Page 29 of Rhythm and Rapture

For a moment, nobody moves. They're frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, taking in the sight of me in red lace and not much else. I should grab my robe. Should maintain some professional distance. Should do anything except stand here feeling like every nerve ending has suddenly come alive.

"Wrong room?" I manage, my voice steadier than I feel.

"Right room," Roman says roughly. "Security sent us here. Said you were in prep."

"I am." I gesture vaguely at my state of undress. "Clearly."

Ash makes a sound that might be a whimper. "We can go. We should go. Should we go?"

"You've seen me in less on stream," I point out, surprising myself with the observation.

"That's different," Felix says quietly. "That was performance. This is..."

"Real," I finish.

The word hangs between us, heavy with implication. Because this is real—the three of them standing in my doorway, the way my skin heats under their gaze, the fact that in less than an hour we'll be exploring chemistry that has nothing to do with molecular structures.

"Come in," I hear myself say. "Might as well get comfortable with each other before the cameras start rolling."

They enter slowly, like they're afraid sudden movements might break whatever spell has fallen over the room. Roman's eyes never leave mine, dark with an intensity that makes me shiver. Ash is uncharacteristically quiet, his usual energy replaced by something reverent. Felix watches with that careful attention, cataloging every detail.

"The red is new," Felix observes.

"For June," I explain, then clarify, "The calendar is just one month—June. National Sex Day. Seemed appropriate to do something... different."

"It's perfect," Roman says simply.

The ease between us is still there, despite the unusual circumstances. Despite me standing here in lingerie while they're fully dressed. Despite what's about to happen.

The guys move to the sitting area while Maya and Jin finish their work, but I can feel their eyes on me the entire time.Watching as final adjustments are made to my hair. Observing as my lips are perfected to complement the mask.

"The sexual tension in here could be bottled and sold," Maya murmurs as she applies the finishing touches.

"That would require isolating the specific pheromones," I reply automatically, then catch myself. "Sorry. I default to science when I'm nervous."

"Don't apologize," Roman says from across the room. "It's part of who you are."

When they're finished, I barely recognize myself in the mirror. My hair falls in perfect waves, my skin looks flawless, and my lips are the exact shade of confidence I need.

"Thank you," I tell them, meaning it. "This is perfect."

They smile and begin to make their way out. "Just head behind the curtain while the boys finish up and get ready," Maya says pointedly. I give her a grateful smile and move behind the curtain, hyperaware of the guys just on the other side.

I slip into the fishnet stockings first, smoothing them up my legs with careful precision. The garters come next—black satin with small silver buckles that complement the rhinestones on the mask. The lab coat goes on over my black lace bra and matching underwear, the contrast between professional and provocative exactly what The Hidden Chemist represents.

"This is torture," I hear Ash mutter from the other side of the curtain.

"This is anticipation," I correct, falling into my teaching voice. "The buildup of dopamine in the?—"

"Sabina," Roman interrupts gently. "You don't have to be The Hidden Chemist yet. You can just be you."

The words hit something deep. "I don't know how to do this without the persona."

"Then don't," Felix says. "Let them blend. You're not just one or the other—you're both. The brilliant professor and the womanwho spent three hours sending us increasingly flirty messages in traffic."

"TA," I correct. "Chemist by night."

"How could I forget," Ash grins, I can hear it in his voice. "Remember when you started that game of 'would you rather' with chemical compounds?"

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