“He nearly killed me.”
She shakes her head. “He wouldn’t do that. I guess that’s why you were demoted?”
I nod. “The point is, if he thinks I’ve gone rogue or something?—”
“No. Alessandro is a hard head and might want to punish you for speaking up, but he knows you. He knows you’ll put a gun to Maksim’s head. Who better for me to be with than you in this case?”
I can only hope she’s right.
“He’ll be dealing with Maksim right now, anyway. And when he realizes Maksim doesn’t have me or you, he’ll know that you’re doing what needs to be done to protect me. Maybe not calling is best so Maksim doesn’t know either.”
She has a point there too. “I know I’m a badass Mafia princess, but actually… I just?—”
“Even badass Mafia princesses can be scared, and we had a big one today.” I realize that I’m going to give in and not go find a phone.
Everything in my training says to make the call, to report to Alessandro immediately.
But something else… Valentina needing me shifts something inside me.
She reaches for my hand, her fingers cool against my skin. "Please,Cristian. I've had no control over anything in my life lately. Just give me this night to get my bearings again."
"One night," I concede, knowing I'm crossing a line that is more than delaying a call to my boss.
It’s a line I can't uncross.
But seeing relief flood her face makes it worth whatever punishment awaits me.
She nods. “We’ll call first thing in the morning.”
I’m in a dangerous place.
I head to the bathroom, needing a moment alone with my chaotic thoughts.
The door shuts behind me, and I lean against it, exhaling slowly.
What the hell am I doing?
From the moment I became her bodyguard, I’ve known that time I spend alone with her brings me closer to something I’m not allowed to want.
I’m fucking torturing myself.
I flip on the water and strip.
Steam fills the small bathroom as I step under the shower spray, letting hot water wash away dirt, blood, and evidence of our escape.
It does nothing for the tug-of-war that consumes my brain.
That day in the car proved I can’t be trusted alone with her.
Reminding myself of that brings back the memories of her wet pussy that my fingers fucked.
Her head thrown back, a moan of pleasure escaping her lips.
My dick swells, as it has many times since when I’ve conjured the memory up.
I have half a mind to wrap my fist around it and jerk off to take the edge off this tinderbox of sexual frustration.
But with Valentina in the other room, it feels wrong.
