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So hot, getting cuddled by model, you, me! (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thus

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'so' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'you me' is the wordplay.
'you' becomes 'th' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'me' becomes 'us' ('us' can mean 'me' in some dialects).
'th'+'us'='THUS'

'hot getting cuddled by model' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thus that I've seen before include "It follows" , "As a result" , "In this manner" , "'So, therefore (4)'" , "Shut (anag.)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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