Chapter 8 #2
I scooted closer and slid down the bed a little until my head was on his thigh.
With a glance up at Gio, asking permission, he gave a slight nod, and placed a hand on my shoulder.
Perhaps it was because my family had never been great with showing physical affection, but when I was with someone, I tended to be clingy.
Physical touch was something I craved. The warmth of Gio's leg beneath my cheek and his hand on my bare skin filled something in me.
After the song ended with the final chorus, Gio leaned over me and whispered, “Nothing can stop you.”
I smiled and let out a sigh. Okay, maybe I craved physical touch and words of affirmation, because each positive thing Gio said seemed to push the darkness back a little more.
We remained in that position for a long time, both of us quiet as his playlist shuffled through nineties alternative rock.
It was intimate, yes, but not sexual. Although it could have been if I thought about how close I was to his cock, but my thoughts were too occupied for that.
His presence and the heat that radiated out of him made me feel safe.
Safe enough to retreat into my head while knowing he wouldn't let me go.
He was my lifeline to the surface and would pull me back up if I went too deep.
As his hand moved in light circles over my arm, I thought about the money.
What could I do to get the rest of what I owed?
I could sell all my clothes, except most of what I owned was from thrift stores.
My most expensive suit had been drawn and quartered and was destined for cremation.
It would have only been a drop in the bucket anyway.
I had some glasswork pieces in storage that I had planned to use for display.
The thought of parting with them, especially not knowing when I might be able to make more didn’t sit right.
Fuck! I was counting on my money. My money.
I understood that I hadn't earned it, but it had been promised to me. I needed to figure out how to pry it out of my parents’ grips.
What would I have to do to gain control?
I thought through all of the stipulations on the account and was struck with a realization.
“Holy shit!” I whispered.
Gio's hand stilled, and he asked, “Are you okay? Do you want me to stop?”
“Yes and no.”
His hand hovered over me, not quite touching me, as he said, “Uh, mixed signals. What do you want me to do?”
“Sorry. Yes, I'm okay, and no, don't stop.” I reached up and grabbed his hand, returning it to where it was. “I just need to think, but that helps.”
“Good.” Gio continued the rhythmic circles.
Was it even possible? The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like it could work. There was one big factor, though. I couldn't do it alone.
The circles on my arm had stopped, his hand merely resting in place, and Gio's breathing had slowed, despite the music playing in the background.
“Gio?”
“Hmm?” He responded with a sleepy hum.
This was a big ask. The biggest. But… if I didn't ask, I would never know, and I had to try. “Would you marry me?”
“Sure.”
Surprised by the simple response, I turned onto my back, head still on his leg, and stared up at his face. Gio's head was leaning back against the headboard and his eyes were closed.
I had to smile at the sight of him falling asleep. I would have been happy to let him rest, except now there was no way I could, and I had to get this out.
Reaching up, I gave a light pat on his belly. “Gio.”
His eyes blinked open and he lowered his gaze to meet mine. “Hmm? Did you say something?”
He was handsome, kind, generous, and compassionate. It wouldn't be so bad with someone like him.
“Marry me, Gio?”
Eyes blinking harder, he sat up straighter. “What? Did I miss something?”
“No. It just occurred to me, though. It would solve all my problems.”
Gio's brow furrowed, even as his cheeks pinked. “I'm not sure I follow.”
Reluctantly leaving my spot on his lean, muscled leg, I sat up to face him.
“There's a clause with my trust fund that will force my parents to relinquish their hold on my account.
It's a bit antiquated—if you ask me—but I guess they figured if I was ready for the responsibility of marriage, then I was ready for financial responsibility as well.”
“What… do you mean… exactly?” Gio asked.
“If I'm married, I gain full ownership of my trust. I would be able to finish paying for the construction and get my business off the ground.”
“And you'd want to marry me?”
“Why not?”
Gio’s pinched brows relaxed slightly as he tried to process what I was saying. “So it would be a fake marriage, then?”
I clicked my tongue as I tried to picture how it would work.
“It would have to be real. The ceremony and the certificate, anyway.
My parents and the bank would see right through falsified documents, especially with this kind of money on the line.
It could be platonic, though. It wouldn't have to be anything you're not comfortable with.”
“But if you just need a name on a document, why me?”
I grabbed Gio's hand in mine. “You’re my friend and you make me feel safe. I trust you, Gio. Oh! And I can pay you if you do this. We can work up an agreement.”
With a shake of his head, he said, “I told you before, I don't want your money.”
“Okay. Anything else? Surely, there’s something you want, right? Name it, and I'll do whatever I can to make it happen if you'll do this for me.”
“What I want… is to see you happy.”
Butterflies fluttered about in my stomach. “See? That, right there, is why it has to be you. There’s no one else I trust.”
“Marriage?” Gio said slowly, as if he was still wrapping his mouth around the word.
It was a big word. One that carried a lot of weight. Was it too much? Probably. I was starting to second-guess the idea as the word hung between us. When I answered, it sounded more like a question. “Yes?”
“With me?”
“Yes.” That reply came easier. Whatever the next step, I wanted Gio with me for it.
He’d already been amazing in helping me get started, but what he did for me tonight endeared him to me deeply.
I could easily put out feelers and would have a whole slew of guys who would marry me for the price of it, but I’d seen enough vultures hanging around my parents and the business waiting for scraps to come their way.
I didn’t want that. Gio was content in his life and wasn’t trying to get whatever he could from me to help him move up in society.
“Yes,” Gio said softly, pulling me out of my thoughts.
It took me a moment to grasp the hushed word, but I tilted my head, and stared at him. His cheeks were a lovely red, and he seemed anxious for some kind of response.
“Wait. What?”
Gio inhaled deeply before lifting his chin, determination pushing the anxiousness aside. “I said, yes.”
“You’ll marry me?” I couldn’t believe it. I mean, I’d been thinking it through, but hearing him actually agree to it caught me off guard.
A crooked smile appeared. “Yes, Jasper.”
“Why?”
A laugh popped out of him. “Did you want me to say no?”
“No, of course not, I just… I guess I didn’t really expect it. It sounded fine in my head, but now that it’s out there, I, um, are you sure?”
The color in his cheeks toned down and he reached for his glasses on the side table, sliding them onto his face. With his eyes highlighted through the lenses, he met my gaze with a sincere expression.
“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 completely asinine 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… something had. 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 a husband in 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.