Introducing Katarina to his world in the right way was something Viktor had been planning since before she had taken her first breath. He knew she would immediately see him as a mere vampire because of his need for blood every new moon. Roman had made Viktor watch many of the movies over the years to prepare him for what his mate would think of him. There had even been nights he'd dreamt she'd tried to kill him with a wooden stake to the heart or had shown up wearing a garlic necklace. As comical as it was, this was not what Viktor wanted for his beautiful mate.
It was going to be difficult to explain the difference between the fantasy of a blood-sucking ghoul and a King of the Blood, but Zeus had not left them totally unprepared. If Katarina agreed to completely connect her mind to his she would then feel the truth of his words as he explained. Each King was left to decide how to illuminate his custos animae to the truth of their kind.
Viktor thought it important that she know how he had come to be. How he had carefully chosen the other Kings. How much it meant that he was given the honor of spending eternity by her side. Katarina had to understand she was the only woman he could ever bring into their race. In all matters, she was the keeper of his heart. Without her, he was doomed.
She would be his only nourishment after transformation and he would be hers. Without her, Viktor would cease to exist. Literally returning to the ether from which he came. As with everything in their very long lives, there were rules. She had to first accept him for what he was and then accept the fact that she too was to become one of their kind. Only her willing acquiescence would seal their bond.
Because Viktor was the oldest and his three thousandth year was less than three months away, he had to move quickly. Could make no mistakes. Had to enlighten Katarina about their future as soon as possible and receive her blessing. Tonight was the last night he could be nourished by any other. Without Kat's love...he would die. It was that simple.
"Heads up," Roman whispered low enough that only they could hear, signaling just as his lovely mate appeared behind the opening lift doors.
She is perfection.
Her hair was now up in a ponytail that bounced from side to side as she walked toward him. Her long lashes were darker and her hypnotic eyes had been outlined in kohl. His heart skipped a beat when just the tip of her tongue wet the red lipstick on her bottom lip. It was the thing sonnets were written about.
Her jacket and silk blouse had been replaced with a smoky grey sweater that showcased her ample bosom without being crude. Viktor growled a warning, reminding Roman of the penalty of looking too long at Katarina. The resulting chuckle from his second-in-command reassured the Unum there would be no mistakes.
Katarina still wore the straight black skirt from their meeting, which was fine with Viktor. He appreciated the way the material hugged her ample curves and sat just about her knees. The slit in the back was an added bonus as it gave just a hint of how gorgeous her creamy thighs would be when he uncovered them for himself. It was not only because he was a gentleman that he followed behind her...the view was one he wasn't willing to miss.
"I hope your wait wasn't too long," she said when she stood right in front of him.
"Not at all," he responded. "Shall we go?" Turning to face the doors, he bent his elbow and smiled as she automatically placed her hand upon his arm.
The trip to Sanguinem was uneventful, as was their arrival through the private entrance at the back of the building and their slow tour to the VIP section. Nikos was waiting, as were Bain, Tommas, and Salvatore. Viktor couldn't contain his smile as he watched each of his men interact with Katarina. She was a natural and they were all instantly enamored with her, but none so much as Salvatore, who had been going by Sal since the seventies.
"This is unbelievable! You're the Kat from Roma Tech. The woman responsible for the AIG chip? No way! When are you gonna get it on the market. I need it. I need it bad. I can't imagine what playing Fallout on XBOX Live will be like with all that awesomeness."
Katerina beamed with pride as she answered the youngest of the Kings. "As soon as your boss here approves my proposal, it'll be less than six months before we go to beta testing." She winked at Viktor before turning back to Salvatore to continue. "And I'm sure I could hook you up with that gig."
It was one of his greatest joys to watch his mate happily interact with his men. The next few hours were spent eating, drinking, and talking videos games. Viktor laughed more in that time than he had in centuries. Katerina gave as good as she got. As the ancient commander listened to the thoughts of not only his mate but also those of the other Kings, he was reassured that it would take little time for the keeper of his heart to accept their future together.
Throughout the evening, one by one, the Kings had excused themselves to feed. Viktor closely monitored Katarina to make sure she was blissfully ignorant of what was happening and applauded his men for making a difficult situation bearable. As Roman took his turn, one of the very few popular songs Viktor could tolerate began to play – "At Last" by Etta James. It didn't matter to him that it was from the sixties or that he knew Nikos had asked the DJ to play it. He was going to hold his mate close for as long as he could, even it was under the guise of dancing.
Standing, he held out his hand to Katarina, "May I have the honor of this dance?"
Her heart sped up and her cheeks turned that lovely color of pink he loved to see on her as she nodded her consent and laid her hand in his. Walking to the dance floor, she looked up at him through the veil of her long dark lashes and said, "This was my mom and dad's wedding song. Thank you for asking me to dance."
"The pleasure is all mine, Katarina."
Wrapping one arm around her waist, Viktor held tight to Katarina's hand as she placed her head on his shoulder and cuddled against him. That one simple act of surrender, of trust in him to care for her, nearly brought the ancient warrior to his knees. She had no way of knowing how much it meant to him or how long he'd waited for just that moment, and it was all the more special for it. They swayed to the music, their hearts in sync as the rest of the world faded away.
A second slow ballad began and Katarina lifted her head from his shoulder. Looking up at him with questions in her eyes, she wet her lips in preparation to speak. His tenuous hold on his desire snapped. He'd waited long enough. There would never be a more perfect time.
Lowering his lips to hers, Viktor groaned at the contact. His heart beat sped up at Katarina's answering moan. What started as a slow burn grew in intensity. She opened to him immediately as he tasted the seam of her lips. Their tongues met. Sensations before unknown to the King came rushing from every direction.
Katarina pulled her hand from his and gripped his shoulders. He knew from her thoughts that she was confused by her reaction to him but more than willing to see where their mutual attraction would take them.
Using the arm around her waist, he pulled her as close to him as he could, needing the feel of her body against his. His free hand wound through her long red curls, releasing them from the elastic band and reveling in their silky softness as they cascaded down her back.
Her hips began a slow grind against his growing erection while her hands moved into his hair, tangling in the waves at the nape of his neck. Katarina was attempting to take the lead and Viktor was more than willing to let her. Following his mate to the tempo of their hearts, he danced them into the darkest, most secluded alcove of the dance floor.
The shock of his skin touching hers as his hands slid under her sweater drove the air from his lungs. His struggle to maintain control when all his instincts were driving him to make love to the keeper of his heart, to bind her to him, to make them one even before she knew their destiny, was overpowering.
Summoning a strength he didn't know he possessed, Viktor moved his hands to her shoulders, kissed her as if she was the very air he breathed, and then set her an arm's length away from him. Dazed and more than a little confused, Katarina slowly opened her eyes. A lust and passion he knew he'd put there made Viktor stand a little taller. He took pride in her kiss-swollen lips and the gently tossed look of her locks. The day when he didn't have to stop, when he could love her the way the mate of a King of the Blood should be loved, the way his woman should be loved, could not come soon enough. Alas, it was not this night.
"Viktor-" Her words were cut off by the appearance of Roman.