her in. She looked so peaceful sleeping. Seeing her like that brought me back to our night together and how she robbed me of seeing her like this when she snuck out in the middle of the night.

I started to head out back to my apartment when the front door opened. Aubrey froze when she saw me and I could see a shitload of questions rush through her head.

“I…Vanessa was sick. I was just making sure she was okay,” I explained to her.

“Umm, yeah, but she was supposed to…” she stopped as if she realized she might hurt my feelings by what she was going to say.

“I know. She was on her date, but I’m not sure what happened. She wound up getting drunk and alone at her door.” Aubrey’s eyebrows raised in total surprise. I shrugged as I started walking past her.

“Did you spend the night here?” Aubrey asked me as she touched my arm sounding slightly alarmed.

I laughed. “I didn’t sleep.” Then I saw Aubrey’s mouth drop open. I shook my head. “I didn’t do that either. She got sick most of the night. I just put her to bed.”

Aubrey gave me an approving smile and patted my arm.

I was glad I kept it to myself what I wanted to do to her had she not been so damned drunk.

Spinning. The room is spinning. I tried to stare at the ceiling hoping that feeling goes away. This was not how I pictured my Saturday morning. I remembered all the things I wanted to accomplish today and trying to calm my stomach was not one of them. I started to move my head, but that made it worse. Shutting my eyes was just as bad.

I tried to go over the events of the night. Mr. Disgusting Octopus had his hands all over me all night long. When I finally told him I wasn’t going to sleep with him, he did what most guys have done in the past. He called me a “Frigid Bitch.” Figures. I couldn’t get out of the limo fast enough when it pulled up to the curb and Mr. Disgusting Octopus practically threw me out the door. I knew Aubrey would be out with her date, so I didn’t bother going back up to my apartment. I sat at the bar downstairs and let Frank, the bartender, mix me fun concoctions that I’d never tried before. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I looked at my nightstand and realized there was a glass of water and some pills left there. I was trying to remember if Aubrey came back during my drunken stupor, but failed at remembering. I managed to sit up and take a drink and down the pills. I sat up for a little while with my head against the headboard. Flashes of Matt being with me, here in my bedroom kept creeping into my mind. It hurt to try to remember things, so I just sat there for awhile until the pills helped take effect.

I finally managed to shuffle into the living room after pulling on my fuzzy old pink robe. I couldn’t remember why I was still in my panties. I always sleep nude.

Aubrey was watching TV on the couch drinking her coffee.

“What happened to you last night?” She asked.

“The guy you set me up with was an octopus. I continually told him ‘no’ and he didn’t like it. I finally smacked his hand away right as we pulled up here and he practically kicked me to the curb calling me a ‘frigid bitch.’ Where’d you find him?”

Aubrey’s mouth pinched to the side as she slowly responded, “Umm, well...”

“Oh God, Aubrey. I thought he was a co-worker when you sent me that text. What did you do?”

She bit her lip to keep from giggling. “I kind of set up a profile for you on my singles site.”

“You WHAT?” I screamed only to be reminded of the headache already blaring in my head. My hands immediately went to both sides of my head as if that could stop the pressure. I never understood why I do that when I have a headache. It never helps.

“Well, I knew you wouldn’t go out there dating until this whole engagement thing with Charles is figured out. I didn’t want you sitting around moping while I’m out on dates.”

“I wouldn’t mope,” I protested with a slight frown.

Her snarky look matched her come back. “Really? What are your plans for tonight while I’m out on my date?”

“I…working on my HR presentation for the next conference. I’m guest speaker on the importance of a No Dating Policy within a company.” I felt that if I threw in my speaking engagement, she might understand my reasoning for staying in a little more.

Aubrey rolled her eyes, knowing she was right. “Yeah. Just what I thought. You can’t stay in every Friday and Saturday night until God knows when. You need to get out there and date again.”

“Maybe I don’t want to date again yet. Did that thought cross your mind?” I asked her, pretty much like a petulant child would.

“Nope. The thought of you being scared to date again is what crossed my mind.”

I hate it when she’s right. I walked into the kitchen to grab some coffee, thinking about what she just said. I came back and sat down beside her.

“Soo, what happened with Matt?” Aubrey asked. She had a slight smirk to her face as she asked that and then took a sip of her coffee.

I furrowed my brows in confusion unsure of what she meant. “Matt? Why are you asking about him? I went out with the octopus you set me up with.”

Aubrey’s head flew back in surprise. “Umm, Vanessa, Matt stayed with you all night. I came in at 4 a.m. and he was just leaving.”

It was my turn to be completely surprised. “He did?” Aubrey nodded.

That explains the flashes of Matt in my bedroom when I first woke.

We both heard a buzzing noise and we looked at each other. Aubrey grabbed her phone off the coffee table, but shook her head that it wasn’t hers. Must be mine. I slowly stood up wondering where I left my phone. I spotted my purse on the floor and grabbed it.

I read the text on my phone and smiled.

Matt:
Good morning, Gorgeous. How are you feeling?

“Who is it?” Aubrey asked from the couch behind me. “Is it the octopus wanting to cop a feel again?” I briefly looked up at her as I walked back to the couch. I shook my head, still smiling as I typed in a response.

Me:
Could be better. I assume you left the water and pills on my nightstand?

“Do you realize how big you’re smiling right now?” I immediately stopped smiling and looked up at Aubrey.

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes you are!” Aubrey replied while laughing. Was I? I guess I was now that I thought about it.

Matt:
Yes. Do you have breakfast plans?

“There it is again!” Aubrey burst out while laughing. I felt my cheeks redden and realized I was smiling again. I also took note that my heartbeat had picked up too. “What’s he saying?”

I shrugged as I grabbed my coffee and took a small drink. “He just asked if I have breakfast plans.”

Aubrey clapped her hands once, loudly as she giggled. She then th
rew her hands up in the air while dancing, still sitting on the couch. “Yes!” She shouted. “Vanessa is going to date hot Matt!”

“I am NOT!” I shot out at her. “He’s into a ton of women and I’m not going to be one of them.”
You already are since you slept with him.
My voice in my head needed to shut up and stop reminding me of my slip up.

Aubrey studied my face as I tried to turn to bring my mug into the kitchen. It was still hot and I barely drank any of it, but I needed to get away from her staring at me.

I heard her draw in a breath before she shouted out with excitement, “You slept with him, didn’t you?” I was in the kitchen by then and heard her clapping again. I could only imagine the dance she was doing now. She came running in crashing into me from behind, hugging me. I almost threw up again when she grabbed me.

“Ugh. Aubrey. I’m still queasy. Ease up.” She laughed and hugged me again. “And you can’t get excited about this. It was just one night just to get it out of our system.”

“Well, he’s checking up on you and he watched over you all last night.”

“I’m sure he does that for all his friends. And besides he’s just a player,” I protested, yet secretly hoped he really might still want me.

“You don’t know that,” Aubrey exclaimed as she hit my arm. I heard a text chime again and I realized I never answered him. I pulled my phone from my robe pocket.

Matt:
Do you not eat breakfast? Or just hate answering me?

“You’re smiling again,” she sang.

I quickly looked up at her and bit my lip. “Was I?”

She nodded. “Yep.” She peered over so she could read the text as I typed in my response.

Me:
Both

“Would you stop it! Don’t you chase him away because you’re too scared.”

“I wasn’t doing that. I don’t usually eat breakfast. And the other was just to tease him.”

“Okay, so…tell me! What’s he like in bed?”

A knock at the door made both our heads jerk up from her question as both our eyes met. Aubrey took off in a sprint to get the door and I was going to chase after her, but realized my stomach wasn’t going to cooperate if I did that.

I stood in the kitchen, slightly frozen, wondering what I would say to Matt. I was terribly embarrassed, not to mention I couldn’t even fathom what I might have said to him if I couldn’t even remember him being here.

I stepped out just as Aubrey told Matt, “…she doesn’t even wear clothes to bed. She usually sleeps naked.”

What the…? I felt my cheeks heat immediately and suddenly felt really nauseas. I ran to my bathroom, passing both of them, just so I could make it in time.

Matt and Aubrey came in behind me just as I was finishing up.

“I guess breakfast is out of the question,” Matt remarked as he and Aubrey chuckled. I glared at Aubrey and her smile fell from her face quickly.

“Come on, you have to admit that was perfect timing,” she teased. I scrunched up my face as we all walked into the living room. I flopped down, resting my head on the cushion. What I really wanted to do was crawl back into bed. But Matt was here and I really wanted to know why.

“I was hoping you’d feel a little better after doing that all night. What’d you drink last night?” He asked.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. I told Frank to make up some stuff. I have no idea what I drank.”

“Why would you do that?” Aubrey asked. “You never drink anything but Merlot.” My only answer was to shrug.

“Were they girlie drinks? Or guy drinks?” Matt asked as he sat down on the couch next to me. Aubrey flopped down in the chaise nearby.

“They both have alcohol in them, what does that matter?” I asked as I pulled my legs up into a ball. I really just wanted to go back to bed and sleep.

Matt gave his reasoning. “Guy drinks have the harder stuff.”

There was a knock at the door. Aubrey got up to answer the door as I scoffed my answer to Matt. “My stomach begs to differ.” Clark walked in just as I was saying that.

“What are you doing over here?” Aubrey was asking Clark with slight agitation in her voice.

“Matt said you girls were serving breakfast.”

Matt put his arm over the back of the sofa, turning his body slightly and threw Clark an annoyed look. “No. I said I’m going to check to see if they want to go have breakfast.”

“Why are you calling us girls?” Aubrey asked Clark

Clark rolled his eyes. “So sorry. Women. Hot sexy fucking women.” 

I didn’t bother lifting my head to know that he was probably grabbing her as she snapped, “Quit touching me.”

“Oh please! I’ve touched you there before more than once.”

“It doesn’t mean you can do it again like Mr. Octopus did last night to Vanessa.”

I rolled my eyes at Aubrey for saying that, not that she could see since I was still in a ball on the couch. Matt turned his head back to me and asked, “So what happened? I could barely get anything out of you last night.” I lifted my head slightly and noticed his jaw was locked and his whole demeanor changed to angry.

I put my head back down and closed my eyes as I let him know about my date’s manners, or lack thereof. “Nothing. My date became a little too grabby for my liking, so I kept telling him no. He wasn’t happy, so he basically kicked me to the curb.”

“That’s why you got drunk? Because some guy was being an asshole?” I heard the annoyance in Matt’s voice and lifted my head again to look over to him. He was annoyed, but I couldn’t understand why. What did it matter if I got drunk because of some idiot date?

“No, I…just felt like drinking. It was packed down there so I thought maybe I’d…” I trailed off realizing what I wanted to say was more for Aubrey’s ears and not these two guys who get any women they want. I was ticked at myself for going in that direction of telling them my real reason for heading to the bar.

While Mr. Octopus made me feel sexy, him pawing at me just made me feel like I owed him for taking me somewhere nice. Actually, he even told me that. I wanted to be asked out by a guy, not be set up by my friend. Especially now that I know how I was set up, I felt even more pathetic.

“You’d what?” Aubrey asked. I shook my head and widened my eyes hoping she’d understand to put this discussion off until later. Matt noticed, I guess I’m not so subtle in that department.

“Were you going in there to find a date or something?” Matt asked slowly, his face full of concern and that jaw of his was locked in place. I put my head back down not wanting to discuss any of this anymore.

“No, I mean. I just...” I took a deep breath and gave my admission, “I guess I did. I just wanted to see if someone would ask me out…for me.” I shot a look over to Aubrey. “Not because I was set up on a date.” I shrugged and put my head back down on the side cushion. Matt got up and squatted in front of me with a sweet smile.

The sweet look on his face made me feel comfortable enough to confide in him. “No one even tried to pick me up. And it was packed down there,” I grumbled out my admission. 

He chuckled as he asked, “Well, did you have your mean bitch vibes up?” I sneered at him and then childishly stuck my tongue out at him. He chuckled and patted my arm. “If you want a real date, hitting our little bar downstairs wasn’t going to get you anywhere. You should have come down to Allure.”

“I’m not going to Allure. The only time I’ve been there was for your happy hour party for work and we fought pretty bad.” I told him as I rolled my eyes.

“You’d actually like it there. Mostly young business singles, like us. I’ve met some contacts there before for business too.”