34

MILLIE
I nodded, my throat tightening as I prepared to reveal more. “And she gave me a key too. It’s still in my bag.”
A torrent of expletives erupted from Gio’s lips, a raw expression of his anger. “That damn woman,” he growled, his hands clenching into fists.
“Who?” I dared to inquire, though I was almost certain I knew the answer.
“Both of them,” he seethed, his fury palpable. “Alyssa and Nessa. They’re in this together. Alyssa must have goaded Nessa into orchestrating this whole thing. That conniving witch.”
His anger, so tangible, made me flinch, instinctively drawing away from the storm within him. He exhaled sharply, his arms encircling me and pulling me against his chest, seeking solace in my presence, in the warmth of our shared embrace.
“Alyssa wanted to see me humiliated,” I shared, my voice laced with the lingering hurt from that discovery. “She looked genuinely pleased when I found out.”
“I can imagine,” he retorted with a hint of bitter amusement. “She’s a rat attempting to bring down a queen. Nothing more.”
The vindication of seeing Alyssa’s plan backfire was undeniable, though I kept my own emotions in check as I probed further. “And how did she react when you told her… about us?”
His silence was telling, a heavy weight settling between us. My anxiety surged. “You promised you wouldn’t see her or any other women,” I interjected, my voice wavering as I felt a painful twist of doubt. I attempted to pull away, but Gio’s grip remained firm, anchoring me.
“I kept that promise, Millie,” he affirmed, his words firm as he met my gaze. But then, a trace of uncertainty flickered in his eyes. “I didn’t speak to Alyssa, why would I? I owe her no explanation. Just like I don’t owe any explanations to the other women I’ve been with.”
His body was taut, an embodiment of his inner turmoil. He cupped my chin gently, guiding my gaze to meet his unwaveringly. “You’re the only one I want. I’ll uphold my promise.”
My skepticism lingered, the tendrils of doubt refusing to fully retreat. “So, you won’t see her again?”
A tension-filled pause ensued before he responded. “I will see her,” he conceded, “but only to give her a piece of my mind.”
“Please, don’t,” I pleaded, my voice laced with a vulnerability I couldn’t suppress.
He furrowed his brows, clearly conflicted.
“I don’t want you to engage with her anymore. Let’s just put her behind us.” The plea was genuine, born from a place of wanting to move beyond the hurt.
He exhaled, his resistance palpable, before finally relenting. “I don’t like it, but if that’s what you want…”
“It is,” I asserted firmly. “Let’s not even acknowledge her existence. Pretend she never crossed our path.”
Gio’s hand lifted, his thumb tracing a gentle path over my lower lip. “Your lips are dangerously tempting,” he mused, a rare hint of vulnerability in his gaze as he admired me.
“There’s something else I’ve been thinking about,” I ventured cautiously, my earlier nervousness returning to the forefront.
“More bad news?” His question hung in the air, a mix of trepidation and readiness in his tone.
“Well, I suppose that depends on your perspective,” I replied, the weight of my next request bearing down on me. “I want Harper to come visit me. School doesn’t start for another two weeks, and I miss her.”
“It’s only been a few days since you last saw her,” he reasoned.
“I know,” I acknowledged, “but the distance feels… empty.”
His brows furrowed as he considered the logistics. “Where would she stay?”
“I was thinking the guestroom,” I proposed, my gaze locking with his.
“Your sister can be quite a handful,” he remarked, a trace of fond exasperation in his voice.
I shot him a beseeching look, silently pleading my case.
He smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “How about we strike a deal?”
A flutter of nerves danced in my stomach. “A deal?”
He leaned in, his voice a husky murmur. “You know, a compromise.”
“Don’t let your nerves get the best of you,” Gio’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, attempting to put me at ease. “I won’t make an audacious demand for you to sleep with me just so you can see your sister. I’m not that much of a jerk.”
“Oh really?” I couldn’t help but tease, and suddenly, his lips crashed onto mine in a kiss that sent electrifying sensations coursing down from my lips to my toes.
“Yes,” he murmured against my mouth, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. “But I am interested in exploring your body.”
I arched an eyebrow playfully. “In what way?”
“Tonight, I plan to be back early from the meeting at the club. I want us to unwind in the Jacuzzi for a while, and then, I want you to relax and let me discover every inch of you, kissing and touching wherever I desire,” his voice turned husky, and he playfully licked my earlobe. “I promise, you’ll enjoy it.”
My lips parted in surprise. This was escalating far quicker than I had anticipated, faster than I thought it should.
Gio must have detected my uncertainty, as his hand slid between my thighs, his palm applying pressure against the fabric of my panties, right on my clit. I gasped and instinctively bucked, a moan escaping before I could suppress it. It was absurd-this was the result of prolonged abstinence, an involuntary response to pent-up desire.
“You do like this, Millie. Don’t deny it,” Gio’s voice was a seductive whisper. He increased the pressure, causing me to squirm against his touch. “Admit it.”
His touch was driving me wild, and I wriggled against him, unable to contain my response. “Yes,” I managed to gasp out, the world narrowing down to the sensations he was igniting within me. His palm moved in tantalizing circles, each stroke sending shockwaves of pleasure through my body. “Please, don’t stop.”
“I won’t,” his words were punctuated by nibbles on my neck. “So, do you consent to let me have my way with you tonight? I won’t push beyond your boundaries.”
At that moment, I wasn’t entirely sure of my desires, except for the fact that I didn’t want Gio to cease his arousing actions. In that vulnerable moment, I would have promised him anything. “Yes.”
He intensified the pressure on my clit while tracing kisses along my throat, until the overwhelming pleasure consumed me in an explosive rush.
Gio’s lips found my skin just below my chin as he pulled back, a self-assured grin playing on his lips. As the aftermath of pleasure settled, I realized I needed to regain some semblance of control in this dynamic. He desired me more than I desired him, that much was clear. It was time to leverage that to my advantage.
Resting my forehead against his shoulder, I spoke in a low voice, “Can I go ahead and call Harper to arrange her flight?”
Gio’s laughter reverberated in the room. “Of course, but remember our arrangement.” His phone buzzed on the nightstand, diverting his attention. Annoyed, he picked it up. “For God’s sake, Sebastian, what’s the issue now?”
I drew back, watching as Gio paced the room naked, his demeanor urgent. “We’ll make sure he’s protected. I won’t allow another damn restaurant to fall into Russian hands. Yeah. Fine, I’ll be ready in thirty minutes,” he grumbled, tossing his phone aside.
“I have to talk to the owner of a restaurant chain.”
“Okay,” I responded, trying to hide my disappointment behind forced agreement.
“Call your sister and let her know she’s welcome. I’ll be back before dinner, alright? You’ll find take-out menus in the kitchen. Order whatever you like.” Gio leaned down to kiss me. “And let Dario take you to a museum or something like that.”
In what felt like mere moments, he was gone, leaving me alone with my apprehensions. How had I allowed myself to agree to this arrangement? Yet, as I contemplated, I couldn’t ignore the undeniable pleasure Gio had brought into my life. Perhaps I had to accept that love might elude me, but that didn’t mean I had to resign myself to misery.
When I phoned Harper and excitedly informed her about her upcoming visit, I deliberately omitted the details of the deal. Some things were better left unspoken, especially considering I knew she wouldn’t endorse my hasty surrender to Gio’s advances.