After Rachel concluded her graceful stretching routine and I finished staring at her like some kind of perverted beast, I drained the last of my tea in an attempt to cool down my increasingly problematic physical responses. The warm liquid did little to settle the uncomfortable heat that had been building in my chest as I watched her move through her yoga poses with fluid movements.

This definitely wasn't good. The guilt gnawed at me with sharp teeth—here I was, barely nine hours after sharing an intimate night with Cindy, and already finding myself distracted by Rachel's athletic form and the way morning sunlight highlighted the curves of her body. What kind of person did that make me? The answer wasn't particularly flattering, and the self-recrimination sat heavy in my stomach alongside the herbal tea.

Rachel finished her routine with a final stretch that arched her back in a way that showcased the toned muscles running along her spine. She held the pose for several seconds before relaxing with a soft exhale, then rolled up her yoga mat. A light sheen of perspiration glowed on her skin, and her breathing carried the satisfied rhythm of someone who'd just given their body exactly the kind of attention it needed.

She took the seat across from me at the dining table, settling into the chair with a small sigh that spoke of pleasant exertion rather than exhaustion. The exercise had clearly energized rather than depleted her—there was a brightness in her green eyes and a relaxed set to her shoulders that spoke to the mental benefits of her physical routine.

"Let me get some of that tea," she said, reaching for the pot I'd prepared. "It smells wonderful."

She poured herself a generous cup, testing the temperature with a careful sip before drinking more deeply. The tea had cooled considerably during her exercise routine, but she didn't seem to mind the lukewarm temperature. If anything, the cooler liquid probably felt refreshing after her workout.

"That really is excellent," she said, settling back in her chair with obvious satisfaction. "The blend has improved significantly since you first started experimenting with the local plants."

"I learned from the best," I replied with a smile. "Your knowledge of safe herbs and preparation techniques made all the difference."

Rachel returned the smile.

"Are you planning to go alone to the Municipal Office?" She asked then.

"I was planning to go alone, but experience suggests that's unlikely to happen," I said with resignation that was only partially feigned. While I appreciated having backup on dangerous missions, simple administrative tasks like delivering equipment to Mark shouldn't require an entire expedition team.

"Exactly, since I'm coming with you."

The voice came from above, and I turned around to see Sydney launching herself from the first-floor landing without bothering to use the stairs. She landed in a crouch near the kitchen entrance, her enhanced reflexes and physical capabilities making the fifteen-foot drop look effortless. Her jogging outfit—fitted athletic shorts and a moisture-wicking top—emphasized the lean muscle definition that months of enhanced training had given her.

"You could take the stairs like a normal person, Sydney," Rachel sighed, though her tone carried more fond exasperation than genuine annoyance.

"No need for stairs when you've got abilities like mine, Rachel," Sydney grinned, brushing off imaginary dust from her outfit with theatrical flair. "With my current enhancement level, I could probably jump from the Eiffel Tower and walk away unscathed."

"Don't get overconfident," I warned, though I had to admit her physical capabilities had grown impressive even by enhanced human standards. Well, she was like me and Rachel now. "Abilities aren't a substitute for common sense and proper caution."

Sydney's grin turned mischievous as she approached my chair, coiling her arms around my neck from behind. Her breath was warm against my ear as she leaned down to whisper conspiratorially.

"So tell me, Ryan," she said, her voice pitched low enough that only I could hear clearly, "your roommate was quite lively last night, wasn't she?"

I stiffened involuntarily, my shoulders tensing as her words registered. "You heard that?"

The question came out sharper than I'd intended that made Rachel look up from her tea with curiously.

"Don't worry," Sydney continued in that same whisper, apparently enjoying my discomfort. "I've got enhanced hearing now, remember? Daisy was sleeping like a log, but I never imagined Cindy could be quite so... vocal."

Heat flooded my face at her observation, and I had to resist the urge to physically remove her arms from around my neck. "Don't repeat that to anyone, especially not to her."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of embarrassing sweet Cindy," Sydney said with mock innocence. "But I am curious—how was it? Did you enjoy yourself? Because from what I overheard, it sounded like you were having considerably more fun than during any of our previous encounters. Should I be jealous?"

Her tone carried playful sulking, but there was genuine curiosity underneath the teasing. She rested her chin on my shoulder, apparently content to make this already uncomfortable conversation even more awkward by maintaining physical contact throughout.

"I'm keeping those details to myself," I replied.

"I'm sure you enjoyed it thoroughly," she continued, undeterred by my attempted deflection. "I heard your voice too, after all, and you certainly seemed to be having more fun than usual. Now I'm definitely jealous."

"Alright, enough," I said, embarrassment making my voice rougher than necessary. "Time for you to go do your morning run."

Rachel was doing her best to appear absorbed in her tea, but I could see the slight flush in her cheeks that suggested she was understanding more of this conversation than she was comfortable with. Her diplomatic silence was probably the only thing preventing this situation from becoming even more mortifying.

"Yes, yes," Sydney said with resignation, finally releasing me from her embrace and taking a step back. "But don't you dare leave without me, Ryan. Even if you take the car, I'll catch up with my super speed enhancement—don't forget about that!"

She turned toward the door with characteristic energy, then paused to add over her shoulder, "And next time, maybe warn a girl before you decide to be quite so... enthusiastic. Some of us are trying to sleep."

With that parting shot, she vanished in a blur of motion and crackling blue energy, leaving only a slight displacement of air and the faint scent of ozone to mark her passage.

"She's certainly full of energy in the mornings," Rachel said chuckling in amusement.

"Full of energy and completely shameless," I added, running a hand through my hair.

"Without those qualities, she wouldn't be Sydney," Rachel smiled, standing up from the table with obvious intent to begin her own morning routine. "I should go wash up and get ready for the day."

She paused at the kitchen entrance, looking back at me with an expression that held more understanding than judgment. "For what it's worth, Ryan, we're all adults here. What happens between consenting people isn't really anyone else's business, regardless of what certain enhanced individuals might overhear."

"Right, but I'd rather not bring such a big revelation yet to our group," I said.

Rachel nodded with a smile and disappeared toward the stairs, leaving me alone with my cooling tea.

I remained at the table for several more minutes, enjoying what I suspected would be the last quiet moments of the morning. The house was beginning to stir with the sounds of people waking up.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs drew my attention, and I looked up to see Cindy descending from the second floor. When she spotted me at the dining table, her reaction was similar to Rachel's earlier surprise—wide eyes and a moment of confusion at finding me home at this unusual hour.

But where Rachel had shown simple surprise, Cindy's response was more complex. Her cheeks immediately flushed a deep pink, and she averted her gaze with obvious embarrassment as memories of the previous night clearly flooded back to her. The way she held herself—shoulders slightly hunched, movements more careful than usual—suggested she was feeling just as self-conscious about our intimate encounter as I was.

"Good morning," I said first.

"G… good morning, Ryan," she replied, her voice soft and slightly breathless. "You didn't leave for your morning expedition today?"

"No, I decided to take Rachel's advice about rest and recovery. I'll be heading to the Municipal Office later to deliver those electrical components we retrieved, but there's no rush for that particular task."

"I see..." She said, hovering uncertainly at the bottom of the stairs as if unsure whether to approach further or retreat back to the privacy of her room.

That's when I noticed it—the sapphire pendant I'd given her was clearly visible at her throat, the deep blue stone catching the morning light and creating small sparkles of color against her pale skin. The necklace looked perfect on her, exactly as I'd imagined when I first found it during my last scavenging run. The way the silver chain lay against her collarbones, the way the pendant drew attention to the graceful line of her neck—it was as if the jewelry had been made specifically for her.

"You're wearing it," I said, unable to keep the pleased surprise out of my voice.

"Oh... yes," she replied, her flush deepening as one hand moved instinctively to touch the pendant. "I really do like it, so I thought... I mean, it seemed like..."

Her words trailed off into embarrassed silence, but the gesture spoke volumes about how much the gift had meant to her. She really seemed to like it which I was glad for.

"It looks perfect on you," I said honestly. "I'm glad you like it."

The simple compliment seemed to overwhelm her already fragile composure. She touched the pendant again, as if to reassure herself that it was really there, then turned quickly away.

"I... I should check on the garden," she said in a rush, practically fleeing toward the back door without another word.

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