chapter 42 ⚚
"Were those kisses your idea of seasonal affection or do you just torture and then surprise people when it's freezing?" Lilith asked, looking down at her boots rather than at the woman beside her who seemed far too pleased.
Too satisfied.
Too peaceful.
Too happy?
The snow had slowed now, the flakes no longer annoying, and Lilith's blonde hair was a disaster that clung to her face in wet, stubborn strands.
Both of them walked towards Valentina's car. Lilith's fingers itched to reach for Valentina's hand, but she let them hang loosely at her sides, trying not to overstep.
"Only when they behave and stand still long enough to deserve it," Valentina said, her voice low but teasing, a softness hiding behind the usual controlled elegance. Lilith's gaze flicked up instinctively, catching a look in Valentina's eyes she couldn't ignore.
There was something almost angelic in Lilith in Valentina's eyes. For once, the girl didn't seem to be overthinking, and that thought made Valentina's chest light. She felt a quiet happiness, ready to let the night continue as it was meant to be—sweet and unburdened.
"Deserve it? Wow, I didn't realize there were qualifications for being kissed by you," Lilith giggled softly, her laugh slipping out before she could stop it.
"You seem pretty eager to meet the requirements," Valentina said, winking lightly, her hand already on the car door as she opened it and slipped inside.
Lilith lingered for a moment, smiling to herself, savoring the intimacy of their small shared world, before opening her own door and joining her.
Inside the car, Lilith let herself sink into the seat, body relaxing almost lazily as she watched Valentina, who seemed lost in thought yet acutely aware of her presence. Lilith would have been furious at herself if the evening—or now, the night—ended on such an understated, fragile note.
"Can you swim?" Valentina asked suddenly, her voice breaking the comfortable silence in a way that was all at once casual and pointed.
Lilith nodded softly, her mind flicking over childhood summers and the simple joy of water enveloping her.
"Do you like to swim?" Valentina added, raising an eyebrow with that same subtle challenge that always made Lilith's pulse quicken.
"I do," Lilith answered eagerly, nodding once again, her lips curling into a small, sincere smile.
?
"Nope," Lilith murmured, sprawled across Valentina's bed. Her body sank into the soft mattress, limbs loose, giving herself over entirely to the warmth of the room.
Her hair was damp and wavy, strands sticking to her back and shoulders. Her black dress had ridden up her thighs, tangled with sheer tights, and her makeup was smudged in a way that made her look like she'd wandered through a long, reckless night of drinking and drifting through other substances.
Lilith's gaze fell on Valentina, cheek pressed against the pillow and she couldn't help but notice how the woman's hair remained almost perfect—still slightly curled, untouched by snow and wind. Lilith felt a twinge of envy at that effortless elegance.
"What about this one?" Valentina asked, holding up a bikini top. They had gone through a small army of swimsuits—some modest, some revealing—all mostly dark, black or muted, with subtle variations in straps and textures. Each looked expensive, carefully chosen to be very flattering.
"Won't fit," Lilith said, frowning at the black top, wondering how it would drape over her body, and feeling the familiar tug of self consciousness.
Valentina sighed, setting it down and picking up another. "Maybe this one?" she asked, eyes lingering on Lilith on the bed, soft and half lidded, looking both tired and impossibly delicate.
She almost considered skipping the pool entirely—the heated pools, hot tubs, and every luxury her penthouse building could offer seemed irrelevant in that moment. Lilith looked so delicate, so sleepily adorable, that the idea of dragging her outside the bedroom felt almost cruel.
"The straps are weird," Lilith said, squinting at the swimsuit, a small frown tugging at her face.
Valentina gave her a light sigh, which was a mixture of surrender and amusement. "I'm out of options," she said, standing over the bed, scanning Lilith with that quiet, appraising look she often wore.
Lilith let out a soft whine, shifting slightly to sit up, hair falling into her eyes. "Just give me a shirt you won't cry over if it gets ruined," she said, voice low but insistent, already picturing chlorine creeping over one of Valentina's expensive—but also perfectly basic—shirts.
Valentina rolled her eyes, deciding not to comment, and fished out a simple white t shirt, tossing it straight at Lilith with a casual precision that made it land almost perfectly on the bed beside her.
Maybe Lilith had lied.
Just a little.
Some of the bikinis would fit her—maybe not perfectly, but enough to wear comfortably.
Most of them were undeniably beautiful, and despite having barely eaten in the past two days and only nibbling at the dinner a few hours ago, Lilith couldn't shake the fear of looking displeasing.
Not just to herself, but worse—to Valentina.
She gave herself a small, quiet permission to lie, to allow some relief from the gnawing insecurity that might otherwise shadow the next hours.
Her gaze followed Valentina as she selected her own swimsuit, and Lilith couldn't help but imagine the woman in one of the options.
The thought made her chest tighten in a way that was both very thrilling and slightly alarming.
Sitting up slightly, Lilith's eyes settled on a simple black bikini, the straps delicate, the top cut cleanly, subtly flattering.
"You should wear that one," she said, pointing at it with a faint tremor in her voice.
Valentina let out a short, soft chuckle, the kind that was casual yet intimate, and Lilith felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
"Should I?" Valentina asked, turning around slowly, raising an eyebrow in that effortless, teasing way that always made Lilith's pulse skip.
Lilith closed her eyes, willing herself invisible for a moment. "Or... not," she murmured embarrassed, voice low, and slipped towards the bathroom, cheeks still tingling, heart still fluttering with a mix of nerves and excitement.
Once inside, she stripped off her dress, bra, and tights, and pulled on the white t shirt.
Standing before the large mirror, framed with warm lights that softened every edge of her reflection, she felt the familiar pull of stress—irrational, yet insistent—nipping at her chest. She couldn't linger like that.
She needed to escape her thoughts before they took hold, so she hurried back into the bedroom, moving almost on instinct.
Valentina had already changed, tying her long black lacy robe at the waist, the dark fabric contrasting beautifully against her olive skin.
"Ready to go?" Lilith asked, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
Valentina's gaze flicked over her quickly, scanning from head to toe before she shifted slightly, eyes narrowing just enough to make Lilith straighten instinctively. "Cover up a little, will you?"
Lilith's giggle escaped before she could stop it, light and airy, and Valentina brought out a black silky robe almost identical to her own, holding it out with a quiet, soft "Here."
Tilting her head, Lilith let the fabric slip over her shoulders, the silk cool against her arms, and asked, still managing to giggle through her words, "How many of these do you have?"
"A decent number," Valentina replied, rolling her eyes at Lilith's teasing. Her hand gestured, gently but firmly, nudging Lilith towards the bedroom door as if to say—enough banter, move.
As Lilith stepped forward, the robe hung a little too long, brushing the tops of her feet, and she laughed, voice bright and self deprecating. "I look like a fucking Dracula... someone get me a coffin."
The soft smack Valentina delivered to the back of her head sent Lilith stumbling just a fraction, and she hurried down the stairs, laughter trailing behind her, scattering in the corners of the penthouse.
After some scrambling and muttered frustration over her own hair, Lilith finally managed a messy bun secured with a hair tie that could actually hold her long strands in place. They moved together through the quiet halls, the air between them comfortable but charged.
Valentina's mind wandered briefly, imagining how Lilith would manage if she had to prepare for something more important—Lilith taking far too much time, mumbling to herself, commenting on every little detail, fixing her hair again and again—insufferable in the sweetest way, and somehow entirely endearing.
They rode the elevators of the connected building, the hum and sway carrying them upward.
Stepping onto the rooftop, the cold bit at Lilith. Half of the space was covered, offering shelter, while the other half revealed a panorama of glimmering city lights, the bathtub and thermal pool steaming quietly against the night.
Lilith shivered, a sudden awareness of the luxury around her flooding her thoughts.
The snow was gone now, dissolved by the rising steam, leaving only the faint scent of warm water in the chill air.
She felt faint at the thought of the maintenance and the sheer cost of keeping something so indulgent running—especially in weather like this.
Maybe it was cold, but Lilith quickly stopped noticing as Valentina untied her robe, letting the fabric fall away.
Her body wasn't surprising—beautiful, as always. Valentina favored pieces that clung, accentuating her figure without exposing too much.
But Lilith felt almost guilty, as if watching her like this came with a secret price.
Her gaze traced Valentina's tall, curvy form: full breasts lifted and shaped neatly by the bikini top, a waist that wasn't the tiniest but clearly defined, hips wider, thighs full.
The curves were soft, but beneath, her muscles hinted at subtle strength, toned without excess.
Every detail screamed femininity, and Lilith felt a shy heat rising in her chest, hesitant to look up directly.
"Are you okay?" Valentina laughed, the cold brushing against her exposed skin.
"Yes," Lilith rushed out, almost tripping over the words, and shed her robe, tossing it onto the chair where Valentina's lay.
The thin, slightly oversized cotton t shirt she wore offered little protection from the chill, but Lilith felt a grateful comfort in its soft embrace as she followed Valentina, doing her best not to stare too much.
When they reached the pool's edge, the warm water steaming against the frigid night air seemed like an impossible relaxation.
Lilith crouched slightly behind Valentina, poised to give her a playful shove.
But the moment her hand neared Valentina, it was caught firmly by the womans strong, long fingers.
"Lilith," Valentina said, her voice calm but carrying that undercurrent of authority that made Lilith freeze a bit.
"What? I was just trying to warm you up a little," the blonde haired girl said, blinking innocently.
Valentina's fingers released her wrist, tilting her head with a teasing smirk. "Really? I guess I'm trying to do the same."
Before Lilith could respond, Valentina gave her a light push—and Lilith plunged into the pool, the water immediately enveloping her in warmth.
Valentina followed slowly, using the little steps to ease herself into the steaming water, her presence serene.
When Lilith's head finally broke the surface, she squinted against the lights and wiped water from her eyes. The warmth was a striking contrast to the cold air above, and she could feel herself melting into it, wanting to spend the entire winter in there.
She swam closer, reaching for Valentina's arm for support. The pool was just deep enough to cover her entirely, forcing her to hold on, and she murmured, wet hair clinging to her cheeks, "I should have drowned to make you feel bad."
"Oh, please," Valentina rolled her eyes softly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
That earned her a light splash of water from the girl that swam a few strokes away immediately, knowing all too well that Valentina would probably splash her back—or worse.
"Oscar always tried to drown me when we were kids," Lilith said, pouting, then turned to face Valentina, water glistening on her cheeks.
"You said you two made up after an argument. What was it about?" Valentina asked, voice even, watching her with that quiet curiosity that always made Lilith pause.
"Just... siblings stuff," Lilith answered softly.
A tiny knot of guilt tightened in her chest. She caught herself in the little lies she sometimes told Valentina, and it made her feel horrible—but what else was she supposed to say?
That the only times she and Oscar had spoken in the past months were about her?
"I told him about our date, by the way," Lilith said, tilting her head, the corners of her lips lifting in a shy smile. "I hope you don't mind."
"I don't. He's your brother," Valentina said, a small, reassuring smile easing into her features.
"Chiara knows too," Valentina added casually. And somehow, that made Lilith's chest warm—Valentina had chosen to share it with someone from her family, letting her in a little further.
"But Oscar is also your employee. Isn't that breaking some rules? Are you going to give him special treatment now?" Lilith asked, teasing, though she knew full well that neither was true.
"I might torture him just a little more because of that," Valentina said, winking at her with a lighthearted glint.
Lilith laughed, ironic. "Don't. He's already scared of you."
She swam towards the corner of the pool, letting the warm water carry her, gazing out at the city sprawling beneath them. Even past midnight, it shimmered and thrummed with life.
Valentina was something rare, something Lilith felt grateful for every time she thought about it—a woman so good, so commanding, so present, deserving of respect and care.
"It's so nice," Lilith murmured, letting herself linger on the view.
"Are you feeling better?" Valentina asked from behind, voice gentle.
Lilith turned towards her, playful and a little defiant. "Let's not focus on me... it's your birthday," she whined softly.
Valentina reached out, fingers brushing Lilith's face, wiping a smudge of mascara that had smeared during the swim.
"What a convenient excuse," Valentina said, furrowing her brows slightly, though her tone softened.
"It's thoughtful and considerate. You should be proud of me," Lilith said, closing the small distance between them, before gliding towards the little steps that led out of the warm pool.
"Where are you going?"
"Hot tub," Lilith said, nodding towards it. Her white shirt was soaked now, clinging to her body, the fabric nearly translucent in the cold. The chill made her nipples peek through, and she shivered as she slipped quickly into the steaming water.
Valentina followed, stepping in with much grace until she settled beside Lilith.
Lilith pouted softly, wrapping her arms loosely around herself. "I'm cold," she murmured, eyes flicking up at Valentina.
Valentina furrowed her brows, studying her. "Really?" The hot tub's water was practically boiling compared to the chill of the night air.
"Yeah," Lilith answered, lying as she looked at her through lowered lashes. Then, almost impulsively, she shifted, standing just enough to straddle Valentina's lap, her movements careful yet daring. Facing her, she let her hands find their way around Valentina's neck.
For a long moment, Lilith simply stared, drinking in the details of Valentina's face—her sharp jawline, the curve of her lips, the intensity in her eyes—before leaning forward to place a soft, shy kiss on them.
It was very brief, careful, meant not to overstep, and yet it carried all the warmth and affection she felt towards the woman in that moment.
"Now I'm warm," Lilith whispered softly.
She wished she could reach into Valentina's mind, see her thoughts, feel her emotions completely.
"Sorry, I can't really kiss," the blonde added, laughing softly, shrugging in a way that made her look effortlessly innocent. She wasn't embarrassed—at least, not in this moment.
"I'm not complaining," Valentina said, smiling before leaning in herself, this time kissing Lilith properly, hands settling firmly on her waist, pulling her closer.
When their lips parted, Lilith's head instinctively tilted, burying her face in the crook of Valentina's neck, cold nose pressing against the warmth of her skin. The contrast made her shiver slightly, though it was the kind of shiver that had nothing to do with the weather.
It was quiet and peaceful, the kind of calm that felt almost unreal—as if the world, the one that tormented her so often, had decided to grant her a few hours of reprieve.
Valentina's hands moved slowly under the water, tracing soft patterns along Lilith's back.
"I feel like I want to say something, but I don't know what," Lilith murmured, her voice low, almost swallowed by the hum of the hot tub.
"I guess I'm thankful..." she continued, lips brushing gently over Valentina's neck, placing a soft kiss. "For you... just being here," she added, voice barely more than a whisper.
"Mhm," Valentina responded, a quiet, almost weird nervous warmth in her tone, as Lilith pressed another delicate kiss to the side of her neck.
"What else?" Valentina exhaled, tilting her head slightly, letting her control slip.
It was almost sexual, the way Valentina made Lilith say what she was thankful for—at least, that's how the blonde girl saw it.
Lilith felt as if she were in the presence of a goddess, and every word she spoke was an act of adoration.
"For being so patient with me," Lilith murmured, her kisses trailing upward, soft at first, then with increasing insistence.
Valentina's head tilted back, exposing her throat, and Lilith felt a reverent thrill—as if she were worshipping her, every movement an offering.
Valentina drank it in, eyes half closed, savoring the attention, and yet Lilith felt it too—an intoxicating rush that pulsed through her, hotter and more addictive than any drug she had ever taken.
"For letting me do this," Lilith finished, soft words melting against her lips, and pressed a gentle bite to Valentina's neck.
Valentina's fingers responded instantly, pinching lightly at Lilith's waist. "Behave," she murmured, tone firm but teasing, a slight smile tugging at her lips.
"But... Miss Salvatore... you like it," Lilith said innocently, voice lilting, mixing a not really real apology with playful seduction.
It was almost unbelievable to Valentina how effortlessly Lilith's flirtation worked—how she could stumble through awkwardness, apologize for her inexperience, and yet every word, every gesture carried a natural, almost magnetic seduction.
A pang of jealousy slid through Lilith's chest at the thought of anyone else being able to touch Valentina, to tease her the way she did in that moment.
"And I like it too," Lilith giggled, pressing a few more soft kisses to Valentina's neck before sucking gently on the skin.
"Lilith," Valentina said firmly.
The tone, though playful in intent, sounded far more serious than she had meant. Lilith froze, stepping back slightly, eyes wide. "Sorry," she murmured awkwardly, as though she'd misstepped.
Valentina's words felt like rejection, and Lilith's chest tightened. She had been trying so hard, thinking she was doing well—pleasing Valentina, savoring the closeness, and enjoying it herself—and now it felt like she'd faltered.
"Sweetheart," Valentina coaxed softly, sensing the tension she'd unintentionally caused, her hands gently brushing against Lilith's arms.
"You don't like it?" Lilith asked softly, voice twitching with uncertainty.
"I do," Valentina said quickly, almost desperately. "God, you have no idea."
"Just... don't leave marks, okay?"
Lilith nodded, saying only "Okay," not wanting to overthink it—but still feeling a slight sting in her chest. She would have welcomed hundreds of marks from Valentina, if the woman ever pleased to leave them.
"Angel," Valentina murmured softly.
"What?" Lilith whined, turning her gaze to her.
"I really don't mind, but... I need to look decent at work," Valentina said, eyes locking with the blonde girl, who pouted visibly.
"So... work is more important than me being happy?" Lilith gasped dramatically, lips trembling in mocking offense.
"Would this make you happy?" Valentina asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lilith couldn't answer with words—only a shy, bright smile, blinking fast in response.
Valentina's hand moved to the nape of Lilith's neck, guiding her face back into the warm curve of her throat. Lilith giggled softly, winning the exchange of words and leaving delicate kisses along the exposed skin.
Valentina's grip softened but remained firm, her hand now on Lilith's head as she guided her lower, first to the collarbones and then to the swell of her breasts, leaving Lilith free to explore—and to do whatever she wanted.
And Lilith did just that, her lips and teeth tracing the skin softly—erotic in the way she moved, yet also tender in expression of the adoration she felt for Valentina, while enjoying the effect it had on her, as somewhere between breaths, she let herself whisper, "Happy birthday, Val."