Gio
All good things must come to an end, and my twenty-four hours with Marissa landed with a thud when she made me drop her around the corner from her grandparents’ place instead of walking her to the door.
She may fit in perfectly with my family, but I’m definitely not the guy she can bring home to Grandma.
Fuck.
Well, that’s a problem I’ll have to figure out. And I’m sure I can. Nico might have some ideas. I’m sure as hell not going to ask Junior. He’s a big part of the problem.
I didn’t give in to the temptation to get up into Marissa’s business today. I’m content tonight to sit at the restaurant and watch things run, knowing she’s just behind that kitchen door. Remembering that I just had her yesterday, bent over the table by the wall.
Michael wanted to shit all over the piano when he saw it. “Fine dining is in silence,” he told me more than once. I let him grouse for a few minutes, and then I told him to shut the fuck up.
He did. The guy’s scared of me, which suits me fine.
It’s remembering Marissa’s enthusiasm when I played last night-defending me to my brother, Paolo, that finally moves me to get up from my seat in the corner of Michelangelo’s and walk to the baby grand. It’s 10:00 p. m. The dinner crowd is winding down. This place needs a little music. It’s way too fucking quiet.
I sit down and start to play a sweet version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. There’s a moment of surprise when I begin and then the room settles into the notes. The customers accept the music and let it move through them, enhance their experience of the food, wine and company. I don’t know how the fuck I know that, but that’s my sense, anyway. That’s how I experience music.
I play for an hour and the people stay at their tables, buying more wine or coffee, ordering dessert. Even though Michael’s frowning his ass off in the corner, I know it was a success. I feel the vibe, and the vibe is good. People are happy. They’re spending more money. They’re staying to hear me play.
And for a guy who’s never performed publicly but always longed for the give-and-take that comes from a live audience, I’m floating.
And I have Marissa Milano to thank for it.
When I start to catch dirty looks from the servers, I stop playing. They want to go home. I get it. We’ll have to figure out a better routine. Maybe a change or reduction of staff after the music starts.
I order a scotch and settle back in my corner, watching the servers clean up. Waiting for Marissa.
I didn’t contact her today. We don’t have an arrangement to meet up after her shift. I don’t know, maybe this is a test. I’m trying to figure out if she’s accepted she’s mine or if I have to keep pursuing. And is it time to go in hard?
This holding back and letting things roll on her time is about to kill me.
Marissa
“You let him have it, didn’t you?” Lilah asks when I dawdle at closing time.
Henry was an even bigger asshole tonight, I guess because we don’t have a replacement for Arnie yet. He stormed out without a goodbye ten minutes ago. The dishwasher just left and all the servers are gone.
Out in the restaurant, the sounds of the piano start up again.
Whatever Lilah sees in my face confirms it. “I knew it!” She thrusts her fist in the air like it’s a victory. She’s been pressing me ever since Arnie disappeared for the scoop, and I’ve been trying to play it off like I don’t know anything. “Was he good? Is he good?”
I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. “So good. Older man with a shit-ton of experience and five times as much testosterone good.”
She grabs my hands and squeezes them. “Ooh! I’m so excited for you. Come a little extra hard for me.”
“Shut up.” I slap her hands away lightly. I know I’m blushing. And excited. Just knowing Gio was on the other side of the kitchen door all night had me all aflutter. Hearing him play piano thrilled me.
Now I just can’t wait to see him.
“See if you can get us a raise,” she teases as she heads to the door.
“Already did,” I say. I was going to let it be a surprise, but since she mentioned it…
Lilah stops. “What? Are you kidding me?”
I grin. “Nope. Three bucks an hour.”
Lilah jumps up and down, running back to grab my hands again. “Are you serious? That’s like”-she lifts her eyes while calculating in her head-“almost an extra five hundred a month.”
I bob my head. I’d already done the math myself. “I know.”
She turns me and gives me a shove. “Well go and thank him for me.” She waggles her brows.
I laugh. “I will.” Stomach in flutters, I push the door to the restaurant open and head out. Most of the lights are off. No one’s left but Gio, sitting at the piano.
I go to his side, intending to sit beside him on the bench, but he stops playing and pulls me onto his lap instead.
The sense of rightness is undeniable. Now that I’ve mostly let go or ignored my qualms about getting in a relationship with Gio, everything feels right. The pleasure at the way he manhandles me-like a possession, like an object. With total confidence. Not asking. Just taking.
I thought I would hate to be treated this way.
But I freaking love it. To be this wanted.
Especially because I do believe that Gio respects me. Respects my agency.
“Come home with me,” he murmurs against my neck.
I groan. “I can’t.” I have to work tomorrow morning at Milano’s because Mia starts physical therapy and my grandparents are in Boston for a cousin’s wedding.
“You gonna let me fuck you here, then?” he rasps. His words are crass, but his hands rove over my body, making it sing.
“Yes,” I answer immediately.
I can’t wait to have sex with him again. Every single time has rocked my world. I meant it when I said he ruined other men for me. Like, I seriously don’t see how any other man on the planet could compare.
He cups my pussy now, rubbing through my pants. I shift and grind my ass over his hardened cock. “Don’t fucking tease, baby. I’ve been hard for you all night, just knowing you were back there in the kitchen with that banging body.” He bites my neck. “This body that belongs to me.”
“Yes,” I agree, squirming against his touch.
“Suck my cock, angel. Show me you’re a good girl.”
Holy shit. Those words should totally offend me, but instead, they set my world on fire. I instantly slide to the floor and sit on my heels, waiting eagerly for him to take out his manhood.
I may not have that much experience, but I do know how to give a good blowjob. I started young and learned early the power I could wield with my mouth. How it let me off the hook from having sex before I was ready. How it made me wanted. Keepable.
I grip the base of his cock firmly, making it jut out to meet my mouth, and I start by licking all around the head.
Gio’s breath grows ragged before I even take him down my throat. Then he gets rough. He wraps his fist in my hair and takes over, controlling my head to pull me on and off his cock. I notice he’s careful not to go too deep, which I appreciate, because it is slightly frightening to give up total control this way.
I massage his balls, move my fingers farther back and massage his taint, looking for the prostate.
“Oh, angel. It’s so good. It’s so good, and it’s not enough. I always want to be inside you.”
He pulls me off and stares down at me with bald hunger.
“Was I a good girl?” I don’t know what possesses me to say it-in what universe I became the sex kitten, but flames flare in his eyes.
“So fucking good,” he grates, dropping to his knees in front of me. “Pants off. Get those legs over my shoulders.”
Oh. My. Gawd.
I scramble to shuck my shoes, pants and panties while Gio rolls a condom over his dick. When I drop to my back on the freshly vacuumed carpet, he picks up my legs and props them over his shoulders.
“Are you wet for me, Marissa?” He rubs his thumb over my weeping slit, testing my readiness. I’m ripe and swollen for him and he groans as he brings his thumb to his mouth and sucks off my juices.
“You gonna come out here every night and suck my dick at the end of your shift?” He rubs the head of his cock over my clit a few times before spearing me with his erection.
“Yes,” I whisper. And that promise doesn’t feel like one ounce of hardship. I like the way it feels to be used by Gio.
He holds the tops of my thighs and fucks me fast and hard. “It’s not enough,” he snarls, surprising me.
And my own reaction surprises me even more.
The need to please him.
We’ve taken these roles. He’s in charge. I’m his property. I submit to his authority.
“I want you in my bed. Why can’t I have you in my bed, Marissa?” He’s plowing into me so fast and hard, I can’t think. Can’t figure out how to answer him.
“Gio,” I whimper.
“Come home with me.” It’s not a question. It’s a demand.
And yet there’s entreaty in his eyes.
His tactics may be to strong-arm me, but we’re still negotiating. I could say no.
“I-I have to work in the morning. At Milano’s,” I pant.
“I’ll drive you.”
And then I’m suddenly overwhelmed. Tears spear my eyes. I close them so he won’t see. “Yes, okay.” My cry is hoarse.
Gio roars and pounds into me hard, all his victory channeled into his release. He comes and my muscles instantly seize around his length, his body truly is the master of mine. He pushes in tight and stays there. My channel squeezes and milks his cock in waves of delicious release. When I finally stop, Gio rocks back and in a few more times and pulls out.
“Marissa?”
I still haven’t opened my lids. The concern in his voice makes me reluctantly pry them open now. Tears spill down my temples toward the floor.
“Oh, fuck, baby. Did I hurt you?”
I shake my head.
“What’d I do?” He thumbs away my tears on one side. “You don’t have to come home with me. I didn’t mean it, angel. I’m a dick, bambina. I’m sorry.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not that.” My voice wobbles.
“Baby, tell me. Did I hurt you? Was I too rough?”
“You were perfect,” I say quickly to stop his line of thought. “You always are.”
He cradles my cheek in his hand. The gesture is infinitely gentle, the tenderness in contrast to his usual firm, controlling touch. “What is it?” The alarm still shines bright in his eyes.
I swallow. “It just… feels good.”
He drops his head to the side to study me. “What does?”
“To be so wanted. It just feels good, that’s all.” I push myself up to sit, embarrassed of my tears.
Gio catches my face in his hands. “Who ever made you feel unwanted?” And then he guesses, “That bitch of a mom of yours?”
I wince, but nod, wondering how he knows. But he’s been hanging out at Milano’s since he was a kid. He probably remembers when I suddenly showed up-the abandoned daughter of a drug-addicted mom.
He shakes his head. “Stupidest thing she ever did was run off on you.” His expression turns to one of chagrin. “Hell, all I ever want to do is run after you. And I’m getting tired of holding myself back.”
I manage a watery smile. “I have to admit, I like being chased. Way too much.”
Gio pulls me into him, straddling his lap. “Is that why you keep running?” There’s a serious edge to his voice that tears right through my defenses. Shreds the thin walls of the tent I’m camped in.
“No,” I admit.
He runs his hands up and down my back. “Then why? Because I’m a Tacone?”
I drop my forehead against his chest. I don’t want to admit it. I know it will hurt him. He may be a badass Family man, but he takes offense easily-at least with me he does. “I’m sorry, Gio,” I whisper.
“Look at me,” he commands.
I don’t want to.
I really don’t want to.
But he waits until I lift my head and meet his gaze.
“I can’t help the family I was born into. And I can’t change what I’ve been. The things I’ve done. But I want you to know things are different now. Our dad is in jail. Nico’s made us a fortune with a legitimate casino/hotel business. And after the bratva shit went down last year, Junior shut down all our remaining business in Chicago.” He lifts his arms as if to show me his waist. “Look-I left the gun in the car. I let your boss live, angel. I’ve changed. I almost died last year. And I’ve had a real hard time figuring out the point of living since then. But now I think I found it.”
My gaze flicks to the piano, but he catches my chin and pulls it back to him. “No, not the piano. Although that’s wonderful, too. No, it’s you, baby. You’re bringing me back to life. That must be why I kept dreaming about you. La Madonna was showing me where life was worth living.”
I burst into messy tears, and Gio pulls me up against him tight. I wrap my arms around his neck with a strangulating hold.
“I’m keeping you, baby. I just gotta figure out how to get you on board with that.”
“I’m on board.” I sniff against his neck. “Yeah, I’m on board. Take me to your place, Gio.”