Chapter 18 Jane
JANE
My attraction to Gio is beyond explanation. It’s just as undeniable as it has been in my dreams— even more so.
When he kisses me—when he touches me—I can’t resist him. I never want it to stop.
He feels so good, so right, his fingers buried inside my core, his lips pressed against mine, and when he says he wants me, it sets my soul on fire.
“Might as well take advantage of the fact that we didn’t use a condom, right?” I joke breathlessly as his fingers slide wetly out of my pussy.
Gio groans, his eyes holding mine as he brings those fingers to his lips, tasting my excitement. My body throbs at the sexual sight, my mouth going dry.
“Are you giving me permission to come inside you again?” he rasps, his voice husky with desire.
My breath catches, my stomach clenching, and I nod.
His lips are on mine again in an instant, his hand releasing mine, giving back my freedom as he shifts to snake one arm beneath my hips.
The breath rushes from me as I feel his swollen tip, hard and pulsing as it presses between my folds.
And with one slow, luxurious thrust, he buries himself inside me.
Electric relief crackles up my spine, my skin tingling and my clit twitching as the fresh pleasure combines with the aftermath of my first climax.
“God, you feel so good,” Gio groans against my lips.
“Mm-hmm,” I whimper, the feel of him stretching me, filling me to my limits wiping every last thought from my mind.
I can’t even remember what brought us to this point, I’m so overwhelmed by the pleasure of his cock inside me.
Each soft, passionate thrust zings out to my fingers and toes, and I clench around his hard length, gripping him as if begging him to stay.
Wrapping my arms around his muscular shoulders, I hold on as he rocks inside me with enough force to make the bed creak.
And as our tongues dance against each other, our lips sealed in a fiery kiss, I’m struck by the feeling that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.
Our bodies fit perfectly, mine responding as if Gio and I were two parts of the same whole finally coming together.
He rolls us, putting me on top, straddling his hips as he sits up, his arms tight and muscular around me as he keeps us in rhythm, and I roll my hips, riding his cock as his hands explore me greedily. I’ve never felt so beautiful or sexy.
“So damn perfect,” he growls, his palm finding my breast and kneading it, his fingers lightly pinching my nipple between them.
I gasp, a jolt of pleasure lancing down my spine to my clit, and before I even know it’s coming, I explode around him, my orgasm tearing through me like a tsunami.
Air hisses between Gio’s teeth, his hands shifting to my hips to continue the relentless friction as I pulse around his cock.
My walls clench as my limbs turn to noodles, and I pant with each deep, punishing thrust that makes me want to cry out.
Whatever this is between us borders on desperate, a ravenous kind of hunger that needs to be satiated.
And only when he’s claiming my lips, my body, do I feel utterly and completely myself.
He takes me back to the mattress, my head falling softly against my pillow as he settles on top of me.
Each kiss he places on my feverish skin sears like a brand, and I pull him closer, my fingers pressing into the powerful muscles of his ass as he rocks inside me.
His large, chiseled body is everywhere, his masculine scent flooding my senses as he claims my pleasure for his own.
“Come with me,” he breathes against my skin, and goosebumps erupt across my flesh.
“I’m ready,” I murmur, the intimacy of knowing we’re hovering on the brink of the same precipice making it that much more thrilling.
Gio grunts, the sound near animalistic, and I gasp as a wave of euphoria crests inside me, my core clenching with anticipation.
Then, with a powerful thrust, he launches me into oblivion as he buries himself to the hilt.
Hot seed floods my body, intensifying my relief as I throb and pulse around him, my clit twitching against the base of his thick erection.
We pant together as Gio’s forehead rests lightly against mine, and I tilt my chin to brush his lips with a chaste kiss.
“I honestly did not expect this when I came into your shop to get those flowers,” he says, his voice breathless and playful as he pulls back to meet my eyes.
I hum, a contented smile curving my lips. “I should hope not, or you’d be in trouble for not bringing a condom.”
He chuckles, and the low sound makes my stomach flutter, my walls clinching around his cock, and though we just finished having sex, I feel it twitch inside me in response.
Gio steals one last kiss, then slowly eases out of me, a trail of slick arousal oozing down the side of my thigh as he disengages.
Rolling lithely out of bed, he stalks toward the bathroom, and I try to ignore the sinking disappointment as I wonder if he’s going to leave now that we’re done.
I should be glad. I don’t want Jackson to find a man in my bedroom before I’ve had the chance to talk to him.
But still, I want Gio to stay.
I catch the sound of running water as I pull the sheets up to cover me, then a moment later, Gio appears, washcloth in hand.
I watch with captive breath as he throws back the covers without asking and gently spreads my thighs.
The warm, wet cloth feels glorious on my sticky skin, and my heart squeezes to watch such a muscular, masculine man take the time to wash me.
“Thank you,” I murmur when I can find my voice.
Gio chuckles, balling the washcloth in his hand and tossing it into the hamper across the room like he was a born basketball player.
“I’m pretty sure if anyone should be thanking somebody, it’s me.
” He presses a kiss to my lips before leaning back against the headboard.
“That was the best sex I’ve had in a long time. ”
Warmth pools in my cheeks at the compliment, even as an inexplicable wave of jealousy washes through me.
There’s no way a man like Gio wouldn’t have a past, and we only just met, so of course, he must have had good sex before.
But while I like that ours felt as good to him as it did to me, I selfishly wish that ours was the best sex he’s had, period.
Pushing the green feelings aside, I settle in against him, resting my cheek against his shoulder as I go back to studying the tattoos that decorate his chest and arms.
A skull laced with roses covers the expanse of his left pec, and for some reason, it reminds me of the deep sadness I sometimes catch in his eyes.
I wonder if he got the tattoo when he lost Stephanie—and if she’s the one he mourns.
But I don’t want to revisit painful memories.
Not after the amazing night we’ve had.
Instead, I place my palm over the tattoo, feeling the strong, steady beat of his heart against my palm.
Gio covers my hand with his, his fingers lacing with mine, and this moment feels so perfect, I could cry.
“What does ‘Vita Mia’ mean?” I ask, tilting my head to read the scrawling cursive along the back of his hand.
Something about it feels insanely familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.
Gio chuckles, turning his wrist to give me a better view. “Jackson asked me about that one too. Like mother, like son, it would seem.”
I hum, a soft smile curving my lips as I lift my fingers to trace the beautiful curves of the letters.
“It’s Italian for ‘My Life,’” Gio says, growing more serious.
I can hear the emotion in the husk of his voice.
Turning my head, I rest my chin on his chest as I look up at his face, studying his expression.
But whatever pain he feels, I can tell he’s right here with me, his captivating eyes soaking me in like I’m the only thing on this earth that matters.
The intensity of his gaze steals my breath away, and I lean forward to kiss him, long and slow.
Then I settle back into his arms.
We stay like that for a long time, the silence wrapping around us like a warm, welcome blanket.
As I lie there, our bodies entwined, I can’t help the feeling that this connection with Gio is something special.
Maybe that’s why I’m scared to trust it—it almost feels too good to be true.
And it’s been a long time since I allowed myself to believe in fairy tales.
But even if it is only temporary, I’m not ready for this moment to end.
My eyelids sink closed as I rest my ear against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as his chin alights softly on the crown of my head.
The warmth of his body, the soft, dark hair that graces his smooth, tanned skin, all of it feels so inviting as he draws me in.
When I open my eyes again, dawn is creeping in through the window, announcing the first hours of the day.
I’m exhausted from getting so little sleep—though the sleep I did get that second time around felt deep and dreamless—but I’m happier than I can ever remember being when I realize I’m still wrapped in Gio’s strong arms.
Tilting my chin, I look up to see if Gio’s sleeping, and he sucks in a breath as his eyes open in response to the subtle movement.
“Morning,” he rumbles, his voice jagged and dangerously sexy with sleep.
“Good morning,” I murmur, unable to hold back my grin.
“We fell asleep,” he observes.
“Yeah.”
Sighing, Gio keeps one arm wrapped around me as he rubs the sleep from his eyes with the other and lets his head fall back against the headboard. “Sorry. I didn’t want to disturb you. I just meant to close my eyes for a minute.”
“I’m glad you stayed,” I admit, then bite my lip. “Though… if you don’t mind, I’d rather you slip out before Jackson’s awake.”
Gio nods. “Of course.”
I don’t know how I got so lucky to find someone that understanding, but I appreciate it more than Gio could ever know.
We rise from the bed to gather our clothes, and as the light hits his gloriously naked body for the first time, I’m struck dumb by how truly gorgeous he is.
Every inch of him looks chiseled from stone, the stark lines of his chest and abdomen tapering into that deep V-cut that directs my eyes to his impressive cock.
He has several tattoos, including a full sleeve that runs from the knuckles of his left hand and all the way up his arm before bleeding onto his chest in a collage of beautiful death and destruction.
And standing out from it all are those two beautiful cursive words that needle at the back of my mind and make my stomach quiver.
Snapping the elastic of his boxer briefs in place, Gio pauses his attempt to get dressed, and my eyes jerk up to his face.
From the way he’s smirking, I know I got caught staring, and warmth blossoms in my cheeks.
“Sorry, I…” I bite my lip, my insides squirming, and Gio crosses the space between us in three long strides, his fingers firm but gentle as they cup my jaw and lift my face so I have to meet his eyes.
“Never apologize to me.”
His voice is so intense, it makes my heart skip a beat, and my tongue darts out to wet my suddenly dry lips.
His burning gaze drops to catch the motion, and I can see the desire that ignites inside him.
Closing his eyes, he inhales deeply and releases it slowly—as if fighting for self-control—but he never relinquishes his hold on my jaw, and when his eyes find mine once more, I can see the barely contained fire inside them.
“Maybe you should get dressed,” he says. “If you want me to get out of here before someone wakes up.”
Heart pounding, I nod against his palm, and he releases me, turning back to his clothes and dressing quickly.
I do the same, stooping to scoop up my discarded dress from yesterday and not bothering to put on panties or a bra as I pull it over my head and zip it closed.
I’ll shower and change after Gio’s gone.
Together, we pad quietly back down the hall, sneaking past Jackson’s room like two teenagers trying to hide a sleepover from their parents.
We make it to the front door without incident, and I turn the deadbolt, opening it to let Gio slip through.
He does, turning back to me as soon as his feet find the front porch. “When can I see you again?” he asks, resting his forearm against the door jamb as he leans in.
“Well, I’m sure Jackson would love to have you over again for dinner tonight…” I suggest. “But I really should talk to him before you start… you know, intending to spend the night.”
“Just dinner, then,” he says with a knowing grin, and he leans in to steal a kiss. “I’ll pick something up.”
My pulse flutters, and a sense of giddy happiness sweeps over me at how effortlessly Gio seems to understand what I need. “Thank you. I’ll see you tonight.”
With a heart-stopping wink, Gio turns and walks down the steps, leaving me to watch him go.
And I know that I’m in trouble, because if this doesn’t work out between us, I’m already too far gone to not get hurt.