The Promise Pact (Promise to Love Book 1) (7 page)

Her voice was low as she spoke again, “I know we had an agreement but I am getting tired and I think I am ready to go home. We have two months ahead of us and I think we both need some rest.”

His eyes became dark. She could tell he wanted to protest, explain more, but decided to let it go.

“Alright, fine, whatever, I’ll take you home!”

***

Their entire car ride back to her apartment took place in silence. It was quieter than the one coming. The event organizer had arranged transportation for Max so they didn’t have to wait for a cab. A million thoughts scurried through Kaya’s head, but the loudest thought was that she was an adult now and she needed to handle this situation differently. The problem was she just didn’t know how.

When they arrived at her apartment, Max hopped out of the car, tipped the driver and headed to her unit. Kaya hadn’t invited him inside but for some reason the tension was so thick that she didn’t say a word. The moment her apartment door opened he launched in.

“Look, I’m really sorry about what happened earlier but if we are going to make it work for the next two months we have to learn how to trust one another.” As he spoke, Max started loosening his tuxedo tie, and bracing himself for a full-fledged fight. Instead, she kicked her shoes off and leaned against the couch.

“You’re right, I think I overreacted a bit. It’s not any of my business who you decide to date or speak with. I had too much to drink tonight and I wasn’t thinking clearly. It won’t happen again.” She spoke without looking him directly in the eye.

He was pissed.

“I disagree, I think it
is
your business. And I think dating should be off limits until the garden is complete.” His words were sharp and direct.

“W-What? You would be willing not to date anyone, you?”

“Wow, you make it sound like I can’t live without a woman. For the record, I haven’t been involved with anyone for the last few months.”

The revelation made her feel uneasy. There was no way Mr. Testosterone wasn’t tossing it up with a hundred beauties!

“What? You haven’t had sex in months?” The moment the words exited her lips she felt a flush of embarrassment fill her cheeks.
What in the hell was she thinking?

He chuckled then removed his tuxedo jacket giving her a better view of his entire body.

“Mmm, very interesting! Is my sex life important to you Kaya?” She turned blood red.

“N-No, I just don’t understand why we can’t date.” She uttered, stammering over her words.

“Because I don’t want you having sex with anyone else while we are under the same roof.” His directness was setting her on fire. How could he speak so openly and honestly about sex in front of her without being flushed?

“I don’t have sex with random strangers and since I’m going to be in a city where I don’t know a soul, I think it’s fair to say there won’t be any moans coming from my room.”

“You moan during sex?” He stated licking his lips.
Enough.
She wasn’t going to play this game of cat and mouse with him. She was done with his shenanigans.

“Fine, Max King. Sex is off the table. Now will you please leave?” Max was seconds away from responding but he was immediately distracted by her picture wall. He hadn’t seen it earlier in the day. He tossed his jacket on the couch and walked towards the photos. Kaya was happy for the conversation change.

His whole demeanor changed as he approached. “I-I didn’t know you kept up with Ms. Roy after graduation!” He stated leaning in and smiling at the pictures.

“Yes, she was very special to me. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss her desperately.”

“I know.” The uneasy sound in his voice forced her to look at his face. It was clearly obvious that he missed her as much as she did. His expression then changed as his eyes scanned over another photo.

“Oh no, no, no,” he chuckled when he recognized a high school snapshot of Kaya. He removed the photo from off the wall.

“Gosh, I remember this day. This was tenth grade, right?”

“Yes, it was our Women’s History month program. I was dressed up as Amelia Earhart. I am sure you remember that awkward girl.”

“I never thought you awkward! You were just so different from most people in our school. It wasn’t a bad thing. It was definitely good.” She laughed off the compliment but a look of yearning and regret filled both their eyes.
Why in the hell is he still here?
The whole situation was wrong. There was no way all of this was happening in her normally routine life. She quickly grabbed the picture out of his hand, stretched her arms and toes as far as they would go, and placed it high on the wall. In all of her anxiety she never felt or heard her dress tear. Kaya hastily pivoted on her feet and started walking towards the kitchen.

Get him out!

“Max, it’s getting late and I think we should call it a night. I still have to pack and I’m exhausted from the gala. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow and I think we both need some rest.” She stated sternly. Then she quickly yanked off the diamond studs, tossed them in the gift box and grabbed her cordless phone.

“I’ll call you a cab and then meet you at the airport in the morning.”

***

Max followed her into the small kitchen.
He would leave but not before he apologized. It had to be done.

“Kaya, hold on, we need to talk,” he stated rubbing his hands across his fatigued face.

“We have nothing else to say to one another Max,” she stated turning to him.

Then it happened. Oh shit!

He couldn’t continue their discussion, because his eyes were feasting on her naked flesh. Her dress had ripped clear down the middle, revealing the fullness of her cleavage.

“Beautiful,” was the only word he could manage to utter.

Kaya’s silky smooth skin and round bosoms stood perfectly in front of him. Each time she moved, the delicate fabric tore more, revealing more lick worthy flesh. His gaze was intense and full of desire. God, he wanted to look away but couldn’t. Within seconds, he could feel his cock growing below, growing for Kaya. The outline of her juicy nipples through the flimsy black bra was driving him mad. He zoned in on her buds, so bright, tempting and plump.

She caught his intense gaze. Her eyes shifted down and…she horrified, but oddly enough, she didn’t cover her chest.

His voice was low and husky, “What are you doing? Don’t tempt me like this Kaya!”

“I-I’m not. Please leave!” Her unconvincing words were barely audible although Max made out exactly what she was trying to say.

He licked his plump juicy lips. His eyes roamed over the tear. Within seconds, he was near her.

“What are you doing?”

“Doing what I should have a long time ago…
Apologizing
!” He scooped her up in his arms like she was sugar in his coffee. He grabbed her tight round ass and pulled her lean body against his. He wanted to devour her whole. Taste each drop. She went limp as his mouth came crashing down fiercely on hers. Their tongues entwined deep within her sweet canal, each one trying to get some relief. She tore her mouth away for a second to speak.

“You want me?” She sounded unsure of herself. He never wanted to hear that sound from her again.

“Yes,
you
! Damn, you’re beautiful. This is what I should have done the moment I saw you yesterday.”

He took a deep breath and tightened his arms around her waist. He leaned down and pushed his tongue deeper into her mouth while his hands explored her flesh. Without releasing her, he took one hand and tore the remaining fabric away. She shuttered. He moaned. He needed to touch her bare skin. Max needed to let her know how sorry he was. He needed her to feel the pain he felt from reading the letter and losing Ms. Roy. He just needed Kaya!

She answered all of his questions by cocking her head back for more of his touch. Her delicate hands helplessly grabbed his defined chest then moved to stroking his chiseled rear.

“Mmm, that’s right Kaya! Let me show you how sorry I am.”

Waves of lust and passion filled the air. Without thought, he grabbed her tight hips and lifted her against his chest. Then with one motion, he placed her on top of the granite countertop. His huge thighs quickly straddled in between her legs, pushing them wide, while his eager hands ripped off her bra releasing her breast into his grip. She moaned as his possessive digits pinched, caressed and stroked her breast until her nipples were hard with delight.

“Oh God, Max!”

“I know baby you need me to taste you, don’t you?” He said as his lips devoured one of her large breasts. His tempting words caused her lower channels to growl with need. Pulling and sucking then tugging and licking, he stroked her buds with consistent pressure and friction. Then he flicked his tongue over her naughty nipples until she bucked on the countertop.

“Will you allow me to show you how sorry I am?” He teasingly said as he ran his tongue down her soft neck, hitting the right nerve.

“Yes, oh yes, apologize to me Max!” Gently, he pushed her back on the counter and spread her legs farther apart. She needed to feel his touch. No more words, just action.

“Open for me and accept my forgiveness,” he stated bluntly.

She obeyed, needing to be stroked by his hands, his fingers, and his velvet tongue. He bent down then…

The loud, blaring sound of her phone startled them both back to reality.

Dear God!

Kaya scrambled to grab her torn cocktail dress from the ground. She was completely naked, except for her soaking wet panties that were heaved to the left side of her sumptuous thigh. Max panted, he couldn’t help himself, his eyes scanned her lovely body stopping at the deep scar on belly.
How had he missed it mere minutes ago?

Ashamed, Kaya immediately covered her body, specifically her scar, with the tousled torn garment. She kept her eyes on his as she spoke into the phone. “He will be down shortly. Thank you!”

He moved towards her but she backed up. “You should go! Go now!” She was adamant.

Max was nervous. He quickly retrieved his tie and jacket and moved towards the door! Then he stopped.

He didn’t want to ever turn his back to her again. Oozing with masculinity and control he spoke, “I will make this right with us if it’s the last thing I do, Kaya.” Her eyes narrowed in on his serious face as he continued, “I’ll make you another promise, I won’t touch you again until you beg me to. See you tomorrow.”

And like that he was gone.

“I won’t touch you again until you beg me to.”
What in the hell did that mean? Kaya curled up in a ball then cried. This was too much for anyone to deal with alone.

CHAPTER FIVE

Kaya woke up feeling like a fool. How would she survive in South Carolina with Max alone? Fifteen years later, and he still could ignite her with one simple touch. She didn’t trust him or herself. She quickly tossed a few clothes in her luggage and jumped into the shower hoping the water would relax her mind.

Max had left her a text message asking if she needed a ride to the airstrip. She politely declined his request. She wasn’t ready to see him!

“How is the newest New York socialite? Anyone need a cappuccino and a blueberry muffin?”

Thank God it was Angela. She breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of her best friend approaching the bedroom.

“I really need to take that damn key back.” She said as she launched into her BF’s arms!

“What’s wrong? You looked beautiful last night. I saw a glimpse of you in the paper this morning.”

“Everything Angie! Everything is wrong!”

“Sit down. Drink.” She pushed the cappuccino to her lips. “Whatever it is we’ll figure it out together Kaya.” It was exactly what she needed to hear. Kaya quickly replayed the events of the last 24 hours. She needed emergency advice and Angela was a genius when it came to men. She was a blonde, intelligent beauty that attracted the attention of nearly any man. Her face was plastered on almost every subway ad or billboard around the city but to Kaya she was just Angie. They met during her freshman year of college and instantly the two misfits, both with challenging pasts, became inseparable.

***

Ping.

The sound of her cell phone startled Kaya back into her nightmare.

“Shit, its Max. He’s already at the airport. I look horrible.” Kaya could feel the anxiety bubble up in her core.

“Breathe sweetheart and make him wait like you waited for nearly fifteen years.”

Angela dumped her Gucci bag’s contents on the bed and began to work magic on Kaya’s long, midnight locks. Normally, she would have refused an “Angie makeover” but with only two hours of sleep in her system and a throbbing sexual headache she needed help. Kaya closed her eyes as Angie brushed her long midnight tresses. Brush, stroke and curl. Tweeze, pluck and brush.

An hour later, Angie brought her back to life but a makeover was only a temporary fix--- her problem was much deeper.

Sadness invaded every part of her body.
How would she cope the next two months under the same roof with Max?

***

Really, a private jet.

Kaya felt comfortable in her faded jeans, fitted, black lace tank top and oversized Macy’s clearance black and white fall sweater. The outfit was accentuated by a pair of black leather boots with a small heel that caused her hips and butt to fill out properly. It wasn’t a fancy designer outfit but it was flattering on her lean curvy shape. Angela had tried to convince her to wear a plunging V-neck body dress with black suede stiletto heels but after the gala fiasco anything with a V-neck was off-limits.

Every nerve in Max’s body was awake the moment he saw Kaya!
Keep your distance! Finish the garden and go back to your normal life.
But now that he had tasted her sweet lips, he didn’t know if anything would ever be normal again.
Her freshly curled hair glistened in the September sun against her olive skin. Her long sleek legs, perky breasts and hourglass waistline set his cock on fire.
Down boy down.