Page 61 of Viktor

He nodded. “They offered him some kind of special assignment that’s still classified. He can’t talk about it.” His face turned troubled. “We’re all worried about him. He didn’t finish his tour, and he came back different. Harder, colder. He never laughs anymore. He used to be the funniest one of all of us, even more than Dimitri.”

“Really?” Dimitri was always joking. It was one of the things she loved about Viktor’s brother.

“Really.” The sadness that slipped into his voice made her heart ache for him. “He’s not the same person he was. We’re all scared he’s gone to this dark place we’ll never get him back from.”

“I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head, and when he lifted it, some of the pain had cleared from his eyes. “Enough about Conner. Tell me about this movie you want to watch.”

“It’s not a movie. It’s a show. There’s, like, thirteen seasons or something. It’s about two brothers who go out and fight the evil in the world.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “That sounds cheesy, Sara Jane. Don’t tell me you’re gonna make me sit through some chick flick in disguise.”

She smacked his arm. “It is not!”

Then she realized what she’d done. She hit him. What was he going to do? She looked at him from beneath her lashes.

“Owww, woman.” He gave his arm an exaggerated rub. She hadn’t hurt him, and he didn’t look mad.

“Sam and Dean are not in any way, shape, or form a chick flick.” She pushed her fear down. He kept telling her he wouldn’t raise a hand against her, so she decided to try to believe him. “They’re awesome.”

“Not as awesome as you.” He picked up her legs and scooted closer, letting them rest across his knees. He cupped her bruised cheek softly. “I know that was hard for you just now. Your first instinct is to flinch, and you decided to trust me instead. Thank you,moye sokrovishche.”

She cleared her throat. Of course, he’d noticed. He noticed everything when it came to her.

He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers with the barest touch. Her breath caught at the touch. It was sweet and gentle.

“I wish I could really kiss you, but with your lip split open, I’m going to have to wait. But I want to kiss you, Sara Jane, and when I finally do, you’re going to realize I’m a keeper.”

“You’re a keeper?” She laughed at his innocent expression. “Don’t dads tell their sons that about the girl?”

“Pfft. You know it’s true.” His expression turned serious. “It works both ways, you know.”

“What does?”

“You belong to me, and I belong to you.”

She blinked. She’d been so busy being irritated over his claims of possession, she hadn’t stopped to think about what else that meant.

“Do you want me to belong to you, Sara Jane?” he whispered, his eyes unsure. “Because I want to belong to you so very, very much.”

She lost the ability to breathe. The vulnerability in his expression made this tightness in her chest rear up and squeeze her heart.

“Maybe.” She cleared her throat, fighting the emotions threatening to make her forget everything but the man beside her.

He smiled and caressed her face, his thumb stroking over her swollen lip so softly she barely felt it. He didn’t make a big deal of her hesitant agreement, for which she was grateful.

“Now, let’s watch this show of yours. We can talk more in the morning…wait. You’re not one of those people who has the insane urge to tell me everything that’s going to happen before it happens, are you?”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she found herself laughing at him. He looked so serious. “And if I am?”

“Then we might need to end this relationship right here and now.”

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?”

He brushed another butterfly kiss over lips before settling back against the cushions, his hands resting on her legs. “Bring it on, darlin’.”

Sara took the remote and started the show from the pilot episode. And it wasn’t only the show that began. She had a feeling her true beginning was starting right here, right now.

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