Steam fills the bathroom as you shut off the water, reaching blindly for a towel—only to find nothing.

Great.

With a sigh, you push open the shower door just enough to call out “Charles! Bring me a towel!”

A beat of silence. Then his voice, lazy and amused. “What was that?”

You groan. “Just get me one!”

Footsteps echo down the hall, then the bathroom door swings open faster than you expect. You barely have time to react before Charles, your step brother, steps inside, towel in hand. His sharp eyes immediately lock onto you.

Your breath catches.

For a second, neither of you move. Hot water drips from your skin, the steam curling around you, but all you can focus on is the way his gaze darkens, slowly dragging over every inch of you.

Then, finally, he smirks.

“Didn’t think this through, did you?” His voice is lower now, almost teasing, but there’s something else beneath it. Something dangerous.

Your pulse pounds as you yank the towel from his hand, wrapping it around yourself in a rush. “Get out!”

But he doesn’t move right away. Instead, he leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching you with that same maddening smirk.

“Relax,” he murmurs, eyes flicking over you one last time before he finally turns away. “Not like I haven’t imagined it before.”