Alice demands a real promise, and Zed and Betty try to deliver

Alice stepped closer. The damp fabric of her shirt brushed Zed's arm. She tilted her chin up.

-Preludes are just promises. And I hate empty ones.

Betty let out a shaky exhale. She traced the pattern on her towel nervously.

-What kind of promise would you want to keep?

Alice’s eyes darkened. Her voice dropped. A low purr.

-A real one. Not some flowery words. Action. Proof.

Betty’s gaze flicked to the charging phone on the counter. Then back to Zed. A faint tremor in her hands.

-But... the taxi. We should...

-Where is it you girls were going?

Alice scoffed. Her eyes were still locked on Zed.

-Some party. Full of people pretending to be happy. Boring.

Betty shifted.

-It was a rooftop gathering... with fairy lights and music.

She glanced toward the window. The rain still poured. She sighed.

-It sounded magical, Betty said wistfully.

-The party might've survived Alice's cynicism, but not the rain.

Alice laughed.

-The rain did them a favor. Saved everyone from another night of forced small talk and cheap champagne.

Betty’s shoulders slumped. She watched the water streak down the glass.

-All those fairy lights... probably ruined now.

She turned back to Zed. Tentative hope in her eyes.

-But this…

Zed smiled at her.

Alice saw the smile. Her lips twisted. A wry, possessive smirk.

-Careful. She’ll think you’re actually sweet. And then I’ll have to ruin it.

Betty’s blush deepened. A smile spread across her face.

-Some things are worth risking a little ruin for.

Alice stepped even closer. Her shirt nearly touched Zed's chest. A challenge in her eyes.

-Go on then. Risk it. Let's see if your sweet words hold up when the storm's still raging outside and we're all stuck here.

Her voice was taunting. Betty’s breath caught. She took a half-step closer.

-Maybe the storm is the best part, Alice wondered out loud. Maybe it's what makes it real.

Zed looked at Alice. He took the challenge. He tilted his head down and locked his lips with hers.

Alice’s breath hitched sharply. Her body tensed for a split second. Then she let out a low groan.

Her hands came up. Gripped his shoulders. Fingers dug into his shirt. She kissed back with a fierce intensity. Sharp teeth.

Zed pulled back.

-That felt real.

Alice let out a ragged breath. Her lips were swollen. Eyes of shock and hunger.

-Fuck. That was... real.

Betty whimpered softly. Knuckles white on the towel. Trembling.

-Alice... oh god...

Alice didn't wait. Her eyes flashed with triumph. She crushed her mouth to his again. One hand tangled in his hair. The other slid down his back possessively.

-Mmph, see? No lies. No pretty promises.

Betty moaned. Unsteady.

Zed lifted his eyebrows in surprise as Alice pulled him back in. She deepened the kiss. Her tongue swept against his.

Alice broke the kiss with a gasp. Chest heaving. She stared up at him. Wild.

-Fuck—you’re not scared?

Zed smiled.

-Scared? Me?

Alice’s eyes narrowed.

-Most men would be. But you... you’re just smirking.

-I don't mean to smirk. You've certainly caught me off guard since you bursted through my door.

He looked at them.

-You girls aren't on drugs are you? Nothing wrong with that, just...

Alice laughed. She shook her head, fingers still tangled in his shirt.

-Drugs? Please. We’re high on chaos. It’s purer.

Betty bit her lip. A shy, playful glint entered her eyes. She stepped closer. Her voice was soft but clear.

-And maybe, a little bit on the thrill of being somewhere we shouldn’t be.

Zed looked at them. The rain drummed against the roof.

-But you're welcome here.

Alice’s grip on his shirt tightened. Her sharp features softened for a moment. Then the defiance rushed back. She let out a low, disbelieving chuckle.

-Don’t say that. You’ll make her think you’re nice.

Betty’s breath hitched. Her eyes glistened. She took another step.

-But, what if we want you to be?

-And what if I actually am nice?

Alice narrowed her eyes.

-Nice? Nice gets you used.

Her voice dropped to a rough whisper.

-Nice gets you left in the rain.

Betty moved in. Her damp sleeve brushed his arm.

-Or, she started, maybe nice is what finds you shelter when you're lost.

Alice laughed again. She flicked her gaze from Zed’s face to Betty’s.

-A shelter? Or a trap?

She leaned in.

-Nice men don't keep girls like us.

Betty’s lower lip trembled. She looked at Zed. Pleading.

-But what if, what if we want to be kept? Just for tonight?

Zed turned to Betty. He reached out. He held her hand and pulled her closer. Into the circle with Alice.

-We could do that, he whispered.

Betty gasped as his fingers closed around hers. Her other hand came up to rest on his chest. Hesitant. Eager.

Alice watched. Her gaze flickered between their joined hands and Betty’s flushed face.

-Careful. She’ll believe you.

She watched Zed pull Betty closer. Her gaze softened, then hardened. She gritted her teeth.

-Don't. Don't make promises you can't keep.

Betty laced her fingers with his. She pressed against his side.

-But, what if we want to believe you?

-No promises, then.

Alice’s tight expression cracked.

-Good.

She snatched his free hand. Pulled it against her damp shirt. Right over her pounding heart.

-Promises are for fools.

Betty shivered. She pressed closer too. Her cheek brushed his shoulder.

-Just tonight. No promises. Just, something real.

Zed leaned in. He captured Betty's lips.

Alice watched. Her breath hitched in a ragged gasp.

-Fuck...

Her voice was full of want. Betty melted against Zed. A soft, surprised moan escaped her. She kissed him back. Slow. Sweet. Then desperate.

Her hands lifted to his face. Trembling. Pulling him closer.

Alice’s fingers tightened on his arm. Nails digging in. Just enough to sting. She watched Betty surrender. She growled quietly.

-Yeah... like that.

She leaned in. Breath hot against his ear.

-Now show her you mean it.

Betty’s moans softened into whimpers. She arched into him. She broke the kiss. Lips swollen. Eyes dazed.

-Oh...

Zed wrapped his arms around Betty. He lifted her up. Kissed her again. He turned and fell back with her onto the sectional couch.

Betty gasped. Startled. Then let out amoan. Her arms wrapped around his neck.

-Oh—!

She clung to him. Light. Pliant.

Alice followed close behind. Quick. Deliberate. A dark, approving smirk on her lips.

Zed buried his face in Betty's neck.

-No promises.

Betty arched against the cushions. A sharp cry.

-Zed—!

Alice dropped to her knees beside the couch. Her eyes blazed. She watched with a terrifying intensity. Her hand slid up Betty's thigh. Possessive.

-Yeah, show her how real it gets.

Zed pulled back. He checked on Betty. Her eyes were glazed with tears. Overwhelmed.

-I—I can’t... it’s too much... but don’t stop...

He cupped her cheek. She leaned into the palm. Warm.

-You’re... you’re really looking at me.

Her voice was a fragile whisper. Alice watched. Knuckles white on the cushion.

-Don’t fucking break her, she said sharply.

-Never.

Zed kissed Betty again. His hands worked down her back. Alice shifted closer. Her breathing was ragged. She bit her knuckles.

-Faster. Don’t make her wait.

-You, or her?

Zed mumbled it against Betty's skin. Betty fumbled with his zipper. Clumsy. Frantic.

-I can’t, it’s stuck.

Alice growled. She slapped Betty’s fingers away.

-Move.

Her palm pressed against him through the denim. Hard pressure. She made him gasp.

-Guess you’re not just nice after all.

-It doesn't have to be naughty, he murmured.

Alice laughed. Incredulous. Her grip tightened.

Betty shivered. She pressed closer.

-Maybe... maybe it can be... tender and intense?

-It can be anything you want it to, Zed murmured.

Alice yanked the zipper down.

-Yeah? Then show us.

Zed moved. Betty gasped.

-Slow... please... I want to feel every—.

He pressed inside. Gently. Firmly.

-Oh—god—yes—!

Betty’s nails dug into his shoulders. Head back. Arching. Taking him in.

Alice covered her mouth. Stifling a moan.

-Don’t stop...