Chapter 13: Warmth

Nicholas and I had spent most of the evening arguing over the bed, and although I was usually good at winning arguments, I somehow lost this one. But Nicholas was not joking when he informed me that it was colder in Lakspur at night time- with me basically shivering myself into agreement with him. And so, in the end, we lay in the same bed, facing away from each other, but it did nothing to prevent the burning awkwardness from consuming the both of us. It was all hidden in the inescapable heat radiating from his body and the sound of his heavy breathing filling the air. Eventually I became overwhelmed by the suffocating concept that was *him*, so much so that I knew sleep wouldn’t find me anytime soon. But it seemed that sleep would not be finding Nicholas soon either.

“So, what did you think of my family?”

I hesitated a moment, surprised by his question and then decided to answer him truthfully. “They were a bit… strange. But compared to you, not strange enough.”

I heard him shuffle