I follow her into oblivion, seeing stars as I cum inside her.
I collapse against her, both of us just holding on to catch our breaths. After a moment, I lift my head to look at her, afraidof what I might see in her eyes. Will she tell me it was just sex again and that it meant nothing?
But to my surprise, all I see is wonder and warmth, like she’s feeling every single thing I feel.
She reaches up to brush my hair from my forehead with a gentle touch, and I press my forehead to hers, my heart doing a double-take at the tenderness of this moment.
Chapter 20 - Gela
Valentin pulls off me, and I scoot further down the couch, but for a second, just a second, I wait to see what happens next. I don’t expect my heart to soar when he flings an arm around my waist and pulls me back toward him, his chest curving against my back.
In this post-sex haze, I allow myself a little sigh and nestle closer till his chin rests on my forehead. I close my eyes and let his body heat soothe away all the edges of fear still lingering in my mind, though in his arms, I know there’s nothing I have to fear.
With him, I feel safe. In his arms, I feel content…and the minute I realize that, my eyes snap open.
Fuck. I just had sex with Valentin Yuri again, and this time, I don’t want to leave.
Oh god. This isn't just an attraction anymore. This is something deeper, the kind of deep that comes when one falls for a man.
I'm falling for Valentin Yuri.
The realization feels like someone threw me right into an ice bath. My entire body goes rigid, and panic crawls up my throat.
This is a big mistake. I have no business falling for a man I’ll never get to keep. This is only temporary…we’re married, yes, but how could I so easily have forgotten the terms of our contract?
He married me to save my ass from the Zakharovs. That’s it. He never promised me forever.
“You okay?” Valentin murmurs, his hand tracing down my spine.
I can't do this. I can't let myself fall any deeper.
I gently push away from him and sit up, moving to fix my dress. “It’s getting late…I think I need to get some sleep.”
I throw a look over my shoulder as I reach back to retie the halter, and all I see is a very confused Valentin.
“Gela?” His voice is soft. “Can’t you stay just a little longer?”
I force a smile, but it makes my cheeks hurt. “Honestly? That was incredible. But I'm exhausted after everything that happened tonight.”
He sits up slowly, too, and watches me with those piercing blue eyes that make me weak. “It looks like you’re running away again.”
“I'm not running,” I lie. “I just need some space to process.”
“Process what, exactly?”
I grab my panties from the floor, slipping them on while avoiding his gaze. “Don't look so disappointed, Valentin. This is what we do, remember? We have amazing sex, and then we go back to our corners.”
His jaw tightens. “I don’t think it has to be that way.”
“Oh, come on! There is no other way.” I force a lightness into my voice and give him a wink. “We both know this setup is temporary. You're keeping me safe until the Zakharov situation blows over, and then I go back to my life, and you go back to yours.”
“But what if I want more than that?” he asks quietly.
My heart stutters painfully, but I push through. “You’re only feeling that because you’ve got that post-sex high.”
His eyebrows hit the roof. “You don’t get to decide that for me. Come on, Gela. Let’s just talk.”
“I need my independence, Valentin.” I snap, feeling like there’s a noose being tied around my neck. “I've always needed it. That hasn't changed just because we sleep together occasionally and youthinkyou’ve caught feelings.”
