Chapter 46

Chapter Forty-Six

Ava

A few weeks of bliss and I've allowed myself to be his once again. There's no point in fighting a battle I've clearly lost, so I'm letting things be. I've slept in his bed every night since he confessed his love for me. It's not that he hadn't said it before. It's more about recognizing that something has changed. He isn't the same man. Maybe it's because he's a father now. All I know is that he let me see how vulnerable he can be. Something about his confession felt different, like the final piece of the puzzle fell into place.

Viktor has been trying to convince me to move my things to his bedroom, but I'm not ready. We still have so much to figure out. We have to rebuild the trust that is broken. It isn't going to happen overnight, but it's hard to resist him, especially when he claims me like he did last night.

His lips feel just like the first time. As his hands explore all my curves it's like he doesn't care about the stretch marks that our son has left behind. There's a trace of heat where his lips have touched. Finally, he stops at my breast taking his time without taking his eyes off mine. We've never been as intimate as we are in this moment.

"Viktor," I moan.

"Let me love you."

He reaches the waistband of my leggings and takes them off effortlessly. The wetness between my legs continues to grow. Every kiss and bite takes over my senses. He bites down hard on my nipples, getting a cry of pleasure out of me. He continues to kiss down my stomach and stops at the edge of my panties. My breath catches when his tongue traces the lace. He kisses me on top of my panties then bites the inside of my leg. It's soft but precise.

"Viktor," I whisper.

If he hears me, he doesn't show it. Our eyes connect as he slowly takes my panties off. He licks his lips, hunger pouring from his eyes. As his mouth connects, he puts one of my legs on his shoulder.

"Aw," I hear my voice.

Again, he doesn't say a word. He devours me like he can't get enough of me. Then I feel him slide a finger inside. I grip the sheets, so I'm holding on to something. The pleasure is more than I could have ever imagined. He slides in a second finger, and I cry in pleasure, arching forward, wanting more. Because I'm hungry for him too. He speeds up and softly bites my clit, which takes me over the edge, and I scream his name when I reach euphoria. I try to sit up, barely catching my breath. I want and need to taste all of him, but he pushes me back down. Before I can object, he kisses me. I taste myself on his lips.

I want to rip off his shirt and touch him, feel him. But he's in control. His lips descend to my neck, and down he goes again. My nails dig into his hair. I find myself pushing him down, wanting more. He chuckles and it vibrates through my body. He starts all over again. Between my breasts, down my stomach, to my thighs and legs. My moans are louder and my body is losing whatever control it thinks it has. Then I feel the heat of his tongue as he licks me again. He softly bites my clit, and two fingers find their way inside me again. It doesn't take him long to take me over the edge yet again. He is a master at his craft.

"Viktor," I scream as he takes me over the edge. My breathing is uneven, and I sit up. I want him like never before.

I crawl to the edge of the bed where he now stands. My eyes never leave his. I unbutton his pants, and they drop instantly. The wet spots on his boxers show how much he wants me. His pupils dilate as I lick my lips. I'm desperate to touch and taste him. I don't hesitate or wait for an invitation. I slide all of him into my mouth, tasting his desire for me.

He makes it impossible to resist him, but he's never played fair. Why would I expect anything else? I check in on Aisling and Niko, and find them sleeping. I take the opportunity to catch up with everyone. My last text is from Tina, saying she's coming to dinner tonight. Inviting herself without asking. Just like a Manarch. Then I see a text from Max. It's been so long since we last spoke. I dial him.

"Is this Ava? It can't be," he answers. I hear humor in his voice.

"Funny. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Better now that I'm hearing your voice. How is motherhood treating you?"

"It is making me tired." We spend the next ten minutes talking about his latest projects and general life stuff. Then I hear screaming. "I have to go. I'll talk to you soon." I end the call.

"Get the fuck out of my way." I know that voice—Fiona.

"What the hell is going on?" I ask, opening my door.

"Ms. O'Brien, get back in the bedroom," Marco requests.

"There is nothing miss about you, whore. Do you think you won? Do you think you can live in my house and steal my life?"

"Calm down, Fiona. I'm not stealing anything from you." I take a step toward her. She's standing by the stairs, and Marco is standing in front of her.

"I came for my daughter. Get the fuck off me," she screams at Marco.

"Ms. O'Brien, get back inside the bedroom," Marco repeats.

"It's okay, Marco. Fiona, you're welcome to see your daughter anytime you want," I find myself saying. Somehow, I'm zen which surprises me.

"You don't tell me what I can or can't do. She is my daughter, and you're the whore trying to steal what belongs to me. This is not your home. All of this is mine." She points around.

"I won't tell you again. You need to leave the premises," Marco tells Fiona.

"Are you going to make me? You're a joke." She turns to me. "If you think you're going to get away with this, you're wrong. You have no idea who you're messing with."

You know the scene in the movies where you know what is coming? The scene where everything becomes slow motion. You want to react, but you're a second too slow. This is that moment. Fiona opens her purse and pulls out a gun. Before Marco can react, she pulls the trigger. A second later, Marco pushes her against the wall, taking the gun from her. Suddenly people are running, but I can't hear anything. I see people talking, but I can't register a thing. What the fuck just happened? This is exactly what I feared. My relationship with Viktor is nothing but trouble.

"Ms. O'Brien," I hear from a distance. "Ms. O'Brien." My eyes begin to focus.

"What?" I look at Marco.

"You're bleeding. The bullet grazed your arm." I hear what he's saying, but I don't think it registers. "Ms. O'Brien, can you hear me?"

"What?" He's standing in front of me, but his voice feels distant.

"Fuck," I hear someone yell. I try to follow where it's coming from and meet Viktor's eyes. "Ava." He runs his hands through his hair. "What the fuck just happened?" I see Viktor interrogating Marco. Viktor looks angry.

"Ms. McIntyre pulled a gun and fired before I could take it from her," Marco tells him.

"Ava… Ava, can you hear me?" Viktor sounds anxious, I don't understand why.

"Huh," I find myself saying.

"I believe Ms. O'Brien is in shock," Marco states.

Before another word is said, Viktor picks me up and takes me to his bedroom. The ringing in my ears from the bullet finally subsides, and suddenly my arm feels like it's on fire. There's this indescribable pain. Before I know it, everything goes black.

"Hey," I hear Viktor say as I open my eyes.

"What happened? Where are my babies?" I try to sit. My arm is sore. I look at it and see a tight, white bandage wrapped around my bicep.

"It's just a flesh wound. You'll be fine. The kids are fine." I let out a breath, but I need to see for myself, so I push myself up and head for the door. "Where are you going?" Viktor demands.

"To check on my babies," I say, almost at the door.

"I told you they're fine."

"You also told me we were safe. I'm not staying here another minute."

I enter Niko's bedroom. I'm pleased when I see Niko and Aisling are fine. Grace is holding Niko, while Brenda is holding Aisling.

Grace…" before I say any more, she smiles and hands me Niko. "Hi, baby boy. It's so good to have you in my arms." I close my eyes, finding comfort in his scent.

"I'm done," I tell Viktor as he walks into the bedroom.

I give Aisling a kiss on her head. She smiles when she sees me. All of this is so fucked up that I've made up my mind. I won't stay here any longer. Being with Viktor will lead to my death. It doesn't matter how much I love him. My priority is Niko—not my heart or Viktor.