Page 131 of Promises in the Dark

Her lips parted as she gasped for air and all I could think about was how much I wanted to kiss her, to let this tension explode into a fucking orgasm.

I held back, barely.

“You really think you can keep me here against my will?” she asked with a stubborn conviction.

I admired her spirit, but it only made me harder. Literally.Fucking hell,I thought, looking at those parted lips again and my cock shriveled up in my pants.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I said, letting out a frustrated breath. “Even if it means locking you up.”

She shook her head in my hold, her red hair rustling against my knuckles. “I’m a doctor,” she protested, trying to wriggle free from my grasp. “I go where I’m needed. And right now, I’m needed out there.”

I stared into those piercing green orbs, feeling a thousand things I couldn’t say. This wasn’t the time to be weak.

“No,” I said, shaking my head, holding my ground. “You’re needed here. We need someone at the base, someone we can trust. And that’s you.”

She bit her lip, and fuck, it drove me crazy. All I wanted was to bite them myself, to shut her up with my mouth on hers.

“You can’t just dictate who goes and who stays based on your mood!” she argued, trying to sound brave.

My pulse raced even faster as I fought the impulse to pin her against the wall and kiss that fucking defiance right out of her mouth. Instead, I closed my eyes and placed my forehead against hers, trying to block out the sound of my pounding heart.

“I’m not just your superior right now; I’m someone who cares about you deeply.” My throat constricted around the words as I added, “And I’m not willing to let you throw your life away on a mission that could easily turn into a suicide run.”

Her body tensed beneath mine as she searched for something in my face—honesty, reassurance? Whatever it was, I hoped she found it because God knows I was barely holding it together.

“But it’s okay ifyoudo that instead?”

My eyes snapped open as our foreheads still touched; our breathing synchronized in perfect rhythm.

“Yes,” I answered without a second thought.

“Why?” she asked, her voice almost a plea.

I swallowed hard before admitting the truth aloud for the first time in years.

Maybe ever.

“Because I don’t matter.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out to touch my cheek.

“You matter to me,” she told me and hearing her say those words made my chest ache.

Oh, hell no. We were not doing this, sweetheart.

I exhaled heavily, not wanting to admit just how badly I needed her. But this wasn’t about my needs; it was about convincing her to stay behind for her own safety.

My hands trembled as I forced myself to release my grip on her neck, my fingers not wanting to let go.

Damn it, why did she have to look at me like that?

“You’re staying here, end of discussion.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed for a second, as if she was trying to compose herself, but when they opened again, the pain was still there.

My fucking fault for getting her involved in this mess. I should’ve never let her come with me.

What a stupid, selfish asshole I was.

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