Page 44 of Promises in the Dark

Red nodded, her fingers digging into my arm as I yanked her towards me, her body crashing into mine. We both gasped for air, our bodies pressed close together in the tumultuous water. The current fought against us, trying to rip her away, but I wouldn’t allow it.

Every muscle in my body was on fire, straining as I fought to keep us both afloat. Red’s tiny hands clung to me with a desperate grip, hanging on for dear life, her body trembling as she struggled to keep her head above water.

We approached the shore, my arms and legs straining under the effort of swimming and supporting us both. We both collapsed onto the muddy ground, gasping for air, as we coughed and spit out river water.

“Holy fuck,” Red gagged, coughing and sputtering.

“You scared the shit out of me,” I panted, my breath coming in heaving gasps. “Don’t you ever pull a stunt like that again.”

She managed a weak smile, her voice hoarse as she replied, “I told you I don’t like—"

I cut her off mid-sentence, grabbing the back of her head and pulling her into me, hard. I needed to hold her, needed to feel her alive in my arms, after coming so close to losing her. Her soaked body melted into mine, her heart pounding against my chest, in sync with my own.

She buried her face in my chest, her fingers clutching my shirt like she never wanted to let go. My hand tangled in her wet hair, my fingers running through it like I was trying to wipe away the nightmare we just survived.

“Why the hell didn’t you scream for help back there?” I inquired, my hands still wrapped around her waist as I tried to keep her warm.

“I didn’t want to draw attention to us,” she responded, her eyes dropping to the ground as if ashamed. “I was scared, but I thought I could manage on my own,” continued, trying to defend herself.

My thumb caressed her chin, cupping her face in my hand and forcing her to look at me.

I raised an eyebrow, narrowing my eyes at her like she was out of her fucking mind as I countered, “Are you kidding me? You could’ve drowned, for fuck’s sake.”

Red shrugged, seemingly unfazed by my worry.

“Yeah, I’m aware of that,” she said flatly, as if it was no big deal.

I tilted her head once again, my hand cradling her jaw. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, I felt a thousand fucking things that I knew I shouldn’t, all of them inappropriate.

Lust, desire, attachment, yearning, the list went on.

“I’m fucking glad you didn’t,” I whispered hoarsely.

My hands roamed over her back, tracing the lines of her body—every curve, every dip. She was ice cold, her soaked clothes plastered to her skin, and the more I touched her, the more I wanted her. She was shivering, fighting to hold ittogether, and I could feel the heat building in me, pulling me closer to the edge.

Red opened her mouth to speak, her voice shaking a little.

“I know it’s ridiculous,” she admitted, biting her lip, “but I’m terrified of water.”

Her voice cracked with remorse as she continued, “My father... he died drowning, and it’s haunted me ever since,” she confessed, her vulnerability piercing through the wall of anger I had erected.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling like a clueless idiot for not picking up on it sooner. How the hell did I miss something that big?

“You should’ve told me sooner,” I mumbled, shaking my head.

Now I felt like the asshole I was for dragging her into the water without knowing.

“I would’ve never forced you into that if I knew,” I added, pulling her closer, as if I could erase what had just happened.

“I know,” she said back, her head hanging low. “I’m sorry,” but her words didn’t help me to forgive myself.

Her words didn’t make me feel any better. They didn’t change the fact that I almost got her killed because I was too wrapped up in my own shit to notice hers. Her tears soaked into my shoulder, and whatever rage I was holding onto just melted away, replaced by something else. Something fierce. Something protective.

“Shhh... it’s okay,” I whispered, gently rubbing my fingers in circles on her back. “You’re safe now,” I reassured her, my breath hot against her ear. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She was fragile, breakable in a way that made me want to burn the whole world to ash just to keep her from getting hurt again.

I didn’t give a single, solitary fuck if the talibans came after us. Hell, they could surround us, could line up with guns aimed right at us, and I’d still stand there, holding her, daring them to try.

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