Page 236 of Valentino

But this is just a vacation, and I need to keep my wits about me.

1 a.m.

We stare at each other in the semi-lit room, his finger traces across my forehead, down over my cheek, before he swipes his thumb over my bottom lip. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you look more beautiful than you do right now.”

“Well.” I smile bashfully. “You’re obviously drunk.”

“Not at all.” He leans over and his lips softly take mine, unlike earlier when we were animals desperate for each other.

Tonight, after our dinner date, this feels deliberate.

Intimate.

Our kiss deepens, and my eyes flutter closed as my hands go to his hair.

This man and the way he makes me feel.

A little voice from deep inside lets out an echo, remember what’s at stake.

Unfortunately, I do.

I really wish that I could just live in the moment and enjoy what’s panning out as it unfolds because what’s happening between us feels way too wonderful for doubts.

But there’s something standing between us. His life.

I know it too well.

Valentino is the one man I never got over, which is weird seeing he’s someone I never had in the first place. How is it possible to be so obsessed with someone when you’ve only ever spent nine days in his arms?

As if reading that my mind needs to be distracted, his hand slides down beneath the covers and cups my breast as his thumb brushes over my nipple, my breath catches against his lips.

The room is silent, the only sound our collective breathing and it’s there again, the magic he casts when his body touches mine.

Yesterday was led by instinct, but tonight I’ve crossed over into dangerous territory.

Where my heart is dangerously close to attaching to his.

“Get out of your head,” he murmurs against my lips.

“I’m trying.”

“Concentrate on this.” His hand goes lower to between my legs, he circles his thick fingers through my sex. “Just here, babe.” His breath catches as he realizes how wet I am. “Anna,” he murmurs. “You are fucking fire.”

My thighs open by themselves, desperate for a deeper connection. He picks up my top leg and throws it over his body to spread me open for him.

His teeth graze my neck, as his fingers slide inside my body.

Oh….

Our kiss deepens, his fingers too, and like the puppet master he is my body begins to rise to a rhythm of his hand.

Dear Lord, he’s good at this.

It’s the weirdest thing, I’ve had sex before, I’m no shrinking violet and most definitely not a prude. But everything with Valentino feels exaggerated and magnified.

As if I’m experiencing everything for the first time.

Maybe everything before this was just practice for now.