Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 33

Ria's POV:

Steam billowed around me as I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel tightly around my body and another around my hair. The apartment was quiet, eerily so, now that Stacy had left for Ivy's hockey game hours ago. I had expected to have the place to myself until it was time to head to the party—if I actually worked up the nerve to actually go. I was still debating that as I opened my door to step into the living room.

Then, a knock on the door stopped me in my tracks.

My first thought was Stacy had forgotten something, but that was unlikely. She had the memory of an elephant when it came to her game-day rituals. Still, who else would it be?

Curious but cautious, I peered out of my room and froze when I saw Nikolai leaning casually against the wall near the entrance, looking as tall, confident, and infuriatingly handsome as ever. He was dressed in jeans, a black sweatshirt, and his usual black jacket, somehow managing to make casual look like it had been designed specifically for him.

His gaze caught mine instantly, and a slow, mischievous grin spread across his face as his eyes shamelessly roamed over my towel-clad body.

"Nice outfit," he commented, his voice laced with amusement. "Especially the turban." His eyes landed on the towel wrapped around my head, and I could practically see the wheels turning in his mind as he resisted the urge to say something even more inappropriate.

What is he even doing here?

My cheeks flushed with heat. "Give me a second. I'll just put on some clothes," I muttered, turning to retreat back into my room.

"Don't bother," he quipped, leaning more comfortably against the doorframe.

I shot him a pointed look over my shoulder. "What are you even doing here, Nikolai? I figured I'd drive to the party myself and meet you there."

He held up a large paper bag with a luxurious brand name I didn't recognize. "I brought you your outfit."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You brought me clothes?"

He strolled into the apartment as if he owned the place, setting the bag down on the coffee table before shrugging off his jacket and plopping onto the couch. "I figured you'd dress like a nun again, so I took matters into my own hands. The whole point of this party is to get you out of your comfort zone and get over your fears, after all."

I stared at him, speechless. Oddly, his comment about dressing like a nun didn't sting as much as it might have a few weeks ago. Maybe because there was something genuinely supportive in his tone, despite the usual cocky edge.

His gaze followed mine to the bed that was visible through my open bedroom door, where I had laid out my planned outfit: baggy jeans that were a size or two too big—like always, paired with a simple T-shirt that was neither tight nor loose, a small compromise with my usual oversized wardrobe.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow. "Exactly my point."

Before I could protest, he reached into the bag and pulled out a pair of black denim jeans that looked exactly my size. I immediately noticed that they would hug my hips and ass perfectly, leaving no room for my usual desire to hide beneath oversized clothes.

He then pulled out a burgundy top that made my eyes widen at the neckline. It had a corset-like form that would hug my small waist and full cleavage, yet somehow managed to look both classy and chic. The thought of wearing it made my pulse quicken with nerves.

"And to keep you warm," Nikolai continued, pulling out a big leather jacket from the bag. "You can cover up if you're feeling too exposed. And here's a belt to make sure the pants don't fall off—also to accentuate your waist."