Smoke and Shadows by Victoria Paige Page B

thought I made myself clear.” Viktor enunciated each word. “We’re happening. And while we’re happening—only I touch you—only I put my mouth on yours—and—only—I—fuck—you. I do not fucking share.”
    Marissa tried to escape from his dominant hold, but he tightened his grip, not enough to hurt her, but enough to keep her head where it was. Her lips curled cynically. “You’ve come to that conclusion yourself. Well, guess what? I’m not twenty-eight years old anymore. I’m not one of your subs. So get your hands off me before I really do shoot you.”
    Of course, Viktor grabbed the gun out of her hand and tucked it behind his cargo pants. How does he freaking do this ? She was a damned CIA agent for Christ’s sake.
    “You were saying?” This time there was a smirk on his face.
    “Go to hell, Viktor.”
    “Already been there, Marissa. Hell spit me back out,” Viktor said dryly. His eyes took on a feral gleam. “So, sweetheart, have you fucked the neighbor?”
    “It’s none of your business.”
    “It really is. Answer—the—question.”
    “He’s my fuck-buddy—” Marissa’s voice faltered when she saw Viktor’s face darken into a ferocious scowl. “Viktor—”
    “Wrong answer,” Viktor suddenly released her. “Pack your shit.”
    “What?”
    “You’re moving in with me right fucking now.”
    Marissa recoiled because she had never seen him this furious before.
    “Viktor—”
    “I swear to God, Marissa,” Viktor’s gravelly voice muttered, visibly struggling for control. “Move your ass right now, or you’ll be leaving with the clothes on your back.” He took a menacing step toward her. “Pack your fucking shit!”
    Eight years melted away as Viktor’s forceful words slammed her into retreating. He was as intense and domineering as ever.  
    Her head bowed. She took a couple of meek steps toward the stairs and stopped. Raising her head, she turned around.
    “No.” Her eyes cut to his defiantly.  
    The muscle tic on his jaw became more pronounced as he regarded her with icy blue eyes. He was about to say something when she said, “I can’t do this with you again.”
    “Marissa—”
    “NO!” Marissa shouted. Viktor’s brows drew together.
    “I’m not one of your agents. You can’t order me around. And if you want things between us to happen, you have to stop bossing me around. This ends now, Viktor!” She was on a roll, so why stop? “I’m not a twenty-eight-year-old rookie anymore. That girl is gone, trampled by the ugliness that my kind of work—our kind of work brings. It tries to drain the humanity out of us, but you hang on to it, Viktor, you just do. You don’t see me turning into you. Yes. You try to be this cold son of a bitch, but you’re hurting inside—”
    “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he replied coldly. But he had flinched at her words—barely—but he did. Encouraged, she ranted on.
    “Don’t I?” Marissa challenged. “Don’t I? That briefing. You could’ve at least shown some regret that Jack blamed you for what had happened to Maia. But what did you do? You acted as if you didn’t care, but you really do.”
    “Jesus, fuck, shit, Iz. Shut up!” Finally, the damned mask was cracking. “What do you want from me?”
    “I want the man buried in all that crap you choose to hide behind.” Marissa sighed heavily. The man she used to love. At least, she believed it was love then. She had seen glimpses of him. Viktor could care deeply. “You don’t want anyone to get close to you. You alienate people, Viktor.”
    Viktor’s face softened. The harsh lines disappearing, revealing the handsome man he kept hidden behind a facade of indifference. “The man you’re looking for is an illusion, Iz,” he said with almost a pang of regret. “Stripped down . . . this is me.”
    “No.” She gently brought a hand up to Viktor’s face. “There’s much more to you.”
    “Marissa,” Viktor warned, his face