He catches me peeking at him, and I turn away to hide my flush.
I don’t even know why I’m hiding.
Or why I’m blushing.
Jesus.
“GAH!” My feet meet a rock, and I almost trip, but Viktor grasps my wrist and holds me up.
“Careful. Look before you walk.”
Him being so caring all of the sudden catches me off guard a little.
“I know.” I jerk my arm loose. “So … why are we doing this again?”
He raises a brow. “Why did you follow me out here if you didn’t wanna be here?”
“I’m not saying I don’t want to be here, just help me remember why.” I sigh, rubbing the bruise on my foot.
“Because Winston can’t get the wood for the fireplace. It’s too heavy for him, so I do it.”
“You’ve got heaters,” I say.
“So? This calms me down.” He shrugs and turns around to carry on with his wood searching. But I guess he doesn’t need a reason to do something. He just puts his mind to it and does it. That’s it. So simple … I can’t help but wonder if he did the same with me. He put his mind to making me his … so he kept me. The end.
Except I’m not a piece of wood. I’m a human being.
I laugh it off a little, but Viktor says, “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” I say, waving it away. “Was just thinking to myself.”
“About what?”
“You,” I say, raising a brow when he narrows his eyes.
“What about me?” he says, turning around.
“Nothing. I just think it’s funny how you deal with things. You do something … just because you want to. You don’t think about it, you just do it because you wanna. I don’t know. I just find it a bit funny.”
“Funny, huh?” He steps closer. “I’m funny?”
I hold up my hands. “It’s not an insult.”
“But you’re still laughing at me …” He throws the wood he was carrying on the ground beside him.
“No, I’m not laughing at you … I’m laughing because it’s adorable.”
His eyes flare up, and he grabs my arms and pushes me against the trunk of the tree. “I am not adorable. Take that back.”
“No.” I slam my lips shut.
He places his hand above my head, cornering me between the tree and his abs. And fuck me, do they look good right now when he’s all tensed up and wearing a thin, white shirt.
“I am not fucking adorable. I’m rough. Sexy as hell. Fuck, you can even call me an asshole for all I care but don’t call me adorable.”
“But you are … cute,” I muse, biting my lip. “What you gonna do about it? Hurt me?”
He growls. “I just might …”
“Ohhh … I’m so scared,” I say.
He grabs my wrists and pins them above my head with force. “Wrong answer.”
Then his lips smash into mine.
Straight for the kill.
And boy, do I fucking die.
His kiss is scorching on my lips, igniting the flames in my body with just one kiss. He can make me feel so fucking excited and ready to surrender; I’d almost beg him not to stop. He sucks my bottom lip and licks my tongue as we collide in furious lust. I can’t get enough. Not enough of him. Not enough of us. Not enough air either.
I gasp, but he doesn’t give me any time to breathe before diving back in again.
I try to move my hands, but he keeps them in place, growling, “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not going anywhere.”
“Wasn’t planning to,” I murmur, as he kisses me again.
His lips roam down toward my neck. “So you’ve given up running away?”
“Maybe … or I’m just crazily addicted to this.”
He kisses my collarbone, his tongue dipping out to trace a line all the way down to my little red dress. “This what …” he hums, kissing me everywhere.
“You. Us.”
“Me,” he growls, coming back to my lips. “That’s right. You belong to me.”
I melt from his tongue and his lips on mine … and from his claim on me. I do. I do fucking belong to him. I’m way past wanting him, way past fighting temptation. I’m way in over my head… but I need him.
Something about him makes me feel alive. Like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
He licks his lips, murmuring, “Damn, Lexi, you taste so fine. I can’t stop, even though sometimes I really want to when you say I’m fucking adorable.”
“Lex or Alexis … and don’t stop,” I say with a coy smile. “Maybe if you kiss me harder, I might consider calling you not-cute again.”