Page 28 of Mine to Love
Darcy and I work together to dress the king-sized bed. Once finished, she grabs her teacup off the bedside table, offers me a shy smile, and begins her retreat to her room. Only, I’m not ready for her to leave. Will I ever be? Unlikely. Her presence is addicting. “Stay,” I say.
“What?” Darcy turns around with a quizzical expression.
Before she gets scared, I explain, “We’re both wide awake. Maybe we can tire each other out before going our separate ways. You know, so you don’t wake Delilah with your restlessness.” Darcy nods as I offer a decent reason for her to remain in my bedroom just a little while longer.
She takes a step toward me. Brows furrowed, she sips her tea. “Tire each other outhow?” she asks.
There’s a catch in my throat as I hear the sexual innuendo in my words repeated back to me.God, I wish.Even though I just had a release, it’d take nothing for me to go for round two. Fuck those sheets! I’ll sleep in our cum after we’ve both finished. But knowing now is not the time for that tantalizing line to be crossed—at least, in reality—I say, “However you’d like.” Putting the ball back in her court is the safest bet.
Darcy considers my words for a moment while taking another sip of tea. Oh, she’s really thinking about it! I can’t help but register the sudden excitement bouncing in my chest. It’s then that she meets my gaze with a smile.
24
Slippingbeneath the covers on Gio’s bed, I find myself both giddy and nervous. Butterflies, for lack of a better term, dance in my stomach. I’m in bed with a half-naked Gio—in bed, at night, wearing something far too seductive for my comfort. Oh, geez. What am I doing? And especially after that dream? But, as Gio slips into bed next to me, bringing his iPad with him, it’s our activity that has me excitedandstaying.
Gio knows I love to read. And, while I have an iPhone now and can download books to it (heehee), I haven’t had time to read this week and can’t remember the last time I read something from this decade. So, when I suggested we download a book and take turns reading to each other, he was quick to oblige.
With my head snuggled on his pillow, I give him a brief glance as he thumbs through the iPad to the Kindle app. The warm, cozy aroma of cinnamon and masculine musk lingers in the sliver of space between us. I’m tempted to move closer to him and inhale it directly from his exposed skin, which seems to glow in the dim light coming from the lamp on his bedside table.
Even as he sits with his back propped against the wooden headboard, the indentions in his chest and stomach are well defined. His dark, tousled hair is messier than his typical look. Maybe he uses some sort of product during the day. Regardless, I enjoy seeing him like this—relaxed, a little disheveled. The lack of clothing is merely a bonus.Who am I?
It’s then that my gaze focuses on the part of him closest to me—his strong, veiny arms. He’s a rock. Perhaps that’s why he was quick to shut down my comment, suggesting I was crushing him on the couch. It would take a bulldozer to crush him. Although, that doesn’t make me any less self-conscious. This shirt feels tight against my stomach, and it barely contains my breasts. I glance down and get a quick view of my cleavage. I tug Gio’s emerald-green duvet up higher, leaving only my head exposed.
“Cold?” he asks.
“No, just getting comfortable.”
He really is sweet to do this, especially since he’s been working like crazy this week. With Damon and Ana’s wedding tomorrow, well, today, he’s had extra responsibilities and less time to accomplish them. At least, that’s what he said when work took him away from home most of Wednesday through Friday. I suppose it all worked out for the best though. I was able to get a ton of cleaning done this week. The house is mostly reset. All of mine and Delilah’s new belongings have been properly stowed. The fridge and pantry have been restocked. And all the linens are freshly washed. Though, that thought makes me remember Gio’s sheets. He said he’d spilled something, but I don’t see any beverage glasses or food items hanging around. Hmm.
“So, what has you unable to sleep?” I ask. Gio’s lips tug into a smile as he looks down upon me from his propped position.
“Just a lot on my mind.” I would pry, but if Gio is being cagey, it’s probably because it has something to do with work. Ergo, he can’t tell me specifics. Or maybe it has to do withDamon and Ana’s wedding. While they decided not to have a wedding party, Gio is practically Damon’s best man. He’s been working on a speech for the reception and coordinating with Ana’s brother, Aidan, about various things. I wouldn’t know the exact business, but I overheard him speaking with him once this week. Whatever it is, the twinkle in Gio’s eyes as he peers down at me lets me know it can’t bethatserious. At least, not at this moment. “What about you? I heard you taking a shower.”
“Oh, um…” Now it’s my turn to avoid the question. “It was just a dream.”
“A dream that left you in need of a shower?” He asks coyly. I can feel myself blushing. “I hope it was a pleasant one.”
“It…it was pleasant. Well, confusing. But not a nightmare.” I ramble.
“A pleasant, confusing dream that left you in need of a shower,” Gio deducts. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head. His narrowed gaze and subtle smirk have the muscles buried deep in my abdomen clenching. My breath catches in my throat and my chest feels hot as I think of an explanation to get him off my slick, sex-filled trail. Perhaps I could tell him I had night sweats. But before I can, he redirects his attention to the iPad and asks me what kind of book I want to read.
Sighing in relief, I say, “Well, it should be something we both like. Perhaps a mystery.”
“If I remember correctly, you said your favorite books were romances.” It’s then that I see Gio click on the romance category.
“But you don’t really want to read a romance.”
“Sure, I do. Books are meant for escapism. Why would I want to read something that mirrors my life?”
“Fair point. Maybe that’s why I like romance novels so much. My life has been anything but a happily ever after.”
Gio looks at me then. Gone is the twinkle in his eye.Oh, no.I hope I didn’t bring down the mood. Gio scoots down in bed tolie on his back. As he does, he extends his arm, creating a little opening for me to get closer to him. “Come here,” he says.
I don’t move at first. But, knowing it’ll be easier for me to follow along if I can see the iPadandremembering how good it’s felt to be in his arms in the past, I oblige. Resting my head on his shoulder and placing my hand on his bare chest, Gio wraps his arm around me and pulls me even tighter against him. “There are always new chapters to write,” he whispers, his breath tickling my skin.Yes, yes, there are.I mean, I have to believe that don’t I? Why else would I have left Clive if I thought that was all there was for me?
I take a while to fully sink into Gio’s embrace. I fear putting too much of my weight on him, despite my previous rock comparison. But eventually, I relax into him. His skin is soft, although his muscles make for a hard exterior. Still, the warmth radiating off him soothes me. And, though, the plan was for us to read to each other, after choosing a book—a mafia romance—Gio does all the reading.
He reads with perfect inflection, building the suspense of the story with his voice. It’s a great novel. Though, I’d be lying if I said it holds all my attention. The man beside me is impossible to ignore. And the way he moves his hand up and down my back as he reads, I can’t remember a time when I felt so safe, so at ease. Before I know it, my eyelids have given in to their heaviness. And the sense of calm inside me, along with Gio’s melodic voice, lulls me to sleep.
