Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
Sofia
T he elevator ride to the penthouse felt longer than it should have. Sofia barely processed what had happened—the chaos of the mission, the wounds, and the adrenaline still buzzed through her veins. All she could focus on was Viktor. He was right next to her, and though he hadn't said a word since they left the warehouse, she could feel his thoughts swirling behind the seeming calm.
They moved into the penthouse, and the familiar luxury of the space did little to calm the sizzling between them. Sofia winced slightly as she moved, the bullet graze on her arm still stinging, but she pushed it aside. She wasn’t going to let it show. Not in front of him.
Viktor didn’t speak, his eyes never leaving her as she made her way to the couch. It was a wordless command, but she understood. She sank onto the soft leather, not making eye contact but feeling the weight of his attention on her.
He followed her, not wasting time. There was something about the way he moved tonight, a focus that unsettled her, and she couldn’t quite figure it out. It wasn’t like him to show concern—at least, not the way he was now.
"Sit," Viktor said, his tone firm but with an undertone of something softer she couldn’t place.
She obeyed without protest, trying not to touch her arm. It throbbed, a dull reminder of the mission they had just completed. Viktor’s expression softened when he saw the wound. He didn’t say anything, but his movements spoke volumes.
His hands were steady as he reached for the bandage. His touch, though, was careful, deliberate. She could feel the heat of his palm even through the fabric of her shirt as he undid the makeshift dressing she had applied herself earlier. Each movement was slow, almost too slow. As if he was prolonging it on purpose.
"You should have let me tend to this earlier," Viktor muttered in frustration.
"I’m fine," Sofia replied, but the words felt hollow. She didn’t want to admit that her body was starting to betray her; that the injury, though minor, had opened a chasm she wasn’t prepared to acknowledge.
His touch was gentle as he cleaned the wound, and Sofia found herself unable to move, caught between irritation and something else—a strange vulnerability.
Viktor worked quietly, his focus never wavering from her arm. When he finished cleaning the wound, he took a fresh bandage from the kit. His hands lingered on her skin as he wrapped it, each motion deliberate, as if he was trying to make the moment last.
Sofia’s skin burned where his fingers brushed, the intimacy of it jarring. He wasn’t touching her like a man trying to fix a problem. He was doing it like... something else. She didn’t know what to make of it.
Once he was finished, Viktor didn’t immediately step back. Instead, his hands hovered for a moment, just above her arm, as if waiting for permission to let go. It was a strange, lingering moment, one she couldn’t quite understand.
“You should rest,” Viktor finally said, quieter now, softer. “I’ll be here if you need anything.”
Sofia didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Instead, she let him leave, her thoughts swirling as she remained on the couch. The moment between them had been more than just physical. Something had shifted, but she didn’t know what. Viktor had always been a force to reckon with, but tonight, he had shown a side of himself that Sofia didn’t know how to interpret.
She stared at the spot where his touch had been, the warmth lingering in her skin, before pulling her legs up on the couch and trying to ignore the growing confusion inside her.
Viktor had been right there, so close, enveloping her, and yet she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She had always told herself that she wouldn’t fall for him, that she wouldn’t let herself become tangled in whatever game he was playing. But the reality of what had just passed between them left her unsettled.
And for the first time in a long while, she found herself questioning whether she had underestimated him—underestimated them. Sofia shifted uncomfortably on the couch. The quiet felt suffocating, too still for her liking. Her thoughts raced, replaying the mission, the chaos of it, and everything that had happened. She hadn’t expected Viktor to act the way he did, hadn’t expected him to take charge like that. It was almost as if he cared—really cared—about her well-being.
But she didn’t know if that was just him playing a part in the game, or if there was more to it. She’d been around men like him before—cold, calculating, ruthless. They didn’t show weakness. They didn’t let anyone in.
But Viktor had let her see a crack in his armor. That made her uneasy.
She rubbed her temple, trying to push the thoughts away. It wasn’t the time to second-guess herself. Ivan needed her, and that was all that mattered.
When Viktor returned from the kitchen, his expression was unreadable, his usual mask firmly in place. But there was something in his eyes—something that made Sofia’s heart skip in her chest. She didn’t understand it, didn’t know how to read it.
He rocked back and forth as he stood over her, a Goliath looming over David. Even though she felt small next to him, he didn’t crowd her in a way that made her frightened. His stoic expression always made him hard to read, but she’d peeked past that exterior wall once. She could do it again.
“Sit down with me for a minute, Viktor.” She tapped the side of the couch, her eyes darting restlessly. “It’s so quiet right now…I don’t think I want to be alone, please.”
She was showing vulnerability, too, but somehow, she didn’t care. All she wanted was for him to hold her and ease the stillness in the room. Viktor sank onto the couch, heaving as if this was what he’d needed to be asked all along. They sat together, not touching, not talking for a few seconds. In that silence, her mind drifted back to the gunshots, the fight, and?—
“Were you scared?”
She glanced at him. “What?”
Viktor turned fully to face her and sighed. “You said your father taught you how to use a gun, and that’s fine. You did great today, but I want to know if you were frightened. If you?—”
“I was.” Admitting this to him wasn’t easy, especially since she knew he still held power over her, and one slip could mean he’d never let her past the walls of the penthouse again. But suddenly, she wanted to tell him everything. It was almost like that first night they’d met; his words, his voice, his confidence made her want to spill secrets. “I knew you were there and that you wouldn’t let anything happen to me, Viktor, but it was scary as hell.”
He reached out, cupping her cheeks, his gaze roaming over her face until she thought she wouldn’t be able to breathe again. “I failed today. I wanted to protect you, but I let this happen.”
“You didn’t?—”
“Sofia—”
“No!” She shook her head and shifted closer to him. “You protected me, and I’m grateful. Thank you, Viktor.”
“You should get some rest,” he said after a moment, his voice tight and distant. “I’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens to you again. That’s a promise, Sofia.”
Where was the ruthless, cold man? He was still there, but now there was a light in the darkness, something she didn’t have to peek inside to see. He stood to leave, but she held his hand and stood with him. “Something’s changed between us, Viktor. Why are you doing this? Why do you care so much?”
He looked at her as if she’d just said something unforgivable. “Nothing has changed. Don’t get ideas in your head, Sofia. I’ll protect you because you belong to me?—”
“Bullshit.” She laughed, but it was devoid of humor. “I want the truth.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” he warned.
“I know exactly what I’m asking, Viktor.”
He took a step closer, but this time, he didn’t seem as threatening as usual. The weight of the quiet hung between them like a thick fog, neither of them willing to break it.
“I can’t let you get hurt again,” he finally whispered, barely above the sound of their breaths. “Not like that.”
Sofia didn’t know what to say to that. Instead, she just nodded, unsure of where the conversation was headed. She didn’t want to admit that his words affected her, didn’t want to acknowledge that she was beginning to care—about him, about all of this.
But she couldn’t help it.
The room was thick with an unsaid understanding, both of them silently acknowledging what had happened, and what was to come. The room was still, the weight of Viktor’s words hanging between them. Sofia couldn’t break the stare between them, couldn’t bring herself to look away. His expression was unreadable, yet the rawness in his eyes told her something different—a vulnerability that she hadn’t seen before. For the first time, he wasn’t hiding behind the cold, calculating persona he usually wore so well.
“I don’t want you to get hurt,” Viktor repeated, but this time, there was a tremor in it—a whisper of something real. He took another step closer, seemingly swallowing up the distance between them. His eyes dropped to her lips, and for a moment, Sofia thought he might kiss her, but he didn’t.
Instead, he closed the distance and lowered his head, resting his forehead gently against hers. The intimacy of it was almost suffocating, and Sofia’s breath hitched at the sudden closeness. She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to respond to the vulnerability he was allowing her to see.
“Viktor…” Sofia began, but her words trailed off, uncertain. Her heart was pounding, her pulse racing with every passing second.
He lifted his head, his lips just a breath away from hers. “Don’t say anything,” he murmured roughly, as though the words were a struggle. “Just let me take care of you.”
His hands came up to frame her face, the roughness of his fingertips contrasting with the gentleness of his touch. Viktor’s stare was dark as he hovered above Sofia, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The atmosphere between them was sizzling with anticipation. He wasn’t just here—he was consuming her, mind and body. Every inch of her body ignited as his lips trailed fiery paths along her skin. His touch was like a brand, searing her with unspoken desire. She had always been aware of his strength, his commanding presence that filled the room, but now, as his lips moved against hers, she felt the full force of their mutual hunger.
His kiss was insistent, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, claiming and possessing. She tasted the heat and hunger that mirrored her own growing desire. Her body arched into his, a willing participant in this dance of passion. Her hands roamed over his broad shoulders, fingers digging into his hard muscles, urging him closer.
He pressed her against him, his rigid cock a blatant reminder of his desire. She could feel his length, thick and insistent, pressing against her softness, seeking entry, demanding surrender.
Moans of pleasure escaped their lips, a symphony of need and desire. His hands explored her body, cupping and kneading her breasts, thumbs brushing and teasing her hardened nipples until she was squirming with want.
"You like that, don't you?" he growled against her mouth, his breath hot and needy. "You want me to take charge, to make you beg for release."
She whimpered, her body trembling on the edge of surrender. "Yes," she breathed, her hands gripping his hair, pulling him closer, urging him to take what he wanted.
His mouth left a trail of kisses down her neck, nipping and sucking, marking her as his own. Sofia’s heart hammered in her chest, her body vibrating with a mixture of need and desire she couldn’t suppress. Every muscle in her body was coiled, straining toward him. She wanted more. She wanted him, all of him. She wanted to feel the weight of him, his strength, the rawness of what they were about to share.
“I don’t want to wait anymore,” Viktor’s pitch was a low, gravelly whisper, as though he, too, could barely stand the delay. His lips moved down her neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Sofia’s hands fisted in his shirt, tugging him closer, her breath hitching as his mouth moved lower.
He kissed her, the rawness of it sending a thrill through her. It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t restrained. It was hungry—demanding. His hands slid beneath her clothes, roaming over her skin, making her shiver under the intensity of his touch. Each press of his fingers, each stroke of his hand made her pulse quicken, the ache between her legs growing unbearable. His hands traveled down her body, fingers sliding beneath her skirt, finding the wet heat between her thighs.
"So wet for me," he murmured, his fingers stroking her sensitive clit. "You want my cock inside you, don't you?"
She nodded, her body on fire, her pussy throbbing with need. He teased her, his fingers stroking and circling her sweet spot, bringing her to the brink of orgasm, only to pull back, denying her the release she craved.
Sofia couldn’t hold back any longer. She pulled at his shirt, desperate to feel his bare skin against hers. She needed him, needed to taste him, to claim him. Viktor growled, his lips capturing hers again, his tongue slipping past her parted lips. He responded with equal fervor, kissing her like a man starved, and in that moment, Sofia realized that she, too, was starved for him.
Her hands slid lower, fingers working at the waistband of his pants, as she tugged them down, impatient, eager. Viktor broke the kiss, his breathing ragged as he stared down at her, his chest rising and falling with the force of his desire. There was a ghost of something in his eyes—raw, animalistic, untamed. It was the part of him she hadn’t seen before. The part that was fully exposed to her now.
“Are you sure?” Viktor asked, his laden thick with lust, his hand resting lightly on her waist as if giving her a chance to back out.
Sofia’s eyes locked onto his, and with a slow, deliberate motion, she nodded, a wicked smile curling on her lips. “No going back now,” she whispered, the words a challenge more than anything else. The moment she spoke, she yanked him closer, her hands sliding down to the button of his jeans.
Viktor’s eyes darkened with approval. “I’ll make you feel things you never thought possible,” he promised in a deep growl that sent a shiver of excitement down Sofia’s spine.
Sofia’s breath hitched as he leaned down, his lips trailing down her body, over her collarbone, her chest, before moving lower, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. Her fingers twisted in the sheets, her body trembling with anticipation as he kissed her stomach, his tongue flicking over the soft skin, tasting her.
The space around them felt charged, every movement, every touch, adding to the pressure building between them. Viktor’s hands slid up her thighs, pulling her hips closer to his mouth, and the second she felt the heat of his breath between her legs, Sofia gasped, her fingers splayed on the sheets as her body reacted to him, needing him in a way that terrified her.
He kissed her with fierce urgency, his lips claiming hers as he guided her hands away from the temptation of his straining cock. His fingers dug into her skin, lifting her effortlessly, and in a swift motion, he turned her to face him, their bodies aligned. He spread her legs, positioning her beneath him, a dominant move that left Sofia feeling both vulnerable and intensely aware.
“Viktor,” she moaned with longing, her body arching toward him as he continued his slow, deliberate path down her body.
He paused, looking up at her, his eyes dark with desire. “You belong to me tonight,” he whispered. “All of you," he growled against her lips, his voice a primal claim. "And I'm going to make you feel it."
His kiss deepened, his tongue invading her mouth, possessing her. She tasted his hunger, mirroring her own, as their desire escalated. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails digging into his skin, urging him on.
With a growl, he lifted her, positioning his hard cock at her entrance. She was wet and ready, her body yearning for his possession. He teased her, rubbing the tip of his cock against her sensitive bud, making her gasp and arch into him.
"Please," she begged, her voice hoarse with need. "Take me, Viktor. Now."
With a powerful thrust, he plunged into her, filling her in one stroke. She cried out, her body trembling as he filled her completely, stretching and claiming her. He paused, giving her a moment to adjust to his size, his thick length buried deep within her.
"Feel me, Sofia," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Feel how deep I am inside you."
He began to move, his hips thrusting in a slow, deliberate rhythm. Each withdrawal and penetration sent waves of pleasure through her body. His cock rubbed against her sweet spots, eliciting moans and pleas from her lips.
"Yes, Viktor," she panted, her hands clutching his shoulders. "Harder... please..."
He obliged, his thrusts becoming harder, faster, driving into her with primal urgency. Their bodies slapped together, a rhythmic beat that echoed in the room. He reached between them, his fingers finding her clit, rubbing circles that sent her over the edge.
"Come for me, Sofia," he demanded, his voice commanding. "Let me feel your pussy clench around my cock."
Her orgasm crashed over her, a tidal wave of pleasure. She cried out his name, her body convulsing around his cock, milking him as wave after wave of pleasure rippled through her.
They stayed tangled together, their bodies moving in tandem as they rode out the aftermath of the storm they had just created. Viktor collapsed beside her, pulling her into his arms, his chest heaving with each breath as they both settled into the warmth of each other’s embrace.
Sofia let herself relax into him, her heart still racing, her body still humming with the aftermath of what they’d just shared. She felt vulnerable, open, and for the first time in a long while, she let herself enjoy the peace of his arms around her, the comfort of being completely, utterly claimed by him.
With his lips pressed to her forehead, Viktor whispered, “Rest now. You’re safe with me.”
And for the first time in a long while, Sofia believed it.