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“Exactly.” Ayla’s eyes were filled with tears too, and she gave me the sweetest smile. Warmth spread through me as if Ayla had chased away the cold. How was it possible for her to do that? She patted my cheek. “Go to Viktor. You both need each other right now.”
“Do you think he is mad…at me…for behaving how I have?”
Ayla let out a small laugh. “No. If he’s mad at something, it’s himself. He needs you, so he can release the burden he is carrying. As much as you need him.”
Oh God. I have been so foolish. So scared… so lost in my own thoughts, in my own memories, I forgot to stop and look at the man I loved. Really, truly looked at him to see how much he was hurting.
My throat felt constricted when I spoke the words. “Thank you.”
Ayla waved a hand in the air as it were nothing of a big deal. “I did and said what I felt was right. You are family now. We take care of our own.”
I left her and Xander standing there and ran back inside. My head hit something solid and warm, and I lifted my head up, only to stare into a pool of intense blue eyes. They grew a shade darker as they stared behind me.
“Angel,” a growl escaped past his lips. Alessio Ivanshov had always been intimidating, and right now, he looked powerful and a lot scary. “What are you doing out of bed and outside? I leave you for one fucking minute and you—”
I peeked over my shoulders to see if Ayla was in trouble with her husband, but she was only smiling. She sashayed over to us, patted her husband on the butt, and then winked. “Alessio, you are scaring the poor girl. Let’s go back to our room and you can scold me more.”
My mouth dropped open as I watched her walking away, Alessio letting out a string of curses under his breath as he followed behind her.
Ayla had just so easily handled the…The Alessio Ivanshov.
Chapter 34
Valerie
Viktor’s room—our room—was dark when I walked inside. Only the single night lamp was on. Once I was inside, I forgot all about Ayla and Alessio. Walking closer, I stared at the man occupying the bed. One of his arms was thrown over his face, hiding most of him so that only his mouth and chin were visible. He was bare chested, and I knew under the comforter, he was only wearing his boxers.
I climbed in bed and shyly brought a hand to Viktor’s chest, feeling the heavy thud of his heart underneath. His arm fell away from his face, showing me his restless expression. He was frowning in his sleep. His beautiful rugged face was tired, and two weeks’ worth of stubble covered his jaw and cheeks.
My fingers caressed his jaw, and I felt the muscles clench underneath my fingertips. Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to do. What to say…
How could I fix what was broken between Viktor and me?
In what ways…could I bring us closer once again?
I wanted him under my skin; I wanted his soul singing to mine. I wanted to feel his heart against mine.
I wanted to fix us…
Let her go so you can be happy too. So you can breathe.
Ayla’s words echoed through my ears as my head made a slow descent toward Viktor’s. My lips brushed against him, lightly at first, and then I put more pressure.
His chest rumbled with a groan. I pulled away to see his eyes opened, staring at me with a mixture of confusion and sleep.
“Valerie…” His voice was deep and scratchy from sleep. It traveled through my body, spreading liquid warmth through my veins.
He needs you, so he can release the burden he is carrying on his chest. As much as you need him.
Swallowing past the fear and uncertainty, I cupped his face in my palms. “Viktor, can you make love to me? Please.”
His expression changed, and he closed his eyes, as if he were in pain. “Valerie, what are you—”
“Please,” I interrupted. I couldn’t have him refuse me tonight. “I need to feel you…I need you to feel me.”
I want us…I want our love.
I needed to unbreak what was broken.
A hundred thoughts clamored through my mind, battling for my attention. I fought the urge to sink back into my old ways. Guilt once again tried to make its way into my heart, but I quickly squashed it down.
No.
Not tonight.
I focused on Viktor, looking into his eyes, a bottomless pit of darkness. So full of uncertainty. But there was no mistaking the warmth and adoration there. For me.
He gripped me by the waist but didn’t move otherwise. “Please…don’t make me beg, Viktor.”
“Myshka,” he groaned. He let out a curse and gritted his teeth together, as if he were battling for control.
