Page 54 of Viktor's Temptation
“What are you going to do to Dave?” Gracie asked, glaring at the sniveling slimeball.
“Tie him up,” Viktor said, handing her the thin wire that she knew would hold Dave. “Both his hands and his feet. We’ll take him back to my headquarters and convene a tribunal to decide his future.”
Hurriedly, Gracie wrapped the wire around Dave’s feet, then his hands. He tried to resist, but Gracie was eager to test out her new strength and she won easily. When the vampire was trussed up, Viktor literally dragged the man across the asphalt parking lot, then tossed him into the back of the SUV.
“Call Trent and let them know that we’ve got him,” he requested, tossing her his phone.
She quickly dialed and told Viktor’s deputy and head of security that they were heading back to headquarters with Dave in tow.
“I should tie him to the back of this truck and let him bounce along the street behind us,” Viktor muttered as she hung up.
“That would be difficult to explain.”
His mouth twisted slightly. Then he said, “Yeah, but it might be worth it.”
Gracie climbed into the passenger seat, her emotions swirling. Viktor joined her, starting the engine as though they’d just concluded an ordinary business transaction. Yet the tension in his body was palpable.
As they drove through the city streets, Viktor’s hand found hers, lacing their fingers together. The simple act grounded her, and she turned to him with a soft smile.
“I love you,” she said quietly, the words carrying a weight she hadn’t fully processed until now.
His grip on her hand tightened, his eyes flicking to hers. “I love you too, Gracie.” His voice softened. “And I’m not sorry you’re a vampire. I can’t be—not when it brought you to me.”
She smiled, her heart swelling. “I’m not sorry either,” she admitted, leaning back as the city blurred past. For the first time since her ordeal began, Gracie felt a flicker of peace. Viktor was her anchor, and together, they would face whatever came next.
Chapter 31
“Are you ready?”
Gracie looked up, her interest piqued as Viktor strolled into the gymnasium. His powerful frame and confident stride had her pulse quickening in an instant. “Are you here to test me?” she asked, straightening with pride.
She’d been working hard, honing her new abilities. Her speed was impressive, her strength unmatched, and with Sorcia’s guidance, she was even starting to get the hang of flying—though she’d never match a witch’s agility in the air. Her mind control was progressing too, although she still couldn’t stomach feeding on a live human yet. For now, bagged blood sufficed.
“Not so much a test,” Viktor said, his eyes glinting with amusement as he approached her. “More like taking your new skills out for a test drive.”
Gracie cringed, the phrase “test drive” immediately conjuring unpleasant memories of Dave, the sleazy car salesman-turned-criminal. “Can we not call it that?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.
Viktor grinned and reached for her, pulling her effortlessly into his arms. “Oh, come on,” he teased, his lips brushing against her neck in a way that sent delicious shivers down her spine. “You’re madly in love with me. You’ll get over it.”
“Madly in love?” she repeated, squirming as he began nibbling along the curve of her neck. She giggled, trying to pushhim away but only managing to press closer. “Where did you get that idea?”
He pulled back slightly, feigning a wounded expression. “From the way you look at me, obviously.” He cocked an eyebrow. “And because you’re going to marry me, sell your house, and live here with me forever.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Marry you?” she squeaked, blinking up at him.
Viktor smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. “Well, I wasn’t planning on being your eternal boy toy, Gracie,” he said smoothly.
Gracie burst out laughing, playfully smacking his shoulder. “As if you’d ever let yourself be sidelined!”
“Exactly,” he replied, his tone utterly smug. “I don’t do ‘side anything.’ Which means you’ll just have to marry me.”
“And what if I say no?” she challenged, her lips twitching with a playful smile.
“Then I’ll spend eternity convincing you otherwise,” Viktor countered, kissing her lightly before leaning back with mock seriousness. “Besides, let’s be practical. Your house isn’t big enough to accommodate my security team or their fancy toys. You’ll have to move in here. And since I’m a generous man, I’ve already arranged for one of Sorcia’s witches, who happens to be a top-tier interior designer, to help you redecorate.”
Gracie raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’ve got this all figured out, don’t you?”
“I do,” Viktor replied, stepping closer and capturing her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You love me, I love you. We’re a perfect match. Why waste time pretending otherwise?”
