Chapter 7
GIANA
There is notenough oxygen in LA. Not when Byron’s mouth is all over me, his fingers bringing me to climax. I feel his every touch and caress when I had hoped the alcohol would numb his charm.
Nothing can dull Byron Hendricks.
He has a power over me no one has come near to, and it started the first time I was introduced to him in high school.
“Oh God,” I moan.
There’s a faint chuckle.
He remembers where I like to be touched.
I tilt my head, hanging onto his shoulders with my legs wrapped around his strong hips. Three fingers pump into me, circle inside me, and rub over my G-spot in the most delicious way.
“Byron…” I cry out in a moan as I come, color lighting up my thoughts. An orgasm so fantastic whips through me that I can’t help but smile through heavy breaths as my body becomes limp. A strong hand glides from my stomach up to my chest bone. I tilt my head back until the bliss scatters.
Byron takes me in his arms. “You have the best orgasm face,” he whispers.
“How so?” Who even knows what their orgasm face looks like?
He nuzzles my neck. “You’re even more beautiful when you climax.”
“Are you implying it should be part of my beauty routine?”
I open my eyes as my body floats back to reality. Byron’s gaze is locked on me. His expression darkens as though it has aligned with his thoughts.
“You don’t need a beauty routine, Gi.”
That’s not what he was thinking.
My breath stills, knowing what he wants.
“I want you, Gi, but I can wait.”
He’s giving me a choice, and it orients me quicker than any smelling salts. I only asked him to touch me.
I want to…
The time-lapse in my reply is answer enough. Byron kisses my cheek, grabs the glass from my hand that I miraculously didn’t spill, and wades through the water to the other side.
“Where are you going?”
“To get you a towel,” he says gently.
He steps out of the water, his huge erection pushing against his shorts. I can’t help but stare and remember what he used to look like naked. Now he has more muscle, more strength, and more stamina—the perfect combination in bed.
What am I doing?
Without a doubt, I want to have sex with Byron, but this is happening faster than I intended. I needed to be touched while also protecting my heart. Why not Byron? He is as good as any lover.
Because Byron is the one who can hurt me more than any other man.
He returns with a towel wrapped around his waist, his erection still evident. He holds another towel open for me to step into.
Swimming naked is not new for me, yet I feel nervous as I take the first step from the water. Byron watches my every move. His eyes are all over me, and when I press against the towel, he holds my gaze, the lust swirling between us. He wraps the towel around my body and takes a step back to give me space, his erection pushing his towel even higher.
He rubs at the material caging his dick. “Seeing you like this, with water running over your beautiful body, doesn’t help.”
My beautiful body. His words are like a song in my mind.
“What will help?” I whisper.
“Not imagining you in my bed, for a start.” He turns aways and rakes his fingers through his wet hair.
“I’m assuming you have regular checks.”
His head whips around, understanding what I’m asking him.
“Just last week. I’m clear. I also always used protection.”
“Same. I have contraception.”
His eyes widen, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
I turn away and look out over the million-dollar view. “No one can see us here, right?”
“No.”
I drop my towel, and in an instant, his hands are all over me, his mouth on my breast, my stomach, my inner thigh.
This has to be sex, not love.
Do not fall for him.
His kisses trace over my stomach, up to my other breast, to my shoulders, and then to my face. His lips take mine, and my body screams for him. Our kisses are passionate, his tongue wrapping around mine like a snake dance. We breathe the same air through loud, desperate breaths, our needy hands all over each other.
“This is just sex, right?” I say.
His face drops, then understanding crosses his expression. He spins me so I’m facing toward the pool, his cock pressing into my lower back. Both hands wrap around to massage my breasts while he kisses the nape of my neck. I tilt my head to rest on his shoulder and circle my hips against him.
This is perfect. No gazing into his eyes when I come, no kissing intimately. A hand reaches, and I spread my legs for him while the other squeezes my boob and rubs my nipple. His fingers own me. This time, I’m bucking and circling in rhythm as desire builds again. “Now,” I demand.
I step away and place both hands on the chair, bending my ass to him.
He hesitates, then steps closer.
I focus on the city lights twinkling as the night begins to set in. His hands grab my hips. Looking over my shoulder, Icatch him staringat my pussy. “You are fucking gorgeous, Gi.”
He’s making me nervous.
It’s just sex.
Only one night.
Byron slides inside me and stills, giving me a chance to stretch to his size.
I allow myself a long inhale, remembering how he feels inside me and relish the first hit of pleasure. He eases out and slides in slowly, kissing my shoulder.
I circle my hips to goad him on. Sexual pleasure is what I need before my body starts to crave him.
His thrusts speed up. With every breath, I allow myself to take everything he gives, feel every thrust, and enjoy the way one hand works my clit and the other massages my breast. He places a hand on my shoulder. He’s close. His breathing switches to deep, rapid panting. His rhythm speeds up, and he pounds me from behind. My body jingles, my breasts bouncing with every thrust until they are composing a dance of their own.
Small orgasms build and release as his hips collide with my ass. He rides me hard, all the strength leaving my body as I struggle to stand. With a hand on my neck, Byron pushes my head lower, my hips rising for him. The sweet side of Byron slips away as he fucks me into the next orgasm. Arching my back, I lift my head against his hold and moan with the ecstasy rushing through my body as I come, the joy of an orgasm ripping through every part of me, overriding every thought.
Byron groans loudly, shuddering with a final thrust as he empties himself inside me. He slumps onto my back and kisses my shoulders and wraps his arms around my waist. It’s not to support him. I feel him wanting to be with me as much as I need him. For a few minutes, we linger in the afterglow of sex until I realize what I have done.
He gave me what I asked of him, yet it feels too familiar.
This is the first time he hasn’t worn a condom with me.
I felt all of him. I broke the rules by giving myself to Byron without him having to chase or prove he won’t hurt me again. Byron isn’t to blame—I initiated the intimacy from the moment I asked him to touch me in the pool.
“Are you okay?” he says gently from behind me. The loss of his touch hits me hard.
“Of course,” I say quickly.
He picks up the towel and hands it to me. “Would you like to use the bathroom, or… we could go to my bedroom?”
No, no, no. Not his bed.
“The bathroom, please. I really should be going.” I tie the towel securely around my chest, and he picks up my wet bathing suit. “You can hardly put this back on.”
“It will be fine,” I say quickly, holding out my hand.
“I’ll grab you something. You can freshen up. There are clean towels in the cupboard.”
“Thank you, Byron, but my bathing suit is fine.”
Byron walks into his house. I pad behind him until he stops and points to the bathroom. Again, it’s all marble and brass with a hint of black accessories. He has exquisite taste.
I shower, pouring the citrus-scented gel over my body, and dry off with the softest towels I have ever used.
Who does his laundry? I need them in my life.
I emerge still towel-drying my long hair, the other towel wrapped around my chest. Brushing can wait until I’m home.
Walking into the kitchen, I note Byron has washed the saucepans while I showered.
“I never knew you were a clean freak.”
He laughs. “Structure and neatness is key, Giana.” He eyes me carefully. “It’s routine.” He comes to me and wraps his arms around my waist so we are standing barely a hair’s breadth apart. “Tonight, you were the best distraction.”
I stare at his lips. We could easily pick up where we left off. “While I enjoyed it, I also need to get home.”
His brow pulls tight with disappointment. “We don’t have to do anything else, just sleep.”
Sleep…
“But you don’t like anyone in your bed.”
“You’re not anyone.” He stares at me for too long.
As much as I want to, I need to slow this down. “Maybe next time,” I say gently. “I have to get changed.” I look around for my bathing suit.
He hands me a LA Sharks T-shirt and his shorts. “Wear these. For our next time, bring a change of clothes with you.”
The following morning,I’m sitting outside painting while Dad works in the garden. Mom comes to sit beside me. “This piece is coming along nicely.”
“Do you like it?”
“I do.” She smiles at me, and the lines around her eyes grow deeper. “Did you feel inspired after last night?”
“A little.” I meet her curious gaze. “It’s easy with him. Too easy.”
“I know. He’s familiar and safe.”
“He’s not safe. Not for my heart.”
Mom’s smile is softer. “Keep painting, Giana. It will guide your thoughts to what you want. When it’s time for you to decide where your future leads, then you can assess how you feel about Byron.”
“I already know how I feel about him.”
“You told me you were keeping your options open and not falling in love here because it will affect your decision.”
I let out a sigh. “Dad and you are my priority here.”
“But you also need to have fun, and you enjoy being with him.”
“I do.”
“So, date someone else. Enjoy your young life. Don’t let Byron be the only one to own your heart.”
“Maybe.” I keep painting, adding more color to the petals.
“Have you heard from Isabella?”
“Not recently. She’s waiting for me to finish a few pieces, then we’ll discuss another contract.”
“Does it mean traveling back to Italy more frequently?”
Dipping my brush in water, I take a break for a moment. “It does. But if Dad or you need me, I can catch the next flight home.”
“Do what you need for your career. We’ll take whatever time you can give us.” She kisses my cheek and stands. “I’ll go make us some lunch.”
“I’m packing up now, Mom. Let me do it so you can spend time with Dad.”
My cell vibrates, and my chest warms as I hope it’s from Byron. I haven’t heard from him today. I’m not disappointed to see it’s from Paige, but I also want to hear from Byron.
It can’t be like the last time.
Hey, what are you doing now?
I tap a quick reply.
No plans yet. I would love to catch up.
After borrowingmy mother’s car, I meet Paige at a café. She greets me with a hug.
“How are you settling back in?”
“It’s nice to be back at home. I missed my parents.”
Paige coughs.
I laugh. “And my friends.”
“From what I hear, Byron missed you as much as you missed him.”
“What?”
“Nothing.” She pulls a cheeky face.
“Just what did you hear?”
“That you spent time with each other at the beach.”
I sigh. “We did.”
“Mason said all he talks about is you.”
“We’ve spent one day together.”
Paige places her Gucci bag on the chair beside her. “He said he’s happy you chased your dream and is amazed at everything you’ve achieved.”
Her words warm me. Byron is the one who encouraged me never to give up on my goals.
“I had a fabulous time in Italy and was lucky to secure the design work.”
She pushes short strands of blonde hair behind her ears. “Luck had nothing to do with it.”
We all need friends like Paige. She is the one person I kept in contact with during my time in Italy. I didn’t share a lot of details, but we did talk.
“What’s next for the famous Giana Monroe?” Paige asks dramatically.
I laugh. I am not famous. “Don’t famous people drive fancy cars and live in luxury houses?” Like Byron.
“You had a villa.”
“Still do. I never sold it. But I’m back driving my parents’ car and living with them. Does that sound famous to you?”
She narrows her eyes. “Don’t pretend you’re poor.”
“I’m not. I have savings. I’m the world’s best procrastinator. Do I buy a car? A condo? Because if I do, it means I’m taking a step toward staying in LA.”
“Buy a car, Gigi. It’s independence. You’ll use it on return visits.” She’s right. “But you don’t need a condo when you have your studio above your parents’ house.” She pauses. “Unless you need more privacy…”
“Stop it. What about you? How are you and Mason?”
“We went on our third date last night.” She beams her big smile. “Why did we wait so long?”
“Why do any of us wait? The future holds no more safety than today.”
Her eyes round. “Right?”
We order coffee and chat some more, laughing a lot.
“I’ve missed you, Gigi. Jessica is nice, but she seems to be in competition whenever we go out. Oh, and don’t be surprised if she ignores you. She has a thing for Byron.”
“I’m not fighting her for him. I’m not planning on staying. Besides, we’re just having fun.”
By the way she eyes me, she isn’t convinced.
“We should go on a double date,” she says with excitement.
“Paige, the problem with that idea is Byron and I are not dating.”
“You will be soon enough.”
And that is a colossal future problem. My heart would dive right in to loving Byron. But it’s still raw, and I’m not ready for the hurt when my future is so unclear.
My cell vibrates on the table with a text message from Byron.
Do you want to catch up tonight?