The mission had dragged on longer than either of you expected, leaving little room for rest and even less for solitude. Now, at last, you and Simon were sharing the cramped shelter of a two-person tent, the night air quiet except for the distant hum of the wind.

You lie on your back, staring up at the faint outline of the canvas above. Exhaustion should have pulled you under by now, but instead, a restless heat coiled low in your stomach, making it impossible to settle.

You shifted slightly, trying to will the feeling away. A glance to your right showed Simon lying still, his breathing slow and even beneath the mask—out cold, or close enough to it.

The heat in your stomach began to flow deeper, pooling into your core. Your hands began to make their way down there slowly.