The Temporary Wife: Luca and Valentina's Story(112)

The officiant tells us to exchange our vows, and I grab the ring she hands me, a smile on my face as I place Valentina’s wedding ring on the tip of her finger.

“A minimum of three years is what I asked for,” I tell her, my voice soft. “Because even then, I knew three years with you would never be enough for me. It’s the very least I wanted with you, but now even that seems far too short. If I can, I’d like to spend a minimum of three lifetimes with you, Valentina. I’ll be true to you, and I’ll honor you in every single way. I’ll love you through all the seasons in life, through ups and downs, through joy and hardship, for better or for worse.” She smiles at me shakily, visibly emotional, and I smile back at her as I push her wedding ring onto her finger.

“Luca,” she says, her voice shaky as she places my ring on the tip of my finger. “Three lifetimes, huh? That doesn’t sound like nearly enough time with you. For years, we’ve walked side by side, and I promise that’s where I’ll remain. No matter the trials we might face, I’ll be right by your side, enjoying every step of the journey we walk together. I’ll share your happiness and sorrow, your challenges and victories. I promise to love you, and only you, for who you are, through all the phases of our life together. For better or for worse, Luca, I want it all with you.”

My heart skips a beat when she pushes my ring onto my finger, and I glance at it in satisfaction. I’ve always loved wearing a wedding ring, but it feels even more special now. I can’t believe we’re standing here, after everything we’ve been through. Years of distance, resentment, and countless trials. Yet all of it led me to her. All of it only made us stronger.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

I smirk as I wrap my hand around her waist and pull her closer. Cheers erupt around us when my lips meet hers, but everything fades away, until all that remains is my wife. Three lifetimes won’t be nearly enough.





Epilogue





Valentina

I glare at Luca as I slam my folder down on the boardroom table. “We are not investing in that,” I tell him. “I need more operational liquid assets, and I disagree with this distribution.”

Several of our board members nod, while a few of them keep their heads down out of fear of Luca. They’ve gotten used to our quips now. We might be happily married, but at work it’s often hard for people to believe that.

Luca rises from his seat and glares right back at me. “It’s like you forget who the CEO of this firm is, Valentina. If I say we’re investing in it, we’re investing in it!”

“Clearly, we should reconsider the CEO position because you’re not equipped for it if you think that investment is a good idea!”

“Mr. and Mrs. Windsor,” Hana Tanaka, our Chief Compliance Officer, says. “Perhaps it’s best if we put this to a vote. Shall we reconvene next week? If both of you could give us an idea of the return on investment for both your proposals, we’ll take it from there. We don’t need to finalize next year’s budgets in one meeting.” Hana is never fazed by us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her lose her calm.

“Agreed,” everyone else murmurs, each of them no doubt eager to get out of this meeting. Our board members all rise and exit the room, and Luca and I follow them, throwing daggers at each other the entire time.

He follows me as I walk to my office, and I glance back over my shoulder. “Don’t you have work to do?” I snap.

He smirks at me tauntingly. “My office is right next to yours, Valentina. Why? Were you hoping for something else?”

The edges of my lips turn up into a mischievous smile. “What if I say yes?”

His gaze darkens, and he pulls me into my office, my door slamming closed behind us a second before he roughly pushes me against it. He presses the button that turns my windows opaque and smirks at me.

His lips find mine, and I moan as he kisses me. Luca’s hand wraps around my wrists, and he pushes them above my head, trapping me against the door. “Could you stop making my cock so fucking hard during board meetings, hmm? Watching you dominate a room will never get old.”

I giggle against his lips when he pushes up against me, a rush of desire flowing through me. His free hand roams over my body, stroking my breasts, before moving lower. “Luca,” I warn when his hand slides underneath my skirt.

He chuckles and nips at my bottom lip. “Did you just tell me I’m not equipped to be CEO?” he asks, his voice low, dangerous.

I bite back a smile, and he wipes it off my face entirely when he slips a finger into me. “Looks like this incompetent CEO is making your pussy awfully wet. It’s the one thing I absolutely excel at, don’t you think?” His thumb flicks over my clit roughly, punishingly, and I moan for him, unable to suppress my desire. He knows exactly how to drive me insane, and he revels in it. Luca pulls away a little to look into my eyes, clearly enjoying my torment. “If I make you come against this door, will you let me invest in that biotech deal?”

I shake my head and try my hardest to hide my amusement. “No.”

He kisses me, his tongue slowly tangling with mine. “What if I go down on my knees right now and eat your pussy?”

His movements become more intense, and he knows he’s got me close already. I can tell by the way he smiles.