***
“I think I’d like to go for a swim,” Nero said, turning his back to Adaria once again.
“Are you out of your mind? The water must be freezing,” she said, but Nero merely shrugged.
“I’ve dealt with worse,” he said before pulling off his shirt in one fluid movement. Adaria felt the heat rise to her cheek as she watched the muscles in his back rippling. Divested of his clothes, it was easier to see how lean and muscular he really was. Nero was by no means bulky, but his arms looked like they could punch through a solid wall easily. His shoulders were broad and arced, and his waist was extremely narrow. Adaria couldn’t see the front, but she could almost imagine the muscles on his stomach as well. The thought itself made her hide her face in embarrassment.
Nero meanwhile, who could f
