Page 91 of Smoke and Shadows

“I’m back and have stuff at my place,” Viktor pulled Marissa into his arms and nuzzled her neck. Trent was glowering at them, but Viktor didn’t give a fuck that it made her brother uncomfortable. He needed to feel his woman.

“So you’re bringing him to Tuesday dinner?” Trent asked casually, and he felt Marissa stiffen.What fucking dinner?

“I just checked my messages last night, Trent, and Viktor just got back,” Marissa said flippantly. “Haven’t mentioned it to him yet.”

The smirk was back. “My mom’s dinner parties are legendary. Sit down, not black tie though, don’t worry.” Trent leaned in as if conspiratorially. “But definitely no cargos, jeans, or tees.”

“Um, Mom’s parties are not Viktor’s style,” Marissa said desperately, and Viktor caught the warning glance she shot her brother. Then looking up at him she said, “Don’t feel pressured to come. You’ll be bored out of—”

“I’ll go,” Viktor said shortly. He was pissed at Trent and Marissa for different reasons.

“Seriously, Viktor—” she tried again, but he cut her off.

“Might as well meet the parents,” Viktor said sarcastically. “Make some coffee, Iz.”

Marissa putthe dirty coffee mugs in the dishwasher, sighing with relief when Trent and his friends decided to leave. She couldn’t wait to be alone with Viktor. Whether she admitted it or not, this last separation had been hard. Probably because they hadn’t spent much time together since the attacks in DC. And something was bothering her man. She could sense it in the way he touched her. The brand of his possessiveness was more distinct. His gaze, normally cold when other people were around, was scorching every part of her body.

She could feel the heat emanating from him as his arms pressed around her. His right hand went straight for her breast. The left slipped down and stroked the mound between her legs. He was already hard. He pushed that hardness against her, his hot breath fanned her neck and he whispered, “I wanna fuck you.”

“Um . . . I can tell,” Marissa teased lightly. “Let me—”

But he spun her around and captured her lips ruthlessly. His chest bending her slightly backwards over the sink. Her arms came up to tangle her fingers into his hair. He pulled her away from the kitchen. They were spinning and kissing, his hands gripping her face as he plundered the hell out of her lips.

Her foot hit the bottom of the stairs and they went tumbling. Her back struck a step, thankfully cushioned by his arms, but it still hurt.

“You want it rough, huh, baby?” Viktor rasped as he gazed down at her. Marissa had a strange sensation in her stomach. Despite the smoulder in his eyes, his behavior was distant, his words different.

“What’s wrong, Viktor?” She tried to prop herself with her elbows, but he shoved her back down.

“Nothing is wrong. I just want to fuck you,” he said. “Take you real dirty with these filthy hands of mine. But don’t worry, your parents will never know you’re slumming.”

Oh, God. Anger took her out of her sensual haze and she used her legs to push him off.

She scrambled to her feet. “What the hell is wrong with you? What did Trent tell you?”

“He didn’t need to tell me anything.” He tried to reach for her, but she batted his hands away.

“Don’t touch me!”

“Oh, so now that your worlds are colliding, you don’t want me to touch you?” Viktor said scathingly. “What’s next? Stick me under your precious rug?”

“No! Trent caught me off guard, and I don’t know if you think we’re serious enough for you to meet my family.”

“You’re laying this shit on me?”

“You know, for all your badassery, you’re quite immature when it comes to everything else.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You’re forty-six, Viktor. You intimidate senators and directors of every government agency I know. You can certainly handle one Trenton Cole III.” She was spitting mad that he would think she was embarrassed to be with him. “I don’t give a flying fuck that my dad or mom would turn up their noses at you. I’m thirty-six freaking years old. I have my own money. I run a black ops team. And you . . . you run a multi-million dollar security firm.” She looked up and down at him in disgust and shook her head. “You think I’m so shallow after all we’ve been through. I don’t need your shit!”

She ignored the flash of panic and remorse on his face and ran up the stairs. He caught up with her in the hallway, pinning her against the wall with his body.

“I’m sorry. Damn it.” He cupped her face and leaned his forehead into hers. “I’m so fucking sorry, kitten.”

“Didn’t take you for an insecure jackass,” Marissa mumbled. “Your hotness level just dropped to six point five.”

A rumble of laughter shook his chest. His lips were a breadth away from hers. “Could I make you reconsider?” His tongue shot out and traced her lips.

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