Chapter 12 #3
“Well, I was getting antsy, so I decided to make lunch, but making lunch turned into meal-prepping dinner, too. Oh! I have big news. Well, actually I have two big newses.”
Gio grinned as his brows arched. “Newses? I don’t think that’s a word.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Listen, Gio. You might be new to the whole marriage thing, but part of a husband’s job is to accept whatever words his spouse may use unless they are harmful.
Seeing as how ‘newses’ is not harmful, at least, not in this instance, you are supposed to accept it as if Merriam Webster, herself, called it into existence. ”
“I’m not sure that’s a single person,” Gio replied, with a hint of humor in his voice.
“I like to believe she was a drag queen. Miss Merriam used her cunning lingus skills to weave her way into society and give us the very foundation of speech we have today. And newses.” I held up a finger, making a point.
Gio let out a loud laugh, his brown eyes gleaming behind his glasses. Even with his pants tucked into his socks, the man was incredibly handsome, especially when he laughed and smiled. “God, you’re cute! And I concede. Please tell me all about your newses.”
“Thank you, hubby of mine.” I gave him a wink of appreciation for playing along.
“First of all… I talked to George. I’m less than a week away from being able to get in there and get lit!
Like fire, not drunk. It won’t be the full set-up—the bulk of the heavier work is pending access to my account—but he’s going to have my lampwork station ready.
I’ll be able to use the smaller torch and table-top kiln so I can start making figurines and things.
It was how I first started before graduating up to the glory hole and glassblowing.
It’ll be nice to return to the basics. Besides, anything at this point would be great. ”
Gio pulled me into a hug. “That’s fantastic, Jasper. I’m so happy for you.”
I sunk into him for a moment, loving the way it felt in his arms, but I decided to keep things light.
Or weird. Or lightly weird. I tilted my head back to look up at him and forced a big Cheshire grin, widening my eyes as big as they would go, aiming for an over-the-top cartoony look. “Fire good. I need fire.”
Gio’s laugh rose again, which was my intention. He had such a lovely, rich laugh that rumbled out of him. “That’s not at all worrisome.” He grabbed my shoulders and gently pulled me. “I think I’ll just move you away from the stove so you can tell me the other thing.”
It was my turn to chuckle. I liked this side of him.
There was still the sense of calm he imbued, but it was fun getting to see the playfulness that lived beneath the surface.
Getting to let loose and be weird was freeing for me, too.
Growing up, appearance was everything. Everything I did was a ‘reflection on my parents.’ It was a heavy burden to bear, until I hit the fuck-it stage, and started rebelling in all the little ways I could without causing too much of a problem, like my clothes, hair, and septum piercing.
Gio made me feel safe in so many ways, including giving me the freedom to let go of appearances and simply be myself. I was still discovering who I was and who I wanted to be, and one thing I was learning about myself was that I really wanted a family.
“The other news is that I’m totally killing it with the whole parenting thing.”
At that, I saw Gio’s humor shift into that of adoration. A look that swept over me like a warm, fuzzy sweater. “Oh yeah?”
I gave him a brief review of my text conversation with Frankie. “They’re mine now, by the way. I’m keeping them.”
Gio’s arms snaked around me, lifting my toes off the ground, as he squeezed me to his chest. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me to hear.”
My arms folded around his neck, and I pressed my cheek to his shoulder.
Gio inhaled in a way that seemed like he was smelling my hair.
I didn’t mind, though, because I loved having his scent in my nose, too.
Even now, when he was a little smoky from working at the apiary.
The smokiness was a part of him. Smoke and sugar and something woodsy.
Gio pulled back and straightened, looking over my shoulder. “So what's for lunch? Assuming you made some for me, if not, I can fix myself something.”
I waved a hand between us. “I made lunch for us, and it's corn chowder with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.”
Gio's eyes gleamed with interest. “I think I could marry you.”
“Too late, I'm taken,” I wiggled my ring finger in his face, making him chuckle.
“He's a lucky man,” Gio said with a smile that was far too genuine for the joke I meant it to be, giving me butterflies.
“I'd say it's mutual,” I whispered, staring up at him.
Our gazes locked and something not platonic passed between us.
Gio’s brown eyes pierced into mine and I couldn’t move.
Before I knew it, he bent down and smashed his mouth against mine.
Aside from light kisses on my head or the quick pecks I gave him, we hadn’t kissed like this since the wedding.
The surprise gave way to hunger and I grabbed the waist of his jeans, pulling him closer.
A loud hum rumbled from the back of Gio’s throat as his tongue dove into my mouth.
Fuck, this wasn’t helping how with horny I already was, and the effect of his kiss and the blood rushing south was dizzying. I was seconds away from grinding against him, needing the friction. Instead, Gio broke the kiss abruptly and stepped back, leaving me wobbly from the loss of him.
Gio caught my arm and steadied me, but then let go, and looked away. “Shit. I’m sorry, Jasper.”
I got closer, getting in his downward line of sight.
“Don’t be, Gio. I was a very willing participant.
Besides, we are married, you’re allowed to kiss me, legally and morally.
I don’t want you to feel like you have to or that there are any expectations, but I can promise I don’t mind one bit, and you never have to be sorry. ”
He gave me a wary smile, his cheeks ruddy beneath the silver and black scruff. “I don’t want you to feel like I have expectations of you, either. That’s not what I did this for.”
I put a hand on his chest and looked him straight in the eye, wanting him to see how sincere I was. “I know, Gio. I never thought that.”
He let out a soft sigh and his eyes brightened slightly at the confirmation, as though it was something he’d been worrying about.
Gio tilted his chin toward the stove. “This all looks delicious. Thank you. You didn’t have to do this.”
I shrugged. “I wanted to. I feel like you’ve done so much for me, it’s the least I can do.”
Gio straightened, his gaze fully clearing now, and the caretaker side of him came back to the forefront.
“You don’t need to do anything, this isn’t conditional or duty-based.
However, I understand that doing something isn’t just for those receiving, but for the giver as well, and I’ve learned not to take the gift of giving away from people. So, thank you.”
This man was such a fascinating mix of passionate, shy, and nurturing, and I really admired each part of him.