In the Wake of Stars

Chapter 21: A Slip of the Towel

After returning to the ship, Cal barely took a moment to bask in his asteroid haul before declaring he was off to the showers, muttering about the space dust caked onto his skin. Nora watched him leave, rolling her eyes at his predictable swagger, but a small part of her was grateful he was finally washing off the grime. The man could look ruggedly handsome, sure, but there were limits to how much dust anyone should carry around.

It wasn’t long before her comms buzzed.

“Hey, Nora?” Cal’s voice came through, his tone a mix of casualness and amusement. “Hate to say it, but I forgot a towel. Would you mind bringing one from the quarters?”

She sighed. Of course, he’d forget a towel. “Fine. Try not to drown in there while you wait,” she grumbled, reluctantly heading to the storage room to grab a fresh towel.

By the time she reached the washroom, the hum of the water had stopped, but she figured he’d still be behind the curtain or off in one of the private stalls. She cracked the door open, expecting him to be at least semi-decent and about to reach for the towel.

Instead, she froze.

Cal was standing in the open, completely bare, droplets of water catching the low light and tracing down the lines of his chest and shoulders. His hair, dark and wet, clung to his face, framing the sharp lines of his jaw, and his stance was so relaxed it was as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Every muscle was exposed, perfectly toned and unapologetic. Nora’s heart thudded in her chest, panic clashing with an intense fluster that crept up her neck, turning her face red.

“Oh—!” she gasped, gripping the door handle tightly as she tried to avert her gaze. “I didn’t— You could’ve warned me!”

A smirk spread across his face, unbothered by his own lack of clothing and clearly amused by her discomfort. “What’s wrong, Nora? Never seen a man before?” he teased, making no move to cover himself as he slowly closed the space between them.

She turned her head, holding the towel up like a shield between them. “Here’s your towel. Take it.”

But instead of taking it, he let his fingers brush against hers as he reached out, sending a jolt through her already rattled nerves. She tried to step back, but the doorframe stopped her.

“Didn’t mean to startle you,” he murmured, his voice low and almost playful. “Though you look cute when you’re all flustered.”

She scowled, trying to keep her composure, though her voice wavered. “I’m not flustered.”

He leaned closer, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Really? Because that blush says otherwise.”

Nora shot him a glare, her mind racing as she tried to steady herself, but his proximity was maddening, his gaze holding her in place. She could feel the warmth radiating off him, smell the faint hint of soap, and it was entirely too much.

“Can you just—take the towel already?” she managed, pressing it against his chest, hoping he’d back off.

Instead, he chuckled, fingers lightly brushing over her hand. “Thanks. But maybe you should stick around, you know… in case I need any more rescuing.”

“Don’t push your luck,” she muttered, finally managing to slip her hand free. She pivoted quickly, marching out with as much dignity as she could muster.

As the door closed behind her, she could still hear his laughter, low and undeniably pleased with himself.