Page 14 of Valentino

Usually, throwing myself into work erases whatever bullshit is going on in my life. But Katya is different. The more I try to ignore her, the more she pops into my head. Her smile, those fierce golden eyes, her soft skin, and silky hair… She’s all I can fucking think about, and it’s messing with me.

Yes, she’s exquisite. With olive skin, midnight black hair, and eyes the color of honey, Katya is like a goddess of beauty and grace. But her looks are only a fraction of why I’m obsessed with her.

Katya has been surprising me since the moment I laid eyes on her. From jumping me and holding me at gunpoint to confessing her horrible situation while I patched her up without any anesthesia. There’s no denying she’s strong as fuck and determined to survive. She’s incredibly resilient, tender, and sweet, even after everything she’s been through.

I finish up my shower, grabbing a towel and drying off before throwing on jeans and a t-shirt. I’ve been home for over an hour but still haven’t seen Katya. It’s almost dinner time, so maybe I can lure her out with a meal. We need to talk, though I’m not sure if I’m going to tell her to find a new place to stay or sweep her off her feet with another earth-shattering kiss.

Only one way to find out.

When I’m halfway down the stairs, I hear her rustling around in the kitchen. Good. I won’t have to hunt her down and force her to eat with me. The aroma of creamy alfredo and seasoned chicken wafts past me as I reach the bottom step, and my mouth is watering by the time I get to the kitchen.

Katya is stirring a pot on the stove, sashaying her hips as she hums to herself. She hasn’t seen me yet, which gives me the opportunity to study her. The dark orange and pink light from the setting sun streams in through the kitchen window, reflecting off her hair like glitter as she sways.

Yeah, there’s no way I’m kicking this woman out. I very much want to kiss her again, but I forgot about the third option; fall to one knee and beg her to be mine forever.

Reel it in, goddamnit.

“Katya,” I say, my voice much rougher than I intended.

She gasps and spins around, her feet slipping on the tiled floor. I’m next to her in a second, wrapping an arm around her back and steadying her before she falls. Katya peers up at me, those brilliant eyes searing me all the way down to my soul.

A million thoughts fly through my head as I stare into her golden depths.Stay, be mine, let me protect you, let me worship you, let me be the one person you can trust.

Instead of confessing any of that, I help Katya regain her balance, then take a step back. As much as I want to wrap her up in my arms, I need to respect her space. I haven’t exactly been easy to deal with, so I’m not sure how she feels about my presence.

“You made dinner?” I ask after clearing my throat.

Katya nods, nibbling her bottom lip while looking away from me. I hate it, but I only have myself to blame.

“Chicken alfredo,” she answers, her voice soft, almost shy.

Where is the woman who asked me to serve her head on a platter to her father? Fuck. I hurt her more than I thought by pushing her away. I’m about to thank her, but she talks before I get a chance.

“Go sit down, I’ll dish us up.”

Nodding, I follow her orders. Katya piles homemade fettuccine noodles onto a plate, followed by a perfectly seared chicken breast, and topped with a ladle of alfredo sauce.

“This looks incredible,” I tell her as she sets the food down in front of me.

She smiles briefly, but her eyes never meet mine.

“Thank you,” I try again.

Katya nods once, then flits away to grab her plate.

Once we’re both seated at the table, I dig into the meal this gorgeous woman prepared. After three or four bites, I notice Katya isn’t eating. Pausing, I set my utensils down and look at her, tilting my head to the side. She’s tapping her foot and wringing her hands under the table. The old me would have assumed she poisoned my meal and her nerves were getting the better of her.

Sitting here, looking at the anxious mafia princess fidgeting in her chair, I know the cause of her restlessness is all my fault. I’ve been a dick by avoiding her after kissing her. No wonder she doesn’t know how to act around me.

“Listen, Katya–”

“I was thinking–”

We both speak at the same time, talking over each other.

“You go first,” I offer, trying to give her a smile. It’s rusty as hell and might do more damage than good.

Katya takes a deep breath and straightens her shoulders, lifting her chin like the proper princess she was taught to be. “I was thinking it’s probably time for me to get out of your hair,” she starts. My heart squeezes up painfully inside my chest, but I let her continue. “You’ve already done so much for me, and I know this dinner doesn’t even begin to make up for it, but I guess think of it as an audition?”

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