“That’s awful! Is he okay?”
“Yeah, dad got away with only a slight concussion, bruising, and a broken ankle. I stayed until he told me I was driving him crazy.”
“That had to have been scary.”
“God, seeing him lying motionless at the base of that ladder was the worst moment in my life. He looked small, and I thought I lost him until I checked his pulse.” The thread of life had spurred me into action. By the time the ambulance arrived, he was conscious and in pain. “I couldn’t leave him after that.”
I called Toby, my supervisor, to tell him what happened.
“Don’t worry Izzy,” he said, using the nickname I hated because of him. “I’ll cover Prinz this week. Don’t you worry your pretty little head.”
“I’m glad he’s okay now,” Viktor said.
Viktor’s angry reaction made more sense now. Although, I’m not sure he would have reacted any differently. I laugh and look down at my hands. Warmth seeps into me as he cups my jaw, and our eyes meet. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“No. I thought—” He looks away before meeting my eyes again. The intensity of his gaze takes my breath away. “I thought you broke your promise, that I drove you away with our kiss. That you remembered how much better you can do than your pathetic, brokenpatient.” He spat the last word out, bringing us back to the elephant in the room.
Without a thought, my hand snaps out and I pinch his side, hard. “Stop that! You aren’t pathetic or broken, or even my patient any—”
Viktor’s mouth crushes mine, and his hot tongue dives inside. He’s assaulting my senses, and it feels amazing. Our tongues perform a sexy dance, rubbing this way and that. Weaving my hands around his neck, I pull him to me, fusing our mouths together. His large hands grab my waist, tugging me forward. My softness presses against the hard planes of his body.
I pull his delicious lip into my mouth, sucking and nipping at the sensitive skin. Viktor growls, and my core tightens at the sound. He scatters kisses along my face before burying his face in the hair gathered at my neck.
“God, I’ve missed you.” The confession is out of my mouth before I can even think it. I feel my face warm with embarrassment, and for a moment I worry it will drive him away.
Viktor’s answering sigh tickles my neck. He drags his tongue down the column of my neck and scrapes his teeth along my over-sensitized skin. Needy and desperate moans slip from me, my fingers tugging at his hair.
He removes my jacket and throws it at the wall behind me. I kick off one boot then the other. His hands massage my ass as he grabs handfuls of the flesh, a mixture of pleasure and pain at his desperate touch.
He guides me farther into the house and teases my ear. “Fucking need you, Belle.”
This strong, beautiful man needs me. My heart flutters and my body perks up. Slipping my hands under his shirt, I explore the muscles of his back and shoulders. My short nails scrape at the flesh as his mouth devours mine.
When my back bumps into a hard surface, I look around the kitchen. Viktor pulls off my shirt, leaving me in my black, lacy bra. His eyes take me in, and I fight the urge to squirm under his intense gaze. With a flick he unhooks my bra and pushes the straps off my shoulders.
“Perfect beauty.” He drags his fingers down my neck and between my breasts to the button on my jeans. Goose bumps form along the path his finger has taken. His touch pulls my nipples into tight little peaks. He presses his mouth to my neck and begins to follow the same trail as his fingers as he unbuttons my jeans.
I cradle his head in my hands and close my eyes. I try to catch my breath at his tender touch, but it only comes out in little pants. His tongue circles the sensitive bud of one breast then the other. I growl with frustration as Viktor teases my nipples.
“Tell me what you want, Belle.” Those piercing eyes stare into mine, his mouth a whisper from my nipple.
My hand presses on the back of his neck, but he only smirks at me without budging. “No, beautiful. I want to hear you tell me.”
“Please, baby!” I beg, but he only flicks his tongue along the edge of my nipple. “I want your mouth on me.”
He chuckles. “That’ll do for now, but we’ll work on it.”
Before I can snap at him, his tongue flicks the hard point, drawing a needy moan from me. The bolt of pleasure shoots through my body straight to my clit. He bites, licks, and sucks one nipple while the rough pad of his thumb grazes back and forth over the other. Switching breasts, he repeats it all over again.
“Such pretty tits,” he says around one nipple. “The best I’ve ever seen.”
His mouth takes mine, and his hand cups my heat. My legs part, begging for more attention. Growing bolder, I slide my hand down and run my hand up his jean-clad, hard length.
I smile when he groans, “Fuck, baby.”
Viktor surprises me when he removes my hand and threads our fingers together. He gently pulls me toward the hall and into his room. Once inside, I freeze. My eyes dart to the single rose on the dresser, and memories of the last time I was in here assault my senses.
“Belle?” Confusion is clear in his voice.
