Page 132 of Crimson Promises
Everything was so much simpler when I existed in the background. I was stupid to involve myself in Aurora's life.
Anger and hate were easier emotions to hang on to than the warmth Aurora exuded. The peace. Because I had learned all of that was fleeting. It didn’t last. Only pain and sorrow did.Life breaks all that is beautiful.
Hands curled around my sides.
I let out an embarrassingly loud yelp. I grabbed the base of the shower head to steady myself.
Aurora pressed her face into my back. “Good morning,” she murmured.
“Good morning, sleepy head.” Swallowing down my panic. I covered one of her hands with mine. “Did you enjoy your rest?”
I felt her head moving up and down in a yes motion. “I slept like the dead for the first time in forever. Better watch out. You may have just inherited a roommate.”
“I’m sure your father would be thrilled to hear that.”
“We’d have to deal with Vic’s wrath until my Dad got here.”
“As much as I respect Vic, I could take him.”
“Vic was a boxer and an all-varsity athlete in college. I’m not sure you’d want to mess with him.”
“Oh, is that right?” I spun around and backed her into the corner of the shower. I pinned her in place with my hips. “You want to say that to my face.”
“Vic would school you. Angel powers or no angel powers.”
I leaned in close as I traced the curve of her face with the tip of my nose before I moved my mouth towards her ear. “And here I was starting to think we’d established a truce.”
She turned her head to the side to give me more access. I connected the dots of her freckles with the pad of my thumb.
“Mhm, I think it was more of a cease-fire than a truce.”
I leaned down to suck a cluster of freckles that looked like the constellation of Pleiades. “Are you sure?”
“Not exactly, no.” She rested her head against the tiles. “Where were you this morning?”
My hand froze in place. I had hoped Aurora hadn’t noticed my absence.
“I was running some errands.” She couldn’t know about my meeting with Michael.
“What errands?”
Her hand was roaming dangerously close to my lower abdomen. “Just errands,” I bit out. Damn her ability to let me lose any sense of rational thought when I was around her.
She pulled her hand away and pulled my chin down so my eyes met hers. “No more lies, Ben, remember?”
I stared at the herringbone tile the designer had picked for the shower. It ran from the floor to the top of the ceiling.
“Right. The truth is I went to the gym this morning. I go to a boxing gym on the outskirts of town. I need to keep my form in top condition.”
She gestures to the length of my body. “Yeah, you really need the work.”
I poked her in her ribs and was awarded with a quick giggle. “Anyways, I’ve become acquainted with the owner, and I mentioned that I was thinking of bringing you in to train with you.”
“Seriously?” She squealed.
“Yes, I made you a deal.”
“Under duress.”
