Chapter 47

                                    

                                          
Ria's POV:
Did he just...?
"Victoria, take off your clothes." he repeats, taking off his shirt now.
Yes, he did.
Then I just stood there, completely flabbergasted. My brain seemed to short-circuit as I watched him strip off his wet clothes, each layer hitting the floor with a heavy, soggy thud. His movements were quick and efficient, as if he wasn't even thinking about it. But how could I not think about it? I mean, he was just taking off his clothes right in front of me, and now he was telling me to do the same?
He looked over his shoulder, probably noticing my lack of movement. "Victoria, you need to get out of those clothes," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "You'll risk getting hypothermia if you stay in them."
I blinked, trying to process everything. "But... we're just... taking off our clothes?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly trying to be patient. "Yes, and then we're going to get under the covers and warm up. We have to share body heat." His eyes softened as he saw the hesitation and confusion in mine. "It's just to keep warm. Nothing else, I promise."
That made sense. Logically, it made perfect sense. But my cheeks were still burning, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me. This was Nikolai, I knew he wouldn't hurt me. He wasn't Vlad-and now he was casually stripping down in front of me and asking me to do the same.
He was down to just his boxers now, his breath visible in the cold air. The room was freezing, the little warmth from the fireplace not reaching this far yet. My body trembled, not just from the cold but from the nerves zipping through me.
"Victoria," he said softly, stepping closer, "I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable. But we're soaked, and it's freezing. We need to do this if we're going to stay warm."
His tone was sincere, his expression earnest. He wasn't teasing or trying to make this weird. He was just being practical, and I knew he was right. So I took a deep breath, my fingers fumbling with the zipper of my coat. The cold fabric clung to my skin as I peeled it off, and I shivered even more as the freezing air hit me.
Nik turned away, giving me a bit of privacy as I stripped down, which I appreciated. My sweater was next, followed by my sweatpants, and then I hesitated when I was down to just my underwear. I'll just stay in my bra and panties, I'm sure he'll understand. The cold was biting, and my skin was covered in goosebumps. I had never felt more vulnerable in my life, but I reminded myself this wasn't about anything more than survival.
I cleared my throat, feeling exposed in more ways than one. "Okay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm ready."
Nik turned back, his expression still serious, but there was a gentleness in his eyes that made me feel a bit more at ease. "Let's get under the covers," he said, nodding toward the bed.
We both slid into the bed, and I tried to keep as much distance as possible between us, though the bed was so small that it was nearly impossible. The sheets were icy against my skin, and I curled up instinctively, trying to warm up.
Nik, seeing my discomfort, moved closer, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me against his chest. "This will help," he murmured, his breath warm against my neck.
I stiffened at first, every nerve in my body on high alert, but then the warmth started to seep in, and I could feel my body relax against his. His skin was cold too, but not as cold as mine, and I slowly began to thaw out. I rested my head against his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing.