Page 29 of His Vicious Desire

Since I needed to clean the stuff I bought before wearing it—it was a rule long drilled into me by Marissa.I couldn’t wait until his housekeeper came.In the end, I did a search for a video on it and followed the directions from it.Gaetano was annoyed with himself for not knowing the answer.

We had dinner delivered, like we did last night, from an app that has everything from local restaurants to popular fast food places.He apologized and said he rarely made dinner since he was sick of cooking by the end of the day.I assured him that I was more than content to order in.Since I did it often while living on campus.

This isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.I can’t stop staring at Gaetano.He’s been way nicer than I thought he would be.It was actually kind of fun shopping with him yesterday.

The only real negative was he blew up my secret dream of him leaving the Outfit for me.Like, maybe he wasn’t happy, and he wanted to do something else—be something else.If he left the Outfit, we could be together.

Okay, I couldn’t see Gaetano as, like, a real estate agent or in another sales field.He definitely couldn’t have a boss who kept asking him when something was going to be done.

One thing I do know is he gets left alone by Luca because he’s so good at what he does.I’ve heard Sandro and Luca talking about Gaetano before and how amazed they were by what he did.Luca has called Sandro asking what Luca could give Gaetano as a bonus for good work several times since I was a kid—it’s not like he’s newly become important to the Outfit or good at what he's doing.

Right, stop thinking of him like that.Gaetano isn’t the asshole I thought he was.At the same time, the only reason I’m here is to protect Sandro from the pain of me being a complete idiot.While Gaetano isn’t an asshole, and he cares.The problem is the only things he cares about are Sandro and the Outfit.

Sighing, I look to Gaetano to find his eyes on me.The feel of his eyes on me reminds me, and the words are out before I can stop them.“Did you watch me?”

An eyebrow goes up.“What are you talking about?”

“After I moved on campus.Did you watch me?”I told myself to drop it and leave it alone.Except I have to know.

Those black eyes are flat, without any hint of emotion.“Sandro cares about you.I had some free time.”

“Oh…” God, I’m such a baby.

“Hey, it’s big brother stuff.”

I’m mad at him and Sandro.“Let’s go.”I push up from the recliner.

“Where am I going?You have to tell me.I’m the one driving.”He reminds me drily.

“Back to the place we went yesterday.It’s perfect for all kinds of things.We need comfy, cozy throw blankets, a coffee table, and an area rug.Then, I’m thinking you definitely need something on the wall.”I’m in his car, and we’re zooming across the streets of Las Vegas to my favorite playlist.

I kind of can’t believe he’s letting me pick the music.And he was totally right that I never would have touched it if the gummy hadn’t kicked in due to how seriously he takes anyone touching his stereo.I remember Sandro laughing about how Luca didn’t know about Gaetano and his stereo, and he tried turning it down.Gaetano warned him that the last person who touched his stereo currently walks with a limp.Sandro couldn’t believe Gaetano said it to Luca, but Luca wasn’t bothered and said he understood.Now, could he please turn the shit down?

We’re back at the store.I wait impatiently for him to open the door for me.He opens the door.Taking his hand, I’m a little in awe of how large his hand is, yet how gentle he is with me.Only for his hand to open once I’m up and standing on my own.

Embarrassed, I follow him into the store.“Okay, so your place is a barren wasteland of space, and we need to fix that.”

“Barren wasteland?What’s the big deal?I now have the other recliner in there, and I’ll leave it.It will make Dario happy.I think that’s all?—”

I stopped listening when he thought leaving the other recliner was a win.Silly man.I’m remembering Megan’s mom saying that sometimes men didn’t know what they wanted until a woman gave it to them.There isn’t as much selection as what we would find in a bigger store.Except I’m also not trying to get caught.

While I love everything shiny, I don’t even consider it.Gaetano would hate it.Even though I have the odd feeling he would accept whatever I pick, I don’t want him to hate his space.I want him to like it and enjoy being in it.

“Why are you looking at a television console when my television is on the wall?”Comes from behind me.

“Because we need more furniture to fill the space, so it doesn’t feel so barren,” I explain as I find the perfect one that looks like driftwood.“And what if you do need something to put a gaming console on to play when your brother comes over?”

“That would never happen because I’m an adult who doesn’t play games on a console or not.Dario is also an adult and would be insulted as I am at the idea of wasting time on gaming.”

Rolling my eyes.“Okay, fine, it’s to fill up the space.”

I’m studying the offering.Gaetano is definitely like driftwood, raw and overlooked until someone saw it for the treasure it was.

“Okay, this one.”I move to pick it up, only for a heavy sigh to come from above me and a gentle nudge from his hip as he scoots me out of the way so he can pick it up and put it in the cart.

“It’s going to take forever to put it together,” he mutters.

“I think it will be fun.I’m a good helper, Sandro says it often.”I assure him as I turn to look for a coffee table.I’ve seen it in Kitty and Megan’s house.They used an ottoman in place of a coffee table and then bought trays for things they worried would tip over if placed on the ottoman.It’s a better way of softening the hard lines of the room.

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