Promise Me Read online

  Copyright © 2014 by Kristin Mayer

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Designer: Chris Chandler, Chandler Graphics

  Editor and Interior Designer: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com

  Cover Photo: April Park, April Park Photography www.aprilparkphotography.com

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Visit my website at http://www.authorkristinmayer.com

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9899913-4-6

  I dedicate this book to my husband, Paul,

  my daughter, Makaela,

  and my grandmama, Edna.

  Grandmama, you inspired the Edna character in this book from the conversations we had in the kitchen while we baked each time I came to visit you. I miss and love you every day.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Epilogue

  Mark Extras

  Recipes from Edna

  Ripple Effect Teaser

  Chapter One: Adam

  Thank You

  Sam

  I awoke to the sound of my alarm buzzing as I had an early morning flight to North Carolina. I groaned at how weary my body felt. Guilt and relief simultaneously flooded my mind as I thought about my late-night activities within the walls of Club Envy, the sex club I belonged to.

  None of my friends knew this side of me. All those times I’d told Allison I was going to Atlanta to work for the sorority, I’d actually gone to find my release in order to keep my world standing right side up.

  Yesterday, with Allison’s news of being pregnant, the past had tried to come over into my present, and that was unacceptable. It had shaken me to the core, bringing up long-forgotten memories. That box of emotions had been locked and buried for years, and I had been fine up until then. Everything had bubbled to the surface at once, unveiling the dark place from my past. My Pandora’s box had been opened. I needed to find the key again and lock the damn thing shut forever.

  The feelings had been too much, and last night, I’d used the only method that worked to keep me balanced since coming to Waleska for college almost four years ago—sex at the club.

  Six months ago, I had quit the club cold turkey right after Ben kidnapped Allison. After watching Damien’s past come back and haunt him, I’d realized I needed to get my act together. I’d pushed the thought from my head every time I had the desire to go to the club for that detached freeness it brought me.

  I’d thought I was better and no longer needed the club as I had gone a couple of weeks without thinking about it. I had been wrong on so many levels. Maybe keeping myself away from Club Envy had been a bad idea.

  Club Envy allowed the members to keep their identity hidden if they wanted. No one knew who I was at the club besides the owners. I always made sure to keep my identity anonymous by wearing a kitty-cat mask and a red wig. One of the owners, Adam, was who I would spend my time with while at the club. He knew how to relieve the darkness brewing inside me. He was the perfect fuck buddy.

  Since the first time I’d entered the club after hearing about it one night at a bar in Atlanta, Adam had been my partner. The coping mechanism I could find at Club Envy seemed to effectively deal with and tame all the emotions swirling around inside me, threatening to erupt.

  My mind went back to last night.

  In my car, I continued to stare at the old brick building where my utopia for the night resided. I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts.

  Put the car in drive. Leave, Sam. Get the fuck out of here.

  My craving for happiness was supposed to be buried so deep in my soul that it would never surface, bringing these emotions with it. When I’d initially worked up the nerve at Tybee Island, I should have told Allison what had happened that awful New Year’s night all those years ago. In the end, I’d lost my nerve from my own insecurities of what she would think. I knew my fear had been irrational.

  Focusing my thoughts away from the memories, I looked at Club Envy again. The building called to me in a pulsing manner. I could forget all this the moment the metal door shut, encapsulating me in the alternate universe I had created.

  Stay strong, Sam. You don’t need this.

  I screwed my eyes shut, fighting the pull this place had on me, but then I remembered what it could bring—the hidden identities, the ultimate control, the separation from my mind. This place had been a godsend when I started college as I was barely hanging on by a thread. My mind tried to make my body turn on the car and drive away, but my body just sat there. Fighting the pull, my fingers were wound tight around the steering wheel, my knuckles turning a ghostly white.

  Just one more time. Only one more time.

  The feel of leather, the clink of metal, the sound of a whip—that was all I needed in the moment.

  My phone chirped.

  Adam: Come on, Kitty Cat. I always have what you need. I’ll make you feel better.

  My head snapped up, and I saw him standing at the entrance with his hand extended. My body took over, shutting out my thoughts. My hands reached out and grabbed my red wig. I put it on, followed by my cat eye mask.

  Just one more time. All I need is one more time.

  No attachment.

  No strings.

  No romance.

  Just SEX.

  His muscle shirt showed all his sexy muscles. His arms were covered in tats. He was the kind of guy girls wanted to make theirs—all girls, that was, except for me.

  After I walked up to him, he reached out his hand and led us silently to the side door of the building. The front half of Club Envy was a bar, and most patrons had no idea what went on behind the brick wall where the sex club was.

  Right as we entered Adam’s office, he turned to me. “Kitty Cat, how rough do you want it tonight?”

  Licking my lips, I leaned up on my toes and then ran my tongue across his earlobe. “I want it rough and hard. I want to be fucked ten ways to Sunday against that wall. I want to forget. Do you think you can handle that?”

  I bit his earlobe, and he growled.

  Grabbing my hips, he pushed me against the wall and devoured my mouth. “What do you need, Kitty Cat?”

  “Suck my breasts—hard.”

  He lifted my shirt, and seeing me braless, he groaned in approval. He sucked my nipple so hard that I knew I would be bruised tomorrow. I threw my head back in pleasure from the pain.

  I moaned, “Fuck me hard.”

  He raised his chocolate eyes up to mine. “I always have what
you need. I’m going to fuck you so hard that you’ll be sore tomorrow.”

  My core clenched. I am definitely going to be sore tomorrow. “After this, I want to tie you up, Adam.”

  “Whatever you need, Kitty Cat.”

  For now, I wanted to stay the course and not go back to the club again. I had my fingers crossed that I would be able to find a healthier way to keep everything in its place, so I could function like a normal human being. Memories of those sexcapades would have to suffice since I was moving today. I had graduated last weekend from Reinhardt College, and I was moving up to North Carolina for the time being.

  Focusing on the sound of metal chains snapping from last night, I got up and headed to the shower. As I stepped into the water, Adam’s words came back to me.

  You’ll be back, Kitty Cat. I’ll be waiting, ready to give you what you need when you do come back. You’re a fun fuck buddy.

  We’ll see. I wasn’t entirely sure he hadn’t been right, but distance would keep me from coming back. Preseason football would be starting soon, and I had my dream job. Damien had offered me the chance of a lifetime, creating the Team Relations Manager position for me. It was a multilayered job that involved scouting new talent, re-upping soon-to-be expired contracts, reporting on things that could potentially harm the team brand, and other tasks.

  I wouldn’t start officially until August, but I was going to use the next two months to get acquainted with everything. Damien and I had decided that it would be best if I lived up in North Carolina at least half of the time. Fortunately, with my kick-ass new salary, I was able to easily afford a place both there and here in Atlanta. My parents felt better about the decision, knowing I would be back home in Georgia some of the time.

  Georgia will always be my home.

  Turning the water up even higher to an almost scalding temperature, I cleaned myself. Though I’d needed the release last night, the hot water always felt like I was washing away the activities from the club forever, like I was creating a clean slate. I hated feeling dirty, and I would wash my skin almost raw each and every time after going to the club. My flesh was reddened from the harsh scrubbing before I began washing my long black hair.

  This isn’t healthy. This can’t be healthy.

  There had been so many times when I almost told Allison about what had happened to me in high school, but after all the you-need-to-go-to-therapy lectures I’d given her when her parents died, I’d felt hypocritical, and I’d sentenced myself to a prison of silence.

  I shook my head from those thoughts and continued thinking about today.

  Too much dwelling on the past does nothing but lead you right back into the past.

  Allison and Damien would be flying out to North Carolina on the company plane later this afternoon. She had insisted on making sure I was settled there. Of course, they had offered me a ride, but I had already booked my ticket. Now, I was thankful for taking the conventional way of flying. I knew I wouldn’t have been able to take seeing their happiness, considering how I had mentally reacted to the news of the baby yesterday.

  I loved my best friend with my whole heart, and I was glad she had been doing so well after the loss of her parents almost two years ago. I felt like a bitch for reacting to her pregnancy like I’d mentally done, and I needed to get my feelings under control before I hurt her because of my fucked-up past.

  The one thing I hadn’t been able to get out of was staying at Allison and Damien’s new home while I searched for a place of my own. Allison would know something was up if I didn’t stay with them. However, a new home for me would be found by the end of the week. I felt bad for having those thoughts, but I had to look out for myself if I was going to drop the sex-club habit.

  I finished my shower and dried off. After wiping away the steam, I looked at myself in the mirror, my green eyes reflecting back at me. My eye color was my favorite feature on my body. Only two small bruises had formed on my hips from last night. That wasn’t bad, especially with how rough we had been. I had a naturally curvy body in all the right places, and men loved to play with it.

  After combing through my hair, I tied it up and went back to my room to finish packing. Looking at the clock, I knew the company car would be here in less than ten minutes to give me a ride to the airport. I threw a few last-minute things into my suitcase. Leaving my brand-new condo in Atlanta was bittersweet.

  For a change, I had decorated this condo in a more modern theme. Allison had scrunched her nose at some of my artwork choices, which had made me laugh. She always thought that abstract paintings looked more like the work of a kindergartner. The tables and light fixtures were all chrome, the furniture was purple and red, and all the cabinets were black. It was pretty swanky and different. Allison had been a blessing while helping me get my place here all set up. Without her, I couldn’t have gotten it all done while I’d been in school. She was always there for me in the exact capacity I needed each time.

  Looking out the window, I saw the car waiting for me. After grabbing my bags, I headed down to start my new post-college adventure. As I crossed over this milestone, I knew my life was never going to be the same.

  I welcome the change.

  I embrace it.

  I hope to hell it will be enough.

  The plane ride had been uneventful, and I was glad to finally be arriving at Allison’s new home. Zipping through traffic in my new company car, a red convertible BMW, was an exhilarating feeling. It was apparently part of my bonus from re-signing players. I’d had no complaints when I was told what I was getting. I respected Damien for how he ran his company. He was always fair to his employees, but his expectations were high. I liked that in a boss. I had no problem earning every penny I would be making.

  My phone pinged. It was Allison.

  Allison: Landed. I’ll be there shortly. I’m so excited for you.

  Me: Me, too. Sounds good. See you in a few.

  I pulled up to the three-story brick mansion in my little red car. Allison had said it was smaller than their Atlanta home, but it was still a magnificently large one. She was always a humble person. The house sat on a vast estate with a perfectly manicured lawn.

  As I approached the gate, the guard came out to greet me. “Miss Matthews, a garage spot is waiting for you around back.”

  “Thank you.”

  He went back into the guardhouse and pushed a button that caused the huge gate to start moving. After giving him a wink, I pulled through and headed around to the back of the home. I loved that my down-to-earth best friend hadn’t changed from being around money. She was who she had always been. If she had her choice, she would wear yoga pants and a T-shirt every damn day of her life. No one would ever know she was worth millions by looking at her.

  Hell, it could be billions for all I knew.

  Since the incident last fall with Ben, Damien had still kept some security around. Now, that had been a seriously messed-up situation. Ben had been completely crazed and obsessed with Damien, and that had led to an obsession with Allison. I’d known she was keeping something from me with how withdrawn she had become. Balancing a new marriage, media frenzies, a crazy stalker, plus everything else in her life had to have been incredibly difficult. I had been deeply hurt that I was kept in the dark all that time about such a significant event in my friend’s life, but I’d understood when it all came to light. I couldn’t hold it against her too much, considering the secret I had kept since the incident my senior year.

  Making my way to my room at Damien and Allison’s place, I started to mentally go over everything I needed to do in order to find a place, stat. All the rooms in each of their homes were warm and inviting. My room here was decorated in green and gold with a hint of cream. My body instantly felt tired from not getting enough sleep last night. Just as the thought of taking a short nap entered my mind, I heard my best friend’s voice from down the hall.

  “Sam, are you here?”

  “I’m in my room.”

  A few second
s later, Allison’s head popped around the door, and she was peering inside. She had no idea how beautiful she was, and her cluelessness drove men even wilder. Her dirty-blonde hair was thrown up into a messy ponytail, and she had on a cute, little blue sundress. She looked tired. My eyes went to her stomach for a brief moment as I thought about the pregnancy. Damien was going to go all alpha-like on her when he found out about the baby, wanting to keep his family safe. Allowing someone that much control over me would never happen, but it worked for them because he loved her.

  As she entered the room, I was frozen in place with the glow emanating from her. It had only been yesterday when she told me she was pregnant.

  Forcing my feet to move and knowing I had to act excited, I walked to her and embraced her in a hug. I was glad to see her. “Congratulations! Good to see you, bestie. Where’s that crazy-ass, barbaric husband of yours?”

  She rolled her eyes and gave me a sweet smile. “Thank you. Bane dropped Damien off at the office, so he could sign some paperwork. A car will be sent back for him. He’ll be here in an hour or so. Anyway, it’ll give us some time to catch up since you’ve been so busy these last few months. I’ve missed you. You know you can stay here for as long as you need to, right?”

  Bane was their badass security guard, who had played an essential part in killing Ben.

  While I continued to feel the happiness emanating from Allison, I prayed that the unwanted emotion from yesterday wouldn’t come back. “I know. I appreciate it. You guys are too good to me, but I’m ready to find a place and get settled in. So, little mama-to-be, is Wales over-the-moon ecstatic?” I wagged my eyebrows up and down for added effect.

  She giggled, but then she huffed and lay down on the bed with her arm across her face. “He still doesn’t know.”

  Shocked, I responded, “What? You know, in eight months or so, baby Wales will be making his or her debut in this world, so you might want to let Daddy know before then. Did you have any idea?”

  She sighed in frustration. “No, but Damien and I had already decided I was going off the pill. Yesterday was my yearly checkup. I wanted to talk to my doctor and get mentally prepared. When I told her I hadn’t been feeling well, she did a pregnancy test. I’d gotten pregnant even with birth control. Sam, I’m so happy. It’s a lot to take in. I wasn’t prepared.”