Page 85 of Viper’s Reign

My mouth waters as it sinks deeper and deeper, her walls gripping it tight, wet sounds filling the room until it’s fully seated, her clit swollen right above where it bottoms out.

She moans low in her throat, her back arching off the bed. My fingers trace the heat of her inner thighs as I drag the rear strap up over her ass cheeks and cinch it snug. Her breathing quickens, pussy clenching around the dildo—I can see the base shift slightly with each squeeze.

I grab the front panel next, pressing it down firmly over her mound to lock the dildo in place. She whimpers, legs shaking, hands clutching the sheets. My own arousal spikes watching her squirm, precum soaking into my boxers as I work the buckles closed one by one—waist first, then the crotch strap—each click making her body tense, her arousal dripping out around the edges.

“Dimitri… fuck,” she breathes, eyes locked on mine, face flushed. Her thighs instinctively try to close, but the belt keeps them from doing more than trapping the dildo exactly where I left it. My cock leaks even more precum, eager to replace it.

With the belt finally secured, I force myself to my feet. The key joins the chain around my neck, the cool metal a stark contrast against my overheated skin. Another step back puts a little distance between us, though it does nothing to ease my painful erection.

She snaps her legs together, only to let out a frustrated moan as she pushes herself upright. “How the fuck am I supposed to function with this on?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” I answer shortly, turning away before I act catastrophically stupid by ripping the belt back off and burying myself in her instead. Fuck, she needs to give me answers tonight, or I might fuck her anyway—answers or not.

I retreat to the bathroom and take a long, brutally cold shower. By the time I come back out, Grace is gone, and a strange mix of relief and disappointment twists through me.

I shove the feeling aside and make my way to the closet to get dressed.

Wearing the key to Grace’s chastity belt around my neck while I go about my day turns out to be the worst decision I’ve ever made in my life—and I’ve made some pretty shitty ones.

My hand keeps drifting to it, my thoughts to her, wondering how crazy she’s getting. Eventually, I close my fingers around the remote in my pocket and switch on the vibration mode of the dildo. My cock throbs as I imagine her reaction.

“—don’t you think, Dima?”

Vanya’s mentioning my name grabs my attention. “Huh?” I ask, and his eyes flash.

“Are you even in this meeting? You keep zoning out.”

I pull my hand out of my pocket and fold both on the table in Aleksei’s conference room. Maybe wearing the key wasn’t such a terrible idea, after all. It’s done an excellent job of distracting me from the fact that I’m sitting in the house I grew up in. Viktor’s house. Sure, Aleksei has renovated it past recognition, but at its core, it’s still the same house.

“I’m here. Maybe I keep zoning out because there are about a dozen better uses of my time than waiting on our late mayoral candidate.”

As if summoned, a knock sounds at the door, and James Salvatore lets himself in.

“So sorry I’m late,” he says quickly as he shuts the door behind him. “The rally ran thirty minutes over.”

I raise a brow as he takes the seat across from Aleksei, which happens to be next to me. “I take it the rally was a success, then?”

“Yes, I’ve got them.” He flashes a wide grin at me, and I exchange a glance with Vanya, who looks considerably less impressed.

“Now that we’re getting close to exposing Daniel Salvi, we need you front and center as the face the public trusts. You can’t mess up,” Aleksei warns.

“You have nothing to worry about. I know exactly what’s at stake.” James’s expression turns solemn. “My act is solid, and thanks to Ivan and Dimitri, my past has been wiped. I’m a clean slate, ready to serve the city and the Petrovs.”

“Good.” Aleksei nods. “The polling on last night’s news still shows you’re struggling to win over Midtown. We need those votes if we’re going to pull this off.”

“I’m already working on it. I have a meeting with some of the townsfolk tomorrow, and by the time I’m done, they’ll be dancing to my tune.”

We spend the next few hours discussing strategy until Aleksei is finally satisfied that nothing is going to go wrong. “Check in with us if you need help,” he tells James as the meeting wraps up.

James rises, shaking each of our hands in turn. “None of this happens without your support. I’ll keep you posted.” He lets himself out, and the room settles once more.

Vanya leans back in his chair and looks at me. “I see you’ve taken up residence at your house in the estate. You do know you’re expected at dinner this weekend if you don’t want Mom storming your place?”

“I wouldn’t dream of missing it.” Mom’s current preoccupation with Mira’s upcoming exhibition is the only reason she hasn’t already appeared at my doorstep. Thank God for that. I have no idea how I’d explain Grace’s presence when she already saw her at Vanya’s wedding.

“I figured you wouldn’t, given the company you’re keeping,” Vanya teases, and I glare at him, not liking him bringing her up in front of Aleksei.

“Why is she still alive?” Aleksei asks flatly.