Episode 80
Episode 80
You Belong to Me
JULIANNE
“Looks like I don’t need your help with Bianca, after all,” my brother said with a slimy looking smile as he pocketed his cellphone.
I frowned, uncertain where Brenden was going with his statement.
“Why is that?” Gio questioned when I couldn’t bear to.
A terrifying look of triumph crossed Brenden’s features. “Because Bianca just made bail.” He grinned, then lifted his hands, palms facing out. “I’ll see myself out,” he taunted and left the kitchen.
Gio held me tight as I started to tremble within his arms. “They let that disgusting woman out on bail? How?” I whispered, truly not able to understand how this could have happened. The woman drugged and assaulted a man with ill intent. She was caught in the act. Where is the justice system in all of this?
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. First things first, are you okay?” He rubbed my arms, and I shifted back to stare up into his face.
“Am I okay?” I scoffed, staring into those frosty blue eyes, looking for any hint of emotional trauma at the news we’d just received. But, of course, Giovanni was a man who had a one- track mind. And his mind makes me the priority, his own needs and feelings secondary.
My bottom lip quivered as I was genuinely hit with the fact that I could have had this man my entire adult life if I’d maybe been honest with him all those years ago. If I’d been more mature and admitted it was me in bed with him, and not his loser girlfriend, perhaps we could have had a decade of love already. He would have never met that bitch Bianca, and she wouldn’t have gotten her claws into him or my brother. If only…
“Julianne, you’re frightening me. Say something.” Gio’s voice was deep, demanding, and filled with concern.
“I can’t believe you’re worried about me.” I shook my head. “Gio, are you okay? You’re the one she hurt the most.”
He gave me a soft smile. “I have everything I could ever want standing before me. Am I unhappy at this turn of events? Absolutely. More than anything, I’m worried about what she might attempt now that she has been released. With her in jail, we had less to worry about.”
“That’s for sure.” I sighed and blew a lock of hair out of my face as I placed my hands on Gio’s chest, enjoying the thump-thump of his heartbeat against my fingertips.
“The good news is, when we were at dinner with Joel and Faith, and you were predisposed with planning our Grecian trip, I discussed the situation at length with Joel. He shared much about what occurred between Faith and her ex. It was far worse than anything we’ve dealt with, but he not only gave me some excellent advice, he provided me an ace in the hole.”
“Oh?” My heart started to beat faster as adrenaline pumped through my veins.
“He suggested I keep an eye on her, even in jail. Which means, the second the paperwork went through regarding her bail, the special security team I hired was notified of the situation.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
“It means the moment Bianca stepped foot out of the station, the team I hired is watching and keeping me posted of her comings and goings.”
“Okay, that sounds smart. I just hate that we have to even worry about her at all,” I said and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my ear to his chest.
He embraced me fully, rubbing his chin against the top of my hair.
Gio’s phone rang close to where I was resting my head. I pulled back as he reached inside his suit coat pocket and pulled it out, his brows pinched together.
“That’s them now. Probably wanting to update me on her release,” he stated calmly before he answered.
“Mr. Castellanos, I was expecting your call,” Gio stated. “Yes, we did hear that Bianca was released on bail,” he said and then frowned deeply. “What do you mean she’s on the run?”
I stepped out of Gio’s arms and covered the gasp trying to leave my mouth.
“You’re kidding? How was she able to board a plane? I thought a person wasn’t allowed to leave the state if they were under criminal investigation.”
Gio’s shoulders slumped as he leaned the bulk of his weight against the counter. His head dropped forward in what could only be seen as frustration. “They didn’t see her as a flight risk, meaning she still had her passport? Fantastic,” he said dryly. “Do we even know where she went?”
His head snapped up as I held my breath, waiting for every little morsel of new information. “France?”
“France?” I mouthed. “Why France?” I whispered.
He shook his head. “Not to my knowledge. She never once mentioned France other than possibly going there for our honeymoon.”
I made a juvenile gagging noise and stuck out my tongue at the mere suggestion of Gio and Bianca honeymooning.
Gio pressed his lips together in a broken smile and whispered, “Behave.”
He listened for a bit longer. “So, what’s the plan?” His eyebrows rose toward his hairline in an expression of surprise. “A private jet? Whose?” He hissed. “I have no idea who she might know with deep enough pockets to secure a private jet at a moment’s notice. None of this makes any sense.”
I watched helplessly as he rubbed at his temples, clearly upset with the information being given. “You have men waiting at the airport already?” Suddenly, a smile flitted across his face, and I sighed with relief. “That’s good news. Okay, keep me posted on where she goes once she lands. Bruno, thank you so much for taking this job. Joel said you were the best, and clearly you have already proven that,” Gio offered. “I’ll keep the phone on me. Thank you.”
He hung up and let out a long breath of air.
“What? Tell me everything! She’s gone to France?” I rattled off, dying to know what he found out.
“According to Bruno and his team, right after Bianca was released, she was picked up by a blacked-out SUV. They followed her to LaGuardia airport where she was taken to a private section that bypassed the normal departure, security, and gate checks. She was immediately whisked away on a private jet to France.”
“And we don’t know whose jet it was?”
He shook his head. “No, though he does have men on the ground in France ready to follow her when she arrives, but that will be roughly seven or so hours from now.”
“All of this means she left without my brother. Do you really think she’s on the run?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is that Bruno Castellanos is on top of it.”
“Bruno?” I tried to place the name and came up empty.
“Joel’s cousin. Apparently, he runs all of the security for Joel and his family and was an integral part of Faith and the girls coming out of their trauma being healthy, happy, and most importantly, alive. While the man that kidnapped her did not fare so well.”
“Yikes.” I nibbled on my bottom lip and looked down at all the broken glass and beer spilled everywhere. “I need to clean this up,” I sighed.
When I turned to get the broom, Gio grabbed me by the elbow, spun me around, and plastered me to his front once more.
“What you need to do is understand that I’ve got everything under control. Bianca is not going to be able to hurt us ever again.”
Unless she’s carrying his baby , I thought but didn’t vocalize.
“But I don’t understand, Gio. She got out on bail when she shouldn’t have. She’s now mid-air, on her way to France. A different fucking country on another fucking continent. None of this is under control!” My voice rose along with my ire. “I am so tired of you—of us— getting the short end of the stick. This bitch is evil, and she deserves to go down!” I pointed to the ground and stomped my foot.
“You need to calm down,” he said in a low, commanding tone.
“Excuse me?” I clipped and tilted my head. “Don’t you ever tell me to calm down ,” I growled.
Gio pursed his lips then methodically removed his jacket, laying it over the back of a barstool. He then removed his cufflinks, setting them on the counter. Next, he undid the buttons at his wrists and rolled them up his muscular, tanned forearms.
My breathing became labored as anger flushed my face and desire coiled low in my pelvis. I shifted from foot to foot, watching his every movement closely.
“You don’t believe I can keep you safe?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Then I guess it’s time I remind you to whom you belong.”
I crossed my arms and tapped my foot. “I don’t belong to anyone.”
He smirked as he undid the buttons at his collar, releasing them at a leisurely pace. My gaze was glued to each new bit of beautifully tanned skin that appeared. Once his chest was fully visible, the shirt hanging open, I couldn’t help the slight whisper of air that caught in my throat.
Gio’s eyes seemed to darken as desire wove through his gaze. He reached for one of the empty dining table chairs and pulled it a good ten feet out into the open space where there wasn’t glass and beer remnants littering the floor. He stood in front of the chair and stared me down.
“What are you doing?” I asked, clenching my hands into fists. I didn’t know if I wanted to fight him or jump into his lap.
“Proving to whom you belong.” He sat down into the chair, his legs spreading wide. “When my wife doesn’t feel safe, it’s up to me to remind her exactly how protected and beloved she is.” His voice sent a pleasurable shiver down my spine. It was the Dom tone I hadn’t heard since his assault. I’d thought he might never get back to that side of himself. I shouldn’t have worried.
“And you’re going to show me that how exactly?” I taunted, my anger dissipating as lust took its place.
He unbuckled his belt and whipped it through the loops, dropping it to the floor. It clanged against the tile, and I jumped at the sound. He opened his slacks just enough to pull his erect cock out.
I swallowed slowly, staring at my favorite appendage as he stroked it from base to tip, swirling his thumb around the glistening head. I couldn’t help the whimper that left my throat.
“I’m going to show you exactly how much control I possess. Now, come here.” He pointed at his side.
“And if I do, what do I get?” I breathed, feeling desire rippling through my veins.
“Release . ” He growled the single word, and the deep rumble ping-ponged through my chest as gooseflesh rose on my skin. I itched to do as he said, but another part of me didn’t want to acquiesce so easily.
I stepped a few feet closer, but still out of arm’s reach. “What are you going to do to me?”
His lips twitched, and I wanted so badly to kiss them I almost broke down, but I stayed strong, holding out for a bit longer.
“I’m going to do whatever I want to you,” he claimed with a daring smirk.
“Is that right?” I hummed as if uncertain about whether or not I’d do as he said. We both knew I was going to cave.
“Julianne, get your fine ass over here, now,” he barked in that no nonsense manner he often used when we were getting a little kinkier in the bedroom. I couldn’t have been happier to hear that raw demand cut through my hesitance like a hot knife through butter.
My nerve endings lit up with anticipation, knowing that when he used that tone, I was in for a satisfying evening.
“What if I don’t want what you are offering?” I blatantly lied, my chest heaving, nipples already erect, aching to be touched as I pulled off my shirt and tossed it to the floor.
“There’s only one way to find out.” His eyes gleamed with salacious intent.
“And that would be?” I reached behind my back and unlatched my black lace bra, curving my shoulders forward to let it drop to the floor.
“ Kneel .” His command was a live wire running through my body and zapping me right between my thighs. My clit throbbed with need as arousal dampened my panties.
Gio pointed to the tile by his side.
As though I were tethered, I slowly walked to him and kneeled.
“Good girl,” he praised, cupping the back of my neck.
I lifted my gaze to stare into his soulful eyes. I was so tired, confused, and angry. At the justice department. At Bianca’s mad dash to the airport. At her flying to France. At my brother making yet another scene in my home. At all of it. And yet here I was, an aroused mess of contradictions, kneeling at my husband’s side, because I no longer knew what to do or how to feel.
“I’m so frustrated and filled with rage, I don’t know what to do with myself anymore.” I admitted the dark truth. Gio would know what to do. I trusted him to wade through this hell at my side and get us both out of it unscathed.
“I know, baby.” He massaged my neck, then ran his thumb along my jawline. “That’s why you belong to me. I know what you need. Now lie over my thighs and lift that skirt over your ass. You’re going to take twelve lashes of my bare hand.”
“ Twelve ?” I gulped. He’d never given me more than half a dozen before. I didn’t know if I could take that many without telling him to stop. When we discussed limits to our kink in the bedroom, we decided early on that we didn’t need a special safe word. If I told him to stop for any reason, then he stopped. End of story. He, more than me, didn’t like the idea of continuing our play if I was begging him to stop, even if I had another word I could use to end things. Apparently, the concept turned him off, and I was fine with that.
“You can handle twelve. It was only going to be six, because you allowed your brother to come to our home when I wasn’t here to protect you. The additional six are because you questioned my ownership,” he stated gently, running his fingers through my long hair.
“Gio…”
He put his fingers to my lips to shush me. “You belong to me, Julianne, and I belong to you. The day we said, ‘I do,’ we became one. I’m inclined to make sure you remember that fact. Now, be a good girl and take your spanking like a champ.”
I licked my lips, bolstered my resolve, and laid over his thighs, lifting my skirt up to my waist as I did so.
“Mmm,” he hummed, rubbing his large hand around my bared bum. Within a second, he’d untied the tiny strings at each of my hips and the lace fell away. He cupped me carnally between my thighs, his fingers dipping just inside. “I can see you like the idea of being spanked by your husband in the middle of our kitchen.”
“Gio…please…” I begged. For what, I didn’t know. I just wanted to forget it all. At least for a little while.
The first lash of his hand across the plumpest part of my bum burned like white hot fire and was exactly what I needed.
“Ahhhh,” I cried out with the second as searing heat turned to tingling pleasure.
Giovanni adjusted his thighs, tilting my ass higher.
“Yes!” I croaked as the third and fourth strikes came fast and furiously.
“I am yours, Julianne,” he growled.
Smack.
“Oh my God!” I gasped.
“Everything I have…”
Smack.
“Everything I am…”
Smack.
“Will be used to protect you .”
Smack.
“Do you understand?” he commanded with another burning, beautiful strike, this time across my thighs, which were coated with my arousal.
“Yessssssssss!” I answered with the tenth and eleventh flaming slap.
My head dropped down, too heavy to hold up.
Gio rubbed my bum roughly, gripping each cheek with a powerful grasp, cementing his ownership over my body. Only he could make it sing, pleasure and pain bursting through my nerve endings, making my sex clench over and over. My clit was a hair-trigger. One touch and I’d shoot off like a rocket into the stratosphere.
“Who do you belong to, Julianne? Admit it and take your last spanking with honor and pride.” His tone was a tortured plea. He needed to confirm his place in my world as much as I did.
“You. I belong to you,” I grated through the searing heat and unimaginable pleasure.
His palm smacked right over my wet throbbing center, and I jolted as the mother of all orgasms barreled through me.
With speed and grace, he yanked me up, centered me over his erection and thrust home.
Stars flickered behind my eyes as I came hard, screaming at the top of my lungs, letting all the rage within me out into the open room as my husband pounded into my body. The orgasm fluttered through every nerve ending until Gio lifted me up and slammed my hips down and plunged deep, his release coating my insides as he held me tight.
I was gone.
Obliterated.
My body sizzled with tiny electric pin pricks over every pore as I slumped forward, my chin pressing against the back of his head as he buried his face between my heaving breasts.
We stayed that way for a long time, cooling down. I ran my fingers through his sweat-soaked hair.
He lifted his head, his eyes open and completely serene.
I cupped his cheeks and stared into the eyes I wanted to look into for the rest of my life.
“You belong to me too,” I whispered with conviction.
He smiled, and I dipped my head, kissing him while he lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us straight to the bathroom where he’d wash every inch of my body, caressing me mercilessly until I was a relaxed heap. Then he’d make sweet, slow love to me.
Yeah, I definitely didn’t mind belonging to Giovanni Falco.