Now where were we?

Alex stood shirtless, his chiseled frame gleaming under a thin sheen of sweat, his smirk still plastered across his face as he watched Inolda.

She admitted, reluctantly, with a mumble, that he looked good, her dry tone barely masking the flicker of appreciation in her hazel eyes.

Now it was her turn, and the tension between them crackled like a storm brewing over the elven wilds.

"Your turn to reciprocate," Alex said, his voice smooth as riverstone, his grin widening as he crossed his arms, daring her to back down.

The challenge hung there, sharp and electric, and Inolda's lips twitched, her pink curls bouncing as she tilted her head.

"Fine," she muttered, her tone dry but resolute, like she'd already calculated the odds and decided to play.

She grabbed the hem of her faded tunic and tugged it over her head in one swift motion, revealing a snug sports bra beneath.