CHAPTER 108: IRRESISTIBLE

His hands gliding through the piano’s keys reminded her of something.

Valentina blushed when she made the connections.

To conclude that thought, she left it as him being really good with his fingers.

However her thoughts didn’t end there, because something hit her so hard, her breath caught.

The flashes returned, tugging at her brain. This time it brought with it pictures of a man sitting by a piano. His shoulders, broad. His eyes sparkling blue and concentrating deeply.

There was a voice humming her name, as this man’s fingers glided effortlessly through the piano.

Shared laughter. Teasing banters. Endearing names passed around.

"Papa, papa—" laughter followed the baby voice.

A thump, sharp enough to cause pain, sliced through her head.

Valentina winced, as she grabbed her temple.

The sound from her got to Luciano’s ears, and his fingers paused on the piano.

Sharply, his head turned behind to meet her gaze.

And the moment their eyes met, the flashes disappeared.

She breathed out, as relief washed through her.

"Valentina? Have you been standing there for long? Are you okay?"

She stepped inside, and shut the door behind her. "Don’t stop on my account. You do know how to play," she said as she walked her way towards him.

His eyes watched her scrutinizingly. "Did you just get headaches again?"

Somehow, the fact he remembered her headaches, caused her to smile.

"Briefly," she stopped in front of him. "It felt like I remembered something when I heard you play. Or rather, my brain was trying to recall a memory. I wouldn’t know though. It was about my fa—" she shut her mouth.

Talking about her father was the fastest way to ruin the moment.

It was the curse of the interconnected violent past they both shared.

"Your father?" He completed the word she didn’t say on her behalf.

She blinked in disbelief, and then swallowed hard.

"Yeah, but that doesn’t matter. You really do know how to play." She swiftly changed the topic.

"Thanks. How is Natalia?"

Valentina sighed. "Not good to be honest. She’s heartbroken. And I feel so bad because there’s nothing I can do to help. You can’t force anyone to be a parent." She shrugged.

"So you really think Giovanni is truly her father?"

"I don’t think so, Luciano. I know."

He nodded, but didn’t say a word after. Although deep in his memory, he continued to gather all the information he needed.

Valentina’s gaze dropped to the small plaster by the side of his forehead.

She had seen it before, but now, more up close.

"How did you get that?"

"This?" He pointed to his head.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"Training. A boy named Arturo was a little too happy to show how far he has come in training. Good for him though. He managed to get a good cut on me," he chuckled.

Valentina shook her head at the casualty in which he discussed pain.

Her fingers reached up, brushing against his skin on its way to touch the plaster.

Luciano stilled.

She gave no warnings before ripping off the tiny plaster.

"What are you doing?" He asked, inhaling sharply.

It wasn’t because of the pain from that tiny wound. Or from the pain of having a plaster snatched out without warning.

It was because of how close she was. How her soft fingers felt on his skin. It was her scent that was clouding his thoughts. Keeping him from thinking about the promise he made.

And when she leaned closer to his temple, Luciano almost lost his mind.

"It heals faster with fresh air," she whispered. "Oxygen improves regeneration."

Those words, serious as they sounded, managed to make him stiffen even more.

"You know so much about science." His breathing was getting harder, but he managed to control himself.

She smiled. "It is what I got my degree in. But it became too much of a burden. Having to read all the time. I much rather prefer wandering around with my camera."

"Hmmm—"

She bent closer, and he froze.

Her lips parted, and she blew some air into the open wound.

"This would help stimulate proper blood flow," she continued to whisper, oblivious of what she was doing to him.

She was so close he could perceive every inch of her. And no one had a better scent than hers.

He clenched his fist, forcing his mind to focus on the promise he made.

They were enemies. She had proven how much she hated him. He wanted nothing from her, other than information on project black stone.

She blew softly again, and he completely forgot the words he was just chanting in his head.

"Does that feel better?" She asked innocently.

Still oblivious to the fact that somewhere down the lower limb of the great Luce, something had hardened.

He didn’t answer. He knew if he did, she would sense that he was struggling.

Valentina’s brow furrowed, as she straightened up.

"Does it hurt?" She asked with concern in her voice.

He shook his head negatively, but that did nothing to calm her worry.

"You’re sure it doesn’t? Because if it does, there is risk that it could be infected and needs to be cl–"

"It’s fine, Valentina." He managed to say.

She nodded. It was all she needed to hear. Him speaking.

"That’s better then. You should also take this off to release the pressure on your head." As she spoke, her hand went to his hair and she untied the bun, allowing his hair free fall.

Luciano allowed her to do whatever she wanted to him. And he just sat there, taking it all in.

But then she stretched his control even thinner when she ran a hand through his hair. "I’ve always wanted to do this. Your hair looks so—"

"Valentina—"

She lowered her eyes, wide and unaware. Up until she saw how darkened his gaze was.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"What– What is it?" She stuttered, her heart thumping mindlessly against her wrist.

"Don’t do that," he warned through a strained voice.

"Do what? I’m sorry if you don’t like anyone touching your hair. It was just there, and so very tempting that I couldn’t resist."

"Exactly that."

"Exactly what?" Her forehead creased.

"So very tempting. Hard to resist. You’re too close."

She was so close, he wanted to pull her down to his lap, and kiss her on that same mouth she had just used in tending to his wound.

He wanted her beyond reasoning, and logic. He wanted her beyond his promise which was bond.

And the most intoxicating part to him was her obliviousness to her effect on him, as she steered him closer to the brink of madness.

Or maybe, she was just pretending not to know.

Valentina’s lashes fluttered, as understanding illuminated in her.

But with it came the need to do something daring. Like it always was, every time she was around this man.

She ran her fingers through his hair again. "They’re hard to resi—"

The words were barely out when he yanked her down to his lap.

Their lips collided, slow at first because even though Valentina sensed it coming, she still felt surprised by it when it came.

But then she answered, because it felt too good not to.