Taryn walked into the lantern-lit space below deck with deliberate steps, her expression carefully composed. She'd taken a few moments longer in their quarters to collect herself, smoothing out the green silk dress that now clung to her in ways that still felt foreign. Her fingers brushed over the fabric as if to check it was still there, though she knew Lucien's choices didn't leave much room for modesty. Her body still hummed faintly from their encounter, a sensation she shoved aside as she descended the stairs into the shared space.
The sound of laughter and clinking mugs met her as she stepped into the room. Sailors crowded around the narrow tables, swapping stories and dirty jokes over drinks. Lantern light danced off the wooden walls, casting warm, flickering shadows that made the space feel both cramped and oddly inviting.
