Page 31 of Dice & Dekes

He chuckles. “You can still hate me if you want. I like you extra spicy.”

“Seriously. You’re being weird. What’s all thiswife privilegesnonsense? We’re not really married. Dante’s working on the annulment. Heck, he might already have the paperwork in hand to put things back the way they should be.”

“What way is that?” Viktor prompts.

I wave a hand between us. “You and me. Separate. Not together.”

But even as I say it, I remember how easily we fell back into our old banter after years apart. How he’s one of the first people I call when I’m bored. Baylor’s supposed to be my best friend, but I haven’t even texted him to tell him about the fire yet.

Viktor’s grin only widens. “For someone who’s eager to get away from me, you were pretty quick to move in. As for the annulment, you’re right. It could go through at any moment. Guess you should take advantage of me while you can, don’t you think?”

The slight curve of his lips and the way he tilts his head to watch my reaction tell me that his double entendre is very much intended. My protest dies on my tongue. I shiver at the blurred memory of his hands on my waist, his mouth on my skin, his tongue on my…

Anyway. If it felt that good when we were drunk, how good could it feel sober?

Which implies that I would ever consider sleeping with Viktor without liquid encouragement. Yesterday, I would have said it wouldn’t happen, but today, I’m not so sure where my boundaries lie.

“Okay,” I blurt.

Viktor does a double-take. “Really? You’re not going to fight me on that?”

“If you want to waste your money buying me replacement shit, I’m not going to complain.” I brush my hair over one shoulder and return to my meal.

“I wouldn’t call it a waste,” Viktor says. Before I can respond, he polishes off his second egg and takes his empty bowl to the sink for a rinse. I guess he was serious about eating quickly, because he polished that off in about three bites. “I’m going to the bedroom to finish getting ready. Take your time.”

I watch him go and wonder what the hell I’m doing. The safest thing would be to leave. The smart thing would be to leave. But when I picture walking out of this house, I feel… something I don’t want to name. Something that makes me stay.

Well,thishas been quite a strange morning. I wait until he leaves before pulling my phone out of my pocket and opening a thread with Baylor.

SuperKnova:Remember when you said Viktor had a look he saved just for me? What did you mean?

BowBeforeBaylor:You know that lil heart eyes emoji? That’s the one

BowBeforeBaylor:Don’t shoot me I’m just the messenger

BowBeforeBaylor:Why do you ask???

SuperKnova:It’s complicated

SuperKnova:tl;dr I accidentally burned my house down with potatoes and now I’m staying at V’s place

BowBeforeBaylor:EXQUEEZE

BowBeforeBaylor:omg omg omg Vikva is finally happening

SuperKnova:tf is Vikva????

SuperKnova:TF is “finally????”

BowBeforeBaylor:Vikva is your couple name

BowBeforeBaylor:Viktor + Knova

SuperKnova:NO WAY

SuperKnova:1. We do NOT need a couple name

BowBeforeBaylor:You just told me you’re living in his house.

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