Chapter 24 Cristian #2
The thought of letting her go, of watching her walk down that aisle to another man, it's slowly driving me insane.
"We'll find another way," I say, as if this time, it will become true.
"Sometimes, there isn't another way.”
But there has to be. Because I cannot—will not—stand by and watch her disappear into that monster's house. Not when I finally understand what it means to have something worth dying for.
"I like this time alone with you. Let’s not waste it thinking about Maksim.”
“It’s hard to forget,” I grumble, wishing I had half her strength to accept the inevitable.
“I want to make the most of the time we have left," she says. "Within reason, of course."
"What does that mean?"
"These drives together. Our talks at night when you visit. I'll hold onto these moments forever. These memories with you will get me through a lifetime with Maksim."
The way she says it, like she's already gone, like she's already surrendered, it splits me open.
"Don't talk like that," I growl. "Like it's already over."
"We both know it is."
"Is that enough for you?" I ask, my voice hard. "A few stolen conversations? Memories to cling to while he puts his hands on you?"
She flinches, and I immediately regret my harshness.
"What choice do I have?" She turns to look out her window. "This is all we get."
Her words piss me off.
I pull the car into a clearing hidden from the road, cutting the engine.
"What are you doing?" Valentina asks, sitting up straighter. "We need to get back. Alessandro will—"
"Alessandro can wait. I need you to hear me.
" I take her hands in mine. "I'm prepared to die for you, Valentina.
That's been true since day one. It's my job.
But now? Now, I'd die a thousand deaths just to see you smile.
So if you want comfort, love, passion—anything I can give you—it's yours.
Right now. I don't care about the consequences for me. "
Tears gather in her eyes.
"But it's not just my life on the line." I brush a thumb across her cheek. "That's why I'm asking what you want. Not what's safe. Not what's smart. What do you want, Valentina?"
She leans into my touch, eyes closing briefly. "I'm already dead, Cristian. The moment I walk down that aisle, the woman I am ceases to exist." Her eyes open, determined and fierce. "So yes, I want everything with you. Every moment. Every touch. All the comfort and passion you're willing to give."
Her hands find my face, pulling me closer. "I want to feel alive while I still can."
I crush her to me, my lips finding hers with desperate need.
The world narrows to just us.
Nothing else matters.
Not Alessandro, not Maksim, not the inevitable fallout.
For now, in this stolen moment, she's mine.
And I'll make sure she remembers what it feels like to be loved completely, even if the memory has to last her a lifetime.
I pull back, breathless, studying Valentina's flushed face.
My body screams to continue, but my training kicks in. We're exposed here, vulnerable.
"We need somewhere private."
Her eyes darken with desire. "Alessandro expects me back for dinner."
I check my watch. We have less than an hour.
"Call Alessandro," I say, already starting the car. "Tell him you need to shop or get your hair done—”
“Sexist?”
I growl with frustration. “You come up with the excuse, then.”
Valentina nods, pulling out her phone.
I listen as she delivers a story about needing a complete spa treatment after dealing with Maksim.
"He bought it," she says, ending the call.
“Spas aren’t sexist?”
She laughs. “Clothes and hair suggest I’m vain, only worried about beauty. Spa is about relaxation. It’s different.”
“Got it.” I turn back, going east.
"Where are we going?"
"I have a place." As I navigate the roads, I constantly check my mirrors. "It's not much, but it's secure."
My apartment is a small sanctuary I've maintained off the books.
A place to go on my few days off.
I drive an intentionally complex route, making sure we aren't followed.
When I'm certain we're clear, I park behind an unassuming brick apartment complex and lead Valentina through the back entrance, up three flights of stairs.
The moment my door closes behind us, she's in my arms again.
Her kiss is hungry, desperate, just like I feel.
I lift her against me, her legs wrapping around my waist as I carry her to my bedroom.
It's sparse but clean.
"Not exactly the Ritz," I murmur against her throat.
She laughs, the sound vibrating against my lips. "It's perfect. It's yours."
I lay her on the bed, pausing to drink in the sight of her.
Her hair splayed across my pillow, eyes bright with desire, lips swollen from my kisses.
"I want to remember every inch of you." I reach into my bedside drawer for a condom.
Her hands work at my shirt buttons. "I want you so bad.”
It’s not that I’ve never heard a woman say she wants me, but the words from Valentina hit me differently.
I feel it down to my bones, in my very soul.
I undress her slowly, savoring her body as it’s exposed.
She does the same to me, her hands exploring every inch of me until I’m delirious with desire.
I pull her over me. “Take what you want, baby.”
She straddles my thighs, biting her lips as she rests her hands on my chest. “I don’t know what to do.”
“What do you want to do?”
Her gaze goes to my dick, and it twitches in anticipation.
She wraps her hand around it, stroking me like I showed her before.
“Is that all?” I ask, knowing it won’t be long before I come.
“I want you in me.”
I roll the condom on and then pull her hips over mine. “Then take me.”
She slides over me, and it’s so fucking good, I can barely keep from rolling us both over and taking her hard and fast.
But I resist because she needs to experience everything.
And she needs control.
“Now what?”
“Whatever you want. Ride. Rock. Whatever feels right.”
She rocks once and I groan.
She rides up and then down.
“Fuck… so good.” I lever up, taking her tits into my hands, pulling one into my mouth and sucking.
“Oh God, Cristian.” Her fingers grip my shoulders, and her head falls back. She lets go. Surrenders to her pleasure. I watch her, fascinated and in awe of her.
“That’s it baby… fuck me…” Need coils tighter and tighter, but I grit my teeth, waiting as she chases her pleasure.
Her body pulses around my dick as she rides me.
We move together, faster, faster, as if we can outrun the reality of our lives.
As if by loving each other thoroughly enough, we might change the course of what's to come.
She lets out a cry, her pussy squeezing me until I see stars.
“Yes!” I growl, gripping her hips to help her ride me as my orgasm rips through me. It seems to go on forever, and yet, when it subsides, it’s over too fast.
I push her hair from her face as I watch her breathing return to normal.
The look on her face breaks my heart wide open.
It’s pleasure mixed with deep sorrow.
It echoes how I feel.
I love you.
The words sit on my tongue, but I don’t let them out.
I’m not afraid to love.
But what would be the point to say the words except bringing more sadness into this fucked up situation we’re in?
Instead, I pull her back with me and hold her, pretending I never have to let her go.