365 Days

Unveiling

"There," Vladimir uttered as he was pulling her arms away from her bosom. The moment her arms were pulled all the way to her head with one hand, pinning her arms in the air, she saw his eyes twinkle. She could see admiration in his eyes.

Claire’s breath hitched as Vladimir’s hands moved gently but with unmistakable authority. Her arms remained on top of her head even though she could feel his grip was slowly loosening, as if her body were already betraying her, allowing him to take the control she had tried to keep.

Her heart raced. The vulnerability she felt was both terrifying and exhilarating, and the air between them was thick with desire. Vladimir’s eyes never left hers as he slowly moved closer. She could feel the warmth of his body pressing against hers, the contrast of his towel against her bare skin.

"You look beautiful like this," Vladimir’s voice was a whisper, a soft rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.

Claire swallowed hard, trying to gather her thoughts, but her mind was fogged with the closeness of his body and the heat of the moment. She was unsure of what to do next—every instinct screamed at her to pull away, yet she found herself rooted in place, caught in his gaze.

"I don’t—" she started, but the words died on her lips as Vladimir placed a finger gently over her mouth, silencing her.

"No need to say anything," he murmured, his eyes never leaving hers as his hand caressed the side of her face. "I want this. Do you want this too?"

Claire closed her eyes, her breath shaky as she nodded, her body betraying her resistance. Every inch of her skin felt like it was on fire, her pulse quickening under his touch.

Vladimir gently cupped her face, tilting her head to kiss her with a softness that made her knees weak. The kiss deepened slowly, and Claire’s hands found their way to his chest, her fingers brushing the towel that barely covered him. It felt like the world had melted away, leaving just the two of them, the tension between them palpable.

As he pulled away, he whispered, "We don’t have to rush, Claire. Not unless you want to."

Claire opened her eyes, meeting his gaze again, filled with warmth and something more—a promise. She felt like she was floating, caught between uncertainty and desire, but there was a part of her that knew this was right. This was them.

"I want to be with you," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, but it was enough. The truth was out there, and it was all she needed.

Vladimir smiled, a mix of tenderness and desire in his eyes. He pulled her closer, his hand on the small of her back, his lips grazing her neck. The feeling of his skin against hers, the intimacy of the moment, made Claire forget about the world outside the room.

Her fingers found their way to the edge of his towel, hesitant but eager.

Vladimir let out a low chuckle, the sound both comforting and arousing.

"You sure about this?" he asked, his voice a gentle tease.

Claire took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Yes," she whispered, her voice stronger now, more certain. "I’m sure."

With that, Vladimir slowly removed the towel, his gaze never leaving hers, and for the first time, Claire felt completely exposed—yet safe in his arms, ready to surrender to the night, to him.

The tension between them was unbearable, and Claire could hardly focus on anything except the steady beat of her heart.

Every moment felt like it was suspended in time, as if the world outside the room had ceased to exist. Her eyes never left Vladimir’s as he carefully, deliberately removed the towel, and the vulnerability that surged through her wasn’t just about her body—it was about everything she was feeling at that moment.

The trust she had for him, the emotions she didn’t fully understand but knew were deep and raw, the craving to just give in and embrace everything he was offering.

As the towel fell to the floor, Claire’s breath hitched once more, her body trembling. She didn’t know how to react, didn’t know whether to pull away or move closer. But Vladimir was there, his presence as commanding as it was comforting, his hands gentle on her waist as he slowly backed her up toward the bed.

“Are you scared?” he asked, his voice a soft whisper as his forehead rested against hers.

Claire bit her lip, her hands slowly making their way to his chest, her fingers trembling. “Terrified,” she admitted, but the admission didn’t feel as frightening as she thought it might.

Instead, it felt like the first honest thing she had said to him all night. She didn’t have to hide anything—not from him.

Vladimir gave her a reassuring smile, as if to calm her nerves, and for a moment, Claire forgot to breathe. His eyes softened, his hands gently sliding to her back, pulling her closer into his embrace.

“You don’t have to be afraid, Claire. I’m not going to push you to do anything you’re not ready for,” he said, his words tender, but there was a firm certainty in his tone that made her believe him.

His lips found hers again, soft and slow at first, but growing deeper with each passing second. Claire melted into the kiss, her hands exploring the muscles of his chest, every inch of him igniting a fire inside her she hadn’t known she could feel.

And then, as if the world had come crashing back down around them, Claire pulled away slightly, her breath uneven, her heart racing. She looked up at him, her gaze searching, unsure but certain all at once.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispered, her voice trembling, not from fear, but from the overwhelming emotions coursing through her.

Vladimir cupped her face, lifting her chin, so their eyes met once more. “I know. But that’s okay,” he said, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “We don’t have to do anything tonight. Just… be with me.”

His words were simple, yet they held so much weight. Claire nodded, feeling the tightness in her chest slowly ease. She hadn’t expected this level of gentleness from him, but there it was, and it made her want to stay at this moment, in his arms, forever.

With one last lingering kiss, Vladimir guided her to the bed, settling beside her, his arm around her waist as they lay there together in the quiet of the room.

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable; in fact, it was comforting. The only sound was their breathing, steady and calm, as if their hearts were beating in unison.

Claire closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his body against hers, a sense of peace washing over her. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but for now, this was enough.