Chapter 124 Expected Guest
❦ Rosalind ❦
The sounds coming from my throat were raw, pulled out of me by the way Viktor’s mouth moved down my neck.
Every kiss seemed to know exactly where to land, where to ruin me. I tangled my fingers in his hair, tracing down his arms, needing more of the touch… needing him.
“Mi rendi così felice,” (You make me so happy), he murmured roughly.
Before I could answer, his mouth found mine again. The kiss was deep and greedy with absolutely nothing gentle about it.
I could feel his heat everywhere, his hands kneading as if memorizing every curve of my flesh.
My pulse thudded in my ears.
My breath caught as he lifted me onto the counter.
“Viktor…” I whispered. He looked up with dark, half-lidded eyes.
That look alone could undo me.
When he sank to his knee, my heart stuttered. The motion was reverent and sinful all at once, like worship and damnation. My hands trembled where they rested in his hair.
He pulled me toward him, lifted my legs over his shoulders, and buried his face between them.
And then I stopped thinking.
The world narrowed to the heat of his tongue laving my folds, his breath on my entrance, and the sound of my own voice echoing off the walls.
I spasmed, my fingers digging into his arms when he sucked my clit into his puckered lips.
I moaned his name over and over. Begging, pleading for release as everything blurred.
Viktor suddenly stopped and looked up at me.
“What are you begging for? What do you want?” He asked, his voice like gravel, eyes dark and deep.
“Please… don’t stop…” I slurred, writhing in his tight hold.
He dragged his tongue down my slit, curling it up and into my core.
“Mmmh…” He moaned, his nose grinding against the aching bud of my sex.
Muscles locking and clenching, I keened and shut my eyes against the flood of pleasure that shattered me.
When it finally broke, I was shaking, lightheaded, and barely able to stand. He steadied me, and I laughed weakly against his chest.
“If you keep this up,” I murmured, “you’ll suck out my soul.”
He smiled with a glint in his eyes. “You mean I haven’t already?”
I giggled and swatted at him, still trembling and drunk with pleasure.
And for a moment, it felt like the whole world had gone quiet. It was just the two of us and the sound of our slow breaths.
My legs felt like jelly as Viktor guided me toward the shower, one hand steadying me by my waist.
I tilted my head up at him, catching his gaze when I bit my lip, and before I could overthink it, I started to sink to my knees.
He caught me instantly and pulled me back up.
“Rosa.”
I blinked at him, confused.
“You don’t have to.” He said.
I glanced down at the hard bulge pressing against his zipper, and back up again with a raised brow.
“Really?”
He smirked. “Really. I’ll take care of it.”
I deflated a little.
“Oh, okay,” I said under my breath. “Then at least let me clean and stitch your wound.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. You can barely stand.” His tone softened. “You’ve had a rough day, Rosa. You need to rest.”
I frowned, pouting up at him. “Since when did you become such a white knight?”
His expression turned serious. “Since always. You just never noticed.”
Then he brushed a thumb across my lower lip. “Now hush. Let me take care of you, hmm?”
I couldn’t help it… I smiled. “Aww. You’re so sweet.”
He grinned, preening. “Oh, I am. I really am.”
His proud face made me laugh, and my heart just… swelled.
He turned me gently by my shoulders, picked up my shampoo, and started running warm water through my hair with confident strokes.
Tears slipped out before I could stop them, and before I knew it, I was smiling while crying like an idiot.
But they weren’t sad tears. My heart just felt too full with unbridled joy and happiness. Relief. Gratitude. Love.
Then the shower came on, washing the tears away, and I leaned into his hands. My shoulders went slack. For the first time in so long, I felt weightless and safe.
He took his time. Washed my hair. My body. Each touch soft and reverent. Then he turned off the water and dried me with a towel, smoothed lotion into my skin. Dressed me like I was a precious gem.
When he lifted me bridal style, I melted against him, half-asleep already.
He laid me on the bed and pressed a kiss to my forehead, lingering just long enough for me to feel it settle deep in my chest.
By the time my eyes fluttered open again, he was walking away, his broad, inked shoulders fading into the shadows.
The last thing I felt before sleep took me… was that kiss, still warm on my skin.
❦ ❄︎ ❦ ❄︎ ❦ ❄︎ ❦ ❄︎ ❦
I woke to a heavy, solid weight pressing down on my stomach.
For a second, I just lay there, blinking at the ceiling and trying to piece myself together.
Then I stretched lazily, my body still humming with a mix of exhaustion and release. I felt… brand new. Like I’d shed something.
I turned to my side and smiled at the sight of my husband, his arm slung over me like an anchor.
If I ever tried to escape, I thought, I’d never make it past that arm. The image made me giggle quietly into my palm.
I brushed my hand over his forearm, tracing the veins, the corded muscle. Up to his shoulder. His neck. Into his hair.
It was soft and shiny in the morning light, a mess that somehow still looked perfect.
When I reached his face, I slowed down. The stitches on his forehead were clean and even. My chest tightened at the thought of the pain he’d had to endure.
He’d done it himself, and there was no numbing cream in my bathroom to dull that kind of pain.
He saved me and fought for me, not just yesterday, but from the very beginning. The first time I was taken, he’d been there. He was always there.
How had I not seen it sooner?
A smile curved my lips before I could stop it.
I’d found something I didn’t even know I was looking for. A man who gave me peace, fought for me, and made me feel… safe.
I leaned closer, meaning to press a kiss to his cheek.
But his eyes snapped open… and before I could breathe, he flipped our positions and I was on my back.
His hands were braced on either side of me, his weight hovering above mine, and my heart skipped.
“Trying to bewitch me, are you?” he murmured, his voice still rough and deep with sleep.
I laughed, breathless. “If I bewitch you any further, Viktor, your mind might not survive it.”
He growled playfully, and dipped his head into my neck, his stubble scraping against my skin as he teased me there with small, teasing pecks.
I wrapped my arms around him, laughter spilling out between my gasps. God, I could live in this moment forever.
Then my stomach growled. Loudly.
We both froze.
He lifted his head, his lips twitching. “Don’t eat me, please. I’ll make something for you… just… let go.”
I grinned. “Depends. Will there be lots of rare protein? Because I’m feeling a bit of a bloodlust coming on.”
He chuckled. “Yes, I promise. Plenty of protein.”
Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.
The sound was sharp, slicing through the serenity of the moment.
My heart jumped.
The warmth between us broke in an instant, replaced by a jolt of cold panic as my pulse sped up, matching the echoing ring.
What if Orlov’s men had found out what happened here?
Viktor saw my face change. “You expecting anyone?”
I shook my head. “No.”
He was already moving, grabbing his phone, his pants, his gun.
“I’ll check,” he said in a clipped voice.
I sat up and slipped out of bed to follow him.
He turned, eyes dark. “Stay here, Rosa.”
I nodded. Waited until he disappeared down the hallway. Then I followed anyway.
The doorbell rang again.
It sounded wrong and urgent.
Like a bad omen.
Viktor was speaking into his phone in a low commanding tone, probably asking his men outside who it was.
I hovered near the corner, my heart hammering so hard I thought he might hear it.
He reached the door and positioned himself, gun ready. His whole body shifted into soldier mode. Cold. Lethal.
Then he pulled the door open in one swift, fluid motion…
And pointed his gun straight at the face on the other side.
I gasped.