“Oh God, Cristian.” Her fingers grip my shoulders, and her head falls back. She lets go. Surrenders to her pleasure. I watch her, fascinated and in awe of her.
“That’s it baby… fuck me…” Need coils tighter and tighter, but I grit my teeth, waiting as she chases her pleasure.
Her body pulses around my dick as she rides me.
We move together, faster, faster, as if we can outrun the reality of our lives.
As if by loving each other thoroughly enough, we might change the course of what's to come.
She lets out a cry, her pussy squeezing me until I see stars.
“Yes!” I growl, gripping her hips to help her ride me as my orgasm rips through me. It seems to go on forever, and yet, when it subsides, it’s over too fast.
I push her hair from her face as I watch her breathing return to normal.
The look on her face breaks my heart wide open.
It’s pleasure mixed with deep sorrow.
It echoes how I feel.
I love you.
The words sit on my tongue, but I don’t let them out.
I’m not afraid to love.
But what would be the point to say the words except bringing more sadness into this fucked up situation we’re in?
Instead, I pull her back with me and hold her, pretending I never have to let her go.
25
VALENTINA
I’m happier than I’ve ever been. But the cloud of my future is never far away.
As much as I try to push it aside when Cristian is with me, it’s always there.
Especially as the wedding draws closer.
Each time we're together is both pure bliss and torture.
I've never felt more alive than when I'm with him, and I've never been more aware of my impending death sentence.
Yesterday, I told Alessandro I wouldn't go through with the wedding.
He stared at me like I'd grown a second head, then dismissed me as if I'd suggested something as trivial as changing the tablecloths.
"It's my life," I'd shouted after him.
"It's the family's future," he'd replied without turning back.
My time with Cristian has become a dangerous addiction, each forbidden moment more intoxicating than the last.
Like yesterday, when I was sorting through wedding invitations in the library, hating each name I wrote.
"Your brother's looking for you," Cristian announced, entering with that serious expression he wears around others.
