17. Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
T iffany
I was smiling when Viktor kicked down my door, busy humming to myself and tending to the plant I was pruning. This was my happy place, loving the flora that helped protect me from men like Viktor.
Though, maybe not really, because I had given that particular asshole a pass.
I had already showered and changed into my silky pajamas. I wasn’t up for entertaining guests. If he was looking for his jacket and car keys, they were on the table. He could take them and go.
Apparently, Viktor wanted to chat.
I squeaked when he snatched me by my hair and swung me into the wall. I collided with enough force to knock pictures off their nails. He then lifted me by my throat and pinned me to the cracked plaster.
Figuring that no one was going to come save me, I relaxed into his hold and smiled sweetly. I would have said hello, but he was disrupting my airway with his tight grip. I could end this with a single prick from my ring, but I was curious to see if he had changed his mind. Maybe he loved me more than he initially thought.
Viktor unholstered his gun and put it to my head. “I should kill you right now.”
His beautiful eyes sparked with fury. I still couldn’t answer though. Spots formed in my vision. My own eyes welled from lack of oxygen. Unlike many others, the dark didn’t scare me, nor did death. I was raised looking forward to an afterlife.
Victor’s gaze narrowed as he stepped back to take in my silky pajamas, then he dragged me off the wall and into the bedroom. He tossed me on the bed and kicked the bedroom door closed.
I scrambled up against the headboard.
“Tiffany,” he growled low, “I’m trying very hard not to let my temper get the best of me.”
Aww. I fluttered my lashes and pouted my lip. I imagine this was as close to an apology as I was going to get from a man like him. I wasn’t petty, so I offered one of my own.
“I’m sorry–”
The bullet whizzed past my head and embedded itself into the wall. Of course, he missed, probably purposely. I knew he was attempting to get a fear reaction out of me, and I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. I must admit that I was a bit annoyed that the fucker put a hole in my wall. There went my security deposit.
“Lie to me again, and the next one will hit.”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. He was such a drama queen. “You don’t want my apology?”
“I don’t want your bullshit.”
With a huff, I crossed my arms. “You hurt my feelings, but I didn’t kill you. Is that not something to be happy about? Why are you shooting at me?”
Viktor slammed the gun on my dresser, then stormed over to where I sat curled against the headboard. He grabbed me by the nape and kissed me hard.
I moaned, overwhelmed by the assault on my senses. He was freshly showered. I figured this was his way of proving to me that he was the man in this relationship. My mom had always said that men’s egos were fragile, and that when you love a man, you have to make sure to protect that part of them, as well as their heart. They wanted to feel like they had the strength and ability to protect the things they cherish, including their woman.
So, I again gave him a pass. Even when he ripped my favorite pajamas from my body.
There was an uncontrolled frenzy to the way he took my body, that seemed at odds with the chilled demeanor he presented. He always seemed so in control. So calculating. So thoughtful. But now, he was like a raging inferno; his thrusts painful and dominating, his teeth marking me as his, and the growly grunts emanating from his throat, as he tried to rage fuck me into submission.
I was kinda digging it. He must care about me if I could make him lose control like this. Even with him battering my body, he managed to draw an orgasm from me. I clawed at his neck and held tight, as I shook in the throes of a violent climax. I knew the man for one day, and he was already the master of my body.
He tensed, then roared. I felt the heat of his essence pouring into me. It burned, but I didn’t care.
Viktor collapsed on top of me, panting into my ear.
“I swear to fucking God, Tiffany,” he growled, “if you ever do something this stupid again, I will kill you.”
I giggled.
He nipped my ear hard. “I’m fucking serious.”
“I know,” I murmured back.
He lifted himself up to look down at me. “I need you to be scared of me.”
Aww.
I fluttered my lashes and cupped his cheek. “I rarely feel fear, but even if I did, I love you too much to be scared of you.”
Viktor put a palm over my hand to gently remove it. “You should be scared. I’m dangerous.”
After offering a small smile, I sighed. “Of course, you are.”
He snarled and lifted off me. “You’re trying to pacify me.”
“I’m trying to make you happy,” I countered.
“Then get up and get dressed. Pack your most important possessions. I will send men to collect the rest.”
I sat up and watched him put his cock back into his pants. “But why?”
“You’re moving in with me at my penthouse.”
Crossing my arms, I frowned. “I don’t want to move.”
“Today is not a good day to try my patience, milyy. ”
“We just met.”
“And I broke your door down already, and too easily, I might add.”
“Do you even love me, Viktor?” Please say yes, so I don’t have to poison you to protect my heart.
He stilled, looking thoughtful. “I don’t know if I believe in love at first sight. I do know that you’re mine. I know I want you. I know I want you to be the mother of my future heir. I know I’m obsessed with how you make me feel. I know I will not let you leave me. I know I will kill anyone who tries to take you from me.”
I smiled big, feeling better about where I stood in his heart. Even if he couldn’t say the words, he clearly felt how I felt. “So we’re until death do us part.”
He nodded then pulled out his phone and began typing out a text. “And we’re getting married tomorrow.”
“We’re going to what?” I exclaimed, taken aback by the sudden turn of events.
“You heard me, milyy.” Viktor sighed, as though my reaction was tiresome. “Don’t make me repeat myself. And you need to get dressed and pack. There is no time to delay.”
I understood him perfectly well, and I understood that our time together had been a primitive dance of power and desire, a delicate game I had to play to get us to the right place. But tomorrow? Married tomorrow?
“Y-you can’t,” I weakly protested. “You know you can’t. It’s not possible anyway.”
His gaze locked onto mine, demanding an explanation. “What do you mean by that?”
“You can’t just marry me. It doesn’t work like that.”
“I can, and I will,” Viktor declared, his words carrying a dark promise that sent shivers down my spine.
“But…” I felt my eyes well.