Aftermath in Shadows
The penthouse smelled like rain and smoke, even though neither had rained nor burned anything.
Dominic sat in the lounge, hands clasped, eyes shadowed.
Liam stood across from him, jacket damp from the night's chaos, hair sticking to his forehead, heart still racing.
"You could've died," Dominic said, voice low but sharp.
"I didn't," Liam replied evenly. "And I didn't run."
Dominic stared, jaw tight. "You never listen."
"Neither do you," Liam shot back.
For a heartbeat, silence ruled. Then Dominic exhaled, finally letting his shoulders slump.
"You're reckless," he muttered. "And frustrating."
"And you're infuriating," Liam whispered, stepping closer. "But I like it."
Dominic's gaze softened, but the tension lingered. Fear, desire, anger—they all swirled together like a dangerous cocktail.
"You're mine," Dominic said suddenly, the words sharp, possessive, almost frightening in their intensity.
Liam tilted his head, smirk playing on his lips. "You have to earn that. Not declare it."
Dominic didn't argue. Instead, he kissed Liam—slow, deliberate, tasting, claiming, but careful not to overstep. It was an apology. A promise. A challenge all at once.
Liam melted into it. For the first time, the chaos of Dominic's world felt like home.
Meanwhile, the other pairs were having their moments.
Marco & Noah:
Noah had flinched when a stray bullet had clanged near them at the warehouse. Marco had grabbed his hand—strong, steady, grounding.
"Scared?" Marco had whispered.
"No," Noah said. "Just… aware I need you."
That had been enough. Their hands stayed intertwined longer than necessary, brushing fingertips over knuckles, over palms, testing the heat, the weight, the connection.
Finally, Marco tilted his head, almost shyly. "You're… different. I like it."
Noah smiled faintly. "You're… different too."
One kiss followed. Slow, soft, almost hesitant. But the electricity lingered long after their lips parted.
Sebastian & Jax:
Jax had laughed in the middle of the chaos—loud, reckless—but Sebastian had been the one to push him out of the way just in time.
"Do that again," Sebastian muttered, voice low, "and I won't save you next time."
Jax smirked, leaning closer. "Then I'll make sure you do."
Sebastian's stoic mask cracked. His fingers grazed Jax's arm. The touch was electric, deliberate, lingering. A silent promise of more.
Danger had sharpened their awareness—every brush of skin, every shared glance, every heartbeat between them screamed possibility.
Back in the penthouse, Liam and Dominic were wrapped in each other's arms, city lights casting a crimson glow over their bodies.
"You scared me," Dominic whispered, voice rough with unshed emotion.
"I know," Liam murmured. "But I'm still here."
Dominic pressed his forehead to Liam's. "I don't know how to do this—love without breaking everything."
"You'll learn," Liam said softly. "We'll learn."
And in that fragile, trembling moment, every temptation, every midnight sin, every danger and desire—seemed worth it.
Because sometimes, the only way to survive a dark world… was to let someone in.