Isabel
“Viktor!” I hiss.
“What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me! You need to drop it with Toby.”
“I don’t like how he looks at you,” Viktor says and spins me on the dance floor.
Almost a year has passed since that night we came together, and things have been quite interesting. I moved into his home about six months ago. He’s still working through his emotional loss, and his body is becoming stronger every day. I even asked him to volunteer with other injured vets. He’s not alone in this process, and I’ve given him a purpose by helping others.
Over Thanksgiving, my father and Viktor met. At first, Viktor’s gruffness with others rubbed Dad the wrong way. Once Dad saw Viktor taking care of me and how much he loved me, it was water under the bridge.
Tonight, we’re dancing at my work’s Christmas party. Viktor and Toby have been glaring at each other most of the night. It didn’t matter how many times they saw each other, every time it’s the same thing.
I cup his face and wait for his eyes to meet mine. “Am I yours?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course, and I’m yours,” he says, and my eyes mist at the intensity of his words.
“Then does it matter how Toby looks at me?”
“No, it doesn’t, but he needs to stop before I rip his eyes out.”
This conversation is an old one. It seems that any time we do some event for my job, these two idiots got into a pissing match. Toby hasn’t forgiven Viktor for kicking him out of the house or for the tongue lashing Toby received from his supervisor after they learned how he treated Viktor. Viktor is too protective over me to let it go.
I’m exhausted. I’m Bone tired, and talking about Toby with Viktor is not helping matters. It’s our first Christmas together, and I want to enjoy it drama-free.
Done with the topic, I place my head on his shoulder and sigh. I don’t need them to be friends. Hell, I don’t even like Toby, but I do have to work with him.
Viktor stops us from swaying and squeezes the side of my neck. “Belle?”
“Yeah, beast?”
His chest vibrates with a chuckle before he lifts my face to look at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t like the man. I love you, and I promise I’ll do better.”
My heart flutters like it always does at his declaration of love. “I don’t like him either, but I have to work with him.”
“I know… I’m sorry I’m acting like an ass.”
“Me too…”
He captures my lips, and the kiss leaves me breathless. When he pulls back and my eyes flutter open, I see his smug grin. “You’re incorrigible.”
Viktor becomes serious. The muscles in his jaw tighten, and his eyes pierce mine. “I love you, Isabel Marchant.”
My brow raises at his use of my full name.
“You came into my home and heart uninvited. You pushed me to uncomfortable levels. You’ve made my life better, and I’m sorry if I’ve made yours harder, but I’m not sorry that you’re mine.”
My eyes narrow and when my lips part to speak, he kisses me softly.
Viktor lowers to one knee. The movement is fluid even though I know his latest prosthetic has been bothering him. All the women around us gasp as I watch him with surprise. My heart beats against my ribs, and my body begins to tremble.
“You’ve made me a better man. Will you please marry me?”
My hand raises to my lips, and emotions wrap around me. I’m dizzy with happiness and open my mouth to tell him yes when everything goes black.
Viktor
