I squirm from the intensity building between us. “What look?”
“I can’t place it. You look at me differently than before.”
Under his penetrating gaze, my heartbeat speeds up until it flutters wildly in my chest.
It’s because I’m stunned out of my ever-loving mind by seeing firsthand how powerful he is.
It’s because I’ve never seen anything hotter than Viktor in action.
It’s because I’m free to love him.
Viktor brushes the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip, then leans closer, pressing such a gentle kiss to my mouth. Warmth bursts in my heart, filling every inch.
He only pulls back a little. “Do you have any idea how much I fucking missed you?”
I sound breathless when I whisper, “I wasn’t even gone for two weeks.”
His eyes lock on mine, making my stomach do somersaults. “I know I promised to let you go, but…” he shakes his head, “I can’t.”
My left hand trembles as I lift it to his face. I cup his jaw, loving the feel of the bristles against my skin. “I don’t want you to let me go.”
His eyes sharpen on my face. “Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”
I shake my head, and worry instantly darkens his eyes.
“There’s nothing to forgive, Viktor. I now understand why my family had to die.”
I can’t believe what they did. Trading in sex slavery? Stealing from the Cosa Nostra? Because of them, all these bad things have happened to me.
Air bursts from Viktor, relief washing over his features. “Christ,” he whispers before he pulls me to his chest. He peppers the side of my head and neck with kisses. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”
“You should’ve told me sooner what my family did.” The raw heartache and disappointment are in every word.
He pulls back again, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t have believed me, and I wanted to spare you the pain.”
There’s a knock at the door, then Luca calls out, “We have to leave soon.”
“I know,” Viktor replies. “We’ll be out in ten minutes.” He turns his attention back to me. “Let’s get you out of this ugly as fuck dress.” He looks at the chiffon with disgust. “Jesus,howdo I get you out of this?”
Laughter bursts from me as I stand up. “There’s a zipper at the back.”
When his knuckles brush against my skin as he pulls the zipper down, goosebumps erupt all over my body, and tingles explode in my stomach.
The chiffon bunches at my feet, and I’m standing in my underwear.
The memory of Alessandro touching me hits hard, making tears jump to my eyes. I rush to my luggage and struggle with my left hand to unzip the bag.
Viktor comes to crouch next to me and takes over, opening the bag. He pulls a pair of leggings and an oversized shirt out.
“Underwear too, please,” I whisper, my cheeks flaming up.
I watch as he rummages for a bra and panties. When we straighten up, I try to reach for the clothing, but he shakes his head. “Let me help you, so you don’t use your right arm.”
Oh, Jesus.
Feeling incredibly self-aware, I stand rooted to the spot as Viktor sets the clothes on the bed. He comes to stand in front of me, so close, his aftershave and manly scent fill my lungs. He unclasps the bra at the front and pushes a strap down my left arm before focusing on my right arm, making sure not to jar it.
He doesn’t even try to hide that he looks at my breasts, and I watch as heat ignites in his dark brown eyes.