44. Valerie

Chapter forty-four

Valerie

I love a paid holiday as much as the next girl, but when Thursday morning rolls around, I'm dressed and ready to get back to the office.

Outside of work, I've spent all my time staring at the painting in disbelief after finishing it, visiting my father until he came home on Tuesday evening, and letting Karyn and Nat know about everything that's been going on.

Now in addition to Antonio not speaking to me, Natalia is adamant about not speaking to me either, because I never called her to let her know about what was going on with Papá. Great, another person who hates me right now; the list seems to be ever-growing.

My father has become increasingly overprotective since returning, constantly asking if I'm okay and repeatedly asking about the hospital payments.

Ambrose took care of all the payments in the time it took for Antonio to uncover our little secret, so at least I can sleep a bit easier at night, now that the only person I'm indebted to is my boyfriend.

We've been here before.

I push the thought to the back of my mind along with what Antonio said, but something about not having spoken to or seen Ambrose since that day doesn't sit right with me. My thoughts kept swirling around the negative idea that maybe Antonio was right, maybe it was all a ploy to sleep with me.

I mean, how many people would wait all this time, pay off all their partner's debts, just for sex? I've seen men do far worse for sex so nothing could surprise me but it seems so far-fetched, or at least I'd like to think it is.

As I walk into the office, I can feel the tension in the air.

Antonio storms out of Ambrose's office with Ambrose hot on his heels.

"Devi capire, Nino, non volevamo che lo scoprissi così." You have to understand, Nino, this isn't how we wanted you to find out.

"Fanculo a te e alle tue scuse," Fuck you and your excuses, "Of course, you're here too." He scowls at me.

I stare between the two of them, Ambrose avoiding my gaze fully focusing on his brother. "Well go on, it isn't like you have to hide anymore, why don't you give him a good morning kiss or some shit." He looks between us, his voice loud enough to warrant a few stares from the employees within earshot.

"Antonio," I beg but he laughs.

"You two are comical," he scoffs.

"Enough Antonio," Ambrose's voice booms.

Antonio rolls his eyes and walks away, not another word uttered.

Ambrose watches him leave but doesn't raise his eyes to meet mine and retreats into his office. I sink into my seat and unpack my things, his entire reaction proves Antonio right. He's brushing me to the side, and he's doing it right in front of the one person I'd hope he'd want to prove wrong.

It's nearly lunch when I muster up enough courage to go into his office. I knock and open the door without even waiting for him to respond .

"Whatever it is you can leave it at the door, or whoever it is you can tell them to fuck off."

I click the door shut followed by the lock. That sound catches his attention and he looks up from the stack of papers littering his desk.

"Are you ready to stop ignoring me or do I also fall under the category of people who should fuck off?" I cross my hands over my chest.

A deep sigh leaves his chest and he buries his head into his hands. "No, I'm sorry, this has been a bit overwhelming, especially with Antonio's growing attitude since he found out."

"You haven't spoken to me in nearly four days, if I was some fuck and duck, you didn't have to bother with all the other stuff." My voice cracks towards the end and I curse silently at how quickly my emotions come to the surface.

"What? Hey, no come here." He's on his feet calling me over but my feet are firmly planted in their spot next to the door. Too scared to get too close.

"That's what it looks like, you come over, we sleep together and then you're gone."

He walks over to me and reaches to uncross my arms, holding both of my hands in his. "I'm so sorry if I've made you feel that way, sweetheart. There's been some major complications in Enzo's division of the Vitale investments that we're all having to pull extra weight to take care of," he starts explaining.

"It felt like you were throwing me to the side, and after what Antonio said…"

"What did Antonio say?" His brow raises and I regret bringing Antonio up at all.

"Just that he didn't want to hear from me when you eventually get tired of me…"

His blank eyes stare back at me, blinking repeatedly as he takes in what I've said. "Do you really think I could get tired of you sweetheart?"

"I-I don't know."

"Val, from the day I saw you at my papá's funeral you've tainted my mind with parts of you I don't think I could ever be without again. I'm living in a permanent haze of pink filled with your bright smile and smart-ass comments, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"But what if–if one day that's not enough for you anymore... it happened once with Mattheo it could happen again."

"You'll always be enough, sweetheart, because I love you. I haven't ever felt the way I feel about you with anyone else before. I would tear the world to shreds to see you smile."

My mouth is ajar, his words registering. Ambrose Vitale loves me, he loves me. Two things that I thought could never coexist, living in one sentence and they sound oh so perfect together.

"I've loved you for a long time, but I'm finally in love with you," he continues.

"At least my crush isn't unrequited anymore." I burst out laughing and he chuckles as well cupping my face and placing delicate kisses on my lips.

"I love you too, by the way," I mumble into the kiss and he smirks realising what I've said.

The delicate kisses don't stay that way for too long when my fingertips graze the base of his skull as I grip his hair. It's as if the contact sent signals straight to his dick because everything goes into overdrive.

His hands that were previously holding onto my waist now grip into my ass as if his life depends on it. He pulls me until our chests crash into each other and I can feel his hard length press into my lower stomach.

"You locked the door right?" he asks.

"Yes."

"Good girl." He picks me up and carries me over to his desk. The previously neat stack of papers flies backwards as he makes space for me on the desk.

"I've wanted to hike this pretty dress up and fuck you senseless on my desk since you wore it on your first day." He says into my ear as he pulls me towards the edge of his large mahogany desk.

"You looked pretty fuckable that day as well," I breathe out as he trails kisses along my neck and down towards my chest. "Until you opened your mouth and an asshole came out."

He huffs out a laugh and nods his head slowly. His green eyes look up at me and a shiver runs down my spine.

"An asshole who's about to give you the best orgasm of your life. Take your panties off," he demands as he moves backwards, giving me space to hop off his desk.

I bite my lip nervously.

"What?" He stares at me, pinning me with a questioning glance not sure as to why I'm not doing as I've been told. Then his eyes widen in realisation.

"Fuck me. You are going to be my greatest downfall, sweetheart."

Did I think we'd end up fucking on his desk when I decided to not wear underwear this morning? No. I merely thought we would have ended up fucking at his house later this evening.

His large hand wraps around my throat while the other pushes my thighs apart. "How am I supposed to get anything done when I know this is how you come to work?"

A strangled breath leaves my lips as I try to exhale and answer him but instead, his hand grips tighter. It only lasts for a few seconds but when he lets go I'm a little dizzy from the lack of oxygen. As I'm about to take a gasp of air his lips meet mine and instead, I take in a large inhale of Ambrose.

His hands swiftly undo his belt all while he keeps his lips glued to mine. The hem of my dress is immediately pushed higher as he brings my core closer to him. He slips his hand between us and runs a finger over my clit eliciting a squeal from me.

"So fucking wet." He breaks the kiss to whisper and looks down at the point where our bodies are about to join and become one.

Lining up the tip of his cock with my entrance he plunges into me until he's balls deep. He lets out a groan still staring down at us.

"Lay down." His eyes flash back up to me as he orders.

Without a second thought I'm laying down in between all the papers on his desk and then Ambrose is thrusting himself into me.

"Oh fuck Ambrose." I groan out as he pushes deeper into me than he could on the canvas that night.

He lifts my one leg so that it hangs over his shoulder. The angle allows him to plunge in deeper. As he draws himself out his large hand comes to rest on my lower stomach and I look up at him confused, until he presses down and slides back in.

The moan I let out is broken as my brain tries to comprehend how it's possible to feel so much pleasure all at once. His tip brushes against a sensitive part deep within me and I practically cry out as I scrunch my eye shut. Both my hands gripping the forearm of the hand pressing onto my stomach.

"Open your eyes, Valerie." His voice is clear and if I couldn't feel his dick inside me I'd think we were having a normal conversation.

His thumb rubs down onto my clit and my eyes fly open and I strain against his arm, trying to slip out of his grasp as the pleasure becomes overwhelming.

"Nope," he scolds, eyes holding eye contact with mine. "Where do you think you're going?"

The pace this man sets after the words leave his lips is damn near animalistic. He's purposely driving up to meet the spot where his hand is applying pressure and the thumb on my clit only drags everything out as it moves in slow, gentle circles.

"Shit, I'm going to…" I breathe out.

"I know," he says through a smirk and I assume it's from the way I'm so desperately clenching around him. In one swift move, he grabs both my arms and throws them around his neck bringing my body back up to his. As his lips crash into mine, my orgasm rips through me and I can barely breathe let alone think as I hear the sound of faint knocking. I assume it to be Ambrose's thrusts and push it to the back of my mind .

His thrusts stutter a few moments later as he releases inside me, filling me up with his warm cum.

"Here," he says, handing me a box of tissues to clean myself up while he tucks his dick back in his pants.

I hop up and straighten myself out, Ambrose is still staring at me lazily and what I wouldn't give to be able to just hop into a shower with him right now.

"Could you head over to Kaia's studio with Augustus and collect the clothes for the dinner?" he asks and I can't help but smile brightly at the mention of getting to spend time with Gus.

"I'd love to, I haven't seen Gus in so long," I jump immediately running to get my phone and call Gus.

"You may have to fit a few things on to make sure it's good, she's made stuff for us before so she's got our sizing down. Bring me whatever is the matching option for your dress." He says but I'm already lost in my world of getting to see Augustus.