35. Daniela

THIRTY-FIVE

Daniela

J ust sleep.

I keep repeating it to myself as my heart aches remembering how he misinterpreted my crush. He's always an arrogant shithead but seeing him open and soft is like a hit to my defenses. I can sleep in the same bed as him and keep it innocent. It's not a big deal. I've slept beside Tali for years and never done anything. Adding an extra layer of armor while I wait for him to pick me up, I switch my panties for boy shorts and find the most unflattering clothes I own.

The knock on my door makes me jump and I rush pulling on the rest of my clothes, so I don't answer with my ass hanging out and undo all my hard work. Valentin stands on the other side, still in his suit and with a wide smile on his face. He doesn't comment on the fact I've changed as he tips my chin up and plants a chaste kiss on my lips. Bad . I really should have purchased a spray bottle because I have to force myself away from him.

He holds my nape guiding me out and taking the keys from my hand. It's so normal and weird at the same time. He doesn't just pull my door closed but he also tests that it's locked. A small detail that makes me feel protected. He keeps me at his side and kisses the top of my head as we walk out of my building. I'm sure he's humming but it's not a tune I recognize.

He doesn't stop humming as we get into the car and the smile is still there framing his words.

"We'll have our date in the morning."

I pull my hand back and hold on to the door despite his careful driving and I can't stop myself from arguing,

"I said I'd think about it."

The arrogant fuck shrugs like it's already a yes.How doesn't he understand that this won't work. It's messed up and weird, even if my sister isn't in his life he still has a child with her. It's even more fucked up that he was taken advantage of.

He stops at a random fast food place but doesn't get out the car as he types out a message for whatever he's organized. Turning to me when he's finished, he strokes down my cheek with his knuckles.

"I owe you a pizza."

He's so cute like this. I hate him. He leans across the car like he sense my thoughts and kisses the corner of my lips. Everything about Valentin is made to tease my senses. His personality and his looks, it's all purposely built just for me. He's the only person who I've been interested in prior to knowing them.

The tap against his window breaks us apart. He doesn't move enough for me to see who it is and passes the box over to me. Relaxing back in his seat, he holds my nape with one hand and drives with the other as he puts me at ease over the incorrect topic.

"There's no mushrooms on it."

I can't think with his thumb stroking the side of my neck. When his hand flexes massaging my skin, I sit back and close my eyes, the seat comes alive replicating the movements down my back and under my thighs.

He moves his thumb up to rest behind my ear, and his soothing voice mixes with the tranquility floating through me.

"You tired, Dani mine?"

Swallowing around the comfort that would make me a liar, I open my eyes and see signs for Great Falls .

"Not tired. Where are you going?"

He looks up from the road and holds my chin between his thumb and finger. There's nervousness on his features and it's wrong.

"Wanted you all to myself for a little longer."

Seeing my confusion, he explains that Tali is still awake and then sits straighter to convey the seriousness of his dumbass order. "I don't want you sleeping with him again, or anyone who isn't me."

He makes it sound dirty when it's never been anything but innocent. We don't even go under the covers together with Tali running hot and my need to have them. His knuckles bleed white as he chokes the steering wheel and voices my own thoughts.

"I know it's just sleeping but you'll sleep in our bed only."

He has to ruin everything by opening his mouth. We don't have an our anything. He has his bed and I have mine. Waking up beside Val would ruin me, I'd be pulled further into his orbit never wanting to leave.He pulls over beside the water and slides his seat back as he unclips my belt. Lifting me over the center console, he places me between his thighs and wraps his arms around my middle with his chin resting on my shoulder. The softness comes back, and I'm dizzy from his constant mood changes.

"Eat your food, I know you would have forgotten while you were working."

The sky is that weird tinge of blue where it's still light and I can hear the water rushing to join the river making the act of eating pizza more intimate than it ever should be.

Val's hands don't go between my legs and his touches are innocent. But my body translates them as indecent when he pushes them through the sides of my overalls and under my t-shirt. He kisses my neck as I try to eat, and I nearly choke as he moves up my jaw. It's not due to the contact but his vulnerability.

"You know this is everything I've wanted since I was eleven years old?" The soft voice is killing me, and I stare out at the water rather than focus on the emotions building in the car. "I'll do anything for you, Dani mine."

I don't argue as he presses his promise to my cheek.

I want to point out every time he's fucked someone other than me. Give the names of those he chose while I waited like an idiot even if we were kids then, but he didn't see that I had a crush or how much I loved him because I'd act like a freak every time we were alone.

I hold the outside of his thighs and he laughs lightly sitting back and taking me with him. "You're so fucking adorable, wiping your greasy fingers on me."

I didn't wipe my hands on him, but I wish I did.I point to the napkin I used like a civilized person and lean into his chest enjoying the peace. "I used that, not you."

He destroys it closing up the box and dropping it out of the window.

"Don't litter, it's bad for the environment."

I can hear his eye roll and the soft interior lights come on as I'm folded in half. Valentin leans over me grabbing the box from the tarmac and putting it back in the car.

Wrapping his arm around me again he repositions me, so I'm sat on his thigh with my head on his shoulder. He's so pretty and he doesn't look at the waterfall in front of us. He strokes his fingers through my hair and brushes his nose against mine allowing the vulnerability to come back.

"How many dates until you agree to be my wife?"

I want to say none and agree right now. If he was like this all the time I'd have no doubts, all the other shit would be forgotten, and reality wouldn't be able to touch us.I focus on facts, already giving in to what we both want.

"I have rules."

I'll take other people's opinions being low of me as long as Valentin doesn't make me a fool. It might not lead to marriage but at least I'll get a taste of what we could be. He's nearly vibrating with excitement, and he can't keep it out of his voice as he agrees too quickly before I've even listed them.

"Anything you want baby."

"No touching anyone else," I start.

"Easy, I haven't since you came back." He looks truthful but I don't believe it.

"You can't lie to me."

"Done." Still open and not shielding anything.

"You can't talk to anyone you've been in love with."

"It's only ever been you."

Valentin softens and cups my cheek.

There's no chance his entire life was on hold in the years I was in Brazil. He's too social and enjoys people. Trying to be authoritative, I lean closer examining his features for deceit.

"Don't lie."

Regret pulls his face down and he moves me so I'm straddling his thighs. He speaks slowly, hesitating over spilling his thoughts. "I'm not, I've fucked other people, but I've never loved any of them."

A bitter taste coats my tongue at the thought of anyone else touching him.Stroking up my thighs, he holds my hips and pulls me forward with more strength in his voice.

"I've never brought anyone home or told them I have a kid." He sighs and tacks on, "I'm not helping my case, but I'm pretty sure they only know my full name by reputation."

It's on the tip of my tongue to ask for his number but then we'll both be pissed over what can't be changed.I trace his brow bone with my finger to distract myself and change the topic sounding bitter as fuck.

"What's your reputation?"

I saw the way everyone gave him a wide berth tonight. The only people brave enough to interact with Val were his business associates , whatever that means. There's one word I would never use to describe Valentin — diplomatic. But that's what he is right now as he answers without telling me anything.

"I've done a lot of shit in my life Dani. I can't apologize for it. but I only ever wanted things between us to be right, honest, and good. I only ever wanted you. I'd go crazy knowing you weren't sleeping in my bed or spending every second obsessing over me like I was with you."

He doesn't let me think on what he says and instructs me to lift my hair up. I can't see what's in his hand because his lips are on mine. It's all emotion and deeper as something cool touches my neck. His voice softens as he moves back and brushes the tip of his nose against mine.

"It was always yours. I shouldn't have taken it back."

Touching my chest, the vines have me relaxing.I'd been accustomed to wearing it every day for years and it's right to have it back. I cross my arms over my chest refusing to let him get away with not apologizing.

"That doesn't sound like ‘I'm sorry for being an asshole Dani.' "

The bastard smirks and pulls me over his dick, grinding me against him, while I think of every horrible thing that could suppress my lust.

He moves forward and kisses my neck. I'm losing control already. He swirls a pattern with his tongue against my pulse point and turns filthy.

"It's written on my dick, want to see it rodnaya?"

I have the sense to remember that we're in public, in his car, again, and I pull his head back not wanting a repeat of seeing Leno. There's no elegant way to sit back in my seat and he laughs lightly slapping my ass as I crawl back over.

"Take everything off and you can put your ass in my face again."

I hold my middle finger up causing him to laugh harder and it abruptly stops at my next rule.

"It was a mistake to sleep together."

Switching our earlier roles again, he grabs my face and says one word, "No." He sounds like a toddler, and I bite my cheek, so I don't laugh in his face.He softens minutely and groans being a dramatic asshole. "You want to torture me as payback?"

It sounds good. Especially after the asshole left me without release. My own hand hasn't been enough since that night and I can feel the frustration lingering in my body. It's only fair he gets to feel the same way.He tilts his head to the side slightly and I see the resemblance between him and his son. It changes as soon as he opens his mouth.

"I like sex but," he takes in a deep inhale, "I love you. Remember that while you're teasing me. No one else gets to make you come but me."

Oh fuck, I fucked up. I should have given us one more night and then started fresh in the morning.

My heart soars as my voice lowers. "You love me?"

It's too quiet and his smile is the warmest it has ever been as he cups my cheek and gently brushes his thumb over my cheekbone.

"Yeah khudozhnik moya, I thought it was pretty obvious since I've been gone for you since I was a kid. It has only ever been you and it will only ever be you."