Page 13 of Viktor's Temptation
Her head swiveled between the two men, panic clawing at her chest. Mr. Grumpy looked as though he’d rather beanywhere else, while Viktor’s gaze softened as it landed on her. Immediately, he stepped forward and gently took her hands in his.
The warmth of his touch was startling, and to her shock, Gracie felt an overwhelming urge to step closer. She wanted to press her cheek to his chest, to let his arms envelop her, shielding her from the chaos swirling in her mind.
What is wrong with me?she thought, horrified by her reaction. This couldn’t be real—none of it. Maybe she was trapped in a particularly vivid nightmare.
Viktor’s voice grounded her. “One of the advantages of being a vampire is that you now have the ability to control another person’s mind, Gracie.”
Her jaw dropped. “Mind control? That’s… awful!” she exclaimed, only to bite her lip in frustration—and wince when her sharp fangs pierced the skin. “Ouch! Darn it!”
The grumpy man snorted in amusement, dropping a few bags of blood onto the glass coffee table. “She needs more,” he muttered before stomping out of the room without another word.
Viktor nodded, his thumbs brushing soothing circles over her knuckles. “He’s right. You’re a new vampire. That means you’re going to be ravenously hungry for the next few days.”
Gracie’s heart thudded faster at his touch, her mind spinning. She wanted to pull away but found herself rooted in place, craving the reassurance he seemed to exude effortlessly.
“This is insane!” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I can’t be a vampire.”
His lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Come back to the mirror, Gracie. Look at yourself. Really look this time.”
Reluctantly, she followed him. When her shoulder brushed his bicep, she glanced up and noticed the strange silver glow in his eyes.
“What does that mean?” she asked, mesmerized by the way his gaze seemed to burn with an intensity she couldn’t comprehend.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he stopped in front of the mirror, his hand resting lightly on her arm as he turned her to face her reflection.
Gracie’s breath hitched. This time, she noticed the stark changes in her appearance. Her skin gleamed, pale and luminous, like polished marble. Her lips, even without makeup, seemed fuller and rosier.
“Why is my skin so pale?” she whispered.
“Because your body transformed,” Viktor explained, stepping behind her and gently sweeping her hair back over her shoulders. “Open your mouth, Gracie.”
She hesitated but obeyed, gasping when her fangs slid down. Seeing them in the mirror, stark against the vibrant red of her lips, sent a shiver through her. “What? Why are they doing that?”
“You’ll need them,” Viktor said cryptically. His large hands moved to hers, holding them lightly. Then, to her astonishment, she felt herself lifting off the ground.
“What’s happening?” she gasped, instinctively leaning back against him.
Viktor wrapped his arms around her, his hold protective but not constraining. The solid warmth of his body against her back was intoxicating.
“We’re floating,” he said softly, his breath brushing her ear.
Gracie’s cheeks flushed as a shiver of excitement coursed through her. She forced herself to focus on the mirror, where her feet dangled a foot above the ground. “How are you doing this?”
His voice was low, teasing. “I’ll teach you, Gracie. If you’ll let me.”
He lowered them gently, and when his arms left her, Gracie felt a strange pang of loss. She turned to face him, her silver eyes wide with awe. “What else?”
Viktor chuckled, the sound warm and amused. “Another advantage is that we heal quickly.”
Her attention snapped back to the mirror, her fingers brushing over her lip where she’d punctured it earlier. “The punctures are gone!” she exclaimed.
“Exactly,” he said, stepping closer again. His finger lightly traced the skin around her eyes. “We don’t age, either. Nowrinkles. No joint replacements. Your body will stay exactly as it is now.”
She turned to him, incredulous. “So… this is me? Forever?”
“Yes,” he said, his tone filled with certainty.
She studied her reflection again, her hands running over her arms, her waist, her face. “I don’t look like me. I look… better.”
