Page 81 of Promises in the Dark

I needed a drink. Maybe several to drown out this bullshit swirling around in my head.

She swallowed hard, her eyes darting away from mine. “Fuck you, Rogue,” she hissed, but there was no conviction in her words.

I moved closer, closing the gap until her body was pressed against mine. Reaching out, I traced a finger along her jaw, feeling her skin heat up under my touch.

“Maybe later,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her ear.

She shivered, her body responding to my touch despite her best efforts. But instead of giving in, she shoved me away, her eyes burning with anger.

“You wish,” she shot back, but it was weak—she didn’t even believe herself.

I leaned in, my lips brushing against her ear. “Oh, I know you do,” I murmured, loving the way her breath caught.

She might pretend she didn’t want me, but her body told a different story. She was fighting it, sure, but she wanted me just as much. And I was going to make her suffer, make her ache for it like I was.

“Alright, you horny bastards, that’s enough for today,” Pyro’s voice boomed through the gym, interrupting us at the worst possible moment. “Time to pack it in and go jerk off somewhere else.”

Red let out a breath like she’d just been saved, her shoulders sagging in relief.

I glanced over at Dr. Scumbag, half-expecting him to be laid out cold. But no, the little shit was still standing. Maybe he wasn’t as much of a pussy as I thought.

“Come on, hotshot, time to call it a day,” Pyro said, clapping me on the back, nearly knocking the wind out of me.

Like I needed his permission. But I swallowed my pride and blinked, tearing my gaze away.

“Yeah, heard you the first time,” I nodded, still distracted by Red’s my-ass-is-on-fire exit.

I watched as everyone started to pack up and shuffle out, but my eyes were glued to her. She was avoiding my gaze, hurrying towards the exit like she couldn’t get the fuck away from me fast enough.

Well, fuck her too.

I didn’t need her bullshit drama dragging me down any longer.

Pyro’s gaze bore into mine, intense and probing. “Listen, man,” he started, his voice surprisingly gentle for the hard-ass he usually was. “I don’t fully understand what’s going on between you and that doctor, but I can smell trouble from a fucking mile away.”

The last thing I needed was to spill my fucked-up feelings like some lovesick idiot.

“Yeah, no shit,” I replied, maybe a little too sharply.

The big bastard just shook his head, a look of concern clouding his features. “I don’t like that prick,” he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Well, ain’t that a fucking revelation,” I grumbled, running a hand through my sweat-soaked hair.

Pyro gave me a long look, those damn beady eyes narrowing like he was trying to figure me out. “Just watch yourself, man.”

“I can take care of myself,” I insisted, the stubbornness clear in my statement.

Even as the words came out, I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt creeping up in the back of my mind. Could I really?

Pyro held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I know you can,” he replied, staying calm while I was clearly on edge. “But sometimes it’s smarter to avoid the fight than to win it.”

I shot him a look, not liking where this was heading. “I don’t back down from a fight.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Yeah, I get it. You care about her, that’s clear as day. But don’t let your pride and anger fuck up your judgment.”

I scoffed, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Fucking Red. Couldn’t get that woman out of my head if I tried. The way she strutted around, all heroic, trying to save the world like some martyr. Except she couldn’t save her own goddamn ass, could she?

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