Cirrus leaned back on his elbows, exhaling. “Envy isn’t a good color on you, Blume.”
Vivienne caught the way Lewis’ cheeks darkened, his scowl deepening.Gods, I’m in the middle of a territorial standoff.
She groaned, pushing to her feet. “I’m going to rinse off.Alone,” she said, pointing at Cirrus in warning.
Cirrus’ eyes gleamed with mischief, but Lewis was faster to respond. “Don’t worry, Viv. I’ll be here,the whole time, keeping our little Cicicompany.”
Cirrus’ jaw tensed, nostrils flaring. Vivienne chuckled under her breath and gathered bathing supplies before either of them could rope her into their absurd game of tug-of-war.
* * *
Vivienne madeher way toward the stream, arms full of fresh clothes, soap, and a small towel. The thickening twilight gave her enough cover to feel comfortable undressing, even with the camp only thirty yards away. She peeled off her damp, clinging clothes, sighing as the cool water shocked her overheated skin. The relief was immediate, washing away the layers of sweat and grime.Gods, I might be in an intimate relationship with this stream.She took her time washing her tired limbs and tangled hair. She let the current swirl around her, eyes closing as she savored the sensation.
A pointed throat clearing snapped her out of her bliss.I swear if Cirrus?—
Vivienne’s eyes flew open. Not Cirrus. Worse.
Commander Thorne sat in the pool just below hers, staring intently at a boulder downstream.
"Commander!" Her voice pitched higher than intended. Heat flooded her face, which had nothing to do with the climate. He was just as bare as she was.
Thorne remained rigid, keeping his gaze locked on the rock like it held the meaning of life. "You got in before I could say anything, and I couldn't leave... because..." He gestured vaguely at himself.
Vivienne’s wits unraveled like a skein of yarn. His uniform did an impressive job of hiding how built he was. Not that she should be noticing.But how could I not?No. Focus, Vivienne.She hastily crossed her arms over her chest.
"If you thought I’d be quick, you miscalculated," she hissed.
The commander said nothing, his self-discipline visibly strained. The tension between them thickened until the sky split open.
Raindrops pattered against the leaves, hesitant at first, then swelling into a torrential downpour.
"We should head back to camp," Thorne called over the storm.
Vivienne arched a brow, teasing despite her awkwardness. "Trying to make me get out first? Haven’t seen enough yet?"
His shoulders tensed. "No…I— We can get out at the same time. Face away from each other."
She considered arguing just to fluster him but relented. They moved to the edge of the stream, hauling themselves onto the bank. Vivienne turned away, tugging on her damp trousers and pulling her tunic over her head—only to realize the rain had made it completely see-through.Great. That’s just great.
Thorne called out, "Are you decent?"
"In a manner of speaking," she replied, clutching her other clothing and items in front of her chest.
He turned, immediately grasping the problem, his eyes darting to her transparent sleeves. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his naval jacket, returning to his shirtless state. "Here," he said, holding it out. "If you'll allow me."
Vivienne nodded, and he draped it around her shoulders. The jacket was warm, impossibly large on her, smelling of cedar and salt. It was more waterproof than she’d expected, but it didn’t matter when the sky was throwing buckets at them.
They hiked back to camp, the only sounds between them the rain and the occasional rustle as he offered her a hand over fallen branches. The tension still simmered, unspoken but indisputable.
As they stepped into camp, Vivienne felt the weight of dozens of eyes locking onto them. Cirrus and Lewis’ reactions were the most dramatic. Both of their expressions teetered between shock and absolute outrage, eyes bulging, jaws locked. It wasn’t hard to see why. The commander, bare-chested, while she wore his jacket, looked... damning.
Cirrus practically vibrated with fury. “What in the everdark is going on here?”
Commander Thorne remained tranquil. “The lady was caught in the rain and required further accouterment.”
Lewis folded his arms, unconvinced. “Did she require yourshirtas accouterment? Or do your abs require photosynthesis?”
Cirrus scoffed. “Why not offer her yourpantsas well?”
