Chapter 125 TO US.
\~~~ALESSIA.
I handed the bag of toiletries to Gabriel outside the hospital, watching him grin as he promised to deliver it to Raina and Luciano.
My heart was still heavy from the day's chaos, but at least my brother was safe for now. I turned toward my car in the dimly lit parking lot, my heels clicking against the pavement. That's when I stopped dead in my tracks. Viktor was leaning against the side of my car, his broad shoulders slumped just a bit, and his arms crossed over his chest. He looked exhausted with bags under his eyes, and his shirt was rumpled from the long night.
But damn, even like that, he was striking.
“Viktor? A… are you okay?” I asked, my voice coming out softer than I meant.
“Can I take you home?” he asked, his deep voice steady, and his eyes locking onto mine without a hint of weakness.
I looked at him, swallowing hard. My throat felt dry, and my mind raced. He needed rest more than anyone. “You should rest up. You don’t need to drive…”
“I wanna take you home,” he cut me off, his tone firm, and leaving no room for argument.
I nodded, my resolve crumbling under that intense gaze. Fishing the keys from my purse, I handed them over. His fingers brushed mine, sending a spark up my arm that I tried to ignore.
Viktor straightened up and opened the passenger door for me with a quiet courtesy that made my chest tighten. I slid into the seat, the leather cool against my skin, and he closed the door gently before rounding the car. He got behind the wheel beside me, his presence filling the space immediately. The engine roared to life, and we pulled out of the lot.
I glanced at him, then sniffed, trying to steady my breathing. The drive home was silent, the only sounds were the hum of the tires on the road and the occasional shift of the gear. Viktor drove with such focus, his hands steady on the wheel, and his jaw set in that determined line.
God, he was hot even when he wasn't trying. His dark hair was messy, a few strands falling over his forehead, and his shirt clung to his muscled frame in a way that highlighted every ridge. He looked like a mess from the fight, bruises peeking from his collar, but it only made him more appealing. My mind wandered to forbidden places, imagining those strong hands on me, the way his body would feel pressed close. I'd wanted him for so long, this stoic man who hid his fire behind a wall of duty. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken tension, and I shifted in my seat, heat building low in my belly.
Finally, the car pulled into my garage, the automatic door rumbling shut behind us. I stepped out, the cool night air hitting my flushed skin. Viktor turned off the engine and handed the key back, his fingers lingering just a second too long.
“Can I invite you in?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart pounded, wondering if he'd say no, or if he'd walk away like always.
“Why not?” he said, his face a blank mask, not giving away any thoughts or desire.
What a boring ass man, I thought, frustration mixing with the ache inside me. But I led the way anyway, unlocking the front door and stepping into the quiet house. The living room was dimly lit by a single lamp, shadows dancing on the walls. I dropped my purse on the side table and turned around, smoothing my skirt. “Do you want water or…”
I didn't finish. Viktor crossed the room in two long strides, his boots heavy on the floor. Before I could react, he crashed his lips down on mine. The kiss was violent, raw with his mouth demanding, and his teeth grazing my lower lip as he pressed me back against the wall. My breath caught, shock melting into fire as his hands gripped my hips.
It lasted only a few seconds, and it was intense and bruising, before he broke it, pulling back just enough to search my eyes.
“Will you slap me again?” he murmured, his voice rough, referencing that moment weeks ago when I'd lost control and hit him in anger.
“Fuck it,’' I hissed, desire overriding everything. I grabbed his shirt and kissed him back, hard.
This kiss was hotter, deeper. Our tongues wrestled, sliding against each other in a frantic dance that left me gasping.
He tasted like mint and something darker, and I poured all my pent-up longing into it, my hands fisting in his hair, pulling him closer. Viktor groaned low in his throat, the sound vibrating through me, and his tongue plunged deeper, claiming every inch of my mouth. Heat surged between us, my body arching into his as our breaths mingled, ragged and urgent.
While we kissed, my fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they came undone, revealing the hard planes of his chest, marked with fresh bruises and old scars that only made him sexier.
His hands mirrored mine, deftly unbuttoning my blouse, the fabric parting to expose my skin to the cool air. His knuckles brushed my breasts as he went, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core. We didn't stop kissing, our lips remained locked with our tongues battling as our clothes loosened around us.
Viktor broke away just long enough to shrug off his shirt, his muscles flexing under the dim light. Then he was back, his hands roaming my sides, thumbs teasing the edge of my bra. I pushed his open shirt off his shoulders, my nails scraping lightly down his back, feeling him shudder.
With a grunt, he bent down and lifted me, and my legs wrapped instinctively around his waist. His arms were like steel bands, holding me secure as he started walking toward my bedroom, our mouths crashing together again in the hallway.
The world narrowed to us, finally giving in.