Storm in Heaven

"Hard times sleeping?" Viktor's voice startles me and I drop my cigarette.

"Why are you up?" I turn back and see his silhouette at the balcony's door.

"I woke up and you weren't in the bed," he rubs his eyes and yawns.

"Go back to sleep, I'll come in a minute," I reassure him, then get inside and to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

Yes, I have a hard time sleeping. Despite the overly comfortable mattress of Viktor's king-sized bed, I couldn't find the rest to fall asleep.

I tossed and turned, snuggled in his arms, got up for water a few times, smoked a cigarette or two on the balcony. It's nearly 3 AM and I'm still up. My own thoughts give me no rest.

I beat myself whether this was the right choice. I feel nothing but great whenever I'm with Viktor, but this man still remains a mystery to me.

I feel bold and free whenever I'm with him, he has this effect on me. And he's nothing but a true gentleman. Then why does it feel wrong? 

My rational self tells me to grab my things and leave. My rational self reminds me of Tom's words. If I leave him, he'll most probably kill me. Is he capable of doing it?

Tom... 

He's another reason for my sleepless night. I can't shake off the disgusting feeling that has settled inside me. Not even 24 hours ago I let him have me in the most intimate way. I find him handsome, sexy, alluring so it's not a surprise I felt attracted to him.

I tried to blame it on the rejection first. He rejected me the first time and I tried to excuse the moment of weakness with that. Like an unfinished job that I just had to finish.

Then I try to reason my choice to stay with Viktor with Tomas again. Viktor agreed not to touch Tom for as long I'm with him. I try to convince myself that I'm doing it because of that. Because of the fear that Tomas might end up as the victim of my recklessness.

But this excuse fails to work too. I chose to stay because I want. Might regret it later, might regret it soon, but I chose to stay because I like Viktor. And I'm determined to reveal the person inside the mysterious man everyone fears.

"Can I do something to ease your sleep?" Viktor pulls me closer to him as I am lying down in the bed.

"I'm sorry for waking you up."

"That's alright. What is bugging you off?" he places a kiss on my bare shoulder, his stubble tickling my skin.

"No, nothing. I think it's because I'm not sleeping in my bed," I lie and sigh.

"You'll get used to it, don't worry," he hugs me tighter and I let myself relax in his arms.

"What do you mean by that?" 

"Well, you don't expect me to leave you to keep living at Tom's, do you?" 

"I'm not living at Tom's," I murmur, "just my mother lost her freaking mind and kicked me out of home, so I'm staying there temporarily until she calls me begging to come back home."

"Well, I can't let you stay temporarily at his. Tomorrow I'll go to take your things."

"And why you will go?" I fastly turn on my left side so I can face Viktor.

"Because I don't want you to stay alone with him," Viktor furrows his brows and his eyes blink.

"For the last time, we're just friends," I complain and sigh. "Plus, he's my coworker so no matter if you like it or not, I'll be spending time with him."

"You still want to work there?" 

"Despite the fact my boss is a perverted creep, I earn good money and I really like my coworkers. We get along pretty well."

"Well, I must call Larry then. Or better pay him a visit."

"Why would you do that?" I frown.

"Tomas beat his ass because of you and I death-threatened him. Do you think he'll just accept you back?" 

"Honestly, I think it'll be better if you ask him to hire me back. I don't think I can face him," I sigh and lie on my back, staring at the ceiling.

"Of course," Viktor nods and gives me another kiss on the shoulder. "Do you feel sleepy yet?"

"No," I shake my head in denial. "But you go to sleep, don't stay awake because of me."

"Nonsense. I know how to take the best out of this situation," Viktor says excitedly and jumps on top of me.

"What are you doing?" I ask surprised.

"What do you think?" he shoots me a rhetorical question and kisses the spot between my breasts.

"Viktor, it must be nearly 4 AM!" 

"And?" he asks then swirls his hot tongue around my left nipple. "This is better than just staring at the ceiling, no?" he greedily notes while sliding a finger on my slick folds. "And I see you agree with me."

He loses no time and easily pushes the finger inside me, then a second one. I moan as he fastens the rhythm and a third finger is rubbing my clit.

"Oh God, it's so turning on to know I am the only one that has had touched you."

Guilt sneaks in when he hisses that. My moment of pleasure is fastly interrupted by my own thoughts again, my mind travelling back to the memory of yesterday's morning on top of the kitchen island.

"Oh, my..." I cry out when I feel Viktor entering me, slowly, teasingly. Until he fully fills my insides. Then I brush off the guilt as fast as it came.

After the first time with him, I didn't think I'll like it at all with Viktor, but now I feel greedy, giddy, hungry for more. I start to love the feeling of him deep inside me, reaching that sweet spot I didn't know I have.

Ecstasy fills my veins and I decide to lead us this time. I spin us and suddenly am on top of Viktor.

"Naughty, aren't you?" he chuckles and digs his fingers in my butt, following my rhythm as I start bouncing on top of him.

With every slide I feel getting closer and closer to the edge, my muscles tighten around him, I plunge my nails in his shoulders and let a loud cry out escape the depths of my body. My liquids flood over Viktor then I fall exhausted over him.

"Ready to sleep now?" he says while stroking my hairs.

"What about you?"

"You had troubles sleeping, don't beat yourself," he kisses my forehead and releases himself from the slick jail he was trapped in.

"Good night, I guess," I whisper and yawn, making myself comfortable in Viktor's hands with my head rested on his chest.

"Night," he chuckles again and squeezes me.

                          ***

"What the--" I jump startled out of my sleep by my phone ringing. I reach to the nightstand and grab it, then frown when I see the name on the screen.

"Tom..?" I answer the phone with a whisper.

"Are you alright?" Tom's concerned voice echoes in my head.

"Y-yes. I'm sorry if I made you worry," I stutter, guilt taking over me once again.

"You didn't call, so I got worried indeed," he says, fueling my guilt. "Are you staying at his?" Tom sighs disappointedly.

"Yes. I'm sorry, Tom, I--" 

"No, it's alright. I understand," Tom interrupts me, then hangs up on me.

God, what did I do?

"Hey, you're up," Viktor enters the bedroom wiping his body with a fluffy white towel. 

"Mm, yes. And I don't regret it now," I purr, shamelessly staring at his body. 

Naughty drops of water travel down his neck and to his broad chest, glistening under the sunlight. His curly raven hairs, soaked wet are falling all over his face, glued to his skin.

 I let my eyes travel even lower than his chest. A perfectly sculpted six-pack is flexing while he moves in an attempt to dry his hair.

A vein is popping up, contrasting with the skin on his V-shape. And I haven't noticed till now the path of black trimmed hairs going down from his belly button to around his sex.

I check him out from head to toe. The muscles of his legs are contrasting with each other, every possible muscle of his body is perfectly shaped, actually.

"Like what you see?" he says, a smug smirk spilt on his face.

"Very much," I bite my lower lip. 

"Such a pity, I have to do some things, but I really want to spend the morning between your legs," Viktor throws me an apologising look while putting on a pair of boxers, then slides the big doors of the wardrobe, pulling out another classy combo of shirt and dark-coloured slacks.

"I still can't understand why are you always wearing a shirt and pants?" I ask while sitting on the bed, watching him dress up.

"I'm a businessman, what do you expect me to wear?" he jokes while buttoning up the shirt, hiding his ripped body from my sight.

"I don't know. The first time I saw you, you were wearing a T-shirt and jeans," I shrug.

"I didn't have to meet with business partners that day," he casually notes.

"Aw, what a boomer. I really liked that tight T-shirt on you," I yawn.

"I noticed," he grins.

"Wait, I just realised... Didn't you have a dog?" There was definitely a dog lying in his lap that day.

"What dog?" Viktor tilts his head questionably.

You know, the cute Yorkie," I remind him.

"Oh, it wasn't mine, I had to take care of it for a couple of days."

"Aw, what a loss. It was really cute," I say and stretch my body. "When will you come back?"

"I don't know, maybe somewhen in the afternoon. Why?" Viktor informs me while buttoning the cuffs of his shirt.

"I don't know. What am I supposed to do while waiting for you?" 

"Just admit you'll miss me," Viktor winks at me.

"You wish," I brush him off and get up from the bed. "What's the address here?"

"Why?"

"To call a taxi in case I figure out what to do," I shrug and tie the white robe Viktor gave me yesterday.

"And you're sure you don't want just to leave?" he furrows his brows.

"Oh, God. No," I roll my eyes and sigh annoyed, "I just might go downtown, get a coffee, I don't know. Actually..."

"What?" 

"I might go take my stuff from Tom's. I have nothing to wear, all my clothes are there."

"Or I'll just give you money to go buy new ones," Viktor denies my idea and looks away from me.

"I don't want that," I frown. "I think we agreed that you will treat me as a person and not as something that you own."

"I want to treat you like a queen, not like a regular person," Viktor towers over me. "And I think we agreed you won't spend so much time with Tom."

"Why are you trying to restrict me from seeing him?" I narrow my eyes at Viktor. "I told you, we're only friends."

"I notice how he watches you, there's no such thing as 'just friends' between a woman and a man," Viktor rests his hands on my waist. "I trust you, but I don't trust him."

"And you shouldn't trust me so much," I think to myself and sigh. I feel overall guilty for what I did with Tom. Not that I was committed to Viktor, but I feel awful for Tom.

"What?" Viktor tilts his head and stares at my eyes.

"Nothing," I sigh and stand on my tiptoes to kiss him. "I'll just have to figure out what to do all day. What if I want to order food? I need the address again."

"121 East Langston Street," Viktor sighs with a pinch of regret.

"Okay, thanks," I smile at him and kiss him once more.

"I need to go," Viktor reminds me. "I'll hopefully see you later," he stares at my eyes.

"You will," I reassure him then he leaves.

                            ***

Having nothing to do all day is boring as fuck. First, I managed to find the coffee machine and more importantly, I managed to make myself a coffee. Then I managed to find myself something to eat and then nothing. I don't know what to do. I'm just lying on the couch and watching Netflix on this huge ass plasma TV. It's almost like staring at a cinema screen.

I wanted to cook something for when Viktor comes back home, but then again I don't know him, I don't know his likes and taste. I thought of pasta. All Italians like pasta, right? But then, he's born and raised here, so it's a dumb assumption. Not that this means he doesn't like pasta, but what if he doesn't like my Bolognese?

Wait, did I call this a home?

In the end, I decide to take advantage of the swimming pool. Good thing it's private, I hate when I bump into random people in the public pools.

"Mallory?" I hear Viktor shouting my name. "Mallory!" His voice sounds worried.

Probably out of boredom, my genius brain gives birth to an idea that I find funny. I decide to hide to play with Viktor. He was worried that I'll leave.

I lower myself, hiding behind the wall of the pool and wait. 

"Mallory!" he keeps shouting, his voice getting louder and more worried. I can't help the giggle that finds its way out of my mouth. "Mallory, where the fuck are you?!" 

I hear him slamming doors, I hear his angry striding around the house, I hear him calling my name. In the end, I give up. 

"I'm in the pool!" I shout, then wait for him.

"Mallory!" he comes running, then stiffens when he sees me laughing.

"I got you scared, didn't I?" I joke.

My smile is fastly erased from my face when I see his clenched fists and tense body, his lips are pursed and his eyebrows furrowed, the black pools on his face staring daggers at me.

"Hey, don't be so grumpy, it was a joke," I shyly murmur. "I'm sorry. Come on, join me."

"Get out and get dressed," he harshly cuts and leaves.

"Viktor!" I shout after him but he doesn't look back. So it wasn't that good of an idea after all.

I swiftly get outside the waters and throw the towel around myself, then run to find Viktor.

"Viktor!" I call out again, then find him in the kitchen with a glass of water in hand. "Hey, I'm sorry," I step closer to him, but he doesn't pay attention to me. "It was a joke, please don't be mad," I stand in front of him and reach with hand to his face, but he slaps it away.

"I told you, get dressed," he says and turns his back at me. "I got your stuff from Tom's, it's in the bedroom."

"Where are we going?" I whisper.

"You have a scheduled visit to a gynecologist."

"Okay," I sigh and leave to get dressed.

                         ***

"Viktor, please, say something," I beg him, but he doesn't even look at me.

Viktor hasn't peeled a word for a second hour now. I didn't expect my little joke to piss him off like that. I thought I'll get him in the kind of angriness where he decides to rip off my insides by fucking me, it's how it happens in movies, isn't it? But it didn't work out like that for me.

"Where are we going? We just left Long Beach," I ask nervously.

"I assume you don't want to be seen with me," he notes indifferently.

"Right," I agree guilty. "Viktor, I'm really sorry, it was a joke," I look at him but he doesn't answer, instead he only squeezes the steering wheel. "Come on, please, say something. Don't punish me with silence."

"You act like a kid, you'll be treated as one," he cuts and furrows his brows.

"This is ridiculous," I scoff and cross my arms annoyed.

                           ***

"Heey, Viktor. What's up? I haven't seen you in so long?" An awfully attractive red-head snakes her arm around Viktor's neck and pulls him closer to her body.

"Hey, Ana," he rewards her with a brief kiss on her cheek, then they walk together inside to one of the rooms.

A nagging feeling gets over me, accompanied by a shiver and I throw myself angry in one of the chairs in the waiting room. We drove to some private clinic far enough from Long Beach. I'm thankful for this choice of his because I really don't want to be seen with him in such a place. Imagine accidentally bumping into some friend of mom's.

"Mallory," Viktor calls me and gestures for me to go inside that room as well.

Embarrassed to a new level, as if walking down the hall of shame, I obediently walk there and he closes the door behind us.

"So, it's Mallory?" the annoyingly sexy red-head speaks to me while putting on a pair of white rubber gloves. "I'm doctor Anastasia Ashwood. I'll need to check some things, so please, relax," she points to the gynecologist chair. 

I look nervously at Viktor and he gets what I mean, so he leaves.

"Lovely, you need to undress," she says while walking in front of the chair. "Not a nice way to talk to you on a first date, ha?" she laughs and I just take off my jeans, then throw her a confusing look. "Gynecologist humour, don't mind me."

I prop up on the chair and lift my legs, then close my eyes. I'm pretty sure you can fry eggs on my burning cheeks right now.

"I see you recently lost your virginity," she mutters from between my legs.

"Uh-huh," I shyly agree.

"Have you ever suffered a really strong migraine?"

"Only once after a party," I sigh.

"Is your skin oily, mixed or dry? And do you get acne before and during your period?" she keeps asking questions that I don't see why are important.

"I think it's mixed and yes, I sometimes get a pimple or two before my period."

"Is your period regular?"

"What do you mean?"

"Does it come on time, has it ever skipped, came too earlier or too late?"

"Oh, then it's regular. Why the questions?" I return a question to her.

"I need to know so I can choose the correct contraception for you," she says while straightening up and taking off her gloves. "You can dress up and wait outside, it'll take up to half an hour for the results."

"Okay," I sigh relieved that I'm finally able to put on my jeans and not be inspected down there, then I leave the room.

"And please, tell Viktor to come," she stops me as I just open the door.

"Sure," I respond through teeth and squeeze the door handle.

I find Viktor outside, smoking a cigarette and talking intensively on the phone with someone. I don't really want to interrupt him, so I just wait patiently at an acceptable distance for his conversation to end.

"I'll see you on Monday," he cuts and hangs up annoyed, then looks at me. "So?"

"The doctor said to wait, it can take up to half an hour," I sit next to him on the bench.

"Alright."

"She also said to tell you to go," I inform him and grab a hold of the bench. I don't like the way she's looking at him.

"Okay," he says and stands up.

"Can I have a cigarette while I wait?" I ask him. I have to buy myself a box or two.

"Sure," he passes me his Marlboro's and the lighter, then gets inside.

He's still pissed off at me, I can tell. He answers coldly, indifferently and with no more than a word. I sigh and light a cigarette and it's when I notice my shaking hands.

It's not because of the embarrassment in the doctor's office. My heart beats fast and hard and I feel somehow cold, despite the fact it's a really hot late June's day. I find myself frowning at the fact Viktor is alone with the doctor in that room. Out of all possibilities, it had to be a young sexy red-head, didn't it?

The awful feeling wins and I throw the half-burnt cigarette, then walk inside. There's no one around to be seen, so I glue my ear to the door in an attempt to hear what's going on inside.

"Stop." I hear Viktor's voice.

"Oh, come on," she complains and I find myself clenching my fists.

"It's none of your business," Viktor scolds her.

"She's clearly young, Viktor! Way too younger for you!" I hear her arguing with him.

"I said it's none of your business. Do your job and don't stick your nose where you shouldn't."

So it's about me? I sigh relaxed that it was all only my imagination and that she has no hidden intentions. But then, my calmness is fastly bothered.

"You remember the great times we had, no?" I hear her purring seductively.

"Of course I do. And I do remember the way you left me," I hear Viktor's lowered voice.

"We can fix that," she purrs again and fury fills my veins.

"No, we can't. Now do the job I'm paying you for and call me when you're done."

I bolt outside, I don't want him to catch me eavesdropping. I light another cigarette and pretend I was here the whole time.

"What did she say?" I ask as if I don't know what their talk was about.

"Nothing, she wanted to ask me about a thing," he shamelessly lies and sits next to me.

"Where do you know her from?" I stare at him expectantly.

"I don't know, I know her for a long time," he lies again. "Give me a cigarette."

I return him the box of poison and watch him carefully. He seems nervous.

"Is something wrong?" I ask.

"No, why?" he mumbles and lights the cigarette.

"You seem tense," I note.

"I'm just tired," he exhales.

"Mallory," Ana calls me standing at the entrance door.

I nod and follow her back to her cabinet.

"This is an after pill. You need to take it no later than 32 hours after the last intercourse. And this is a prescription for oral contraceptives. It's important not to miss a dose. One pill every day," she fastly fills me in with the information and shoves me the prescription and the pill in hand.

"Okay, thanks," I mutter.

"You need to come again next month," she says turning her back at me.

"Sure," I nod and leave.

"Are we done here?" Viktor meets me outside with a question.

"Yup," I nod. "Let's go back home, I'm hungry." 

"Of course," he agrees and gets up from the bench and walks next to me to the car.

                              *** 

"What are you in mood for?" Viktor asks as we just pass the signboard of Long Beach.

"What do you mean?" I tilt my head questionably.

"As in what do you want to eat," he explains.

"Chinese? Do you like Chinese?" 

"Not really," he shrugs. "I'm not the biggest fan of Asian food."

"Okay, then what do you want to eat?"

"Whatever you choose," he sighs.

"I can cook you something," I offer.

"There's no need of that, we'll order something."

"Viktor..." I sigh his name.

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Depends."

"On what?" I ask.

"On the question," he apathetically shrugs.

"How can I know if I can ask you what I want to ask you?"

"Is the question appropriate?" 

"I don't know and I can't know until I ask you."

"Just ask," he sighs irritated.

"Have you ever been close to that doctor? Anastasia?" I shoot my question and immediately regret it as he squeezes the steering wheel again.

"Why would you think there could have been something between us?"

"Because I noticed how she looks at you," I shyly admit and look away.

"How she looks at me? Like Tomas looks at you?" he narrows his eyes. 

"I don't know how Tomas looks at me, but she seemed way too comfortable around you," I note.

"We're just friends," he tries to reassure me but I know otherwise.

"There's no such thing as a friendship between a man and a woman," I remind him of his own words and I feel I get way too irritated by the fact he lies to me.

"She's something like an ex to me, happy?" he growls.

"What do you mean by 'something like an ex'?" I furrow my brows confused.

"That's a second question."

"Were you the 'friends with benefits' type? Or you were in a real relationship?" I keep digging into it.

"Let's say we were in a real relationship," he sighs.

"Why did you break up?" I ask curiously. I can't see a reason for her to leave such a god.

"She cheated on me. Why do you keep asking?" he finally looks at me and his expression is stone-cold.

"Why did you bring me to your ex?" I cock an eyebrow angry.

"Because she's a professional nevertheless. Now stop asking," he snaps at me. 

"I didn't plan to ask any further but anyways," I roll my eyes.

"We're home," he announces as if I didn't notice. I only roll my eyes a second time.

                             *** 

"For how long you'll act like this?" I interrupt the awkward silence in the kitchen.

"Like what?" 

"Like this. If you're going to treat me as a grown-up in the bedroom, you must treat me as a grown-up outside it too. I'm not a kid who you can punish by giving me the cold shoulder."

"You think you're hilarious, don't you?" Viktor throws the fork still with the bite on it in the dish, the loud clinking startles me.

"What do you mean? I told you, it was just a joke! If I knew you'll flip like that, I would've never done it!" I protest.

"After I basically begged you to stay! After I almost fell in your feet, you decided it's a good idea to pull that joke?!" Viktor raises his voice at me. "What do you want from me, Mallory?! To crawl after you on my knees?!"

"I never asked you to beg me! It was your own choice! All I want is for you to act more like a real person and less like the fearful monster everyone believes you're!"

"Well, it is who I am! And you chose to stay with that 'monster', so don't put all the blame on my shoulders to carry!" 

"I did because you basically threatened to kill Tomas if I don't!" I shout and immediately realise it's the biggest mistake I can do. 

The temperature of the kitchen drops below zero. It feels almost like I stepped into Alaska. I'm pretty convinced the Hell froze too. I can feel the rage that takes over his body. 

He's tense. To the point I hear his teeth grinding. To the point all of the veins of his body pop up to the verge of explosion. To the point his knuckles get white from clenching his fists. To the point I start to believe that he's capable of killing me.

"Viktor, I... I didn't mean it like that. Please, calm down," I cry out begging him. I'm scared.

"Is it why you chose to stay?! Because of Tomas?!" he shouts so loud, the windows start to shake.

"N-no. I didn't mean it like that!" I keep begging him. "Viktor, please! I chose to stay because I want!"

But he doesn't listen to me. He just storms out of here and I hear the front door slamming.

"Viktor!" I bolt after him. "Viktor, wait! Where are you going?!" I throw myself on his back.

"I won't share you with someone else, Mallory! I'm gonna snap his damned neck!" 

"Viktor, no! Please, don't! I stayed because I like you! I'll do whatever you say, just don't do this," I start to cry.

"Whatever I say?" he stops in his tracks.

"Yes! Just don't harm him!" 

"You won't talk, laugh or even greet him. You won't look at him, you won't even think about him."

"But... we're coworkers," I whisper confused. If I don't talk to Tom, how am I supposed to do my job?

"I'll make sure you never work in the same shift." 

"Okay, whatever you say," I sigh defeated. "I'm sorry, okay?" I say and squeeze him from behind.

"Yeah, okay," he inhales deeply. "Let's get inside."

"Okay," I follow him relieved.

This one was close.