“Don’t do this, please.” My head continues to shake as I will the traitor tears away, but it’s no use. They build up and fall down my cheeks. Gio’s fingers catch them before he cradles my face with his strong hands.
“I love you. You are my heart. I can’t breathe without you, baby. I’ve tried. I can’t do it. The day you left, my heart stopped beating. My chest closed in on me and it felt like I was suffocating. Every day it feels like it’s a job just to get up and breathe. I need to breathe again, baby.”
My tears fall harder with every word he speaks, each one hitting home. “I feel the same way,” I choke out. “But nothing has changed.” My tears turn into sobs as my head collapses into Gio’s neck, his arms encircling me and holding me close.
“Everything has changed,” he whispers. “I’m out, baby.”
My head snaps up, my eyes meeting his. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m out of the organization. At the request from my mom, my dad let me out. I’m here for you, for us. You’re all I want, all I need.” His lips meet mine, soft and gentle. He kisses me once, twice, three times before pulling back and leaving me wanting and needing more.
“What do you say, baby? I was thinking maybe I could crash here for a while until I figure my shit out. I’m currently homeless and jobless.” He smirks and I laugh, the sound feeling so foreign but good.
“You’re moving here? Like, for good?”
“That all depends on you…Will you have me for good?” This time it’s me that initiates the kiss. My lips crash against his, my tongue seeking entrance. Gio grants me access, his tongue swirling around mine as we get lost in each other. The kiss is more than two lips gliding across each other. Two tongues entwining. It’s two hearts finding their way back to each other. Two souls connecting. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like all the colors in my world are shining brightly.
Gio’s hands move down my shoulders, grazing my sides, and land on my ass, pulling my body closer to him like even the few inches of distance between us is too much. My hips grind down on his hard length, eliciting a moan from me, a feeling of want I haven’t felt since the last time I was with him. He breaks our kiss and smiles wide. “I want to make you dinner.”
“What?” I bark out a laugh, completely confused.
“I never got to cook for you. I promised to cook for you and I never got to.”
“Right now?”
“Yes, no more wasting time.”
“That sounds like a plan but…I’m kind of thinking maybe we can work up an appetite first.” My lips go to his neck, suckling on his skin. Gio shivers and lets out a groan as I run my tongue up the side of his neck until I get to his earlobe. I pull on it, then whisper, “I’m thinking maybe we could be the appetizer.”
Climbing off him, I drop to my knees, spreading his legs enough so I’m kneeling in between them. His eyes widen, but he doesn’t argue. I unzip his jeans and tug his pants and boxers down. He lifts slightly to make it easier for me. His dick springs free and it looks as mouthwatering as it did a year ago.
Fuck, I’ve missed this man something fierce.
It’s hard and smooth and slightly veiny as it stands at attention needing my undivided attention. Then a thought hits me. How many women got to wrap their mouths around him and taste him? How many women got his attention while we were apart?
“Hey.” Gio lifts my chin so I’ll look at him. “What’s wrong? You don’t have to do this.”
“How many women have you been with?” I blurt out.
“Since you left?”
“Yeah. I know it shouldn’t matter but, I just need to—”
“Zero.”
“What?” There’s no way I heard him correctly.
“I haven’t been with a single woman in any way since the day you left. You’re it for me, Aria. Now, here’s the thing. Just because I couldn’t be with someone else doesn’t mean I expect you to not have been with anyone. It’s been a goddamn year, but I would rather not know. I just think it would be best—”
“Zero.” I echo the same word, the same number he gave me.
“Thank fuck!” He leans down and pulls me into a standing position. “Take your clothes off now,” Gio commands. So, I do. I peel each article of clothing off me until I’m standing naked in front of him, his eyes assessing me, and instead of feeling vulnerable, I feel complete, whole. I see the colors returning to the picture.
“Bellissima,” he murmurs. Gorgeous. “Fuck, you’re just as beautiful as I’ve imagined every day for the last year.” He cups my sex. “Are you wet, baby? If I stick my fingers into your cunt will you be dripping for me?” My God, I’ve missed his dirty talk.