He unbuttons his shirt, and I watch him shrug it off his shoulders, letting it fall slowly down his ripped arms andshredded back. Even from here, I can see the shadows playing on the ridges of his back when he moves.
He tosses the shirt aside, then reaches for his belt.
I stand there frozen, enamored by the sight of him.
The night is dark, quiet, and feels like a little secret I own.
Valentin takes off his pants next, and his thighs are straight out of a fever dream. Strong, muscled, and toned as hell.
When he steps out and stands there with just his boxers on, my mouth goes dry. The man is gorgeous, there’s no doubt about that. He stretches his arms above his head, and I follow the lines of his body, and that’s when I see the dark bruises lined across the side of his ribs.
My heart begins to race as I take a few more quiet, cautious steps forward, because with each step I take, I feel like an utter fool for not noticing the terrible injuries before.
Chapter 15 - Valentin
The hot water licking at my bruised ribs feels like a balm, and I sink deeper into the tub.
The steam rises around me, and every movement I make sends agonizing pain through my body. Within minutes, the heat begins to help and eases the ache just enough to make it bearable.
The night is dead quiet, and I close my eyes, reveling in the sounds around me: the gentle chirp of crickets and the soft bubbling of water.
Just then, I hear a twig snapping and sit up straighter, scanning for the source of the sound. My body relaxes the minute I see Gela standing at the edge of the pool area, looking ethereal with the moonlight high above her.
She's still in those jeans and that blouse from earlier. Didn’t she go to bed? Had she stayed up? Just seeing her again makes me feel like an idiot for walking away, all because she'd told me it was ‘just sex.’
I should have fought harder.
“Valentin, what happened?” Her voice is gentle and afraid, and her gaze flickers over my ribs, where the bruises are the darkest.
“Come here,” I say hoarsely, extending a hand.
She remains frozen for a split second, but something in her gives way, and she walks over without a word to sit at the edge of the hot tub. She dips her feet in and looks down at me with her brows furrowed in concern.
“What happened to you?”
While the water acts as a balm, I realize there’s something else I truly need to forget about my shitty day. Without thinking, I reach for her wrist and slide another wet arm around her waist and drag her in with a swift tug.
She falls into the water with a surprised squeal, still fully clothed, and to my surprise, she’s laughing.
“Valentin!” she splutters, pushing wet hair from her face. “Are you insane? My clothes—”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, pulling her even closer until she’s breathless and staring right into my eyes. The blood gushing in my head is so damn strong, and delivering one message to my brain: she feels like gravity.
Without thinking, I kiss her.
For a moment, I wonder if I pushed her too far, for she stiffens. But the very next second, her arms wind around my neck, and she melts against me.
The kiss is soft, a whisper in the night, and I cup her face. She lets out a tiny little pants and tilts her head up to kiss back stronger, and when I slide my hands down to the curve of her ass and squeeze, she gasps.
I slide a hand down her neck and feel her pulse racing beneath my fingers. I carry on lower, over her collarbone, down to her breast. Even through her wet shirt, I can feel her nipple harden to the touch of my fingers. I pinch gently, drawing another soft moan from her that I catch with my lips.
My other hand grips her waist, pulling her closer, guiding her to straddle me. She follows willingly, her thighs wrapping around my hips as she settles on my lap. I can feel her heat against my hardening cock, and she feels light like air, floating in the water.
There’s only one word that comes to my mind. The moment, the sounds, the warm water, and her—everything feels soft.
I trail my lips down her throat, and she gently weaves her fingers through my hair, grazing deliciously at my scalp. I reach for her buttons and slowly start to undo each one, watching the trail of droplets settling down her cleavage.
I move to pull her blouse off her shoulders when a sharp pain shoots through my side. I can't prevent the groan and wince, and am forced to stop until I can catch my breath properly.
