Chapter 39
thirty-nine
AMANTHA
Val’s sheer button-up was soaked through, clinging to his muscular chest. I glanced down between our tender kisses at my own transparent shirt.
Bad day to have chosen a lacy black bra.
In my defense, how could I have ever predicted this morning that it would later be revealed to Val of all people? At least my blazer offered some decency.
“Amantha, I love you.”
The deep timbre of Val saying those words was the most beautiful sound.
He had loved me this entire time. So much that he had erased himself because of it.
Somewhere in his twisted, grieving mind, he had genuinely believed it was what was best for me.
While I would never, ever agree with his actions, his underlying message had been constant.
Love.
If there was one thing I was sure of, it was that Val Russo knew how to love.
He had proven it repeatedly with Stella, Camilla, his nephews, and his family. And I was now included in that sacred list.
Val loves me.
The words were simple yet carried a weighty promise. I could trust them. Trust him. I couldn’t imagine surviving another day without him. The time that had passed had been enough for a lifetime.
Rain dripped from Val’s dark curls onto my forehead as he kissed me, my body humming from the sensation of it all. Before long, his soft kisses became wilder.
I didn’t resist the transition—only fueled it with my own passion. I parted my mouth, to which Val took immediate advantage of.
Before I knew it, my back was pressed against the slick side of his car. The hard planes of his torso pinned mine as his jaw tensed under my fingertips. I gasped as Val’s scorching hands slipped beneath the sodden hem of my white shirt, settling on the curve of my waist.
A low growl breathed into my mouth. Val’s kiss held all the prowess of a lion, domineering and unrelenting. Our weeks of pent-up longing had erupted like gasoline on fire.
Without breaking our connection, Val lifted me until I was sitting on the trunk of his car. He stepped in close, taking advantage of my new position to feather my neck with kisses.
My drenched hair tumbled down my back as I tipped my head. The falling rain peppered my closed eyelids as he kissed the hollow of my throat.
This man was going to be the death of me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I clutched the damp folds of his insufferable white button-up and yanked him back to my mouth. My annoyance spiked as the starched collar impeded my own path down his neck. A scoff rumbled from my throat.
“What?” Val pulled away, chest heaving.
“I’m going to burn these.” I flicked the collar of his stupid shirt.
“See Adams?” He breathed against my lips. “I knew you were an arsonist.”
“Shut up, Russo.”
Val robbed the air from me with another kiss before grazing the lobe of my ear with his teeth, but I wasn’t finished with my rant.
“I-I hate… those shirts. They’re…” His dark laugh brushed against my stammering throat. “...the worst.”
He pulled away, eyes lazily flicking up the length of my soaked body as I quivered on the trunk of his car.
“You seem to be having a hard time with your sentences there, Adams.”
A surprised laugh burst from me. “And you seem to be having a hard time with your arrogance again, Russo.”
Val’s robust laugh filled my soul. “Why must you always be so antagonistic?”
“If you wanted a doormat, you should have fallen in love with someone else.” I grinned, knowing I’d never be one again.
His mouth widened into my favorite crinkly smile. “Well then, we have a problem.”
Val swept a dripping lock behind my ear. “Because I don’t want anyone else. I want your sass. I want your snoring. I want you to hate my button-ups.”
Catching my face, Val leaned close, brushing a soft kiss across every inch of it. “I want you, Adams, because I love you.”
Tears smarted again in my eyes.
“Oh, Russo. I love you, too.”
The cab of Val’s car was dark. Heat blasted from the vents as I sat warming my fingertips. Val watched me, a soft smile of contentment playing on his lips.
“I seem to remember you having jackets stashed in your back seat, Russo.”
“Fresh out, I’m afraid. Gave the last one to a hottie I used to work with.” Val chuckled, his eyes darkening as they skimmed my soaked clothes. “I’d apologize, but I’d be lying. I’m not complaining at all.”
Grinning, I swatted at him and wrapped my blazer tighter around my visible bra. “Sorry, but I didn’t expect to be caught in a rainstorm with you. Again.”
“It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite pastimes.”
I laughed. “Take me home so I can change.”
Val leaned across the console and said, “Or, you could stay the night at my place?”
My stomach swooped.
I took in Val’s sweet expression. The question seemed innocent enough, but I couldn’t ignore the innuendo. I mean, it had been a very long time since I’d spent an intimate night with someone, and I guessed it must have been a long time for him, too. I stared down at my fidgeting hands.
“Val, I love you but—”
“Say it again.” His rough voice interrupted me as he caught my face and turned it to his.
I expelled a shaky breath even as his smoldering eyes threatened to resume our passion.
“I love you.”
Val placed my hand against his hard chest. “See what you do to me?” His heart slammed against my palm, trying to escape into my hand.
“Well, Russo, I hope you have a good cardiologist because I’m not going to stop telling you.” I kissed him briefly before reclaiming my hand.
He grinned wolfishly and said, “Noted. You were saying?”
I sighed. “I love you—but I’m not going to sleep with you.” I risked a glance at his raised eyebrows. “You haven’t even met Anthony yet. This is all still so new.”
Val’s tone was as gentle as the hand he placed on my arm.
“Amantha, I wasn’t asking you to sleep with me.
I meant for you to sleep at my apartment.
It’s a long drive back to the suburbs—which I’m still happy to make—but I assumed we would need to talk to Kendra tomorrow about Barbara.
I’ll even sleep on the couch, I swear. You can have my bed. ”
“Oh.” Although it was unwarranted and completely stupid, I couldn’t help feeling a bit jaded.
Val chuckled and rubbed his neck, the tips of his ears turning pink.
“Don’t take it like that, Adams. And don’t get me wrong, I want to. Believe you me, I’m counting down the days. But, I agree. It’s too soon. I haven’t met Anthony—which for the record, I’m really excited for.” He raised a solemn hand and said, “It’s only a sleepover. Scout’s honor.”
My lips lifted in a mischievous smile. “Fine then, Devil, take me back to your lair.”
“Uh, come again?”
“Your stupid new nickname for me, remember? If you’re calling me Angel, then I’m calling you Devil.”
He caught my face with a laughing kiss. “Fair enough.”
Isplashed my face with water, scrubbing it clean with a plush washcloth.
Then I sent a quick text to Mom saying that I wouldn’t be coming home tonight and that I hadn’t been murdered.
Using a spare toothbrush Val had given me, I began brushing my teeth.
As I watched myself in the mirror, I couldn’t prevent a toothpaste-filled smile at my sodden outfit.
When I had picked it out this morning, I hadn’t had a clue the day would end with me sleeping with Val.
No, I corrected myself. Sleeping at Val’s apartment.
I rinsed my mouth and met my shining gray eyes in the mirror. Although Val and I had agreed not to sleep together, I couldn’t deny the thrum of anticipation at the thought.
We were in love. The whole night stretched ahead of us, tempting me in ways I had never considered before. My body shivered involuntarily.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I stopped dead in my tracks. “Good Lord.”
In the dim lamplight of the living room, Val was placing a fitted sheet over his luxurious couch.
His back, or rather, his bare back flexed as he arranged his bedding.
The wide planes of his strong shoulders tapered down to his lean, muscled waist. Two olive-toned dimples presented themselves just above the waistband of the gray sweatpants slung low across his hips.
I swallowed. “Are you freaking serious?”
Val turned in surprise, his eyebrows pulling together.
I groaned in response. The front of him was even better, or worse, depending on how you looked at it. Seeing my pointed frustration, Val looked down with a puzzled expression before recognition sparked.
“I swear I’m not trying to seduce you. This is just how I sleep, promise.”
“Still,” I grumbled. “Don’t you own a snowsuit or something?”
His open laugh was rich and full. “Good to know the effect I have on you, Adams. Now come on, let’s get you something dry to wear.”
Taking my hand, Val led me into his dark and moody bedroom. He had already unmade his bed for me, turning down the silken charcoal bedding. Bronze sconces lit the room in a soft glow.
I could have sworn Val was purposefully avoiding looking at the bed.
He pushed open his closet door and flipped on the light. “You can pick whatever you want, but I’ll ask that you keep any open flame away from those.” He pointed to a hanging row of white button-ups with a smirk.
“Get. Out.”
Val held up his hands in mock surrender as he backed out, closing the bedroom door behind him.
“That man,” I muttered with a grin.
Self control hadn’t been this hard since I discovered Girl Scout cookies.
I perused the color-coded racks and scanned the pristine shelves of expertly folded clothes. Then I fiddled with a button on one of his stupid white button-ups with a devilish grin, debating walking out wearing just that.
Not yet.
Huffing, I chose one of Val’s longer cotton T-shirts. My wet clothes landed in a damp pile as I tugged it on. The hem grazed my thighs in a makeshift nightgown. Good enough. Scooping up my wet clothes, I decided to use Val’s dryer. I was halfway there when Val’s rough voice made me jump.
“What? Are you trying to get back at me or something?”