Chapter 44: Chapter Fourty Four

Xena stepped through the door, her breath catching in her throat at the sight before her. The room was a mess—a chaotic scene that sent a jolt of fear through her. The floor was littered with shattered glass, the sharp edges glinting under the soft light, and the overpowering stench of alcohol clung to the air. Her eyes immediately sought out Viktor, who stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass doors that led to the balcony, his back tense and rigid.

"Viktor?" she called softly, her voice trembling as she approached him, not quite sure of what to expect.

His back stiffened at the sound of her voice, and within the blink of an eye, he whipped around, his gaze locking onto her with an intensity that made her heart race.

Before she could even react, he was upon her, his hands gripping her arms with a force that left her breathless. He shoved her back against the cold glass of the door, the impact sending a shiver down her spine as the door slammed shut, trapping her there.

"Ouch, Viktor! You're hurting me." Xena gasped, her voice strained as she tried to push against him, but his strength was overwhelming.

His gaze never left her face as he leaned in, his eyes dark and filled with an anger she hadn’t seen before. His voice was hoarse, but the fury in it was unmistakable.

"Where were you?" he demanded, his words laced with a venom that sent a chill through her.

Xena opened her mouth to speak but faltered, the pressure of his body against her causing pain to radiate through her chest. Her breath hitched in her throat.

"I—I was in the library." she managed to say, but the words came out weakly as Viktor’s grip tightened, pushing her harder against the glass.

"Speak! Where the fuck are you?" Viktor’s voice rose, filled with frustration and possessiveness. "You think you can run away and go meet your lover? Leave me here? You are *mine* Xena!" He spat the last words, his fury seething.

Xena’s eyes widened in confusion, her heart racing in panic. "Lover? What are you talking about?!" she demanded, the sharpness in her voice contrasting with the fear pulsing through her veins.

The pain in her chest grew as Viktor's grip didn’t let up. Her confusion turned to frustration, her mind spinning as she tried to make sense of his words.

"I was in the library!" she finally blurted out, her voice rising with frustration and pain. She winced, the pressure of his hands leaving bruises on her arms.

His grip faltered for just a second at her words, and Xena used that moment to push against him, the book she had been holding falling to the floor with a soft thud.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she snapped, now glaring up at him. "You’ve ruined this room and put everyone on edge! And what the hell do you mean by lover?"

Viktor’s breath came in ragged, unsteady bursts, his gaze still hard but slightly confused as he processed her words. The anger still simmered in his eyes, though, unrelenting.

Xena stood her ground, her chest rising and falling with the force of her breath. "And if I *did* have a lover, why would it matter to you? You’re the one who kidnapped me and dragged me here!"

Before she could say another word, Viktor shoved her into the wall, his hands firm against her shoulders, his body pressing into hers. Xena gasped at the sudden impact, the sharp pain shooting through her back.

"Don’t *fucking* say it." Viktor growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him." he spat, his breath hot against her face, the pungent mixture of whiskey and mint lingering in the air between them.

Xena’s heart pounded in her chest, the combination of anger and fear rising in her like a storm. She could feel her muscles trembling, her hands balled into fists as she struggled to break free. "I—*I*... I don’t have a lover." she said softly, her voice trembling now, her fear evident.

She wasn’t sure if it was the way Viktor’s expression softened for just a moment or the raw emotion in her voice, but it seemed to make Viktor pause. Still, the weight of his anger remained heavy in the air.

The tension between them felt suffocating. Xena was angry, scared, and confused all at once. Viktor's possessiveness, his control, his unpredictable rage—it all made her feel as if she was a fragile thing in his hands, something to be broken.

♧♧♧

"Who is Marco to you?" Viktor sneered, his voice dripping with venom.

Xena blinked, confusion washing over her. "Marco?" she repeated, frowning.

"Don’t fucking say his name." Viktor snapped, his jaw tightening as he loomed over her.

"Do you still like him? How long—*how long* have you been seeing him?" His voice grew harsher with every word, his accusations cutting through the air like a blade.

Xena’s frustration boiled over. "What the hell are you talking about? I don’t know any Marco!" she shot back, her voice rising in anger.

Viktor sneered, his eyes dark and unyielding. "I don’t like liars." he said coldly.

Xena glared at him, her chest heaving. "Why would I lie to you? *I don’t know any Marco!*" she hissed, her patience snapping.

But Viktor wasn’t convinced. His grip on her arms remained firm, his fingers pressing into her skin with an unforgiving force. Xena winced, realizing that her struggles were only making his hold tighter. Her arms throbbed, the ache growing unbearable.

She needed to get out of his grip.

Then, without thinking, she did something impulsive.

She surged forward, closing the distance between them, and pressed her lips against his.

Viktor’s body went rigid. For the first time since he stormed into the room, he seemed caught off guard. His grip on her arms slackened, his breath hitching.

Xena seized the opportunity.

With all the strength she could muster, she shoved him back. Viktor staggered, caught off balance, and took a few steps backward.

By the time he steadied himself, Xena had already put some distance between them.

Viktor’s eyes darkened as he stared at her, his breathing uneven. His fingers brushed against his lips as if still feeling the imprint of her kiss. He swallowed hard, his expression unreadable.

"Listen" Xena said, her voice firm but breathless. "I have *no* idea who Marco is, and I don’t have a lover because—"

"You are mine." Viktor cut in, his voice low and possessive.

Xena’s stomach twisted at the way he said it, his words carrying a finality that made her skin prickle.

"That’s not what I was going to say." she muttered, glaring at him.

But before she could say anything more, Viktor moved.

With swift, unrelenting force, he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing.

Xena yelped in shock, her fists pounding against his back.

"Viktor, put me down!" she yelled, squirming in his hold, but he ignored her.

He strode toward the bed, his grip on her unwavering, and with little effort, he tossed her onto the mattress.

Xena gasped as she bounced slightly, quickly scrambling to sit up. She glared at him, her breath uneven, her pulse racing. "Are you insane?" she snapped, gripping the sheets beneath her.

"I told you, Xena." he said darkly, stepping closer. "You are *mine.* And I don’t share."

Xena’s breath hitched as she looked up at Viktor. His dark eyes, already intense, seemed to have deepened into something far more dangerous—far more possessive.

The tension in the room thickened like a storm about to break.

Then, with slow, deliberate movements, Viktor reached for the buttons of his black shirt, undoing them one by one. His gaze never left hers.

The fabric slid off his broad shoulders, revealing the defined muscles beneath, his body taut with restrained power.

Xena’s heart pounded. Every instinct screamed at her to run.

She made a move to slip off the bed, but she barely managed to lift herself before Viktor’s strong hand wrapped around her ankle.

In one swift motion, he pulled her back, causing her to fall onto the mattress with a gasp.

"Where do you think you’re going?" he murmured, pinning her in place. His grip wasn’t rough, but it was firm—unrelenting.

Xena’s pulse raced. "Viktor, let me go." she stammered, trying to push against his hold.

But he only smirked, his lips curling in amusement.

"You’re so naughty, *malen'kiy ogon'k*." he purred, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "You kissed me, and now you’re trying to run?"

Xena’s cheeks burned. "*No—* I... I didn’t mean to!" she protested, her breath uneven. "You were holding me so tight. I had to do *something*!"

Viktor leaned in, his face inches from hers. "I hate it when you say another man’s name." he whispered, his voice laced with something dark—something primal. "You belong to *me*, little fire."

Xena swallowed hard, the intensity of his words sinking into her skin.

His hand lifted to her face, his fingers tracing the soft line of her jaw. It was a stark contrast to the rough, unyielding man who had just been raging moments ago. His touch was almost... tender. Almost.

"You smell good." he muttered, his voice husky as he inhaled deeply, his nose brushing against the curve of her neck.

Xena’s breath hitched, her body tensing as his lips ghosted over her skin. His warmth, the sheer proximity of him, sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

Then, ever so slowly, Viktor pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. Soft. Tempting.

Xena’s fingers curled into the sheets.

Viktor groaned against her skin, his lips trailing lower, leaving small, heated kisses along the curve of her collarbone. His movements were slow, deliberate—like he was savoring every reaction he pulled from her.

Her breathing grew heavy, each inhale shaky.

Viktor smirked. *She’s so fucking alluring.*

And she didn’t even realize it.