chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen: Crossed Lines

The rain continued its rhythmic tap against the windows as Alex lay in bed, the soft warmth of the sheets wrapping around him. He stared up at the ceiling, his mind drifting in and out of sleep, the events of the past few days blurring together in a mix of confusion and emotions he couldn’t quite untangle.

The penthouse was quiet, save for the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance. Viktor’s presence lingered in every corner of the room, a constant reminder that Alex was never really alone. He wasn’t sure if that comforted him or left him on edge.

He could still feel the weight of Viktor’s gaze from earlier, the heat of it burning into his skin even as Viktor had pulled away. It wasn’t the first time Viktor had come close to crossing a line, but something about tonight had felt different. More intense. More dangerous.

Alex shifted, pulling the blanket tighter around himself as his thoughts raced. Why did Viktor make him feel this way—so confused, so uncertain, and yet so drawn to him? It didn’t make sense. Viktor had been nothing but kind to him, had helped him in ways Alex could never repay. But there was an undercurrent of something else beneath that kindness. Something darker.

His eyes fluttered shut as he tried to quiet his thoughts, his breathing steadying as he began to drift off. But just as sleep started to pull him under, the door to his room creaked open.

Alex’s eyes snapped open, his heart leaping in his chest as he saw Viktor standing in the doorway. The dim light from the hallway cast long shadows across his tall frame, making him look almost larger than life. Alex swallowed, sitting up slightly in bed, unsure of what to say.

“Viktor?” Alex’s voice was soft, almost hesitant.

Viktor stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. His usual calm demeanor was still there, but his eyes held something else—something raw, something Alex couldn’t quite read. He moved closer, his footsteps silent on the floor, until he was standing at the foot of Alex’s bed.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” Viktor said, his voice low, almost soothing. “But I couldn’t sleep.”

Alex sat up fully, his pulse quickening. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy, like a storm waiting to break. “Is... everything okay?”

Viktor’s gaze never left him, his eyes tracing the delicate lines of Alex’s face, his small frame almost swallowed by the bed. “I was thinking,” Viktor murmured, his voice taking on a softer, more dangerous edge. “About you.”

Alex’s heart skipped, a blush creeping up his neck. He didn’t know what to say, how to respond to Viktor’s words, especially with the way Viktor was looking at him now. Like he was something fragile, something to be protected—or possessed.

Viktor moved closer, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his presence overwhelming in the small space. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing against Alex’s arm, sending a shiver through him. “I’ve been trying to hold back,” Viktor whispered, his voice a quiet confession. “But you make it difficult, Alex.”

Alex’s breath hitched, his mind racing as he tried to understand what Viktor meant. There was something in Viktor’s touch that felt different tonight—more insistent, more possessive. But beneath that, there was a tenderness too, a strange kind of care that confused Alex even more.

“You don’t have to,” Alex found himself saying, the words slipping out before he could stop them. His eyes widened in surprise, unsure of why he’d said it, but Viktor’s gaze darkened at his response.

For a moment, Viktor said nothing, his thumb brushing softly against Alex’s skin, sending tiny sparks of heat through his body. Then, slowly, Viktor leaned in, his lips hovering just inches from Alex’s ear. His breath was warm, teasing the sensitive skin as he spoke.

“I think you’re more dangerous than you realize,” Viktor murmured, his voice laced with something that made Alex’s pulse quicken even more.

Alex shivered at the closeness, his thoughts tangled and messy, but he didn’t pull away. He couldn’t. There was something magnetic about Viktor, something that made it impossible to say no.

Viktor’s hand slid up, cupping Alex’s cheek as his thumb traced the soft curve of his lips. Alex’s breath hitched again, his eyes fluttering closed for a moment as he leaned into the touch, his heart thudding loudly in his chest.

But just as the tension reached its peak, Viktor pulled back again, his jaw tight as he stood up abruptly, leaving Alex feeling cold and confused.

“This isn’t the right time,” Viktor muttered under his breath, almost like he was speaking more to himself than to Alex. His fists clenched at his sides, as if he was trying to hold something back, something dangerous.

Alex blinked, still trying to process what had just happened. “Viktor, I—”

“Get some rest, Alex,” Viktor said, cutting him off, his voice colder now, more controlled. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

And with that, Viktor turned and walked out of the room, leaving Alex alone in the quiet stillness of the night, his mind swirling with confusion and a strange sense of longing.

As the door clicked shut behind Viktor, Alex curled up in the blankets once more, his heart still racing as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. He didn’t know what Viktor meant by “not the right time,” but something told him that whatever had almost happened tonight wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

: Alex closed his eyes, his mind still spinning, but the sound of Viktor’s voice echoed in his thoughts. What was Viktor holding back? And why did Alex feel like he was standing on the edge of something dangerous—something that could change everything?

Whatever it was, he knew there was no turning back now.