James's plans

James's hand rested firmly on Ryker's shoulder, guiding him back toward the centre of the gym.

The tension that had just built up between them seemed to dissolve on the surface.

Ryker plastered his usual cocky grin on his face, but James wasn't fooled.

He could still see the anger simmering beneath—the subtle twitch of Ryker's jaw, the tightness in his shoulders.

'Good,' James thought. 'Let it grow.' 

"Come on," James said. "Show me that strength of yours. I want to see what you've been working on."

Ryker nodded, his grin stretching wider. "You'll be impressed, Captain. I've been pushing harder than ever."

The two girls, still lingering in the background, followed quietly. The blonde—Mira—whispered to the ebony girl, Cass.

"That was intense," Mira murmured, her eyes flicking toward Ryker's back. "He almost lost it in front of the Captain."