Saint Valentine

12

I walk into the bedroom with a giant smile on my face. This day has lasted forever, and I don't want it to end — not yet. It's been far too good. I'm in Sicily for God's sake. What a dream!

Valentino is right behind me, seeming just as happy as I am. We've only just finished dinner, but I don't think either of us was ready to part ways yet. I'll happily go to bed early if it means he'll go with me. And he definitely needs an early night. This isn't a nice vacation for him. His work doesn't stop.

Our room here doesn't have an attached lounge or kitchen. It's not very spacious, but it doesn't have to be. Valentino starts to get changed, undoing the buttons on his shirt one by one. I turn my back to him. As much as I want to watch, I need to be respectful. I start to get changed myself, trusting that he'll keep his back to me. Hiding in the bathroom feels unnecessary at this stage.

"Are you decent?" he asks.

"Uh-hmm," I confirm. I turn back around, neatly laying my dress over the bedpost. There's nowhere else to put it. Valentino places his watch on the nightstand. He's in boxers and an undershirt, clearly not ready for bed yet. He always sleeps shitless. At least now I'll get to watch him undress

He must know how hot it is when he takes his shirt off. It's like a big reveal. His muscles flex in all the right places, and the fabric slowly lifts off, giving me a prime view of his abs. It all happens in slow motion. It's so sexy.

God, I need to snap out of it. I can't help but watch him. I really need to compose myself. But then again, I bet he's been checking me out, too. He's probably just better at hiding it. There's clearly sexual tension between us. There's no way it's one-sided. He's been wanting this for 6 years. There's no way he hasn't thought about it.

He walks my way, accidentally nudging into me as he bends down to get something out of our suitcases on the floor.

"Sorry," he says.

"That's okay," I smile politely. I turn to head to the bathroom, but he turns in the opposite direction, causing us to hit each other again.

"Sorry," he repeats.

"No, you're fine," I laugh, continuing on into the bathroom. Again, it's much smaller than our bathroom at home, but it is still big enough for two spacious basins.

I dig through my toiletries trying to find my toothpaste. I've found my brush, but the paste just doesn't seem to be here. I must've left it at home. I walk over to Valentino's side of the bench and peek into his toiletries. Sure enough, there's a fresh tube of toothpaste right on top. I reach over to grab it, but I'm distracted by something else. There's a small leather box tucked in the back. I wouldn't think anything of it if it wasn't for the Buccellati logo printed on the front.

Buccellati? Holy shit. It's probably just... cufflinks. Valentino wears suits all the time. That must be it. It's just cufflinks. But I have to check.

My heart thumps in my chest. I move in slow motion, carefully lifting the box out of the bag. I hold it in my hands, too scared to open it. I shouldn't be doing this. I know I shouldn't. But I can't help it. I squeeze my eyes shut, slowly opening the box.

Please be cufflinks. Please be cufflinks. Please be cufflinks.

I finally open my eyes.

It's not cufflinks.

A large diamond shines up at me, shimmering in the bathroom light.

Holy shit.

It's a ring — a gold ring, with a diamond-encrusted band and a diamond halo surrounding a centre stone the size of a penny.