Page 276 of Valentino

He opens one eye to look at me again. “Four.” He holds four fingers up. “Days. Four fucking days, Anna.”

“I’m joking, you idiot.” I laugh.

“Are you though?” he mutters dryly.

“Yes.” I smile goofily, the fact that I feel confident in winding him up like this and about this says a lot about our relationship, things couldn’t be going better between us.

“Valentino,” I whisper as I lean over to him, “may I remind you that it’s been thirteen years in the making, though. So…. Not really four days, is it?”

“Go to sleep.”

“Or what?”

“Or I will smother you with one of my body parts.” His eyes are still closed, his arms are still folded.

I giggle, I like this game.

I lean in close so only he can hear me. “Which part?” I whisper.

He ignores me.

“Valentino.” I tap my finger on his forehead, why is he so fun to annoy? “Which body part would you smother me with?”

“My cock, Anna,” he says louder than expected.

“Sshh.” I giggle as I look around. “Will you keep it down? Somebody will hear you?”

He links our fingers, puts them over his crotch and flexes his dick beneath my hand. “Occupy yourself with this.”

The car pulls into the underground parking lot of Valentino’s building, and unlike other times where we have a cavalcade of cars trailing behind us, tonight it’s just us and a driver. He parks the car by the elevator and we climb out. “Thank you.” Valentino shakes his hand.

“Thank you.” I smile, I turn toward the elevator.

“Remember, not a word to anyone on who is with me,” Val tells him from behind me.

“Yes sir, of course,” the man replies.

What?

We get into the elevator and turn toward the doors. “The boys will be here in the morning with our luggage,” he says matter-of-factly. “They’re driving straight through with my car.”

I nod, but my mind is racing off on a tangent.

Is he ashamed of me?

“Why did we catch a commercial flight tonight?” I ask him.

He glances down at me as he readjusts his cuff links. “The jet was booked elsewhere.”

I heard the boys tell him the jet was at his disposal just yesterday.

“Why are you lying to me?” I ask.

The elevator doors open and he steps out, completely ignoring my question.

“Valentino?”

“I’m not lying to you, I’m….” He strides into the apartment.