Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 2018

Time× 2:55 am

Viktor awakened from his deep sleep, hearing raindrops. He glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand and sighed, seeing that it was only three in the morning. His body ached as he turned around to sneak a glance at a sleeping Natalie. She slept peacefully, her breathing steady as her chest raised and fell. She had on her red bonnet, her unusually cold feet digging into his thighs.

He loved the way she used him like he was a heater... but he hated when she snored. She always sounded like an enraged bear, which was why he wore earplugs at night unless he was too tired or feeling lazy. And even though her snoring was horrible, he loved that it came from her.

Viktor closed his eyes, egging his brain to let him fall back asleep, but his brain protested. His thoughts were eating him alive, leaving him to crumble on the inside. He hated how this became a routine. He'd win a fight and then after the fight, when he laid and rested he'd awaken, his mind instantly going back to all the things he could've done better.

It bothered him. He had everything he could ask for at the moment, yet in moments like these, he felt as though he was missing something. Or better yet... he just wanted something more. And with feelings like that, came paranoia. Something bad was going to happen, he could feel it crawling up his skin... his thoughts. And he didn't know what to do... or better yet, how to cope with it.

Viktor gently pushed away Natalie's feet, before easing himself out of the covers, careful not to wake her. With light footsteps, he walked himself into the bathroom and shut the door quietly. Viktor looked in the mirror, analyzing the newfound bruises. His left eye was red, so red that he could barely make out their regular brown color.

The bruises on his naked chest were different hues, ranging from midnight blue to eggplant purple.

The ice bath helped both the bruises and the pain, but it was only so much it could do. His recovery would take a week at most, nothing more.

Viktor picked up his toothbrush and followed through with his basic hygiene routine. When he was done, he drained the tub of the melted ice and wiped the bathroom counters down. He closed the bathroom light as he walked out and made his way outside their bedroom and into their kitchen.

Opening the fridge door, he pulled out a bottle of water. Twisting the cap, he brought the bottle to his lips before gobbling it all down. Something on the fridge door caught his eyes, and he choked a little on the water, coming into realization. "Shit!" He cursed, inspecting the vintage photo of Natalie's mom on the fridge door. "What the fuck is wrong with me?"

Today was Natalie's birthday and for a long minute, he had forgotten that.

He felt guilty. He's never forgotten her birthday. If anything he was always ahead of it, always planning.

"Shit!" He'd been so busy with everything, he forgot to plan her birthday. "For fucks sake... she's going to kill me." And that was the truth. If Natalie found out he forgot her birthday, she was going to bury him six feet underground... alive. He sighed, stress clear in his features. He could fix this, he still had time to plan.

Switching the off switch to the kitchen light, he walked with a fast pace back into their bedroom. There, Natalie still stayed in bed. Left in the same position snoring, dreaming about only God knows what. Viktor watched her as though she were a delicate daisy. In the morning he would wake up and begin planning everything, but for now he needed to make up for forgetting.

And the only way to do that was by being unpredictable. Which meant sleep sex... Natalie's favorite.

Before they stopped having sex, she would do it occasionally. Always waiting till demon time when he was sound asleep, to grid her beautiful body on him, and just when he was about to wake, she'd sit down. Her wet core drowned him in, never seizing to let him go. He remembered vividly all those wild nights, the pleasure that came with it, the scratches, the passiveness. It all sent an icy chill down his back, his shaft hardening in his boxers.

No matter how many times Natalie told him she was perfectly fine with him fucking her in her sleep, he'd never do it. Afraid that one day, if he did, she wouldn't like it as much as she claimed. The whole thing was unethical to him... but tonight he'd go through with it to surprise her.

Viktor bit his lips before he crawled into their bed. He gently removed the sheets from Natalie's body, hovering over her carefully. His thumb grazed her dry lips, his mind thinking about all those times she'd use them to suck his soul out of his body.

His thick fingers skimmed her neck, slowly traveling down to her breast. Pushing down her purple nightgown, her breast popped out on full display, her nipples already firm. His fingers continued their path to her plump belly, and then to her sides, feeling the symmetrical line that made up her stretch marks. They went further down to her thighs and as if on cue her legs opened, as a response to his touch.

He smirked, shaking his head at how naughty she was.

For a brief second, he couldn't believe that he was indulging her fantasies. There was a chilling thrill to it that made him want to fuck her senseless.

He shook his head, gulping as a bead of sweat slid down his face.

He wouldn't do that now... right now was all about Natalie.

His woman.

The amount of pride he felt when he said was indescribable.

Viktor finally knelt in front of her. He spread her legs further as he reached for the granny panties that were shielding her mound. It took everything in him not to chuckle at the fact that she was wearing granny panties.

"Who the hell wears a nightgown with granny panties?" He whispered, his smirk widening.

He pulled them off and threw it across the room, before his eyes cast down on his prize. His erection now had no room left in his boxers. It pulsed like it had its own heartbeat. He slid out of it and tossed it to the ground.

Viktor leaned down, pursed his lips, and blew into her wet core. Natalie let out a whimper, the hair on her body stood. Viktor blew again, before using his pointer finger to spread her folds. Natalie moaned this time, and he felt ready to explode. His finger made circular motions on her clit, while the others pressed firmly against her entrance. All he did was poke, teasing her till he could hear the effects of her wetness.

He loved how wet she could get for him, how her body was like a temple.

His temple.

Viktor leaned down some more, inhaling the sweet scent he loved so dearly. His fingers were now coated in her juices, and he took that as his chance to slowly enter her. Natalie moaned hard, her lips clenched in between her teeth. Her tightness was out of this world, her breath ragged. The rooms' temperature had increased, both their bodies boiling with heat.

Viktor didn't wait long to dive into her clit, his tongue moved up spreading her folds open some more, then his fingers moved in and out of her.

"Shit." Natalie moaned. Her eyes snapped open, the pressure she was feeling in her core became too much to bear. Her back arched off the bed as she gripped the Satin Solid bedsheets. She moaned again, her toes curling, belly aching for a release. Her eyes caught sight of Viktor as he grinned mischievously in between her legs. "Drago." She whimpered, loving the way his tongue moved.

He chuckled, watching her surprised expression, and that sent vibrations all over her body. His tongue plunged in and out of her, tasting her like it was his life's mission. He didn't falter when she gripped his head to push him away or when she yelled out a series of curses. He stayed put, planted right in her.

"Viktor. Oh my gosh, Viktor!" Natalie pleaded, her body buckling. A series of emotions filled her as she cried in pure ecstasy. Viktor leaned back up and reached for her breast, while his other fingers continued their assault on her. He fondled with her nipples and placed a kiss on her lips, letting her taste herself.

To her, that was the sexiest shit he'd ever done. "How does that feel?" He asked her. He loved the way she looked under him... And the different facial expressions.

"I fucking love you." She groaned as his fingers sped up their pace.

"Me too." He mumbled, before devouring her erect nipples. His tongue swirled around them both and his teeth bit into them lightly. Just how she liked.

Natalie's eyes closed, her breathing erratic. She gasped as her body jerked, an intense orgasm shuddering through her. Her muscles tightened, her wetness pulsed around his fingers.

Viktor gave her a few more thrusts before he pulled his fingers out completely.

"I think I'm gonna pass out." She voiced, breathlessly.

Viktor chuckled as he kissed every inch of her breasts. "You always say that." He pointed out. He kissed her chest and then moved to her neck, placing several more kisses there. "I can never get enough of you." He admitted, licking her juices off his fingers. "Turn to your side." Natalie stayed still for a minute, slowly gaining control of her movements.

As Viktor backed away, she rolled over to her side, one leg down and the other arched up. Viktor raised his right hand, before landing it hard on Natalie's butt cheeks. Natalie groaned, loving how much it hurt. Viktor did it again, harder this time. "Agh!"

"How much did you miss me being inside you?" Viktor asked, palming her ass.

"Not much." She teased.

Viktor grinned, shaking his head. "Is that so?" He whispered before his hand came down hard on her ass. Natalie jumped and moaned. "Wrong answer." He pinched her swollen clit and Natalie squeaked. "How much did you miss me being inside you?"

"A lot!" She shrieked, not bothering to lie again.

"Thought so." Viktor laid behind her, aligning himself at her swollen core. Slowly pushing into her tight and soaked center, he grunted in pure satisfaction. It felt so good being back inside her. And the fact that today would be the last time he was physically in her for a while, pained him.

Natalie grabbed the back of Viktor's neck as he thrust into her from the side. His strokes were slow but powerful, each one getting her closer and closer to reaching her next peak. She wasn't used to him going at this pace, and it was something that took a little adjusting to since this wasn't usually how they did things. She loved it, though. Loved the way he took his time, loved the way he planted small kisses on her shoulders, and whispered how sexy she was.

"You're so fucking beautiful." He whispered in her ears, gripping and tugging on her breast as he continued to fuck her slow. He was trying so hard not to bust quickly.

"Vik." She moaned, moving her hips to match his rhythm. "It's so good." His hands moved from her breast to her hips as he held them down, pounding into her. Natalie craned her neck and kissed him, their tongue sliding in and out of each other's mouth. He groaned, both of them drowning in each other's pleasures. And when Natalie couldn't bear the feelings that the slow strokes bought, she tried running away. "I.." she panted out. "I can't take it." She moaned.

Viktor wrapped his arm around her waist, digging himself deeper inside her. "You can." He grunted out, pulling her back to him. Natalie gripped her pillow in her fists and he breathes behind her. The sweat from his stomach mingled with the sweat from her back, becoming one.

"I'm so close... don't stop," Natalie pleaded. Viktor continued, and it didn't take long before they both crumbled. The muscles in Viktor's balls tensed up as Natalie's walls tightened. They shook uncontrollably. Moans flowed out her mouth and Viktor groaned softly in her ear, keeping the same momentum in his hips. Their orgasm was so intense, they were close to tears. Viktor's hot seed spilled into her, filling her up with satisfaction. 

"Happy birthday." He panted, taking his time to pull out.

"You forgot, didn't you," Natalie stated, a small smile tugging on her lips.

Using the back of his hand, Viktor wiped the sweat from his forehead. "What? I could never." He eased out of her and she shuddered as his seed came oozing out.

"Liar." She chuckled. "I can't believe you woke me up like that. I'm so shocked. It's... it's so unlike you."

Viktor frowned slightly. "Are you trying to say I'm not spontaneous enough? Because I can be spontaneous, Nat. I've done a lot of spontaneous things. Right?"

Natalie stifled her laugh. She loved teasing him. "I don't think I can walk to the bathroom to get cleaned up."

Viktor stood up and yanked her ankles to the tip of the bed. "Hold on now. Who said we were done?" He smacked her foot before opening her legs back up again. "We're just getting started."

__________

When Natalie woke up again, she felt both exhausted and relieved. Exhausted because it was her birthday and of the lack of sleep she had gotten. And relieved because... well, it's pretty self-explanatory.

Natalie moved out of bed, her feet hung on the ground touching the fury carpet on her side of the room. She looked down at her painted toenails and sighed. Getting out of bed was always hard on this day, it always took a lot of self-encouragement to fuel her to move around. Natalie sniffed the air, smelling the sweet aroma of food being fried.

Her stomach growled.

She bit the inside of her cheek, before deciding to stand, which was a bad idea because her leg went limp.

She huffed, looking at her new position on the ground. "Damn. I'm sore as hell." She grumbled, sitting up. "Viktor!" She shouted with all her might. "Viktor, come here, it's an emergency!"

Viktor, (who was in the kitchen) came storming into the room once he heard her shout. His eyes landed on her and he snorted. "I told you to ring me when you woke up Nat." He said, shaking his head. He reached for her, lifting her by the arms. "You okay?"

Natalie glared at him. "What kind of question is that? Of course, I'm not alright. I can't even walk properly." She pouted. "Can you help me to the bathroom? I've got to pee and brush my teeth."

Viktor looked down at her, slightly worried. "You sure you're okay? You look kinda... flushed and you're sweating. It's so damn cold in here and you look like you've just run a mile in the desert."

She waved him off. "It's just sleep sweat, I'm fine. Bathroom now please."

Viktor guided her into the bathroom. He helped her stand as she pulled down her shorts, she slipped on earlier last night. Natalie sat down on the cold toilet seat, emptying her bladder. Viktor cleared his throat as he watched her pee. "So." He started changing the topic. "There's a picture going around the net of you and Creed's fiancée from last night... how come you didn't tell you guys spoke?"

"I was gonna tell you after the game, but you were so tired, and I didn't want to impose your winning night." She told him truthfully.

He nodded in understanding. "Is she the reason you looked so lost when you got to the changing room? Did she threaten you?"

"She didn't threaten me, Viktor. She just... she just asked me to get you to quit your match with Adonis." Viktor's face was expressionless. "I told her I couldn't do that and that if she felt her fiancé wasn't ready, then he should drop out. The conversation went... great, I guess. I just got uncomfortable when she touched me. You know how I hate to be touched by people I don't know."

His eyebrows furrowed, his expression loosening. "I'm sorry that happened. You should've never been placed in that situation. I'll handle it."

Natalie took some paper to wipe herself. "Don't do anything irrational please." She told him, spreading her legs to wipe. Her eyes widen, looking at her blood-soaked underwear. "What the hell?"

"What is it?"

"My period is on... again." She motioned at the bathroom cabinet. "Can you grab me one of my purple pads, please?" She asked kindly. "And can you grab one of my period underwear?"

"Of course," Viktor said, disappearing into their bedroom.

"Why does this keep happening?" Natalie asked herself, somewhat freaked out. She felt like she was close to having a panic attack. "I... I don't know what's happening to me." Tears clouded her vision and when she blinked they slid down her cheeks.

Viktor walked back into the bathroom and stiffened. "Natalie?" He called, quickly kneeling to her side. "What's wrong? Is it cramps?" His hands caressed her face. "Tell me what hurts, so I can fix it."

Natalie leaned into his touch before shaking his head. "It's nothing. I think I just need a bath."

Viktor sucked his teeth and dropped her face. "Would you stop saying that!" He snapped. In a few minutes, he was going to feel shitty for doing it, but he had to get this off his chest. "Stop dismissing the problem here. Something is going on with you and your body is trying to warn you! For fuck sakes, listen to it. You need a fucking doctor!"

"No, I don't!" She snapped back. "Lay off, Viktor!"

He stood as she stayed glued to the toilet seat. "You've got to be fucking kidding me, even I can tell you're not fine. And how are you getting mad at me for being worried about you? Matter of fact, when's the last time you went to the doctor... and I want the truth."

Natalie looked down at her hand, avoiding his heated gaze. She sighed, lowering her voice. "I'm not mad, Viktor. I'll never get mad at you for being worried. You know I get defensive when people yell at me." She explained. "The last time I went to the doctor was around the two days we didn't speak because you were mad about Ivan forcing you to move here."

"Why d'you go then? Did the doctors say anything?"

"They..." Natalie cut herself off. "I don't wanna talk about it right now." She couldn't bring herself to even relieve that day.

"Why not? Don't you think I've got the right to know?"

"Viktor... I don't want to talk about it right now, and especially not today. Can't you just respect that?" She asked. "And I promise, I'll set up an appointment ... just not today. All I want to do today is be with you and enjoy myself. I don't wanna argue."

Viktor ran a hand through his hair as he shifted from one leg to the other. "Okay." He said, agreeing. He wanted so badly to pick her up and bring her to a doctor himself, but he knew he couldn't. "I'm sorry for yelling at you on your birthday."

"I'm sorry for always being so stubborn and driving you crazy."

He walked forward and kissed her forehead. "I love when you drive me crazy." He confessed. "Get cleaned up, I'll change the sheets and then finish your lunch."

"Спасибо, детка." (Thank you, baby.)

"Нет, проблема." (No problem.) He whispered, walking out of the bathroom.

________

Viktor kept his voice low as he spoke with a representative on his phone. "Yes, I'd like it delivered here by seven pm." He said, eagerly wanting to get off the phone before he got caught. Natalie was in the dining room, occupied by the plate filled with different types of fried patties. He knew the food wouldn't occupy her for long and that was fine, he just needed a little time to get everything situated. "Correct, she's a size eight... okay... okay, great." He turned around to get a glimpse at her. She was still stuffing her face. "With her birthstone and exactly 10K White Gold. Round-cut." Viktor pushed the phone closer to his ear as he gave the representative his bank card information. "That's fine... okay, thank you." He said, hanging up.

"Who was that?" Natalie asked, popping up from behind him.

Viktor yelped, letting out a high-pitched scream. "Natalie! Shit! Don't do that." He said, trying to catch his breath.

Natalie huddled over and laughed, not being able to control herself. "You should've seen your face." She laughed some more, pointing a finger at him. "And that scream. What the fuck was that scream?" She laughed so hard, her ribs hurt. "You sounded like a little girl just now."

"You know, just because it's your birthday doesn't mean you get to be a bully. And I did not sound like a girl." He cleared his throat. "How d'you enjoy your food?"

She smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist as she looked up at him. "You already know I love when you cook for me, you're always determined to do your best." She squinted. "So, are you going to tell me who that was?"

Viktor shook his head, smiling at her. "Nope." He looked at his wrist, noticing the time on his watch. "Are you ready for your first surprise?" He asked, just as there was a knock at the door.

Natalie smiled brightly, taking a step back to smooth over her yellowish-green maxi dress. "Yes, I'm ready." Viktor ran over to the door and opened it, looking at a pale white man in a red baseball cap.

"Delivery for a Viktor Drago." The man stated, duly.

"That's me." Viktor reached forward for the cage in his hand, but the man stopped him.

"Sign this please." He said, handing Viktor a clipboard with a pen. Viktor did as told and the man eventually passed him the cage. "Thank you for shopping at our online store. If you need any more information, email is best to reach us." He walked away when he was done speaking.

Viktor walked back into the house, locking the front door. "What is it? What is it?" Natalie exclaimed, jumping up and down. She tried to get the cage that Viktor was hiding behind his back, but he whacked her hand away. "Ouch! That hurt."

"Calm down second grader, I planned a whole speech."

Natalie nodded, taking a seat on the couch. "Alright, go on with it."

Viktor moved closer. "Okay, so remember how I said I'd get you a dog." Natalie nodded, remembering their conversation. "Well, I was going to... but then I thought, why are cats and dogs always the animal's people are gifted? There's plenty of animals here and yet cats and dogs are always the ones we focus on."

Natalie's lips twisted in confusion. "So... you didn't get me a dog?"

He sucked his teeth. "I'm getting to that." He told her. "No, I didn't get you a dog. What I got you is the next big thing." He removed the cage from behind him and Natalie's eyebrows knitted together.

"You bought me a rat?" She exclaimed, jumping on the sofa. She was terrified.

Viktor chuckled at her expression. He knew she was going to freak out. "No, Nat. I did not get you a rat. I'm not that crazy. It's a ferret." He stated. "One that was in a desperate need of a home."

"A ferret?" Natalie repeated, still on top of the sofa. "Viktor, what the fuck?" She screamed as he opened the cage.

"Natalie, calm down. He's friendly and you acting like that is scaring him." He picked the small furry animal up and placed it on his shoulder. "See, he's perfectly friendly."

Natalie felt like she was going to piss herself. She wasn't used to other animals besides dogs. She'd been around dogs her entire life, everything else she was afraid of. Even cats. She hated the way they looked at her. Natalie gulped. "Vik, baby, I get that I've been a pain in your ass. But taking this route to give me a heart attack is ridiculous."

"Natalie, you're being overdramatic." Said, Viktor. "Come down here and meet the little guy. I promise you, you'll be fine." Natalie eyed the path to their bedroom, ready to make a run for it, and Viktor noticed. "You run into that room, I'm not feeding you for the rest of the day."

Natalie gasped. "Seriously, you know food is my weakness."

"Come on down." He encouraged her.

Natalie sighed, eventually doing it. She sat down on the sofa and Viktor moved towards her, kneeling in between her. He cupped his hand around the ferret and brought it up for Natalie to see. "I was once like this little guy... lost and misunderstood. But then someone special came into my life, and now I don't feel so lost or misunderstood anymore. I feel loved... and if you can find space in your heart to love me, then who's to say you can't do the same for this little guy?"

Natalie's eyes shut as she breathes. "That was so fucking cute." She whispered. Her eyes opened, and she looked down at the furry creature in Viktors hand. It had a cone-shaped nose, a long tail, and a long, pear-shaped body with short legs and long claws. Natalie bossed up and touched it, her three fingers running through its soft grey-black fur. "He's a little ugly, truth be told." She found herself saying as it opened its dark brown eyes. "But I think I can make it work. He doesn't seem that bad."

"So we can keep him?" Viktor questioned.

"We can... but I still want a dog just so you know."

Viktor came up and pecked her lips. "Noted." He sat next to her, getting comfortable. "Wanna hold him?"

She shook her head no and leaned back. "Baby steps Vik, baby steps." She licked her lips. "What should we name him?"

"Finneas?" Viktor suggested.

Natalie scoffed. "God no, one of my exes was a Finneas."

"Oh yeah. How about Chris?"

"Basic."

"Oakley?"

"No."

"Mugsy?"

"You're fucking horrible at this. Remind me to never let you name any of our future k—..." Natalie caught herself before slipping. "pets. You're not good with names."

Viktor chuckled, clueless to what she was about to say. "Well, if I'm so bad at names, why don't you name him?"

Natalie thought about it. "How about, Bane?" She asked, feeling faint at heart. The name carried a lot of memories behind it... making her think of the thing she tried so hard to forget. The thing Viktor didn't know about.

"Bane?" Viktor question. "As in Batman's nemesis?"

"Yeah."

"I love it."

"I knew you would." She said as a lone tear slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it. "What else do you have planned today?"

Viktor turned to her. "I was waiting for you to ask that." He squeezed her hand. "Let's just say, this whole day is full of surprises. You'll never forget this birthday."

Neither of them would.

Enjoy 💕