Page 19 of Viktor's Temptation
“I am very strict with my clan members,” he continued. “Humans must never discover our existence. We live among them, work among them, but they can’t know about us.”
“I understand that,” she murmured, her hands nervously brushing over her thighs. The feel of loose denim startled her again, her fingers catching on the unfamiliar slack in her jeans. She plucked at the fabric, reminded of how much herbody had changed. “I lost so much weight during… whatever you called it.”
“Your transition,” he supplied gently.
“Right,” she sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I guess that makes sense.”
Viktor’s expression softened. “You didn’t lose weight, Gracie. Your body was transformed into what it is now—a predator.”
The word hit her like a slap. “I’m not a predator!” she snapped, her fists clenching by her sides. “I’m just a woman who…” She faltered, her voice trembling. “Whatever happened to me didn’t make me into a monster!”
Viktor stepped closer, his presence calm and unyielding. He took her hand, his touch grounding her. “Why don’t you take a shower?” he suggested. “I’ll have clean clothes brought to you—just something simple for now. Later, I’ll take you shopping for more clothes, and I’ll start to explain your new existence properly.”
Gracie’s jaw dropped. “I can’t let you buy me clothes!” she gasped. “I have plenty of clothes back at my house.”
Her face paled suddenly, and she clutched at her sides. “My house—my keys!” She looked around wildly, her voice rising in panic. “I don’t have my keys! Or my purse! My wallet—my driver’s license!” She dropped onto the edge of the sofa, pressing her hands to her cheeks. “This is such a mess!”
Viktor sat beside her, taking one of her trembling hands in his. “Gracie, I know this is overwhelming. But yes, I will buyyou clothing, and yes, you are going to stay here while I teach you everything you need to know.”
She lifted her eyes to his, shaking her head. “I couldn’t impose on you, Viktor. You’ve already helped me so much by letting me stay here to… recuperate.” Her gaze flicked downward, her tone tentative. “I can figure this out on my own.”
“How are you going to teach yourself to fly?” he asked, his tone firm but gentle as he squeezed her hand.
She tried to pull away, but his grip was steady. “I don’t need to know how to fly! Normal people don’t need to fly!”
His lips curved into a faint smile. “Flying is one of the ways vampires escape danger. It also allows us to see places others can’t reach.” He studied her intently, his voice softening. “You’ll be shocked by the beauty that’s now available to you, Gracie. It’s an amazing world.”
He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. “Please, let me show it to you. It would be my honor.”
Her breath hitched at his words, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the strength to argue. The warmth of his hand against hers was a small comfort amidst the chaos, and part of her—despite her confusion and fear—wanted to trust him. But how could she? How could she trust anyone after what had happened?
Gracie hesitated, caught between defiance and the strange pull of Viktor’s unwavering patience. She felt like a shattered glass, her edges sharp and dangerous, but something about Viktor’s presence made her wonder if she could be pieced back together again.
Gracie stared at Viktor for a long moment, her silver eyes narrowing in suspicion. “You’re asking me instead of telling me?”
He chuckled softly, nodding. “Yes, you’re right. Did it work? Will you allow me to teach you?”
She sighed heavily, the weight of her current reality pressing down on her. “Fine! Yes.” She glared at him, though the edge of her lips twitched with reluctant amusement. “But don’t think I don’t see how you’re manipulating me.”
His laughter deepened, a rich, warm sound. “Yes, I might be manipulating you a bit,” he admitted with a grin. “But if it’s working, I am unapologetic.”
Gracie laughed despite herself. “Fine. But you’re not buying me clothes. I’ll call my credit card company and figure out how to get new cards mailed to me.”
Viktor tilted his head, considering her with a thoughtful expression. “How about a compromise?”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “I suspect you’re not offering a compromise as much as trying to convince me to let you buy things for me. But it’s not going to work. I make my own way in the world, Viktor.”
“Fair enough,” he said with a smothered chuckle. “Enjoy your shower, and I’ll meet you back in the living room.”
Before she could respond, he lifted her hand and kissed it in a charming, old-fashioned gesture. The act was so unexpected, so graceful, that she froze, her heart racing as images of their kiss flashed unbidden through her mind.
Then he turned and left the room, leaving her both relieved and confused.
Two things struck her as she stood there, watching him go. The first was Viktor’s particularly nice butt. It was firm, well-rounded, and utterly enticing. She had never paid much attention to men’s posteriors before, but just a glance at his—and those broad, muscular shoulders—had her nearly drooling.
Stop it!she scolded herself. First of all, she just wasn’t that sexual. She’d endured sex with Warren so that she could enjoy the cuddles afterward, but the act itself had always felt like a messy, time-consuming, tedious chore.
The second thing she noticed was the room’s darkness. Despite the blackout curtains and lack of lighting, she could see everything clearly. It was as if her vision had adjusted to the dimness in a way that shouldn’t have been possible.
