Valentin turned around and faced the full-length mirror on the wall. He fixed his tie and ran his fingers through his grey hair. “Now that this is out of the way, I would like to visit my wife. I am sure she has missed me.”
His words sent me through a dark spiral mess. My heart clenched, and I found it hard to breathe. It fucking…hurt.
My beautiful silent myshka. The one trapped in her tower…waiting for me.
I had to fight against the urge to rub at my aching chest. Clearing my throat, I looked around the room, trying to appear disinterested.
“Will she be attending the party?”
Valentin shook his head. “She never does. She isn’t allowed to leave her room.”
“Well, that’s boring. I thought it would be fun. Parading your property around, letting everyone see—but no one can touch and have her. If I was you, I would have proudly presented her around and made all those horny bastards jealous. Let them know she is mine.”
A small possessive growl escaped past his lips at my words. I waited—watching his reaction. Finally, he smirked.
“Well, fuck, Konstantin. You always have the best ideas,” he replied, his laughter booming across the walls.
I lifted my chin in acknowledgement. “This will be…fun.”
Valentin didn’t reply. Instead, he started to walk away toward his destination—my destination.
And I couldn’t let him.
Not today. I just…couldn’t.
I couldn’t let him hurt her.
Just not fucking today. Not after everything I had just learned.
Tonight, my Valerie would not feel pain.
“Wait,” I called out, stopping Valentin in his tracks. “How about we have a toast tonight? Celebrating our win a little early? I’m sure her pussy can wait just a little longer.”
He turned around, looking thoughtful for a second.
I waited…and waited…
I stopped breathing, hoping…fucking praying.
He nodded.
I was hit with a rush of relief and almost fell on my ass.
My sweet Valerie.
“I’ll bring the drink! A toast. To our win.” He winked and walked away.
I stumbled back and sank down on the couch. Burrowing my face in my hands, I sagged against the seat.
Valentin had dropped several bombs, and I was still reeling.
Our war.
Those innocent women.
Alessio.
Ayla.
The baby.
And…Valerie.
What the fuck was I supposed to do now?
Chapter 29
Valerie
Fifty-one…fifty-two…fifty-three…fifty-four…fifty-five…fifty-six.
I recounted the tally marks again.
Fifty-six.
A round fifty-six.
Fifty-six days.
Sixty days since our gazes first met.
Fifty-six days since I met Viktor and shared our first words.
Twenty-four days since I kissed Viktor for the first time.
I recounted the tally marks again, memorizing those dates.
Memorizing our moments again…and again. They were ingrained in my memories, never to be forgotten.
First look. First touch. First kiss. Every touch after that. And every kiss after that.
Every soft look…heated look after the first.
The burning desire built in the pit of my stomach and traveled all the way to my heart, clenching and hooking there—forever to stay.
I was still looking at the paper when I felt a hand on the back of my neck.
The softest touch—but I could feel the possessiveness in the way he gripped me. I relaxed and closed my eyes, already knowing who it was.
His touch—I had it memorized. My body knew it, and I welcomed him.
Leaning back into his warm body, I let out a soft sigh. This was my favorite moment. When he would sneakily enter my room, and spend all the little time we had…together.
We stayed like this, him holding me, and I leaning into him. My anchor.
Finally, I opened my eyes and turned around. He stared down at me through unsmiling eyes. But I knew, those dark cold eyes, they could be so gentle.
His fingers trailed up my neck, and he thumbed my lips. I shivered against his touch and leaned into him for more. Viktor’s forehead dropped to mine, and we breathed.
He closed his eyes tightly, as if he was fighting some kind of demon…like he was in pain.
I wrapped my arms around him, holding him to me. I laid down on my back and pulled him on top of me. The bed cushioned our weight. He buried his face between my breasts and just stayed there—silent and holding me so tight.
We held each other.
Another moment to memorize.
Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes filled with so many indescribable emotions. Bringing a hand up, I caressed his face gently. He burrowed his cheek into my palm and placed a kiss there.
Viktor then kissed my lips sweetly. I savored the kiss because I didn’t know for how long I had it.
He pulled away slightly and gave me a small smile. “You once said you wished to see outside this room. Just for a moment you wanted to step out and explore a little.”
I nodded, waiting for him to continue.
“I have found a way, Valerie.”
His words made my heart stutter, and my eyes widened. How?
He saw the question in my eyes and replied, without needing me to voice it out. “There is a party. I convinced Valentin to let you attend.”