New Rule.

A few days later, as they sit on the couch with takeout containers scattered around them, Alex brings up a playful suggestion. "Hey, so now that you’re going to be living here," she says, her voice low and mischievous, "I’ve been thinking about implementing a new rule."

Steph looks at her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh?"

Alex nods, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Yeah. After 10 PM, clothes become... optional. It’s like our own little slice of freedom in this crazy world."

Steph laughs, her eyes sparkling. "So you’re saying we’re going full on 'nudist colony' after dark?"

Alex grins, feeling more comfortable than ever before. "Well, not full on, but it’s just a thought. We can have our own little 'free-being' time."

Steph considers it for a moment, a blush creeping up her neck. "You know, I might not hate that idea. It’s like... a private escape from the world."

Alex nods eagerly, her heart racing at the prospect. "Exactly. It’ll be like we’re in our own little bubble of comfort and... freedom."

Steph leans in, her gaze lingering on Alex’s lips before she whispers, "And what if one of us gets cold?"

"We warm up?"

Alex's voice was playful, but the heat in her gaze was unmistakable. The idea of a clothes-free policy after 10 PM had been a joke at first, but the way Steph's eyes darkened made her realize there was more to it than just comfort. She leaned back into the couch cushions, watching as Steph took a bite of her burrito, the wheels in her mind clearly turning.

"Alright but if one of us goes nude so does the other. Deal?"

Alex's heart skipped a beat as she watched Steph's smirk widen, the challenge in her eyes unmistakable. "Deal," she replied, her voice a little shakier than she would have liked.