Page 33 of Mine to Love
“Have I told you how lovely you look in this dress?” He asks, shifting his eyes to graze my visible skin. His comment makes my legs feel weak. It’s a good thing his grip on me is so tight. I know he’ll catch me if I fall.
“Several times,” I answer. And he has. Twice before we left the house. Once upon arriving at the wedding. And another time between then and now. When he saw me descend the staircase at home, he stared with his mouth agape to the point I thought something was wrong and I needed to change. He quickly assured me that wasn’t necessary.
“Well, then once more won’t hurt, will it?” He smiles, and in a surprise move, lowers his mouth to my neck. I tense as his lips come so close to my skin it almost feels like he’s going in for a kiss. But he stops just before his lips reach the space beneath my ear. I’m not sure if it’s because he feels the change in my body or because he never planned to kiss me at all. Regardless, I loosen up once he whispers, “And the necklace? Is it to your liking?”
I suppose my body is telling me I’m still not ready for…certain things. A kiss on the hand, an accidental graze, a nighttime cuddle session while I’m half distracted by a goodbook—fine. But, other than that, I need to take things slow, whateverthingsare happening between him and I. Perhaps it’s all my imagination, my mind playing tricks on me after being abused and deprived of gentleness, kindness, and so much more for so long. Only it’s then that Gio’s words finally register.
I retract one of my hands from his neck and bring my fingers to the diamond resting heavy on my chest. “Wait, you…you picked this out? You…you bought it for me?” I look up at him with wide eyes. I knew I hadn’t picked it out, but I thought maybe Ana had chosen it like she did so many other things. But if it’s from Gio, then maybe I’m not imagining everything.
“You were his prisoner. You’re my princess. Besides, I knew you would need something sparkly for one event or another. So, last weekend when Damon slipped away to the jewelry store to get Ana a special gift for today, I took it as my opportunity to do the same. Do you like it?” He asks once more.
“Yes, of course, I like it,” I spit out.Who wouldn’t?“I…I more than like it.I love it!I’m just…” Surprised. Confused. Grateful. Suddenly aware that the massive diamonds hanging around my neck and from my ears are in fact real. Perhaps even more, I’m touched. Gio has paid for many things, yes. But, for him to choose something for me, just like he chose the dollhouse for Delilah, that’s special. It makes me feel…special. And, to his point, like a princess.
“I didn’t know it was from you. Thank you. I…” I drop my eyes to his chest, shaking my head in disbelief. “I don’t deserve all these things, Gio. You’ve done so much for me, for Delilah. I don’t know how to ever repay you.”
Gio brings his hand to my chin and nudges me to look at him. I do and I’m met with a smile and gentleness I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to, gentleness I hope I never lose. “Your presence is payment enough. Though, truly, you don’t owe me anything.”The sincerity in his voice lets me know he’s telling the truth. And that truth forms a lump in my throat.
Fresh tears well in my eyes. Though, for once, not because of a painful memory of the past, but because of a pleasant one in the present. Gio Moretti is different, kind, and generous. And I gather, I haven’t even scratched his surface yet. Why is he this way? How did he become this way? Why aren’t more men like him?
Gio brings his thumb to my cheek and flicks away the two tears that escaped me. “You deserve all the beautiful things in this world, Darcy. And I intend to make sure you get them and whatever else your heart desires.”Why?The question is on my tongue, but I can’t bring myself to ask it. I just want to savor his sweet sentiment. Little does he know, beautiful things are the least of my heart’s desires. What are my desires?
When Gio and I first met, all I could think of was Delilah—making sure she’s safe and provided for. Second to that was letting go of some of my worry. But now that we are safe and provided for and I’m putting distance between me and my past, what else do I want?
Gio said there are always more chapters to be written, implying a possibility for love in my life. The concept seems so foreign to me. I gave up on love a long time ago. It was too painful to continue wanting something from Clive he was clearly incapable of giving. And I never fantasized about leaving him and having a different life. That also would’ve been too painful, because it felt so far out of reach.
When I decided to leave, or at least try to, my only concern was survival, nothing more.But now?Love? With Gio? Because as it stands, he’s the only man whose touch I can bear, the only man whose presence brings me peace, the only man who has ever treated me with respect. But…but no, this isn’t possible. He’s him and I’m me. I can wear the dress and put on the jewelryand pretend to belong for a few hours, but I don’t. I’m not from his world. I can’t remotely understand it. But then why is he so kind to me? But shouldn’t men be kind?
Feeling myself going down a rabbit hole and only ending up more confused, I change the subject. “Did you mean what you said to those men? You know, about their fingers?” I ask.
My question steals the gentleness from Gio’s features. His lips press into a flat line and his gaze is gloomy. It’s as if he’s looking straight through me, remembering back to the encounter in the parlor. “I mean every word I say, Darcy.” His voice is dry and low. It’s then that a wrinkle forms between his eyebrows, and he appears more present. He came back to me, just as he said to me earlier.
“No one touches you or harms you without paying a blood price.” He pulls me tighter against him and strokes my back reassuringly. Despite this, his words cast a chill on my skin, a chill that comes with the truth. Gio is everything I’ve claimed and so much more. Not just a knight, but a dark knight with black metallic armor. Perhaps he tames my darkness so easily because he is familiar with it. There is much left to discover about Mr. Moretti, that much is certain—a complex center beneath a polished, chivalrous exterior. Yet, he doesn’t scare me. I look forward to uncovering the parts of him he keeps hidden. And perhaps I’ll finally share more of mine as well.
It’s then that Delilah comes running toward us with a gleeful expression and cotton candy stuck to her fingers. “I want to dance!” She exclaims. Gio immediately scoops her up, and she laughs.
“How’s my little ray of sunshine doing?” Gio asks lovingly.
“Good. I ate lots of cake and cotton candy and played with Ru and Brinkley. And I made some new friends.”
“You did?” Gio eggs her on. It’s nice seeing them together, seeing Delilah have a strong male role model in her life andseeing her make friends. She never had the opportunity to in Montana. “Well, I must meet these friends. Make sure they’re suitable for my sunshine.”
Gio pokes her little belly and Delilah giggles and rests her head on Gio’s shoulder. I take that as my cue to slip away and let them finish their dance. Though, just as I take a step back, a strong palm makes its way around my waist and before I know it, I’m, once more, in Gio’s arms, pressed tightly against his chest.
“I didn’t say you can leave.” Gio’s voice gives life to those overactive butterflies, yet again, and makes me wish I hadn’t ruined my underwear. I press my thighs together as an unexpected slickness develops between my slit. Maybe it wasn’t just a dream. Who was I kidding? I knew the moment I awoke there was truth in it. I just didn’t realize how much. “That is, unless you want to?”
Gio gives me the choice to stay or leave, never one to force anything on me. And my decision is the easiest one I’ve had to make in what feels like forever. “No, no, I don’t want to leave.”
“Good. Because God didn’t give me two arms for nothing.” Gio’s smile matches mine as he guides me around the dancefloor once more—one arm holding up Delilah and one wrapped tightly, possessively and protectively around me.
29
Puttingmy phone on the charger, I pull back the covers on my bed as moonlight pours into the otherwise dark room. After spending last night and the entire day with Darcy, this room has never felt lonelier nor this bed any bigger. I sigh and glance at my iPad sitting on the bedside table. Perhaps I should’ve asked Darcy if she’d like to continue our story tonight. But, after the day we had, I’m sure she’s exhausted and I…I don’t know if I could contain myself as well as I did last night.
Today was amazing and yet a perfect tease. Being so close to her, holding her, touching her, dancing with her, having her panties—still warm and clinging to her scent—in my palm, and yet not being able to act on my impulses, has left my body riddled with desire. As I stand, wearing only a pair of black silk pajama pants, my dick throbs with thoughts of Darcy. This sensation, desire, is becoming all too frequent, all too consuming. And yet, I wouldn’t rid myself of it even if I could. Though, it’s not exactly easy to endure.
It’s then that there’s a soft knock on my bedroom door. The sound makes my heart jump and feel warm all at onceandhas my dick at full salute. Doing my best to ignore it and all the otherdesires coiling inside me, I hurry to the door and find Darcy fresh-faced with tousled waves on the other side. Her body is hidden by the darkness surrounding us and the folded linens held tightly in her arms. What a shame. Although, it occurs to me the non-existent light also helps to hide my erect appendage.
“I hope I didn’t wake you. I just wanted to get these stored,” she says, glancing at the covers.
