Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“Yes. Just look at my behaviour. Lone wolfing it. Trying to sweep you aside in the beginning of our partnership. Insisting I could handle everything all on my own. But when I went mind to mind with Qetesh, and she attempted to drag my soul down that long tunnel and wall it up, you were a lifeline. Not just because you offered me some immunity to her power by your proximity. But because you’re you, Gigi.
Strong willed. Decisive. Determined. Caring.
Always with a plan and a smile. You helped me break a mind destroying curse, and for that I’ll always be grateful.
I’ve spent the last week avoiding you, you know.
Not because I didn’t want to see you but because I wanted to see you too much.
And I was afraid when I did, a torrent of senseless words would spill from my mouth. Am I making sense now?”
All Gigi heard was that Nico, with some twisted idea of honour and gratitude, was profusely thanking her. “Anyone you partnered up with would have done the exact same thing.”
“Hah.” The sound came out as an amused snort of derision.
“I don’t think just anyone would have been capable of teaching me what you have.
But it took meeting and dealing with the Goddess of Love and Fertility and her two conniving daughters, for me to realise that my idea of what love was, it had been horribly skewed by my experience with Kristiah.
Hathor and her kin have twisted what love is, embracing all the negative aspects of it; obsession, possessiveness and worship.
Thanks to you, I now understand that we can choose how we love.
That it isn’t meant to be used as a weapon, but more of a shield.
To protect, to provide a safe haven where support, friendship and respect can flourish.
You understand what I’m trying to say, yes?
” He squeezed her hand, willing her to smile, and pronounce she was open to dating him and perhaps one day finding a way to return his love.
Merciful Lady, this big speech of his, it was one big thanks, but I’m trying to let you down easy here, and let’s be friends. Gigi tried to retrieve her hand, but Nico’s grip was too firm. “I should be going, things to do, no more thanks are necessary.”
Damn, Nico released his hold on her, watching as Gigi stood up, his heart beginning to crumble, all his practising, trying to work out exactly what to say, and how to say it, had been for nothing.
Mierda, he should have been at her door every day since he left the hospital bringing her gifts, reciting poetry, and professing his love loud and proud.
Oh! Nico shot to his feet, catching her hand just before she turned to leave. “I love you.”
That hurt. To hear him all but shout those words. “No you don’t. You’re getting gratitude and love mixed up, that’s all.”
“Gigi.” He stepped in front of her, glaring down, his eyes burnt amber with high emotion.
“Do you really believe that I’d say those three words blithely, carelessly?
I, who in the past have proudly disdained it.
Belittled it. And feared it. I love you, Gigi DeWitt.
From the tips of your golden head to the intricate spreadsheets you collate to monitor your sales.
I love that you smile, even when you’re afraid and facing major odds.
I adore your confidence, not just in yourself, but how you uplift everyone around you because they recognise you believe in them.
You’re smart, beautiful, ambitious and sexy as hell. I. Love. You.”
Gigi’s knees threatened to melt as Nico reached out, caressing her cheek with the barest of touches, his gaze holding hers locked.
“It can’t be denied that we’ve shared a unique adventure together. And somewhere along the way, Gigi, between the fake dating, and the best sex of my life, I fell for you.”
“Cursed.”
“What?”
“It was something Darcy said, how we don’t fall in love, but are cursed by it.”
The laugh exploding from Nico was unexpected. “Well, as a man very familiar with curses of late, if loving you is a curse, I don’t want to break it.”
“You love me? It’s not just gratitude you’re getting confused with?” Noting him shake his head. “Oh.” Where did that leave them?
“Now I know you aren’t there yet. That I totally sprung this on you, so I think we should date.
Ease back into things slowly. Go out for dinner.
A walk along the beach. Hold hands. Kiss, and eventually, perhaps when you’re ready, find our way back to the bedroom, and maybe, along the way love will follow.
Yes?” He so desperately wanted her to agree to his plan.
It was the only one he’d been able to come up with.
Staring up at him, Gigi tried to think of what to say.
Her heart in her throat. He loved her? Nico Yanez loved her.
But blurting out she loved him too would achieve nothing, Gigi wasn’t sure he’d believe her.
Considering his history with the lying, murderous, manipulative Kristiah, she couldn’t possibly blame him.
How could she— “I hear your heartbeat…” Touching her temple and then her heart.
“… in here. For several weeks now. I find it incredibly reassuring. It’s like a beacon, calling me—”
“Home.” He finished for her.
“Yes. From day one of working together, I resented you. I thought you were hot, but you drove me nuts. All casual, laid-back, and those crumpled paper napkins you used to take notes, so unprofessional. And you seemed to make it your mission to piss me off. Calling me Cookie. Implying I was helpless and you would take charge, making all the decisions, and insisting that I run at the first sign of danger. Arrogant idiot. But then came that day in the bar, when Qetesh’s curse truly kicked into gear and you were swamped by all those women.
We kissed. And it was one of the best kisses of my life.
It struck me as beyond unfair that such a grumpy macho butthead should be able to kiss like that. ”
“I’m sorry. Not for the kiss, never for the kiss, but all the other stuff.”
“Then we were forced to live together and I slowly got to know you. Understood that under all the big-brother over protective mode that you were just trying to shield me and take on the burden of saving the world on your own, rather than allowing anyone else to get hurt. We got to know each other. Shared meals. Talked. Laughed. Swapped secrets. You have no idea how peeved I was that day on Mount Olympus when the cupid infected you and you went on and on about my business skills and acumen.”
“I was trying to be respectful.”
“I wanted you to admire my ass.”
Nico pressed a warm kiss across Gigi’s knuckles. “You have a spectacular ass.”
“Thank you. Where was I? Oh, yes, so the more we played at happy couple, the more I started to enjoy it, wanting it to be real. Suggesting we include sex in the equation. You have no idea how hard it was to sound casual and like it didn’t matter if you said yes or no.
By that stage I was all but ready to rip those tight black jeans of yours off with my teeth.
And then, in the following weeks, I know it was make-believe, the amped up faux relationship, but I was starting to get addicted to it, to us.
Never wanting it to end, and that began to scare me, how much I was starting to feel for you, thinking you were anti love and knowing there was no future was beginning to tear me apart.
And somewhere along the way, the beat started, in my head, in my heart.
Your heartbeat. And I knew I’d fallen in love with you. But…”
“You had heard all my blustery declarations and feared it was all one sided! It was the same for me. I knew how important your dreams of taking your Emporiums global is to you and I couldn’t picture you wanting to fit me into that future. Say it again, Gigi, please.”
“I love you, Nico Yanez.”
His lips were on hers. Heat blasting between them. Nico clutching at her like he was afraid she might disappear. It was heady stuff. And the kiss, it was so good, but Gigi’s mind was whirring. What did this mean for them now? How would they make this work?
Nico broke off the kiss, staring down at her, smiling. “I can almost hear your thoughts going a mile a minute. Would you like to start making some lists?”
“Sweet Lady, yes.”
“I’m sure I have some crumpled napkins you can use around here somewhere.”
“You.” Punching his arm before going up on tiptoes to kiss him quickly. “You know, I wouldn’t mind spending a few weeks out at sea occasionally, learning how to treasure hunt.”
“I would enjoy teaching you. And if you need to travel as you continue on the path to global chocolate and cookie domination, then I would happily come along so we can discover new cities together. And I could hand you napkins when you need to make notes.”
“It might be nice to have someone around to bounce my ideas off of and test new recipes upon, now that Canary’s retired.”
“I happily volunteer my tastebuds, I have complete faith in your magic and kitchen skills.”
Ah, that was perhaps the sweetest thing any man had ever said to her. “Do you think that you and I should—”
“Meld? Absolutely. Let’s head down to the High Council Registry office in the morning, I have plans for the two of us tonight.” He was about to swoop in, kiss her, pick her up and carry her off to the main cabin, but there was a dazed look in Gigi’s eyes. “You don’t want to meld?”
“I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but yes. Yes!”
“So if you weren’t about to suggest we meld, then what were you going to suggest?”
“Well, I was wondering if the two of us shouldn’t combine our catering businesses into one, offering both savoury and sweet options. We’d totally own the local party circuit.”
“I think we already do, but yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
“And considering our list of previous clients, we shouldn’t have any problems when we decide to expand in the future. Hey, how does - catering company to the Gods - strike you as a tag line?”
“Gigi.” He kissed her on the lips but ever so briefly.
“Let’s plan all that at some later date.
Say after we spend a few hours tonight getting reacquainted.
” Planting a kiss on the side of her throat.
“And after we’re officially melded. Then we can talk business plans, as long as you do so naked, in our bed, I promise I shall be punctual each and every session. Manic deities couldn’t keep me away.”
Gigi held a hand up, stopping Nico from leaning in to kiss her again. “I know you fought hard against this. Are you really okay with being cursed by love?”
“I don’t think I ever knew what real love was before I met you.
That it would be like the deck beneath my feet on a perfect sunny day at sea; reassuring, comforting, exciting, full of potential and sheer joy.
For generations my family have hunted treasure and lost civilisations, but we’ve always recognised that the most important riches in life are found amongst family and friends.
When you find that home. I get it now…” Nico patted his chest, over where his heart was located in time with Gigi’s heartbeat.
“… all material riches pale in comparison. You’ll always and forever remain my greatest and most treasured find.
If, as you say, we’re cursed by love. Then it’s a curse I crave with every atom of my being. ”
“Oh, that’s really sweet. But you don’t intend to put me on a pedestal, or anything, do you?”
“Not with the way you kick ass, I wouldn’t dare. Equal partners in all things. And speaking of your spectacular ass, I’ve missed it, badly, I think it’s past time we got reacquainted.” Nico sweeping Gigi up into his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Casanova.”
In Nico’s arms, anything, everything, felt possible to Gigi. The balance of elements was imperfectly perfect. Yes, they would bicker, he’d get grumpy occasionally, she’d get overly fixated now and then, but together, they could do anything they wanted.
Hopefully that would include defeating a Cabal of Deities intent upon claiming the Earth for their own playground. But the entire Southern Sanctuary and all their resources were combatting that threat. Those deities didn’t stand a chance.
In the meantime, she would focus on her and Nico. In love. Melded. Hah, cursed by love for the rest of their very, very long lives, to be together. Yes, that was absolutely one curse she craved.