Arranged Mafia Daddy

Chapter 17Sage

17

Sage

“ Y ou did good yesterday,” Viktor says, pouring milk into a bowl of chocolate puff cereal on the counter.

I take a bite of my toast, blinking in the sunlight that cascades over the kitchen island. I’m more surprised that he’s eating children’s cereal than the fact that he’s so chipper after yesterday. He didn’t seem too happy when we went to bed last night.

Maybe it was the lack of sex, but that’s been off the table since our wedding was crashed. I’m not sure when I’ll be ready to be intimate again, but it’s certainly not now. I’m still rubbing the crust out of my eyes, and I’m sitting on a stool in a pair of simple cotton panties and an oversized t-shirt.

Viktor carries his bowl over to the island, sitting down next to me and squeezing my thigh. “You sure you don’t want any cereal?”

I wrinkle my nose. “I don’t eat dessert in the morning.”

He looks genuinely surprised, pulling his head back and motioning to his overfilled bowl of what might as well be candy. “This is breakfast food. I thought all Americans ate this stuff.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “No, Viktor, we don’t. I mean, a lot of people do when they’re kids, but these days I feel like people have gotten wiser to it. It’s all just a bunch of sugar.”

He frowns, getting up from his stool and going back to the counter. He returns with the box, his bright eyes scanning the back of it with keen interest. He looks more engrossed than he did when I pulled the trigger on Johnny yesterday.

Talking about breakfast is more engaging to him than murder. I shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but he always takes things just a little further than I think he will.

“A lot of sugar,” I say as he reads the box. I take another bite of my toast. “At least the bread is whole grain. That’s good for you.”

He looks up at me and shrugs. “I’m not concerned about it. I’m in good shape, and I work out regularly. My blood work is good, too.”

I’m not one to give health advice, and I’m sure he’s healthier than I am, but diabetes can creep up on you. If I’m going to keep my husband around for long enough to raise kids with him, I’d prefer if he didn’t drink champagne straight out of the bottle, smoke, and eat chocolate cereal for breakfast.

“Your bachelor days are over,” I say, pulling the box out of his hand and putting it on my side of the table. “Tomorrow, you should try some fruit if you want something sweet.”

He pouts his lips at me, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t want me to die so that you can inherit my riches?”

I crunch into the last bite of my toast, keeping my expression dead serious. “They’ll be plenty of time for that with how much older you are than me. I won’t have to try to kill you, Viktor.”

“You’re asking for trouble, talking like that,” he says with a grin as he lifts his spoon. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten your spanking. I owe you one.”

“Give it to me now, then,” I say, standing up from my stool and bending over. I’m just out of reach on purpose. He’d probably knock me over if he tried to spank me.

He shakes his head, but his greedy eyes are glued to my ass. “Too early for that. I need to get warmed up first.”

“Ah, more signs of old age,” I say, standing straight again.

Viktor chuckles, taking a mouthful of cereal and shaking his head. “Not old age, my dear. Just taking my time to enjoy the moment.” He eats quickly, his eyes never leaving me. “Besides, anticipation makes it better.”

I roll my eyes, but a shiver runs down my spine. Despite everything, there’s an undeniable attraction between us, a pull that I can’t resist even when I’m not ready for intimacy again.

He stands up, taking his empty bowl to the sink. As he rinses it out, he glances back at me. “We have a meeting with Ivan and the others later about the man in the blue suit. I need you to behave while we’re there.”

I cross my arms, leaning against the counter. “When am I not?”

Viktor steps closer, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re doing well, but remember, there are rules. Structure. You can’t just act on impulse. You need to follow my lead, and don’t question me when things get intense. I have far more experience than you do. Perks of being an old man.”

I look up at him, his intense gaze making my heart race. “I’ll try to remember that.”

“Good,” he says, his voice softer now. “Because I need you by my side. You’re essential to the survival of the Bratva. After all, you will be having my heir.”

I nod, feeling a mix of arousal and fear. “I understand.”

“Do you?” he asks, his hand moving to cup my chin, tilting my head up to meet his eyes. “Because I won’t stop until I get you pregnant. We’ll do this every day if we have to.”

I swallow hard, the weight of his words sinking in. “I understand, Viktor.”

“Good girl,” he murmurs, leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead. “Now, go get dressed. We have a lot to do today.”

As I head towards our bedroom, I can feel his eyes on me. The dynamic between us is complicated, filled with power plays and unspoken agreements. But beneath it all, there’s an excitement that’s undeniable.

I close the door behind me, taking a moment to collect myself. I could’ve sworn he was going to jump up from his seat and spank me, but his words were more powerful than any physical blows could’ve been.

He wants me to submit to him entirely. Body, mind, and soul. I won’t be able to escape now, and I don’t even want to. I’m along for the ride, no matter how terrifying it can be. The payoff is intoxicating.

I take a deep breath and begin to get ready, thinking now about the man in the blue suit. It sounds so simple, yet I know there’s more at play here than a little leaked information. Viktor is far too focused on this for it to be just a little hiccup. Something deeper lurks beneath the surface.

Just as I pull a shirt from the closet, the door bursts open. Viktor strides in with a determined look in his eyes. My heart skips a beat, and I drop the shirt, turning to face him.

“What—”

Before I can finish, he grabs my wrist and spins me around, pushing me down over the edge of the bed. I gasp, my palms hitting the mattress as I brace myself.

“Viktor, what are you doing?” My voice trembles, a mix of surprise and excitement.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he growls. “I’ve decided to spank you now and later tonight. That way, you won’t forget to behave.”

I try to push myself up, but his hand presses firmly on my back, keeping me in place. “I said I was going to behave.”

He slides his hand down to my ass, cupping it as his breathing gets heavier. I haven’t had time to put pants on, and I’m already out of my underwear. My bare pussy is exposed to him, and if he touches it, he’s going to discover that I’m already wet.

I can barely breathe as he runs his hand over my ass, pinching my skin and chuckling. “You’re so sensitive. You know how red your little ass gets when I pinch it?”

“I’m not sensitive,” I reply, pushing out my ass. “Go ahead and slap it. See if I even react.”

The first smack lands with a sharp sting, and I bite my lip to keep from making noise. He doesn’t hold back, each slap echoing in the room, the sting intensifying each time. My body tenses, but I force myself to stay still, not wanting him to think I can’t handle it.

He pauses for a moment, his hand resting on my hot skin. “Do you understand now?” he asks, his voice softer but still firm. “Do you understand that there are consequences for your actions?”

“Yes,” I breathe, my voice trembling. “I understand.”

“Good,” he murmurs, his hand gently rubbing my ass. “Because as much as you pretend like you aren’t sensitive, your burning red ass is telling a different story.”

He steps back, allowing me to stand up. My legs are shaky, and I can feel the heat radiating from my skin. Viktor’s eyes are intense, but there’s a softness there too, a silent promise that he’s not really trying to hurt me.

This is how he plays. This is how he shows that he likes me and that he cares.

I step away from the bed, my heart still pounding in my chest as I search for clothes to wear. Viktor watches me like a hawk, and I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he going to do something crazy again?

The tension in the room is palpable. I can practically taste it on my tongue. It’s electric like a warm summer night right before a thunderstorm, when the wind blows a little too hard and the air drops down a few degrees with the promise of rain.

And with Viktor, when it rains, it pours.