Chapter 143: Thought you disappeared again

The first thing Sienna noticed when she woke was the empty space beside her. Her hand moved across the mattress before her eyes were fully open. Cold. She blinked and stared at the pillow beside hers.

Viktor was gone. Again. Her chest tightened.

She pushed herself upright and looked around the room. The sheets had been changed while she slept. Fresh white linen covered the bed, erasing every trace of the morning they had shared.

For a moment, disappointment settled heavily over her. She looked toward the window. The sky outside had turned gold and orange, the sun sinking behind the distant trees. She hadn’t eaten lunch.

Apparently, she’d slept through the entire afternoon. She sighed and rubbed her face.

"Wonderful." She was definitely not skipping dinner. As she climbed out of bed, another thought crept into her mind.

Mrs. Kessler.

She stopped. A smile tugged at her lips. He had said it. I love you, Sienna. You’re mine. I’m

yours. Her smile grew. She touched her lips. She was really Mrs. Kessler now.

The thought sent a strange flutter through her stomach. Then reality caught up. "Don’t be ridiculous." She shook her head. Maybe he had simply wanted her. Maybe the emotions of the past few weeks had overwhelmed him.

Maybe saying he loved her had been easier than admitting how badly he’d wanted to be inside of her. She crossed her arms.

"Right." She was still arguing with herself when the bedroom door opened. Sienna turned. Viktor walked in carrying a tray. Her mouth fell slightly open.

He wore nothing but black trousers, his bare chest still marked by faint bruises and healing cuts. He looked annoyingly good. Her gaze lingered. A little too long. Viktor noticed. Of course he did.

One corner of his mouth lifted. "I got you something to eat." He crossed the room and placed the tray carefully on the bed between them.

"You were sleeping peacefully. I didn’t want to wake you." Sienna glanced at the food. Then back at him.

"I knew you’d be hungry when you woke." She smiled despite herself. "I must have really exhausted you." Her cheeks warmed.

"Viktor."

"What?" He sat beside her, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Sienna reached for the soup, determined to ignore him.

She failed. Her eyes drifted over him again. The morning came rushing back. His arms around her. His voice. The warmth of his body. She quickly looked away. Viktor watched her for a moment.

Then his expression softened. "What happened?" She frowned. "What?"

"You looked disappointed when you woke up." He reached toward her, gently brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. "You thought I’d left you again." Sienna’s eyes dropped to the bowl of soup. She didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.

Viktor’s thumb rested against her cheek. "Yes. For a minute, I thought you’d disappeared again," Sienna whispered, a small smile touching her lips.

Viktor’s expression softened. "I’m not going anywhere." He reached for her hand, his thumb brushing slowly over her knuckles. "I’m here. And I meant every word I said."

His eyes held hers. "I love you, Sienna. And I’m all yours." Her heart gave an uncomfortable little flip. She immediately stuffed another spoonful of soup into her mouth.

"This is good," she said. Viktor stared at her. Then he laughed under his breath. "You know, that’s a very convenient way of avoiding me." Sienna concentrated very seriously on her bowl.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"I wanted to know something." She glanced at him. "Have you fallen for me too?" Her spoon stopped halfway to her mouth. "Or was this morning all in my head?"

His voice was gentle. There was no accusation in it. No demand. That somehow made the question harder. Sienna nearly choked. Viktor immediately reached for her glass and handed it to her.

"Careful." She took a sip, coughing softly. He waited until she had recovered before asking, "Did I cross a line this morning?"

"No." The answer came quickly. She lowered the glass. "You didn’t." He studied her face. "You were perfect." And she meant it.

The memory alone was enough to make warmth creep up her neck. Viktor’s mouth curved slightly, but he didn’t push. He could see the uncertainty behind her eyes. Whatever answer he wanted, she wasn’t ready to give it.

So he let the question go. "Eat." Sienna looked at him suspiciously. "That’s it?"

"For now." She smiled faintly and picked up her spoon again. Viktor watched her for a moment before reaching over and gathering her loose hair away from her face while she ate.

The simple gesture caught her off guard. She glanced at him. "What?"

"Nothing." He carefully held her hair over her shoulder so it wouldn’t fall into her food. Then, as though he’d only just remembered something, he said, "You should go back to medical school."

Sienna stopped eating. "What?"

"With your skills, it would be a waste for you not to have a license to practice." She stared at him.

"Viktor..."

"I’m serious." He released her hair and leaned back against the headboard. "You can start tomorrow if you want."

"Tomorrow?" He nodded. "Your professors were more than happy to have you pick up where you left off." Sienna’s mouth parted. "You spoke to my professors?"

"I made a few calls." "A few?"

"Enough." She stared at him, completely caught off guard. "You arranged all of this while you were gone?"

"I had people handle the details."

"But..." She looked down at her hands. "I thought I had to start over."

"You don’t." His voice was firm. "You worked for it. You earned your place there." She looked at him again. There was something different in his expression now. He wasn’t telling her what she should become.

He was reminding her who she’d been before his world swallowed her whole. "You can finish your classes," he continued. "Get your degree. Get your license."

Sienna’s eyes began to sting. "You really think I can do it?" Viktor gave her a look. "I’ve watched you walk into rooms full of armed men and argue with me." A laugh escaped her.

"That’s your standard for medical school?"