Temptation (13 page)

One week later

“Ava, where are the glasses?”

“Third cabinet on the right, mom.”

“Oh I found them!”

I shake my head. I’ve told her three times where the glasses are. I look down at my sweet girl, smile, and tickle her belly. She coos and smiles at me. I pick her up and walk into the kitchen to see what mom’s up to.

This is the third time since Viktor moved us to Nashville that mom has been here. Dad had to work today, but I know if he was off he would’ve been here. My parents took the news of Gabbie and I moving better than I thought they would have. Both were excited for me and my new job. I felt horrible for having to lie to them, but I wasn’t about to tell them what I planned on doing.

And I have to give Viktor some credit. He found the perfect house for Gabbie and me. It’s only thirty minute drive from the club, which I like. It’ll help keeping that life separate from my real one. And even though we live in the city, I have a big back yard with an oak tree. When Gabbie is old enough, I plan to put a swing out there for her.

I really do love my new home. The outside is a tan color and has a white porch. As soon as you walk in, you can see the modern kitchen with the island and the living room to the right. I love how open it is. I have a basement that I still have no idea what to do with, the upstairs has three rooms, and I have a huge laundry room. The inside of the house is very warm and inviting. The fireplace dominates the living room. The upstairs rooms all look the same, except the master and its bathroom. Those two rooms are my favorite. I can see myself staying in this house for some time and I should probably tell Viktor how much I appreciate him finding it for me.

I haven’t seen Viktor in almost four days. I don’t want to miss him, and wish he was here. At least with moving and getting everything ready with the new house, we really haven’t had time to talk or anything else. I’m glad I’ve been busy and haven’t had time to think about him and how much I’ve grown to like him, or how much I’ve gotten used to seeing him all the time. He normally comes over to see Gabbie and honestly he has been very helpful. When he comes over, I can get twice as much done and it’s a nice to be able to go soak in my garden bath tub while he watches her. Viktor doesn’t really have a set time when he comes. That man pops in and out whenever he wants. I guess he has that right. He did buy this house. And my new car, at least until I can pay him back for it all. It still feel all sorts of wrong by letting him do all this for me. Even if the house and car are in the contract.

“Ava, is Viktor coming by today? I still need to thank him for doing all this for you and Gabbie.”

“I don’t know, mom. Viktor … well, he comes and goes when he wants.”

“You two wouldn’t happen to be talking bad about me would you now?”

I jump and turn to see Viktor walking inside. My face turns bright red and I turn around trying to make it seem like I’m busy with Gabbie.

“Oh, Viktor! How can I ever thank you for taking such good care of my girls?” Mom says to him. She even goes over to him and gives him a kiss on his cheek. I pretend not to notice how he smiles at her.

“It’s really not a problem, Mrs. Walker.”

“I think you can call me Ella, Viktor.”

I step forward and give Gabbie a jiggle. “Mom, can you take Gabbie upstairs for her nap?”

“Yes, honey. I’ll leave you two to talk,” mom says as she winks at me and turns to go upstairs with Gabbie.

I roll my eyes at her and stick my hands in my back pockets of my jeans. I wanted to tell Viktor how much I’m grateful for all he has done, but I can’t seem to find my words around him. It never fails. And it’s frustrating as hell knowing he has this effect on me.

“The house looks great. Everything to your liking?”

“Of course. Mom has helped as much as she can. I don’t think she likes us not being home all the time.” We fall into an awkward silence and I look down at my bare feet. Shit. I should’ve painted my toe nails last night. I hope Viktor doesn’t see my unpainted toes.

“I won’t stay long. I just wanted to come by and see how things were and to give you this,” he says as he walks closer to me and hands me two envelopes.

“What’s this?” I ask him.

“It’s the new contract and the bonus you asked for. Look the contract over and let me know if anything needs to be changed. My cell and the club’s number are in there as well, in case you need me before I see you again.”

I look at the envelopes in my hand and for a second I regret asking so much from him. But then, I decide I don’t need to feel anything. I’m doing all this for Gabbie.

“Thank you. For everything I mean.”

He nods and he starts to walk even closer to me, but then he stops. As he sighs he turns away from me and walks right out the door. Well that was weird. I stare at the door, wondering what that was about. I shake my head and look down at the envelopes he gave me.

I take what Viktor brought and I place it on the kitchen island. I sit on one of the stools and I open the one with the contract inside. I probably shouldn’t look at it now while mom’s here, but curiosity gets the better of me. I quickly look it over, keeping an eye out in case mom approaches. This whole lie will be blown if she catches me. From what I see, Viktor changed everything we discussed that day at the café. I hear mom walking down the stairs and I quickly jump up and hide the envelopes in the box by the kitchen island.

“Did Viktor leave already?” she says while looking towards the door.

“Yeah, he had things to do.”

“That’s a shame,” she says with a huff. “He didn’t see Gabbie today.”

“It’s fine, mom. It’s not like Gabbie is his.”

“Ava, that isn’t very nice. You know he adores Gabbie.”

I sigh as I tell her, “I know, mom. But don’t you think it’s strange he’s always around?”

“No, not really. He saved you and Gabbie, and I think he feels sort of responsible for you two. I like that you have someone like him watching over you. Especially now that you moved away from me.”

I walk over and hug my mom. I know how she feels. I miss her too, and it’s hard not seeing her everyday anymore.

“You know I love you right?”

“I love you too, Ava. I should head back. Your dad will be home soon, and you know he can’t cook a thing for himself.”

“Okay, mom. Be safe driving.”

Mom grabs her things and she kisses me on my cheek one last time before she leaves. I sigh, hating how quiet the house is now that mom’s gone, and Gabbie is asleep. I lock the front door and I walk upstairs to grab the baby monitor. I check in on my sleeping beauty and I go to my room to relax.

I grab my notebook off the night stand and I place the baby monitor beside me. Since the house is pretty much finished, and set up, I need to work on getting myself back into shape to dance again. I mark down all the daily workouts I need to do to start the process. I know my body will never fully go back to the way it was before, but I figure as long as I can still dance it doesn’t matter to me as much.

I just about jump out of my skin when the house phone starts ringing. I snatch it off the hook, hoping it didn’t wake up Gabbie. I don’t know who would be calling me, since no one knows my number besides my parents and Viktor.

“Hello?” I ask confused as hell.

“Ava, open the door.”

Hearing Viktor’s voice over the phone shouldn’t sound so … sexy to me. “What? Are you outside?” I ask as I get up and check in on Gabbie. Seeing she’s still asleep, I walk down the stairs and I look out the window by the front door.

“Ava? Let me in.”

“Give me a second. Geesh.” I hang up the phone as I unlock the door. Viktor walks in like he owns the place, and even though he does, I don’t really appreciate him walking in here and almost waking up Gabbie. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you just leave?”

“I forgot something.”

“Uh, okay. What did you forget?”

“This,” he says as he walks to me like he’s stalking his prey.

It all happens so fast I don’t have time to figure out what he’s doing before he does it. He grabs both sides of my face and he … he kisses me.

And I let him.

God, help me, I let him kiss me. I moan in his mouth when I open mine for him. His tongue touches mine and I can’t help but wrap my arms around his neck to bring him closer as I stand on my tip toes to get a better angle. I let him take over my mouth with his. He kisses me with so much passion and hunger. His taste is intoxicating and I fear I’ll never get enough. His kiss is as demanding and controlling as he is. I feel his hands move down from my face and one rests on my lower back as the other grabs a handful of my hair. He angles my face just how he wants me, controlling everything about our unexpected kiss. It’s everything I’ve imagined, yet more at the same time. I
like
him kissing me, taking over my body, and controlling me. He slowly pulls away, but I instantly pull him back for more. I’m a woman obsessed. I need more of his taste, his controlling ways. I will never get enough of him.

Then, the spell is broken when I hear Gabbie cry out loudly. I pull away from him just a fast as he came on to me. I look at him and touch my fingers to my lips. His dark green eyes are full of want and… lust? I have no idea. I’ve never seen that look on a man before. I don’t even say anything to him before I completely pull away and take off upstairs to Gabbie.

I walk into her nursery and pick her up. I rock her back and forth trying to get her to stop crying, all the while thinking about Viktor and the way he kissed me. My heart is still racing, and I know I crossed a line. How could I let him kiss me? Why did I kiss him back? Conflicted and confused doesn’t even touch how I feel about it. And, why do I feel the want and need to do it again and again? I bounce Gabbie up and down trying to put my mind at ease. I had no idea Viktor wanted to kiss me, or at least I don’t think he did. Gabbie’s cries start to stop and as I lay her down, I worry if I’ve made another mistake kissing him back.

What the fuck did I just let happen?

Three months later

Things have been weird since Viktor kissed me. I’ll admit, I freaked out about it, and when he left while I was tending to Gabbie, I got the contract and I signed it. The next day, I gave it to him before he could say anything about the kiss. I still haven’t figured out if he was hurt or disappointed that I signed it three months early. I just couldn’t deal with him kissing me again, knowing how conflicted I am about it. Signing the contract insured me that he wouldn’t be able to touch me again until my two years were up.

I wait impatiently on the couch for Viktor to come and watch Gabbie while I do my daily workout. He’s been very supportive and he’s quite the babysitter. There’s not a moment that goes by that Viktor doesn’t give her his full attention. After I gave him back the contract I asked him to watch Gabbie while I did my workout, and it’s now become our normal routine. Every day he comes and spends two hours with her while I go to the gym or to the local dance studio. I don’t even have to ask him anymore. The best thing about it is I don’t have to pay for a babysitter, and I trust Viktor with her. I’ve watched him a few times with her and he’s proven how great he is at watching her, and taking care of her every need. She cries and he doesn’t hesitate to see why she’s crying. He feeds her and holds her pretty much the entire time he’s here. I’ve also noticed he looks at her the way my parents and I do. I know he cares for her, even if she technically isn’t his. I feel better about leaving Gabbie with him since he’s so great with her and Gabbie loves him. He’s over so much that I decided to give him a house key. I thought about it for a few days before I had one made. I still haven’t figured out why he didn’t have one when he bought the house. I remember seeing the look in his eyes when I gave it to him. I might not fully trust him with my feelings, but I trust him enough around my daughter, and I think he realized that too.

It makes me sad seeing how much Gabbie has grown in the past few months. She can roll over, and hold her little head up all on her own. She’s starting to show her sassy personality as well. I know she’s going to be a hand full when she gets older. I hear her making grunting noises from her pack and play and I get up to see what she’s doing. I lean over and she’s going to town on her toes. That’s her newest thing these days. I have no clue why she likes to eat her feet, but it’s totally cute watching her do it.

I hear the door open and I turn around to see Viktor walking in. I watch him struggle a minute with the bags he’s carrying before I decide to go help him out. I grab the one out of his mouth and my eyes stay a bit longer than they should on his lips. I look away before he catches on and I shut the door for him.

“What did you bring her this time?” I ask. He has a bad habit of buying Gabbie things. Not that she needs them. This little girl has everything she could ever want.

“Nothing much, just a few new toys for her to destroy and a few outfits.”

“You know you don’t have to buy her anything.”

“I want to. There’s something in there for you as well.”