39

MILLIE
In response to an enigmatic emotion flickering within him, his eyes snapped open. His thumb brushed my cheekbone in a gentle stroke. Moments stretched, our proximity lingering, until Gio finally sat up. His gaze took in the evidence of our encounter, scattered across his upper thighs and abdomen in an untidy array. “I need a shower,” he muttered, his voice carrying a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction. He reached for a tissue, efficiently cleaning himself before swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and rising to his feet.
I nodded, a peculiar pang of disappointment tugging at me as he prepared to depart the bed’s warmth so swiftly. Suddenly, self-consciousness flooded over me, a weighty awareness of my actions settling in.
Gio extended his hand toward me, his palm a silent invitation. “Come on. I don’t want to shower alone.”
Acting swiftly, I slid off the bed, slipping my hand into his outstretched one, and followed his lead into the bathroom.
Beneath the soothing cascade of heated water, Gio initiated a tender ritual, spreading soap over my skin with deliberate care. My eyelids fluttered shut, surrendering to the sensation of his hands gliding across my body. He drew closer, his body aligning with mine, and his arm encircled my waist in a gentle embrace. In a hushed tone, he inquired, “Did it feel alright for you?”
His concern, I realized, likely stemmed from a worry that my willingness might waver in the aftermath. “Yeah,” I affirmed, a reassuring smile curving my lips.
He placed a soft kiss along the curve of my throat, a gesture that had become familiar, though its depth of meaning remained complex. It was intimate, a caress of affection, yet I comprehended its inherent limitations. “I’m glad,” he murmured, a warmth in his voice that I yearned to decipher. Absurdly, a sense of accomplishment welled within me, mingling with a tinge of embarrassment.
His thumb brushed against my cheekbone, a touch that kindled both shyness and connection. Then, the shower’s symphony of water droplets came to an end, and we stepped onto the bath mat, our bodies enveloped in towels. Returning to the bed’s embrace, I rested my head against Gio’s chest as he extinguished the lights, casting us into an intimate darkness.
In the midst of this quiet, a question unfurled from my lips, seeking the depths of his thoughts. “When your father informed you of our impending marriage, how did you react?” The query had occupied my mind for some time, an enigma I yearned to unravel.
Gio’s fingers, resting on my hips, stilled at my inquiry. “I had anticipated it. Marrying strategically was inevitable. As the future Capo, emotions and desires can’t govern any aspect of your life.”
The obscurity of the room masked my expression, a blessing as his detachment rang in his words. His physical affections and tender gestures stirred a hope within me, a belief that his feelings might be shifting. But now, doubts clouded that optimism.
His voice cut through the silence once more. “And you? How did you feel?”
“Fear consumed me,” I confessed softly, the memory of that time vivid in my mind.
“You were merely fifteen. Fear was a natural response.”
“The day we married, fear still clung to me. Even now, I’m not entirely certain that you don’t still evoke fear within me.”
Gio’s silence held weight, pregnant with thoughts unspoken. “I’ve assured you that there’s no need to fear me,” he asserted, his tone firm yet tinged with a vulnerability that I perceived even in the darkness. “I’ll protect you, care for you. Your desires and needs will be met.”
Save for one desire: love.
I mustered a lighthearted remark, though its undertone was laced with a heavy reality. “But the Familia always takes precedence, right? If safeguarding the business demands it, you’d be willing to end me.”
A visible tension gripped Gio, an unspoken confirmation of my assertion. My father’s words echoed in my mind-within a made man’s existence, the mafia claimed the role of sole true love.
~*~
Two days had stretched their minutes into an eternity as I eagerly anticipated Harper’s arrival. The excitement within me was palpable as I counted down the hours. The separation hadn’t been all that long in reality, but it felt like ages since I had last seen her. The day Harper’s flight was scheduled to land was finally upon us, and the darkening skies outside matched the growing anticipation in my heart.
As the sun began to set, Gio and I found ourselves at JFK airport, waiting for Harper’s plane to touch down. I couldn’t help but wish that her flight had been scheduled for the morning or afternoon, hoping for a brighter and less tense reunion. Ever since that conversation where I had alluded to the extent Gio would go to protect our Familia, a certain emotional distance had crept into his demeanor. Not that he had been a completely open book before, but now there was an even more noticeable reticence about him. Our interactions seemed to be confined to the nighttime, where his touches and caresses were the only conversations we shared. In return, I reciprocated the same kind of affection. I wondered, though, if Harper’s impending visit might have prompted me to reach out to him in other ways, perhaps even urging him to reveal more about his secretive work. But, instead, I had given him the space he seemed to crave.
As the car engine purred to a halt at the airport, my mind swirled with a mixture of emotions. Gio’s hand didn’t seek mine, and I wasn’t entirely surprised. Holding hands wasn’t exactly in his nature, or so I thought. Nevertheless, his touch on my lower back guided me as we stepped into the bustling arrival area.
“Do you think everything will be alright with Harper staying with us?” I ventured cautiously, needing reassurance in this sea of uncertainty.
“Yes. I made a promise to your father to keep her safe. It’s simpler when she’s under our roof.”
I sighed, my concern evident. “You know she can be quite provocative, right? Are you absolutely sure you can handle her?”
He arched an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. “I can manage a little trouble.”
“She’s not as innocent as she seems,” I countered. “Just a bit younger than me.”
“I can handle it,” Gio’s voice grew firmer, his resolve evident.
“Gio,” I spoke with conviction, my eyes locked onto his. “Harper knows how to push people’s buttons. If you’re not completely certain you can maintain your composure, I won’t let her anywhere near you.”
A flicker of intensity flashed in Gio’s eyes, fueled by a day spent on edge. “Don’t worry. I won’t harm her or you over the next few days.”
His response took me aback. Where had that come from? Was he upset by my words? They were grounded in truth, a truth both of us acknowledged.
“Millie!”
The sound of Harper’s voice snapped my attention away. With an exuberant rush, she closed the distance between us, dropping her luggage trolley in her eagerness. Our embrace was almost bone-crushing, fueled by the relief of being reunited. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered, unable to contain my joy.
Harper pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning my face. “No visible bruises,” she declared loudly, her gaze darting toward Gio as if scrutinizing him. “Did he only hit places hidden under clothes?”
My grip on her hand tightened, a silent warning passed between us.
“Retrieve your luggage,” Gio’s voice cut through, impatience coating his words. “We’re not here to stand around.”
Harper’s glare was potent, but she complied, retrieving her trolley before rejoining us. “A true gentleman would have fetched it for me.”
Gio’s smile was tight, his response curt. “A gentleman, indeed.”
We headed back to the car, my arm now linked with Harper’s. Gio walked ahead, and with minimal exchange, we were soon inside the vehicle.
“What’s gotten into him? He’s even more insufferable than I remember.”
“I suspect the Russians are causing him some trouble.”
“Are they ever not?” Harper replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She loaded her luggage into the trunk before settling into the backseat beside me.
Gio’s eyebrow lifted, and he glanced at me. “I’m not your chauffeur. Get in the front with me.”
His abruptness caught me off guard, but I complied, taking the front passenger seat. Harper’s face was etched with anger. “You shouldn’t let him talk to you like that.”
“She’s my wife. I can speak and treat her as I see fit.”
Confusion knitted my brows. Gio’s gaze shifted to me, our eyes locking for a brief moment, leaving me perplexed about the emotions swirling within him. He turned his attention back to the road.
“How are Sienna and Karsen?”
“Annoying as ever. Especially Sienna. She won’t stop talking about Dario. She’s head over heels for him.”
Laughter bubbled forth, and even Gio’s lips twitched. Inexplicably, I reached out, placing my hand on his thigh. His eyes briefly met mine, a flicker of surprise passing through them before his hand covered mine, only leaving when he needed to change gears. Harper’s eyes were attentive, absorbing every nuance.
In this unfolding, the intricate dynamics of emotions, relationships, and unspoken tensions become vivid. The characters’ interactions are detailed, revealing their complex personalities and histories. The setting of the airport adds to the atmosphere, as anticipation mingles with a touch of uncertainty. The dialogue and gestures are laden with unspoken meanings, drawing readers into the intricate web of connections among us.