She knew she could fall hard for Viktor in no time—hell, she felt like she was already halfway there. But he didn’t exactly have a reputation for being in committed relationships, and she worried that he’d get tired of her eventually.
But do you really think that, after what he said to you?
Honestly, no, she didn’t think that, because Viktor wasn’t the type of man to make declarations like he had and not mean them. From what she’d seen, heard, and gathered on her own, she knew he kept himself at a distance with people.
His telling her he wanted her, that he wanted more than just that one night, had sounded genuine.
He was real, and you know that. You just don’t want to realize or accept it.
But Karina did want to accept it, because it’s what she wanted as well.
“Stop,” she whispered to herself, grabbed the files she’d been working on, and got back to it. She’d been immersed in her work for the last few days, trying to stay out of Viktor’s way, because she was still wrapping her head around it all, even if she knew what she wanted.
He’d been working on a big account, so his head had been in that, but she also didn’t miss the way their gazes would lock in passing, and the heat and emotions that bombarded her at every turn.
“Karina, I’m going to go on my lunch. Would you like to go?”
Karina stopped filing and looked at Barbara, who stood in the doorway. There were a few other employees with her. “No thanks. I’d like to get this done.”
“Want me to bring anything back? We’re going to Renaldo’s.”
“I brought my lunch, but thank you.” She smiled and watched as they left. Karina went back to filing, her thoughts on Viktor, as they’d been for the last several days. It also didn’t help that just until the other day she had still been pleasurably sore between her thighs, a remembrance of what they’d shared.
Fortunately, Viktor wasn’t in his office and had left for a meeting a few hours ago. That at least gave her the silence she needed to think. Or maybe she didn’t need to think anymore? Maybe she just needed to either tell him this wasn’t what she could do, or say she wanted to give it a try.
The sound of the office doors opening and closing had her assuming one of the girls had forgotten something. She finished filing the last bit of paperwork and stepped out of the backroom. “You forget something...” Her words died in her throat when she saw Viktor standing by the receptionist’s desk, his jacket midway to being pulled off and his focus on her.
For a second they didn’t speak, didn’t even move.
Maybe this is a sign that things need to get resolved right now?
He took a step toward his office, and even though she could clearly see the strain on his face, he didn’t push her. She had to appreciate that, because Viktor was a man known to go after what he wanted, but he was giving her the space and time to decide what she needed in her life.
“Karina.” The way he said her name as he walked past her made butterflies move around in her belly. The scent of him as the air wafted around her had the hairs on her arms standing on end. And the look he gave her right before he entered his office had her resolve solidifying.
You have thought about this. You know what you want. You know what you need to tell him.
He shut the door, and she contemplated just for a second what she should do.
Stop thinking, and just do it. You won’t know how it’ll be until you talk to him and give this a chance.
Steeling herself, she smoothed her hands over her legs and moved toward the door. She could hear him on the phone, and although she should have knocked, she figured they’d already shared so much that walking in would be appropriate.
She turned the knob, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. He had his back to her and was standing looking out one of the windows, but she could see how he tensed and knew he could sense her right away.
They had this undeniable connection, and that was another reason she was just going to go with it and see how this all went.
“Zachary, let me call you back.” Viktor turned around and disconnected his Bluetooth. He removed it from his ear and set it on the table. The silence between them was thick, slightly awkward, but then again she figured it would be given how they’d parted.
“I figured we should talk,” she said, trying not to twist her fingers together and show her nerves.
He nodded and came around the table. “Do you want a drink?” he asked and went over to the small bar by the wall.