Page 120 of Top Shelf

Viktor: Yes, but not of your past. Of anyone who had you like that before I knew I could

Oh. I put my phone face down and swallow hard. Carina, regrettably alive and present, looks up from her tablet notes she’s yapping about.

“Okay. That is absolutely a sex face.”

“I have to go home now.”

“Mhm.”

“I’m a busy professional.”

“Uh huh. You’re going home to let your husband ruin your life.”

“I hope so.”

She smiles and looks back down at her screen. “Proud of you.”

When I get home, the apartment is quiet as I let myself in, the kitchen warm with the low light over the stove and the smell of garlic. Viktor’s standing at the counter in gray sweats and a black T-shirt, chopping something green with methodical focus. He looks up when I come in, and the knife stops.

“Hi,” I say, then kick myself internally. I’ve crossed town with my body full of electricity and arrived with the conversational range of a doorknob.

“Hi.”

“Is that broccoli?”

“Yes.”

“Hm. Very erotic.”

“I was preparing dinner.” His gaze travels over me, slow enough to feel like his hands. “Then you told me about a sex club.”

The word sex in his mouth should have warning sirens attached to it.

I set my tote down carefully with a nod. “I did.”

He places the knife on the cutting board, then comes around the island. By the time he stops in front of me, my back is against the wall, and my pulse is everywhere.

“Tell me about it,” he says.

“It’s not as scandalous as it sounds.”

His brows lift slightly.

“Okay, fine, it’s somewhat as scandalous as it sounds. But in a controlled, respectful, well-vetted way.”

“I know you would not go if it wasn’t safe, min fru.” His hand lifts, fingers going to my hip and squeezing gently. “Why did you like going?”

“I liked the control,” I murmur. “That was the point. I could be looked at, but only touched by someone I chose. There were rules, and if something felt off, it stopped.”

His thumb moves slowly against my hip. “And you felt powerful.”

“Yes.”

Viktor’s jaw tightens, but his voice stays even. “I like that.”

“You do?”

“I like that you know what you want. I like that you choose.” His gaze drops to my mouth. “And I like when you choose me.”