I should make some smart reply.
Instead I nod.
His hand slides between us and finds my clit again, and I almost come apart immediately.
“Say it,” he says.
“I’m yours.”
He groans and thrusts harder.
“And you’re mine,” I say, because I need him to hear that too.
Something changes in his face. The roughness stays, but the emotion comes through it, deep and unguarded.
“Yes,” he says. “Always.”
That pushes me over. I come with his name in my mouth, my body clenching around him, nails digging into his shoulders. Hekeeps fucking me through it, each thrust rougher than the last until his rhythm breaks.
He buries himself deep and comes with a low, harsh sound, his forehead dropping to mine, his whole body shuddering over me.
For a while, neither of us moves. Then he lowers his weight carefully, not crushing me, just enough that I can feel him everywhere. I wrap my arms around him and hold on.
His breathing is still rough against my neck.
Mine isn’t much better.
After a minute, he lifts his head. “Are you all right?”
I smile tiredly. “Now you ask?”
His mouth curves, but his eyes stay serious. “I always ask.”
“I’m all right.”
He studies me like he doesn’t fully trust that until he sees it for himself. Then he kisses me, slower this time.
Outside, snow keeps falling over the mountains. Inside, he pulls the blanket from the couch and covers us both without leaving me. I rest my head against his chest and listen to his heartbeat settle.
We suddenly hear small whimpers coming through the baby monitor.
“Your daughter is awake,” Viktor murmurs against my shoulder.
I laugh softly, still trying to catch my breath. “She has terrible timing.”
“She gets that from you.”
I turn enough to give him a look. “Careful.”
Viktor lifts his head and listens for half a second. “Complaint cry.”
“You’re proud of knowing that.”
“I earned it.”
That makes me smile.
Eight months ago, I would never have imagined this version of him. Viktor Sokolov, dangerous enough to make grown men lower their voices, now able to identify our daughter’s mood from one sleepy little sound.
