Page 32 of Undeniable

I put a hand over my heart in mock hurt. “Oh, am I not allowed to hear the story?”

“Nope. This is my Tasha time,” he says with a resolute nod.

Tasha time. I wouldn’t mind some of that myself, so I guess I get it.

“Alright,” I say with my hands raised. “I love you, sweet dreams.”

I hear Tasha’s smooth voice begin to read his favorite Dr. Seuss book. I smile to myself as I make my way downstairs. When I make it to the kitchen, I find my mind wandering to what today would have looked like if I wasn’t a royal prick. Would anything come of that night? Or did we already run our course? Something inside tells me that isn’t right, but I try to remind myself that this woman that I undeniably want, doesn’t even want to breathe the same oxygen as me.

Chapter Twelve

Tasha

Alessandro didn’t even make it all the way through the story before he passed out. I tucked the book away on his bookshelf and snuck out the door quietly after giving him a soft kiss on his forehead. When I come down the stairs, I see most of the lights are off in the house except for a soft glow coming from the kitchen.

I tip toe cautiously through the hallway to find Giovanni leaning against the counter with an amber filled tumbler in his hand and a deep look of concentration on his face. When he sees me, the troubled look melts into a soft smile.

“He fell asleep after the first page, didn’t he?” Giovanni asks.

I nod but don’t say anything as I shuffle on my feet awkwardly. To say that these last few weeks have been hard, is an understatement. I do my best to remain detached and emotionless in front of Giovanni, but every time I look at him, feelings that don’t belong inside of me are bursting to come out. I have never had a hard time locking down my emotions, it is survival 101 and I am damn good at it. But for some infuriatingly ridiculous reason, it is really hard when it comes to Giovanni.

“Can I get you a drink?” He asks, shaking me out of my daze.

I pause for a few moments, before I shake my head.

“I should get going,” I say as I turn on my heel.

“Stay,” he says softly, his words halting me in my tracks.

My spine goes ramrod straight as I hear his heavy footsteps creep up behind me. I don’t move, I hardly breathe as I remind myself of all the reasons why I need to keep my guard up, especially around him.

I feel his large hands settle on both of my hips gently, like he is expecting me to push him off. I want to. The stubborn bitch inside of me wants to push him away and hurt him, just like he hurt me. I want to leave this god forsaken state and never return. But I already know why I haven’t done that yet, and I am sure he has figured it out by now too. I am in too deep.

Slowly, he turns me in his arms until I am facing him. Refusing to cave, I look anywhere but him until one of his hands glides from my hip, over my ribcage, up my arm and over to my jaw where he cradles me gently, tilting my head to meet his gaze.

I do my best to mask my emotions, but I am not sure how well I succeed. His face is soft for a moment before it turns regretful, genuine remorse shining brightly in his metallic eyes.

“I am so sorry that I treated you less than you deserved. I have my reasons and my own thoughts that made me do what I did, but they are all excuses and I am not going to dismiss my behavior so easily with them. You are an amazing woman, and you deserve to be respected and cherished.”

Despite my strong will, the ice that hardened around my heart that night begins to thaw as it starts wildly beating in my chest while Giovanni lightly traces his fingers across my face.

“I don’t deserve another chance. I never deserved a single one to begin with. But I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Knowing that I shouldn’t, fighting off every instinct in my body, I close my eyes and lean into his touch, relishing the tingles that spread across my skin from the contact. His other hand leaves my hip to cup the other side of my face, holding me as if I am the worlds most precious China doll.

“Do you want this as much as I do, Tasha?” He rumbles, his cool breath brushing against my skin, causing my body to vibrate with anticipation.

My breath hitches as I angle my head up a little higher to make eye contact with him. I don’t forgive him, and the humiliation is still fresh in my mind. But I can’t deny that I want him. I can’t deny that after having a taste of him, I want more, need it. He has created an unquenchable thirst in me that only he can fulfill.

Not having it in me to speak, I slowly nod as I look into his eyes.

Giovanni tilts my chin up slightly with his finger as he leans in just a little closer.

“I need words, baby.”

My eyes flutter close for a moment before I open them again and speak truthfully.

“I want this.”

---