Page 127 of Valentino

“In any room, at any time. It was all about him. The attention had to always be on him.”

“He’s always been like that.”

“Have you and him ever fought, I mean…before this?” I watch his face carefully, is Francesca’s story true?

“Yeah.” He nods. “Many times.”

“What about?”

“You.”

“Me?” I act surprised. “What about me?”

“Lots of reasons.” He shrugs. “Too many to count.”

It was true.

“I must have looked like such a fool,” I reply. “It’s embarrassing.”

“Not at all.” He squeezes my hand in his. “He was the fool, Anna.” He looks down at the table as if recounting a memory. “I never understood how he could be so careless with someone so wonderful.”

Unexpected emotion washes over me and my nostrils flare as I fight tears.

He squeezes my hand in his and I squeeze it back.

“You know what we should do?” He smirks.

“What?”

“We should take a sauna.”

“A sauna?”

“A naked sauna.”

“Valentino.” I giggle. “I’m trying to make this night platonic.”

“Platonic?” he scoffs. “Why the fuck would we want to have a platonic night?”

“Because I want to prove to you that we’re more than orgasms.”

“Shut up.” He stands and swoops me out of the chair and throws me over his shoulder as I laugh out loud. “Don’t ever say that to me again.”

“Platonic,” I repeat as I hang upside down.

Slap.

He smacks my behind. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Platonic.” I laugh as he carries me up the hall.

Slap.

Excitement bubbles inside of me, I love this game.

“Don’t make me punish you.” He turns his head and bites my hip and I laugh as I try to wriggle free.

“Platonic.” I laugh.