Page 21 of Glass & Groundwork
“I’m sure.”
“This will be real in the eyes of the law. It has to be, in order to work. That’s a lot to ask of you, I don’t know what I was thinking.” I suddenly wanted to take it all back, even though a part of me was really excited about the idea. I would be able to call Gio mine… even if it wasn’t real.
Gio held my hand. “I think if it gets you out from under your parents thumb and lets you make choices for yourself, then it’s a great idea.”
I shook my head in wonder. This man was a saint. A sexy, sweet, and generous saint. If I hadn’t just asked him to marry me, I would totally kiss him right now. Instead, I threw myself against him, my arms wrapping around his neck. Gio drew me in tight, enfolding me in his warm embrace. “Shit, I don’t even know what to say. This is huge. Thank you! Holy fuck! Thank you!”
“I’m happy to be able to do this for you.” Gio rested his cheek against the side of my head, making me wonder if he would have been opposed to a celebratory kiss. That was something I would have to test out later on my husband.Husband!
“Holy shit!” I muttered again before a laugh bubbled up in me and broke free. I pulled away from Gio and met his gaze, before busting up. Soon, I was laughing so hard, I fell back on the bed.
Gio joined in and we were both laying there in hysterics, as we stared up at the ceiling. “Is this real?” I asked between huffs.
“I don’t even know,” Gio responded with a tone of disbelief.
Turning to face him, my laughter died down, and I studied him. This handsome man with a golden heart, who could literally have his pick of partners, just agreed to a completelyasinine commitment. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why.
“Why did you say yes?”
Gio stared at me intently, his brown eyes piercing me through his glasses. I felt like a bug under a magnifying glass in the sunlight. “Because you asked.”
My mouth fell open at the statement that was anything but simple. The sincerity of it made my eyes grow misty. I’d never had someone come alongside me and support me so completely like he had. Growing up, it took me longer than it should have to realize that my friends were only close because of what they got out of it. As I got older and understood the draw my family’s money had on others, it made it harder for me to trust people. It was part of why I'd made the move to the Inland Empire. To get away from my family, yes, but also to be able to start fresh where no one knew my background. I wanted to be able to establish myself as an artist, not just someone who was born into a life he didn't choose. Heartcraft had been one of the first places, outside of a hot shop, that I truly felt like I belonged.
Gio, when I’d met him at the market, I immediately felt drawn to his calming presence. I was the one who had sidled up next to him, not him trying to get into my inner circle to gain access to my family's wealth.
“You’re a good guy, you know that?”
Gio gave me a half-smile. “I try.”
As I returned the smile, thankful for this wonderful man who let me show up and upend his life and his barn, realization hit about what we just discussed.
“Fuck, there's a lot to do,” I whispered.
Gio took his glasses off again and settled into his pillow, patting the one beside him for me. “Tomorrow. Let's worry about that tomorrow.”
He was right. Nothing was going to get accomplished tonight. Well… somethinghad. I was going to get my shop. An immense relief washed over me. The strain of the day and the rollercoaster of emotions was hitting me now that the adrenaline was wearing off. Instead of taking the pillow Gio offered, I cozied up to him, both of us under the blanket this time and I rested my head on his chest. Gio's arm came around my back, holding me in place. A deep sigh rolled out of me, and Gio gave me a squeeze.
I was going to get my shop, and ahusbandin the process, too. Would that mean more nights in his arms like this? The idea of that made my heart feel light and my lips stretched into a smile against his tank top. I could get used to this.
Gio
My alarm went off, making me jolt awake. I usually woke before it sounded and would shut it off, but had it set as a backup, so I wouldn’t have to worry about the time. With it blaring, I tried to move, but I was plastered to the bed. It took me a moment to figure out why. When I realized it was Jasper, whose arms and legs were tangled around me like an octopus, a small smile tugged at my lips.
He had me pinned, so much that I couldn’t free an arm to reach my phone without moving him. This was a first for me. Waking up with someone like this. It was surprisingly nice. I almost wished I didn’t have to get up so we could stay right here. Itwasmarket day, though, and my alarm was set as a last resort, which meant it was already a lot later than I planned to get up.
I wiggled, trying to get an arm out from under him and he let out a groan and nuzzled closer, an action that went straight to my dick, in a very inappropriate, nonconsensual way. I tried to blame the fact that if it had been any almost-nude guy rubbing against me in a sensitive, waking state, I would have reacted the same. I didn’t have the experience to know if that was true, or if it was because it was Jasper. It made me feel like an ass, though, considering he was a friend who had given me his trust.
Deciding I could no longer be gentle and let this linger, or risk him feeling my chubbing cock, I grabbed his arm and unpeeled him from me, pushing him gently aside. I scooted away to put some space between us and grabbed my phone to shut off the alarm.
Jasper yawned and blinked hard, trying to focus. When he looked up at me and then looked at the space between us, his eyes widened.
“Shit, Gio, I’m sorry. I tend to be a cuddler when I sleep. I should have warned you.”
“No, it’s fine, don’t worry.”Don’t think about the way his bare skin felt beneath my hands.Trying to refocus, I quickly added, “It’s market day, did you still want to go with me?”
Jasper sat up and stretched his arms above his head, his chest and torso elongating, looking very enticing. “Yeah, yeah. I think you’re right, it will be good for me to be there.”
“I think it will. I’m going to, uh, take a shower.” I clutched the blanket over me, as I tried to will my morning wood to go down. Which was a challenge with Jasper looking all naked and disheveled in my bed. His wavy hair had come out of the elastic band and looked like he’d been electrocuted with it sticking up everywhere. Damn, he was gorgeous.
