Chapter 31
ISEULT
It’s been days since I’ve seen him. Days since we spoke. He’s texted, though, acting like his usual self, which I hope means he doesn’t suspect that I know something about Bryce.
I’ve wanted to ask him if he knew what kind of man he was friends with, to tell him I was involved. Because if he were to find out I knew things and kept it from him on purpose, there’s a good chance he’d stop talking to me.
And in the end, that’s what I want, isn’t it? To come to terms with the fact that I can’t have him. No matter how badly I want to.
I came close to telling my father, but I chickened out.
I’ve never been afraid of a single thing as much as I’m afraid of losing my family and my work. My father will never forgive me for this. He won’t accept that I’ve been having an affair with Gio. It’s what he’d call it. In his eyes, an engagement would be just as bad as a marriage.
I’ll lose everything.
But can I live with losing Gio? Could I walk through a life where he isn’t mine?
Tomorrow, I’ll have to come face-to-face with him at a dinner hosted by Michael and Elsie. All of us have been invited. So I’ll have to sit there and act as though staring into his eyes doesn’t unravel me. Doesn’t make me feel like I’m wanted and free for the first time.
He’s seen my body. Seen the scars that I’ve loathed since they’ve been imprinted on my skin. I’ve spent years hiding them, hating myself. But he touched and he kissed every single one and he told me I was beautiful. And that meant more than he’ll ever realize.
There was this one time some asshole I was hooking up with yanked the zipper of my dress down before I could stop him…and he gasped. Asked what happened, then pretended he had a meeting to go to and I never saw him again.
He didn’t mean a damn thing to me, but the rejection… It hurt, more than I care to admit. I felt ugly. I was ugly. No matter how pretty my face was, my body was marred.
And when Gio walked into that bathroom and saw me, that fear, that rejection—it came back. I thought he’d run. I thought he’d be like that other man.
But…he was Gio.
He didn’t run.
He didn’t turn away.
He stayed.
And he held me while I did something I never do: cry.
Staring at the cell in my hand, I find another text from him, and it immediately puts a smile on my face.
Future Husband
Don’t wear panties tomorrow.
Iseult
I’ll make sure to wear two.
Future Husband
Try it, bambina. I’ll rip them off of you and stuff them in your pretty mouth so no one hears you scream my name while I’m fucking you.
My toes curl at those dirty words, my body warming and tingling for more.
Iseult
You wouldn’t dare with my family there.
Future Husband
Of course I would. And if I were you, I’d wear a dress.
Iseult
I’ll wear the tightest jeans.
Future Husband
You’re only making it harder on yourself, baby. Because I will make you come with everyone seated at the table, you next to me, my fingers stroking your clit while they’re all oblivious, not knowing what a dirty whore you are for me.
Fuck. My cheeks flush, the hunger for him unsated.
Why the hell is he so far away? I’d have driven to his place right now and let him do whatever he wanted to me. And I definitely wouldn’t be wearing panties.
Iseult
You better not do that. We’ll get caught, and then I’ll kill you.
Future Husband
Think you can keep quiet the whole time I finger-fuck you? I can’t wait to watch you try.
Iseult
I’m going now.
To take a cold shower.
Future Husband
Can’t wait until you’re mine, Iseult Marino. Damn, does that sound good together.
Iseult
Who said I’d ever take your name?
Future Husband
You will take my name. You’ll take everything I own. My body. My possessions. My heart. They’re all going to be yours. It’s only a matter of time.
Iseult
In your dreams, Gio.
Future Husband
In my dreams, you’re already mine.
Stepping through Michael’s door, we immediately hear voices and Sophia’s giggles rising from the near distance.
Fernanda’s heels click closer until she’s walking into the foyer with a huge grin, her hair perfectly framed around her face.
“I’m so glad you could all make it,” she says as she embraces my father.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to him hugging another woman the way he’s hugging her.
“Hello, darling,” he tells her, and her face beams.
And though I’m still angry that my mother was never the object of all his love, I can’t hate this woman. She’s not a bad person. In fact, every time I’ve been around her, she’s been nothing but kind. And the worst thing is, I think my mom would’ve liked her.
She quickly separates from him and strides over to Eriu. It’s the first time they’ve met, and Eriu does know the status of our father’s and her relationship.
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” She gives Eriu a gentle hug, and my sister smiles at her as they part.
“You too, Mrs. Marino.”
“Oh, please call me Fernanda, will you?”
“I can do that.” My sister removes her black peacoat.
And that’s when Gio strides into the foyer, both hands in the pockets of his black trousers. A baby-blue dress shirt with a single button popped open is perfectly sculpted around his muscular frame, his biceps jutting out.
My God, I want my hands on them. What have I become?
His eyes rove down my body, as though already ripping off the black dress that hits right above my knees.
A slow crawl of his mouth has the breaths in my lungs gasping for air, my stomach rolling with the kind of need that would have me begging for relief if we were alone.
“Look who’s here,” his mom tells him, staring at me, then my sister.
My brows furrow as I glare at Gio with a tight expression. Does she know? Did the idiot tell another person we’re…fooling around?
I don’t even know what we are.
A fling? A disaster?
Or is he right? Could there really be a future for us?
“Hello.” His eyes are on mine, and I couldn’t look away even if I had a knife to my throat.
This is why being around him is dangerous.
I can’t handle my emotions when he’s this close.
And right now, with those eyes gazing at me like I’m the only one in the room, all I want to do is take his hand and let him kiss me right in front of everyone.
To tell them we’re together. But not everyone gets what they want. Least of all me.
Slowly, he steps toward me, fingers gently brushing across my back, and I don’t even flinch. His arms circle around me as though in a normal greeting while soft lips discreetly graze my cheek.
“You’re fucking beautiful,” he rasps under his breath, and desire stirs in my gut, my arms breaking with a shiver.
He pulls back, walking over to my sister as though he didn’t just make me die a little inside. He gives her a quick hug, then shakes my father’s hand and greets my brothers with a quick jerk of his head.
I don’t miss the clenching of Tynan’s jaw as something passes between them.
“Let’s head into the dining room,” Fernanda adds. “Everyone else is already there.”
My father drapes an arm around her shoulders, tugging her closer as they lead the way. I allow everyone else to go before me. Everyone except Gio, who nonchalantly locks the door and sidles up beside me.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I whisper, avoiding eye contact as we march right past the large kitchen.
He ignores me, his hand snaking out for my ass, squeezing it before crawling it up my hip.
“Good fucking girl,” he breathes. “No panties.”
Before I can say something snarky, we’re in a dining room with a black table that can seat sixteen.
“Fionn!” Sophia yelps, jumping from her seat and running up to him.
My brother immediately picks her up in his arms and spins her.
“Hey, little miss. How are you doin’?”
“I’m good.” She tilts her head and grins. “Do you want to sit next to me?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Fionn laughs, placing her back on her feet.
She grabs his hand and leads the way. Michael chuckles, kissing the top of Elsie’s head before they climb to their feet and Elsie wanders over to me.
“I love that dress,” she murmurs. “And I think someone else does too.”
She gives me a knowing look, glancing to her left. And when I follow her line of vision, I find Gio there, staring at me.
I grab her wrist and pull her nearer. “You’re a bad influence.”
“I like you two together,” she tells me. “And I don’t think it’s right that you can’t be with whoever you want.”
“It’s not how it works in our families,” I stress under my breath.
“Well, maybe it’s time you changed that.”
She squeezes my fingers and walks over to my brothers, while I’m left not knowing how to respond to that.
Everyone takes their seat, Eriu settling into one beside Gio. And when I try to get away, he discreetly grabs my wrist and tightens his grasp, as though daring me to sit anywhere but beside him.
He extends the chair for me. And with a frustrated scowl, I lower into it, right next to the man who makes every cell in my body tingle with pure unease.
Everyone begins to eat, my father thanking Elsie for the beautiful meal she has prepared.
“So, Eriu,” Fernanda asks, passing my father a platter of clams. “What are you going to college for?”
“I want to be a vet,” she says with a shy smile, taking a sip of her water while I bring my glass of red wine to my lips.
“Wow, that is wonderful.”
Gio’s hand clasps around my upper thigh, while he eats with his other. I glance at him from the corner of my eye, but he definitely doesn’t appear like a man who’s currently dragging up my dress, thick, masculine fingers sliding up my inner thigh.
He pops a piece of sausage into his mouth.
“And you, Iseult?” Fernanda turns her attention to me. “What do you do?”
I shift uncomfortably just as he runs a single finger between my slit.
Oh. Fuck.
“U-um…” I stammer, my hand trembling around my wineglass when he brushes his thumb over my clit.
My brother Cillian chuckles, and Fernanda gives him a curious look.
“Did I somehow put a foot in my mouth?” Her cheeks redden, and my father drops his face to her ear and whispers.