“You are never alone.” He said it simply. Statement of fact. “Not anymore.”
The words settled into my chest and stayed there, warm and solid.
Apollo nosed between us, tail wagging, completely unaware of the tension he was interrupting. I looked down at him and couldn't help but laugh.
“Your dog has terrible timing,” Viktor observed.
“He's a good chaperone though. Keeps us honest.”
“We do not need chaperone to keep us honest. We have palace fullof witnesses and careers to protect.” But Viktor crouched down, scratched behind Apollo's ears with surprising gentleness. “Still. He is good dog.”
Apollo leaned into the attention, shameless. I watched Viktor's hands move through golden fur, remembering how those same hands had touched me five days ago. Gentle and sure and devastating.
“You're thinking too loud,” Viktor said without looking up.
“Am I?”
“Yes. I can feel you looking at me.”
“I'm allowed to look at my head of security.”
“You are looking at me like you want to do things that are not professional.” He glanced up, eyes dark. “Things that would get us both in trouble if anyone saw.”
“Maybe I do want to do those things.”
“Sebastian.” Warning and want mixed in equal measure.
“Three minutes, you said. Maybe four.” I moved slightly closer, still maintaining plausible distance. “No one can see us here. No windows. No cameras.”
“No cameras that you know of.”
“You checked. You always check.” I watched him stand, watched Apollo sit between us like a furry barrier. “One kiss. That's all. Just to prove we still can without the world ending.”
“World has not ended yet. That does not mean it will not.”
“Viktor.”
He was quiet for a moment, war playing out across his features. Professional discipline against want. Duty against desire. Then he sighed, and I knew I'd won.
“One kiss,” he said. “Quick. Careful.”
“I'm always careful.”
“You are never careful. Is one of your least attractive qualities.”
“You have a list of my attractive qualities?”
“Long list. Very detailed.” He stepped closer, closing the distance until only a foot separated us. “Another reason this is dangerous. I notice too much.”
“Tell me one thing. From your list.”
His eyes traced my face. “The way you look at children in hospital. Like they are most important people in world. Like their pain matters more than your own comfort.”
My throat went tight. “That's not?—”
“The way you carve toys with same focus you use for everything else. Perfect details because they deserve perfection.” His voice dropped lower. “The way you smiled at me yesterday when you thought I was not looking. Small smile. Private. Like you were holding secret close to your heart.”
“I was. Am.” I reached out slowly, giving him time to stop me.
