Page 13 of And Everything In Between

“Big hands,” she murmured, loud enough for the wind to catch. “Just my type.”

“Nah,” Giovanni said, tipping his shades down to let her see the full weight of his eyes. “Perfect timing. What’s good? I don’t ever see you outside.”

“I decided to switch it up. So, I’m trying to enjoy my day off and look good doing it.”

He dipped his head closer, and the manly scent of Black Ice, his cologne slid over her in a slow, delicious wave. She exhaled again, bracing herself as her breathing quickened with awareness.

“No doubt you doing that, gorgeous. Where your man at?”

“I’m single like a dollar in a stripper’s thong and not looking. Next question.”

“Yeah, aight. I hear you.” He smirked without missing a beat.

He stepped back, eyes never leaving hers, and nodded toward the passenger side of the car. “Get in,” he said, the words clearly a command. “You with me today.”

“You don’t even know me.”

He laughed. It was low and smooth; he didn’t need to know her. They could do that after she slid in. He took his shades off completely, wanting her to see he wasn’t fucking around or accepting no as an answer. He stood up tall, car door half-open behind him.

“Paige.” He called out, savoring her name on his tongue like it was fine wine. “Ride wit a nigga today.”

She searched his eyes, hesitating for just a beat, then saw nothing but a real nigga looking back at her. He'd stopped traffic for her. And he wasn't going to ask again. She’d be a fool not to let him entertain her if only for a day. This was what the day was about. Letting her inhibitions go.

“Fine, but I hope you got yours on you because I keep mine on me,” she said patting the crossbody against her chest.

Giovanni smiled, yeah, she was going to be a good time.

“I mean you no harm Thug Misses.” Hands raised in surrender with a small laugh.

“Okay,” she grinned again before she slid in and over to the passenger seat, and Giovanni climbed in behind her. For a minute, he stared at her. He couldn’t stop drinking her in. She looked good against his leather seats. She settled in completely unfazed by his staring. He watched her put her seatbelt on, flip the mirror down to check her lip gloss. She was already claiming space he didn’t know he’d left open. He didn’t know what this was going to turn into, but she’d changed his whole night by sliding in. There was no hesitation. No coy games. Just her sliding in, trusting him to take the wheel. That did something to him.

He held back another smile and put the car in drive. Whatever was left to handle for the event, his sister could take care of it.

Tonight, he had other priorities. As they pulled away, Giovanni's mind drifted to the first time he'd really noticed her. That night at Blake's, when everything hit the fan.

Blake was on one, accusing Emon, tension thick enough to slice. Folks were shifting uncomfortably, not sure where to look. Except Giovanni. He wasn’t looking at Blake. Didn’t give a fuck about what she had going on. He was watching Paige. Off to the side, studying her move around the kitchen. His watching wasn’t creepy, at least not to him. It was intentional, he wanted her to feel it. Wanted her to remember the weight of his eyes on her so she’d know it when she felt it again.

And she did.

Paige smirked at his relentless staring and looked away. The anticipation was swirling in the car. She couldn’t pretend she didn’t feel that same pull sitting right beside him because she did. The engine purred beneath them as they pulled away from the fairgrounds, bass thumping low through custom speakers.

Her fingers tapped her thigh, rhythm synced to the buzz between them. It was electric, dangerous even, the kind of chemistry that couldn’t be put into words. Her mind was racing. What were they going to do? Why did she trust him? He was a stranger, a fine ass stranger but a stranger, nonetheless.

But there was something about Giovanni, something familiar in his silence, something sure in the way he handled his car, his business, himself, that made caution feel unnecessary. He radiated the kind of confidence that didn’t need to be proven, merely witnessed.

She said a silent prayer asking God to keep her covered as she enjoyed the rest of her night. Then she relaxed into theseat, rolled her window down further, and let the warm summer air whip through her ponytail. Whatever Giovanni had planned, she was ready for it. For once, she wasn't calculating the cost of joy or measuring the weight of her own desires against everyone else's needs.

Chapter 6

The city rolled beneath them, smooth as butter on fresh cornbread. Giovanni gripped the wheel with that easy, dominant calm. One hand on the wheel, the other resting out the window, claiming the road and everything under the sun. Paige settled into the seat, an unfiltered smile riding the wind. For the first time in months, she wasn’t bracing, she was breathing. Her ponytail had given up. Belly chains jingled, thighs stuck to leather. She felt good. Comfortable. Held without being touched.

Giovanni was smooth, no doubt. But silence could be a strategy or a sanctuary. Either way, she wasn’t rushing to decode him. All she had for trade was the premium package of pussy between her thighs. A commodity she hadn’t decided to put on the market yet.

They only sound came from the stereo until Giovanni glanced over and asked, “You always this quiet?”

Paige turned to face him. “Not usually.” A small smirk played on her lips. “But I don’t feel like I need to fill the air with bullshit, you know?”

Giovanni nodded, appreciation flickering in his eyes. “Most people can’t handle silence.”

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