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“Not in this case—I hope.” The shadows hid his features, so I couldn’t be sure of his response. “We’ve known each other for a long time. And in the last few months we’ve been through more than most couples have in a lifetime.”
Viktor locked the door but made no effort to approach. “That’s an understatement,” he grunted.
I hopped down from the counter and approached him. “In light of the most recent set of chain reactions, I propose that we come up with some ground rules.”
This time, the laugh was real, rich and warm. The velvety notes sent skitters of gooseflesh over my body.
“A contract?”
“Yes,” I insisted. “I’m dead serious, Tor.”
“I can hear it in your voice, suits,” he said quietly.
“But unlike the last time I proposed a contract, this one has to be fluid. It changes and grows with us. We’ll need to set up regular times to discuss and make alterations when the need arises.”
Viktor took a step forward. “I can see the benefits in that.”
“We create this onetogether.” Closing the distance, I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Because, case in point, I don’t understand many things about the underworld. What I did tonight proves it. What I thought was for the greater good broke your trust. Nothing—and I meannothing—is worth that, especially when it caused you to go someplace that I’m sure wasn’t good.”
“It wasn’t.”
I nodded. “Well, there you go. That’s my proposal—build this relationshipwithme.”
“First clause is that you marry me immediately.”
The temptation to laugh was strong. Struggling to control it, I bit my tongue hard. When I could finally trust myself to speak, I said, “First counter point, that’s not how you propose, you great grizzly man.”
Viktor picked me up effortlessly and leaned in to playfully gnaw on my neck. “Note taken. We’ll come back to that point and reach an amicable conclusion later.”
“Oh, we most definitely will,” I moaned, arching my neck back. “But another reason to wait is that this shit with your mole hasn’t been addressed yet.”
Viktor bit my neck, hard. “Wrong. It’s basically done.”
I cupped his cheek and pushed him back, because even though it was dark, I wanted to look into his eyes. My fingers met with something sticky. Alarm spiked through me “Tor? What in the fucking hell happened to you this time?!”
“I was mad. I went somewhere to work off the anger.”
I blew out a long breath. “This can’t continue to be the way we operate.”
“Is that a negotiation point?” The corner of his mouth quirked.
“Yes!” I hissed in a shrill whisper, remembering that Sophia was asleep upstairs.
“You scared me tonight, Briana.” His voice was hollow. All traces of humor were gone. “I wanted you to come out of your shell. I didn’t think that meant you’d throw caution to the wind and put yourself in danger. I went to find a confrontation for release but pushed past reason to find real danger. I shouldn’t have. It could have gone very badly. Only heaven prevented the worst from happening.”
“Viktor.” I choked his name out. “We’re going to do better. We’re going to forgive and move past this, learning and growing together.”
His hot breath caressed my earlobe. “A work-in-progress; I like that.”
Those lips fell on my throat, kissing and sucking at my pulse. My eyelids fluttered shut. A long moan escaped my mouth—his name without words. The time for talking was done. This business would be settled where we negotiated best.
“Spread those legs,” Viktor demanded.
I butterflied them.
His fingers pushed against the sleeper shorts. The moist shred of material betrayed how turned on I was by this man. But I didn’t mind. Iwantedhim to know.
“I’m wet...for you.”
