Page 12 of Viktor’s Temptation (East Coast Territory #2)

Viktor heard the scream and sat up in bed.

Looking around, it took him less than a full second to realize that he was alone.

He leapt out of bed and sprinted down the hallway to the guest room where he’d put Gracie last night.

She’d slept on his chest for two hours. He would have kept her there all night, except someone had needed to speak with him.

So who had broken into his penthouse? Who was hurting Gracie?

He burst into the room and, even in the darkness, he could see his Gracie on the bed, tangled up in the sheets. He rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms. “What’s wrong?” he demanded, his voice husky in response to the terror in her scream.

“Pain!” she sighed, then snuggled into his arms.

Viktor blinked down at her. She was still asleep. Was she having a nightmare?

A moment later, Mikail and Trent appeared in the doorway and right behind them were five more guards with weapons out.

“She had a nightmare,” Viktor explained softly.

It took another moment, but eventually, the guards relaxed. One of the men even chuckled lightly as they turned and walked away.

Viktor knew that the laughter wasn’t derisive. It was more along the lines of a release of the tension.

When the group was gone from the hallway, Viktor looked down again at Gracie. She was awake now, and those eyes of hers were glowing. Immediately, his body tightened with awareness and a reciprocating desire.

“You need more sleep, Gracie,” he murmured. “You’re body has been through a huge trauma.”

She pushed her hair out of her eyes and tried to sit up. “I’m not tired,” she argued, but he was unconvinced. Those silver eyes flashed up to him and he again wondered what it would be like to kiss her.

His hands gripped her shoulders and he considered taking her up on her unspoken question. Just a kiss. A kiss wouldn’t hurt, right?

He lowered his head, still holding Gracie in his arms. He only allowed himself a light brush of his lips against hers, just a taste.

But as soon as their lips touched, he wanted more.

Needed more. Deepening the kiss, he let his lips linger.

When she didn’t pull away, when she actually leaned in, her soft, sweet lips trembling under his mouth, Viktor shifted his arms, pulling her in closer, so that he could angle his head and deepen the kiss further.

She moaned and the sound burned away whatever control he might have had. Shifting, he wanted to…!

“Ouch!”

Viktor pulled back and looked down at the woman in his arms. Her lips were swollen from his kisses and her eyes glowed with desire. But he laughed when he realized the problem. Her fangs had dropped and she’d bitten her lip again.

That reminded Viktor that Gracie was new to this life. He couldn’t take advantage of her like this. First, he had to teach her how to get on in the world as a vampire. Once she understood her new life and her body’s new powers, then she could make informed decisions.

He pulled back with a small sigh, but couldn’t stop his hands from exploring her soft curves.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, blinking back tears.

Viktor wiped the tear away. “Nothing is wrong, Gracie,” he assured her. “But I won’t take advantage of you like this.”

With great pain, he stood up and took her hands. “How do you feel?”