His statement is practically treason, and my eyes flick back up. Dark hair curls across his wide chest, narrowing to a slender line that cuts down through his stacked abs to disappear under the waistband of his underwear. Something warms in my chest, threatening to rise up to my cheeks.
The zipper of his pants hisses. He bends, his dark hair falling over his forehead as he pulls his legs out and tosses the pants into the fire.
“What are they doing?” Cameron whispers.
I shrug.
Nollix turns to Jeriko expectantly. Something silent is exchanged in their narrowed gazes.
Exhaling sharply, Jeriko stands. “Fine, but I’m keeping the shoes.” She rolls her eyes before contorting her arms behind her to undo the zipper of her dress.
“They were all know-it-alls.” Her breasts are covered by the barest of bras, her undergarments exposed as she steps out of the gown. Extending one arm, she dangles the material over the fire, watching as it catches the flames before dropping it. The fire burns near red, and I turn away to try and stop thinking about Casimir and how he’d bled. She turns to look at Nollix again. “Happy? Now I’m cold as fuck.”
“Cameron?” Carver arches a brow.
She squirms on the log next to me, wrapping her hands around her legs. “I’m not getting naked with you. You’re strangers.”
“It’s just a game. We won’t touch you.” Carver’s eyes trail hungrily down her body. “Unless you ask.”
“No thanks.”
“Vi?” Nollix’s deep voice pulls my attention.
A cold wind dances between us. I breathe it in and stand, slipping my arms out of the dress and allowing it to fall to my ankles. The chilled night air nips at my skin, and goosebumps form along my torso.
I don’t know what this game is that we are playing but it feels... right.
When I crumple the dress between my fingers, staring into the fire, I imagine my father’s face within the material crushing it tightly together. “No one is ever good enough for them,” I whisper. I’ve never been good enough for them. Grinding my teeth together, I chuck the dress into the pit. The blush-colored silk takes to flames quickly; our campfire eats away at pieces of my old life.
My shoulders relax as I lower back down to my log, the knot in my chest slowly dissolving, and a sense of calm pushes into me at the simple sight of it. I let my eyes unfocus on the embers that spark and fall to the ground.
Carver claps slowly. “Now don’t we all feel a little better?” His smile widens when Jeriko gives him an obscene gesture.
I’m in nothing more than thin, lacy underwear and a bra that’s pretty well only a sticker for my nipples. Hairs rise along my arms, the sensation of being watched the only thing that could pull me from staring at the dress burning.
Nollix regards me under thick lashes. Those dark eyes look like midnight as they swallow up my image. My cheeks burn, but I hold his stare. He breaks first, and it feels like I’ve finally won something. Nollix exposes the wide planes of his back, and the inky lines of the Wild Hunt glimmer along his shoulder and down his ribs. My heartbeat makes itself known as I watch him quietly from a few feet away. My hands wrap around my knees, pulling them closer to my chest as I stare intently at the beautiful man.
I’ve spent three years watching Nollix undress before bed and wishing he were kinder than he really is.
“Here.” Carver holds out crumpled clothes to Cameron. “You can change behind a tree if you want.” Another half a smirk.
Her eyes go wide, and she turns to me expectantly.
Right. She’s like my leashed dog, and I need to go take her for a walk. Awesome.
“Modesty feels a little bit unnecessary since we literally watched each other bathe earlier but sure.” I sigh.
“Now that’s a nice picture,” Carver agrees.
There’s an old bag stuffed with the bare essentials tucked next to the log. Gathering my own clothes, I wave her off toward the woods. Grass pokes and bends underfoot. When we reach the tree line, our images have no doubt been shrouded in shadows, though I’m sure if someone looks over, they’ll see us just fine.
The minutes feel like hours as I awkwardly wait for Cameron before tracking back to my seat fully dressed. I slump low, knees bending as I look into the sizzling flames. The light of it reflects against my skin, giving my complexion a darker sun-kissed glow. Our borrowed clothes are withered away to ashes.
When I finally sit down, Cameron is right there at my side.
“You should get some sleep,” she says as she stares into the heart of the fire. Her green eyes look more like liquid gold as she looks into the flames, and for an instant, I see the powerful magic within them.
“I don’t sleep much.”
