Page 29 of Married to the Don (Kornilov Bratva Duet 1)

Molly

He smells like cedar.

Cedar and leather and coffee beans. He’s the human equivalent to a hipster coffee shop. I haven’t been in one since before I had Theo, but I can remember the smell.

Viktor curls a hand around my back, pressing me firmly against him, and his body feels good against mine. Solid and warm.

He is strong. Healthy. The kind of man that could throw me over his shoulder and carry me into a cave.

And I melt.

My body fuses with his, my hips pressing into his, my chest arching up as I grab his square jaw in my hands and open my mouth to let him in.

He tastes good, too. I hear someone moan—it might be me.

The men I’ve been with since having Theo have not been good experiences. Quick, anonymous, forgettable. Just physical encounters good for releasing some pent-up energy.

This is different though. Rather than releasing energy, I seem to be drawing it from Viktor.

I was tired a moment ago, but now, I’ve never felt more awake. My body is humming with electricity. I feel like a live wire.

Viktor sucks on my lower lip and swirls his tongue with mine, and I feel my entire body go weak. This should not feel this good. It’s not normal for kissing to feel this good.

In the back of my head, my rational brain is fighting for control. It’s kicking and screaming for me to push him away and run in the opposite direction, but I don’t want to. As bad as Viktor is, I think I’m attracted to him.

I almost laugh out loud at my own naivete.

Of course I’m attracted to Viktor.

I found him handsome the first moment I saw him. His particular mix of wine-colored hair, chiseled jawline, and sculpted body is like catnip for women. He is genetically predisposed to making women swoon. Which is probably the reason I accepted a shot from his brother at that concert five years ago.

Fedor.

His name is like a shot of clarity in a cloud of fog. I jolt back into my body, making me aware of what I’m doing for the first time in minutes—hours? I push on Viktor’s chest until our bodies separate. Until I have enough distance to think clearly.

Fedor and Theo. Two very different yet very important reasons why I can’t let this kiss continue.

Theo needs me to be alert, to stay strong and resilient. I can’t let our attractive captor ensnare me in this trick. Because that’s what it is—a trick. He’s trying to lower my defenses and make sure I won’t try to escape again.

And Fedor.

He’s the reason I’m here in the first place. What he did to me changed the course of my life and sent his brother chasing after me. He’s the reason Viktor cares at all about Theo. Fedor is the reason there is a chance my son will be taken away from me.

I can’t let that happen.

Viktor’s eyes are glazed over, but he blinks and tries to focus on me. His lips are red and swollen, and I’m sure I look just as disheveled as he does. The thought makes me self-conscious, and I smooth my hair down and run the back of my hand over my mouth.

The air between us, once electric, feels stagnant. It feels heavy and full, like a rain cloud threatening a downpour. I’m not sure what to say.

Viktor just stares at me.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, and immediately feel stupid for doing so. I’m mostly just sorry that I allowed myself to get so caught up in my physical attraction to Viktor that I could forget what his family is doing to me. I’m sorry that I lost control and gave him the impression that I am a moony girl who will fall over backwards because his blue eyes smolder when he’s frustrated.

He clears his throat and grabs his coffee, taking a sip. We stand there in an uncomfortable silence for another second before Viktor breaks it, surprising me further.

“What kinds of toys does Theo like?”

“What?”

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