I laugh. “Men don’t worry about that.”
“Sure they do. My guess is that he spent so much time on that perfect smile, he forgot to check the mirror." Her laughter is infectious, and I’m laughing with her wondering when was the last time I laughed like this?
As the next sitcom rerun plays, Valentina shifts against me, her leg brushing mine.
Even with the sheet between us, the contact sends electricity racing across my skin.
My body responds instantly, desire shooting straight to my dick.
I shift, because it’s quite obvious what she does to me.
When she tilts her face up to look at me, her eyes glow with a fire that matches the fire spreading through my veins and I know that I’m in deep, deep trouble.
I should turn away. Create distance. Remember who she is, who I am, what my duty demands. But as she watches me with that mixture of desire and respect, I know I’m fighting a losing battle.
My gaze drops to her mouth, and the urge to close the distance between us is overwhelming.
One kiss, just one taste of her, would be worth whatever punishment awaits me.
But that kiss could cost her everything.
17
VALENTINA
His eyes drop to my lips, and the look in his eyes has every nerve ending in my body firing.
I should pull away. I meant what I said about behaving.
My ego can’t take any more rejection.
But the heat radiating from his body makes thinking straight impossible.
My fingers itch to explore the hard planes of muscle beneath his shirt.
I curl my hand into a fist against his chest to stop myself from giving in.
"You okay?" he murmurs, voice rough with something that makes my stomach flip.
"Yeah." The word comes out breathy because it’s hard to breathe with him so close. "I'm good."
And I am. Despite everything that’s happened today, I feel strangely calm in this moment.
Safe.
Even growing up surrounded by my brothers' protection, I've never felt this complete sense of shelter, like nothing in the world can touch me as long as I'm in his arms.
I lift my head from his shoulder, suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude.
This man risked everything for me today. Killed for me without hesitation.
Brought me somewhere no one could find us.
"Thank you." The words feel inadequate. "For today. For… everything."
His eyes soften, his hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from my face. "You never have to thank me for keeping you safe, Valentina."
My name on his lips sends a shiver through me.
