Chapter Thirty
Viktor borrowed a motorcycle from the nest and returned to New Port. He and Trixie had plenty of time before sunrise so they took the interstate this time.
As they reached the border of the city, he took the exit off the highway and slowed to a stop by an empty field of wild flowers.
Trixie leaned forwarded, looking over his shoulder. “Is something wrong with the bike? Don’t tell me we ran out of gas. I don’t want to spend the day underground.” Her grip on his shoulders tightened.
He pointed at the sky. “I have some explaining to do.” The words left a sour taste in his mouth. Viktor was not good at apologizing, but he had stolen the dragon’s vehicle and abandoned it in the forest.
Eoin came to a soft landing. “So.” His tone sharp as he narrowed his glare upon them. “Where should I begin?”
“We had important business to attend to in Riverbend,” Trixie interjected before Viktor could open his mouth.
The dragon lowered his head so he could look Viktor in the eye. “Did you get her?”
“Let us say that the black magic is stopped and the book in good hands.” He would tell Eoin the details of this adventure on another night over a glass of wine when the weight of the world did not seem to press on him, or Trixie’s heat warming his back.
“More importantly, did you behave?”
“Did I kill anyone? I disposed of my lieutenant, who conspired to usurp my rule.” Viktor leaned on the handle bars. He would not be returning to the castle. Not now, not ever.
“I approve of this action.” Eoin nodded.
Viktor removed his jacket and raised the edged of his short sleeve, exposing his newest tattoo. “I did get some work done by the dhampir.”
The dragon sniffed and sneezed. “Black magic? Is this wise?”
“It’s supposed to keep his bloodlust under control.” Trixie caressed the ink. “I think it will work. Jade has had years to study that book.”
“Jade?” Eoin shook his head. “This sounds like something I need to hear at length and not in some cold field.”
“I am taking Trixie home.”
The dragon nodded. “Come visit when you have time. I would like to hear this story and throw out those chains.” He launched himself into the sky, wings beating a storm of wind.
Viktor pulled on his jacket.
“You’re taking me home,” she asked quietly.
“Yes.”
Trixie clutched him tight the whole journey. Her lush body pressed to his back like a sweet temptation. As he parked in front of his home, his blood burned. Not to feed, but for his woman.
Viktor helped her off and her legs wobbled unaccustomed to straddling something for so long. He supported her under the elbows until she found her land legs. Her gaze wandered behind him to the old brick building. “Is this your tattoo parlor?”
He winced. “I prefer tattoo studio.” He hung his arm over her shoulder and faced his home. Two huge picture windows, painted black, cover the front of the shop, his name scrawled in gold across both.
“I imagine you’re only open at night.”
“Of course. Let me give you a tour.” He tugged her inside before she could reply, his heart a hummingbird in his chest. He wanted her to stay. To want to stay of her own free will, not because she had nowhere else to go.
She wandered along the wall where he had framed pictures of his best work, her fingers tracing the images. He did not have much furnishings since he only worked on one customer at a time. She glanced over his equipment and inks.
He leaned against the wall, following her graceful movements among his things, within his sanctuary. He had not invited another vampire inside since opening the shop.
Pausing by a mirror, she opened her mouth and examined her fangs.
“Is something wrong with your teeth?” He stood behind her.
“Just wondering. Will the New Port nest accept me? Are they prissy like Riverbend or can they tolerate a dogcatcher in their ranks?”
His brow furrowed. “You want to live with them?”
“I’m not ready to return to Ruby and I refuse to live with the dragons.”
“This is your home.” He kissed her cotton candy hair. His beacon in the night, his hope and future.
She glanced at him. “No vampire nest. No Paulo.”
Viktor growled. “Not unless you want him dead.” He traced the outline of her ear. “I had hoped you would remain here with me. Use your drawing skills to create unique tattoo designs.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. “This feels right. A new home for my new life.”
“A safe home, where I can protect you.”
“And I can protect you.” She kissed the tip of his nose.
“I know this is not a luxurious mansion. We could always look for a nicer home if you want.”
“You’re never going to forgive me for that, are you?” She twisted and wrapped her arms around his neck. “This place is perfect. I have had enough of mansions and fancy gardens. I’ve decided fancy balls are not for me.” She pulled him down with her grip on his hair.
Taking her mouth with a slow fury, he made it clear she was the sole focus of his life.
She surrendered with a moan, opening herself to everything and anything he wanted. Fingernails teased over the tense muscles of his throat.
He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the elevator.
She pulled away and blinked at the pristine metallic walls. “Where does this go?”
“You do not think I sleep in the studio with those big windows.” He chuckled at her blush.
“Maybe.”
The doors opened and she slipped from his arms.
Stunned, Trixie blocked the exit from the elevator until Viktor guided her steps forward. The whole second floor was one huge apartment—gleaming wood floors, large living room with fireplace, and a bed against the far wall.
“No kitchen,” she murmured.
“No food to cook. I do have a small fridge for drinks and blood.” He brushed the hair away from her neck, his breath hot and heavy on her skin. His fingertips caressed her hips, his hands rising to slip under the hem of her shirt to splay across her lower abdomen.
She spun around, pressed her mouth to his, putting one hand on the nape of his neck, holding him close, never going to let go. He was hers. Her vampire. Her lover.
Not breaking the connection, Viktor lifted her up in his arms and carried her across the apartment. The comforter was soft against her back when he laid her down, his body a heavy, muscled weight.
She spread her thighs to accommodate him, her core aching for him.
He kissed his way along her throat as her fingers clenched on the muscled heat of his back. The cotton of his T-shirt crumpled under her grip.
“I want all of you,” she whispered. She reached down and pulled her shirt over her head to throw it to the floor. It left her dressed in a bra of delicate lace, her breasts straining to be set free.
Viktor gazed upon her chest and snapped the clasp so the lingerie fell off her shoulders. He ran his rough palms over her nipples.
She moaned, arching her back into his touch.
Looking up, his long hair falling across her body, he closed his hand on her breast and settled his weight more heavily on her.
Then he kissed her and petted and stroked her torso with possessive hands that made it clear Viktor Petrov had claimed her as his. She’d never wanted anything more in her life.
Material ripped as he tore his T-shirt and tossed the rags to the floor and the naked heat of his flesh was pressed to her breasts.
She traced the complex spell tattoo on his shoulder, her blood permanently embedded in his pale skin. “Do you really think it will work?” All her hopes for the future laid in this artwork.
Closing his hand around her throat, he lowered himself until their breaths kissed. “Yours does. Betty’s did. So will mine.” She met him kiss for kiss. Her need for him a mad thing, she made a distressed noise when he lifted his body off hers.
A hot look before he undid the fastenings of her pants with desperate hands. It took mere seconds to pull off her jeans and panties and another to take off his own. “I am going to taste every inch of you.” He knelt between her legs and nipped at her sensitive inner thighs.
“Viktor.” Her mind exploded, her body howling, a soundless moan, his mouth hot and demanding on her flesh, his rough hands on her thighs as he held them apart. “I want—I want…”
He rose up over her body, bracing himself on his right arm, using his fingers on the other hand to brush back her hair. “Tell me.” His voice an erotic caress against her ear.
“I want you inside me.”
His thick eyelashes fluttered closed and his abdomen clenched as his erection pressed against her abdomen, impossibly hard. “There will be some discomfort.” He settled his hips between her thighs, his weight deliciously heavy. “Tell me if I am going too fast.”
She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous. She wanted to be with him. This magnificent, beautiful, caring vampire. Trixie wrapped her legs around Viktor. “Love me.”
His responding kiss was a naked demand. “Spread your legs wider,” he ordered once he released her mouth. Their gazes locked as he began to push inside her.
A painful stretch had her hissing at the need that still wanted all of him.
He stopped. His jaw brutal line. “Are you hurting?”
Tight and full to the point it was almost painful and exactly where she wanted him to be. “I’m…perfect.”
He shuddered and pushed farther in, withdrawing slowly then returning until he was buried to the hilt inside her. “Trixie.” Stormy eyes with so much emotion, he moved in an easy rhythm. His body rigid, the tendons of his neck standing out starkly.
“Faster.” A breathless demand.
His fingers dug into her hips. “You sure?”
“Yes.” Clawing her nails into his muscled back, she attempted to help by arching her hips.
Viktor pulled out only to slam back in hard. He pounded deeper, over and over again, a primitive, rough, spectacular taking.
Coming so hard Trixie splintered. She clutched his sweat-slicked skin. Their hearts drumming to their own love song. It was a possessive, passionate claiming as she orgasmed.
Viktor came with a violent cry, his breathing harsh and his body rigid. He fisted her hair in his hands, molten stare pinning her gaze. “You are mine.”