Page 215 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

As we lay there panting, I said, “Val?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t ever ask me about meeting her again. I may have to put up with you marrying her, but I don’t ever want to meet her, or see her, or anything else.”

“…okay,” he said quietly.

We had sex several more times that afternoon. Though it was still fucking fantastic (and fantastic fucking – haha), it never quite reached the same emotional peaks as the first time.

Finally, after our last go-round, I got a text on my phone from Paolo.

We’re in the lobby.

My heart sped up with fear.

WE’RE in the lobby.

As in Paolo…

And the woman Valentino was going to marry.

“Paolo’s in the lobby,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.

“Great,” he said grumpily. “Tell him I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

I sat on the bed and listened as he took a shower, then watched as he came out drying himself off.

He was so gorgeous just walking around naked…

It hurt to think this might be one of the last times I ever got to see it.

“You okay?” he asked with a frown. “I kind of expected you to join me.”

I forced a smile. “If I’d gotten in the shower with you, it would’ve been more than a few minutes.”

“Hmph,” he grunted, then kissed me before he started dressing.

Once he was ready to go, he looked at me and caressed my face.

“I love you,” he murmured.

“I know,” I said.

“Ohhh – it’s gone from ‘I love you, too’ to ‘I know,’ huh?” he said, tickling me again. “Goin’ all Han Solo on me, huh?”

“Stop – STOP!” I shrieked as I laughed. “I love you too, I love you too!”

“You better,” he said as he stopped tickling me and kissed me one last time. Then he pulled away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You better,” I said, a big smile on my face as he winked and pulled the door shut behind him.

Then I let the happy façade drop.

Ididlove him.

And I wasso happythat he’d finally said it!

And yet…

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