Chapter 45

Chapter Forty-Five

Viktor

D riving to the house, I'm excited and pissed. Ava is going to be the death of me. I don't understand why it's so hard for her to do what she's told. It's her way or not at all, and it drives me crazy. It's like her judgment lapses, even though she knows things aren't safe right now.

When I finally reach the house, there are men everywhere. A mixture of men Marco has brought with him and those loyal to me. I thought there might be discord, considering Marco's men are outsiders, but I was surprised to see they get along just fine. Oliver is doing his job well. He's risen to the challenge. I demand so much of him, but he never fails me. He's kept my family safe. It's a priceless gift, and I'll never forget it.

I park the car and walk toward the garden, where I see the most beautiful sight. The woman I love taking care of our daughter. I need to have her right now. No more playing around.

"What are you doing?" she asks.

"You're mine."

"Viktor," is all I let her say.

I set her in front of our bed and take off her blouse. I kiss her neck and make my way to her breasts. I bite down on her nipple, making her cry in pleasure. She moans as I lick her nipples to give her relief. It's an invitation for me to keep going. Her skin is like silk. I continue to kiss her until I'm on my knees. I slide my fingers into the waistband of her leggings and slowly pull them down, leaving a trail of kisses behind. She puts her hand on my shoulder, clearly looking for support. She's wearing soft pink panties, they might look common on anyone else, but on her, they're exquisite. I slowly push her onto the edge of the bed so her legs are dangling over the side. I set her legs on my chest, giving me perfect access to what I want.

"Viktor," she moans.

I lick her, causing her body to arch toward me. She has her eyes closed, and I lick again, applying a little more pressure with my tongue. Her moans are music to my ears. I cover her with my mouth and get to work. I want her to feel worshipped, to know how much I desire her. I take one of my fingers and circle her clit, causing her to grip the sheets.

"You taste like sweet vanilla," I murmur, making her arch closer to me. She's enclosing me between her legs.

"I'm going to come," she whispers.

"Then do it. Show me how much your body desires me." I increase my speed and pressure. It doesn't take long for her to reach ecstasy.

I don't give her any time to recover. I turn her over and smack her ass. She yelps in pleasure, gripping the sheets as the orgasm courses through her. I unbuckle my pants and let them fall. I nearly rip my shirt off. With her still on her stomach, I cover her with my body. In one thrust, I'm inside her. I kneel and grab her by the waist to bring her up against my chest. Ava is such a beautiful woman, and she's all mine.

"Always ready for me," I whisper in her ear with my arm around her neck. She lets her head fall back against my chest.

This is where I find my peace. This is where I find my center. In the midst of all the chaos, Ava brings me strength. People say I'm the boss, but she has all the power. She's the one holding all the cards.

I continue to thrust, claiming her like this is the only moment that matters. I kiss and bite her neck. She moans and meets every thrust. Her speed and determination bring me closer to the edge. If I were to find my demise now, I could claim to have found true happiness.

"Fuck, I'm going to come," I growl.

This encourages her to increase her speed. I slide out and turn her onto her back. I need her to see that this is what I want. I want her. I thrust inside her, and her eyes never leave mine. Perhaps she has the same idea as me. She needs to see me. At this moment, it's just her and me. The woman with the power to bring me to my knees. If she knew how deep my love for her is, she wouldn't fight us anymore.

"Come with me," I demand. On cue, she does. "Fuck," I cry as I follow. I take a breath and roll onto my back.

We lay in bed, neither saying a word. I'm not sure what to make of Ava's silence. But she's beside me, and that's a win. I feel her breathing slow. I think she's fallen asleep, but she breaks her silence.

"Viktor, we can't do this," her voice is quiet, almost a whisper. I get on my side and turn her to face me.

"I beg to differ."

"It's obvious you're in the middle of the biggest thing you have ever faced. This, us, it's only going to complicate things." I caress her face.

"I'm always going to be facing something. I can't stop living my life because of a challenge I might be dealing with."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? It's not just you and me. We have two defenseless babies that depend on us to make the right decisions." She closes her eyes.

"I love you, Ava. I've loved you for longer than I was willing to admit. Fighting this truth is pointless and exhausting. Aren't you exhausted? I don't want to be in the same house, living like we're strangers. You're running from what's blatantly obvious."

"I love you too. This isn't about us loving each other. This is about putting Aisling and Niko first. You want me, but they need me." She sits up. I do as well.

"I don't want us living under the same roof and feeling like we are oceans apart." I pull her on top of me. I lean my forehead against hers. "Please don't fight us anymore." She takes a deep breath, and silence grows between us once again. Before I speak, a tear escapes her falling on me. "Ava?—"

"I might have forgiven you, but I still don't trust you. There's a crack in our foundation, and it's not a simple thing to fix." I kiss her.

"I swear I'll do whatever it takes to fix it," I promise before I claim her again.

"Good morning." I lean in and move strands of hair away from her face.

"What time is it?" She sits up, almost in a panic.

"It's early."

She gets out of bed, looking for her clothes. "How early?"

"Eight."

"Jesus, I need to feed my babies. Why did you let me sleep in?" There's a slight panic in her voice which I find adorable. I chuckle.

"This isn't funny," she snaps.

"The nannies fed them. I made sure they were both fine. You needed to rest. They're here to help you."

"It's not the same. Where are my clothes?"

"Why don't I run you a bath?"

"I need to see my babies."

I grab the tablet on my nightstand. I pull up the app to show all the camera feeds and hand it to her.

"See, fast asleep."

"Wait, you mean to tell me there are cameras around the house?"

"Of course. I need to know what's happening at all times."

"Is there a camera in my bedroom?"

I don't answer. I walk to the bathroom, turn on the water to fill the tub and add lavender oil.

"Viktor?" she yells.

"Come take a bath."

"I'm not doing anything unless you answer me." She stands at the door.

I pull her to me.

"What difference does it make?"

"You—"

I don't let her finish. I kiss her, swallowing every single word. She tries to fight it at first, but desire wins.

Watching Ava get into the bathtub centers me. Everything is returning to normal. Claiming her is what I needed, and confessing how I feel has brought us closer. We're better together than apart. I know she will also see that once she lets her guard down. Our relationship hasn't been simple, but that doesn't matter. She's my queen, and I'll fight for her with everything I have in my arsenal. I'll show her that we're worth fighting for. This war I'm facing is temporary. Once everything is over, we can start living the life she and our kids deserve.