The Temporary Wife: Luca and Valentina's Story(95)

“Help me,” I tell her, placing her hands on my shirt.

She looks up at me, her gaze unreadable. For a moment, I think she’ll reject me and walk out, but then she starts to undo the buttons, her fingers moving slowly.

Something flashes through her eyes when my shirt falls opens, and I watch her carefully as I pull on my sleeves and take it off.

Valentina leans against the shower wall and watches me. It’s like we went back to before we got married, because once again, I have no idea what she’s thinking. Once again, I’d give the world to find out.

“Now this,” I tell her as I place her hands on my suit pants.

She hesitates for a moment, but then she helps me take that off too, not a single complaint escaping her lips as I continue to undress, until I’m standing in front of her naked.

“You don’t want me,” she murmurs, her eyes on my cock. For the first time in weeks, I see emotions flickering through her eyes, however brief it may be. Fear. Rejection. Pain.

I smile at her as I grab the edges of her t-shirt and pull it up. “I always want you, baby. It’s just hard for me to be turned on when you look at me like you can’t stand to be around me.”

Valentina raises her arms, and I pull her t-shirt off, leaving her standing in front of me in nothing but a pair of pink boxer shorts. My hands wrap around them, and she looks into my eyes as I push them down.

I move closer to her and cage her in, my forearms on either side of her head. “Let’s wash your hair, okay? I think you’ll feel better if we do.”

She looks up at me and places her hands on my chest. Does she realize that this is the most she’s touched me in weeks? “You want to… wash my hair?”

I smirk and grab a strand of her hair. “You sound disappointed. Were you hoping for more?”

She looks at me, and for a moment, she grits her teeth. “It’s only been a few weeks. Are you getting your needs fulfilled elsewhere already?”

I frown, offended that she’d ask me something like that. I can’t snap at her, but she knows exactly how to push my buttons. “No. Of course not.”

I push away from her and grab her shampoo, taking my time to lather it into her hair carefully. “Turn around.”

She turns her back to me, and I work the shampoo through her hair, massaging her scalp while I’m at it. Valentina remains silent even as I wash out her shampoo and condition her hair, following Sierra’s instructions carefully.

“You can, if you want,” she says, her voice emotionless.

“What’s that?”

“If you want to sleep with someone else, you can.”

I grab her shoulders and turn her back around roughly, at the end of my rope with her. She takes a step back and leans back against the wall, her eyes filled with defiance.

Even now, as she’s breaking my heart, she looks fucking breathtaking, and I fucking hate it. I will never be immune to her. “What did you just say to me?” I ask, my voice soft.

“You heard me just fine, Luca.”

I run a hand through my hair and stare up at the ceiling for a moment, fighting for patience before deciding that it’s a losing battle. I push her flush against the wall, my body against hers and my hand in her hair as I tilt her head toward mine.

“Read my fucking lips, Valentina Windsor,” I snap, my tone threatening. “I will never want anyone but you. For as long as I live, the only woman I’ll sleep with is you. Only you. No one else. I love you, Valentina.”

I see hope sparkle in her eyes, and that’s all I need. Just one sign to tell me she still loves me the same. I’ll hold on for the both of us. I’ll love her harder to compensate for the pain she’s feeling.

She looks away, and I sigh as I take a step back and grab her soap. How could I have lost my patience with her? I should’ve known better. “What is it that’s going on in that pretty mind of yours?” I ask, my tone far more patient as I run my soapy hands over her body.

Her breath hitches as I cup her breasts, my thumbs brushing over her nipples. They harden for me beautifully, and she looks up at me with equal parts desire and defiance.

“I saw the photos,” she tells me, her tone accusatory.

I frown in confusion as I continue to tease her, my cock hardening rapidly. “Which photos?”

“Of you and Jessica.”

My hands dip lower, and I watch her closely as her breathing turns ragged. She’s accusing me of something that’s entirely in her head, but I’d rather have that than her indifference. What she saw was probably a photo of me meeting with Jessica and her team. At no point have I been alone with her, but the press would’ve made it look that way. The Herald has been trying to find out more about Valentina and me ever since the company memo went out, but our security is tight. We aren’t public figures in the way Ares and Raven are, so there isn’t much for them to report on.

“Baby,” I murmur as my hands slide over her thighs. “Just who do you think is doing your job right now? I’m handling the acquisition on your behalf.”

She frowns at me, and I chuckle as my fingers slip between her legs. Her clit is already swollen for me, and I groan when pure desire fills her eyes as I brush over it.

Valentina arches her back for me, silently asking for more. It’s been so long since I saw her look at me that way.