Chapter 135

Scarlett

I stayed there for a few long seconds, lying on top of Viktor with his arms wrapped tightly around me. His body was waren from the fever, his heartbeat steady and strong against my chest. It felt… safe. Too safe. Too good.

Then he slowly loosened his hold.

I lifted my head and met his eyes. We stared at each other in silence, the air between us thick with everything we weren’t saying. His gaze was softer without his glasses, more open, and it made my stomach flutter in a way I didn’t want to examine too closely.

“I… I should finally leave,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He didn’t stop me. I pushed myself up carefully, smoothing down my clothes, suddenly feeling awkward and exposed. Viktor sat upright on the bed, watching me quietly as I moved toward the door.

I stepped out of his apartment without looking back, but the moment I closed my own door behind me, I couldn’t stop thinking about it – the way his arms had felt around me, the warmth of his chest, and the intensity in his eyes when we stared at each other. My cheeks burned. What the hell was wrong with me?