Page 152 of Volik

Volik grumbles something about a stubborn mate.

“Da,” I repeat, grinning to myself.

Most of the other boxes went to the bedroom. I’m not in a rush to unpack my little bits of decor, and the rest of it is mostly clothes, including what Volik repacked from my closet.

I thought about asking him to leave a little behind. Basics in case I ended up back there for some reason. But I couldn’t make myself ask him.

If I pushed it, I know he would’ve done it. But I also know it would’ve hurt his feelings. And if I’m choosing to go all in, then this is me doing that.

Volik sets my box on the kitchen counter next to the box of food he grabbed from my cupboards.

He turns to look at me. “Unpack or reach out to your journalist first?”

“Journalist.”

Volik holds out his hand.

I curl my fingers around his palm and let him lead me down another hallway into the office.

“I can make a second chair for this desk, and we can share. Or I can build you your own desk.” He pauses. “Or, if you want your own office, I can arrange that.” Volik offers the last option like it pains him.

I squeeze his hand. “I’m usually a laptop on my lap type of worker. So a second chair here would be perfect.”

“Good.”

I know it was the right answer when I hear his quiet purr as he steps past me to behind the desk.

I have to wonder if it will always be like this, or if this is the honeymoon phase of mating.

Volik pulls the wooden chair out from the desk and nods for me to sit.

It looks heavy, has no arms and a back that will go up past my head.

Something tells me this is Volik. Now and forever.

I let that belief fill my chest as I hop up onto the chair. My feet dangle in the air as he pushes the chair forward.

“I will make your chair Nix size.”

I tip my head back and smile up at him. “No idea what you mean.”

He huffs. “You look like a tiny fairy sitting in my chair.”

My eyes widen. “Wait, are fairies a real thing?”

He nods toward the computer in front of me. “Focus.”

Without much thought and still looking at him upside down, I scrunch up my nose and make a face at Volik. Eyes squinted, tongue out.

I feel the breeze of movement as his hands move incredibly fast and grip my face.

I startle at the suddenness of his touch, but his hold keeps my head still.

And his thumbs pressed into the center of my cheeks keep my mouth open.

Before I can even retract my tongue, his mouth is there, over mine, upside down, and he…

My eyes close, and my spine curls as Volik licks my tongue.