Chelle ChelleAfter dinner, Nikolai tells me to put some clothes on. “Are we going somewhere?” “Yes. Down to the lake, so dress warmly.” Warmth and something else—excitement, maybe—ricochet through me. I go to his bedroom to put on a pair of jeans and a warm sweater. This shouldn’t be so fun. Playing house with Nikolai. The s*x. Making dinner together. Now a walk by the lake. It feels romantic and sweet. Like he’s my boyfriend, not a guy I sold my body and soul to for the next month. Is he trying to… woo me? No, that’s ridiculous. Why would he? Except when I review everything that’s passed between us until now through that lens, it almost fits. He took me home from the Red Room but refused to have s*x with me. Like a gentleman. He wouldn’t take my car. Also, very gallant. He let me