Page 53 of Valentine's Slave

Me:Not really. Mostly just body to body

Hailey:I need to hear about that in detail . . . Is he kinky?

Me:Kinky is an understatement

Hailey:Details, Ava.

Me:We’ll talk on Friday

On Friday, after the contract officially ends, I’ll be free, walking away with all the cash. I thought I would be dying for the day to come, but part of me is dreading it.

When we pull up in front of Hailey’s place, I get out of the car and walk Malcolm to the door through the whistling snow.

“Aunt Ava,” Malcolm whispers, “you know it’s childish not to tell someone that you like them when you’re seeing them, right?”

I chuckle. “It’s complicated, Malcolm.”

“It’s honesty, isn’t it? Instead of games.”

That’s technically true, but that’s what this whole week is, a slave game. There’s nothing real to it, is there?

“I’m glad you hit it off with Valentino,” I say, ruffling Malcolm’s snowy hair. “I’ll see you later.”

He hugs me tight. “Thanks for the birthday present. It was the best ever.”

I can’t help it—the truth slips out. “Valentino was the one who bought the VIP ticket upgrades. There was no raffle.”

Malcolm’s eyes light up. “You need to marry him, okay?”

I just chuckle. “No promises.”

Malcolm waves as he heads inside, and I turn back to the car.

“He loved it,” I say, turning to Valentino, who has one hand on the wheel, watching me.

“I’m glad.” Valentino’s eyes are warm. “How did you like it?”

I grin. “It was amazing. Thank you for the tickets. You really didn’t have to do that.” Part of me wants to ask him what exactly he is thinking and, more importantly, what he’s feeling that has made him so generous.

“My pleasure.” We ride in silence for a few minutes, and then Valentino speaks again. “Why did you stay with your ex for so long?”

It’s not like him to speak of personal things, and it’s the first time he’s asked me anything. I was the one drilling him with questions at the restaurant.

“I loved him,” I say quietly. “I know he must sound like a dickwad after all the things I said about him, but he had his good side, too. He was sweet and funny, and he really was the life of the party.”

Hailey always hated him, though, just like I hated Antonio.

“How were your other boyfriends?” Valentino asks, and I have no idea why he’s choosing something so intimate to talk about.

“They weren’t as serious,” I say. “High school hardly counts, and then I dated a street musician in university who was a cool hippy until he decided he was too cool for me.” I look at Valentino, but he has his eyes on the road. “Why do you ask?”

“I want to understand your mind,” he says and then smirks. “It makes the sex better.”

“How’s that?”

“Sex is more than just bodies, Ava. It’s all interconnected.”

“Well duh, but since you only have sex with random girls in February, I didn’t think you were interested in those interconnections.”

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