𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑

𝟎𝟎𝟖

"Hands off her!"

The command hit Xavier like a physical blow. He whipped his head around, his drunken bravado instantly dissolving into fear. Standing there, his face a thundercloud, was the Commander.

Xavier, clearly recognizing he was outmatched, mumbled a half-hearted apology and slunk away, disappearing into the crowd.

Silence descended, thick and heavy. The Commander's gaze landed on me, his face unreadable. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum solo against the sudden quiet.

"You okay?" he finally spoke, his voice low and gruff.

"Y-yes," I stammered, surprised at how shaky my voice sounded.

He scanned my face, his gaze lingering for a moment on the fresh red mark marring my neck. His jaw clenched, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. "That fucker," he muttered under his breath.

Then, he did something unexpected. His hand reached out, a single fingertip brushing against the angry red mark on my neck. It was a fleeting touch, barely a whisper, but it sent a jolt through me.

I closed my eyes, the sensation sending shivers down my spine. He leaned closer, his voice barely a husky whisper in my ear. "I didn't think of you as a tattoo enthusiast," he said, his words sending a spark of heat through me.

His breath tickled my earlobe, and I felt the outline of a tattoo peeking out from beneath the emerald green fabric of the dress. He was right - I did have a tattoo, a rebellion against my parents I'd gotten at sixteen, a symbol of freedom and individuality.

My breath hitched as his finger grazed the exposed edge of the tattoo. "I love tattoos," I managed to speak, my voice barely above a whisper, "do you have any?" I was surprised by my own boldness.

He smirked, his dark eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. "Do you want to see them?" he teased, his voice a husky rumble.

The unexpectedness of his question left me speechless. Before I could even formulate a response, a loud voice cut through the charged atmosphere.

"Evelyn?" Hayley called out, her voice echoing through the hall.

The Commander and I both flinched, our intimate bubble dissolving as quickly as it had formed. He stepped back, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features.

Hayley rounded the corner, a smile plastered on her face. Relief washed over me as she spotted us. "Here you are!" she exclaimed, her eyes flitting between us. "Commander," she greeted politely, then turned to me. "We're heading back to the dorm, you coming?"

I hesitated, glancing back at the Commander. He was staring at Hayley, a frown marring his handsome features. "Yeah," I finally replied, sending him one last fleeting glance before turning towards Hayley. "Let's go."

As we walked away, Hayley leaned in conspiratorially. "Connor was looking for you," she whispered, a mischievous glint in her eyes but my cheeks flushed, and I couldn't help but steal another glance back towards the Commander but he was gone, vanished into the throng of people.

My eyes fluttered open, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to me. I kicked off my emerald green dress, a relieved sigh escaping my lips. Slipping into a well-worn pair of pajamas, I burrowed under the covers, the events of the night replaying in my mind. The feast, the unexpected mission selection, and most of all, the encounter with the Commander. His touch, his words – they lingered on my skin, sparking a delicious confusion within me.

Just as I drifted off to sleep, a rapping on my door jolted me awake. I sat up, heart pounding against my ribs. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was well past midnight. Who could be visiting at this ungodly hour?

Cautiously, I crept towards the door, peering through the small peephole. My breath hitched. It was Connor, his face etched with a nervousness that mirrored my own.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, my voice barely a raspy croak. "At the girls' dorm? It's past curfew!"

He let out a nervous chuckle, the sound oddly disarming. "Look, Evelyn," he began, scratching the back of his neck. "I know this is crazy, but I… I needed to see you."

Taking a deep breath, I made a decision. "Alright, Connor," I whispered, pushing the door open a little wider. "Come in, but be quiet".

He flashed me a grateful smile, relief washing over his features. Slipping through the doorway, he cast a nervous glance around the dimly lit room before closing the door softly behind him.