53

MILLIE
His lips quirked in a humorless smile. “That very same night. After dealing with the first man, I instructed Sebastian to hide in my closet. He protested, but I was older and managed to lock him in. Though I was losing blood, adrenaline fueled me. Gunshots continued downstairs, and I was drawn to the noise. My gun in hand, I descended the stairs unnoticed. My father was locked in a firefight with two assailants. I intervened, shooting one from behind. My father subdued the other with a shot to the shoulder.”
“Why didn’t he kill him outright?”
“He wanted information. He needed to know if there were more traitors within the Familia.”
“Where did he keep the wounded man while he took you to the hospital?”
A wry expression played on Gio’s lips. I gasped as realization struck. “Don’t tell me he didn’t take you to the hospital?”
“He summoned the Familia’s doctor. He instructed me to apply pressure to the wound and then proceeded to extract information from the traitor through methods of coercion.”
I struggled to comprehend. “You could have died. Some injuries require proper medical treatment. How could he let you suffer like that?”
“The Familia takes precedence. We don’t go to hospitals. They ask too many questions, police get involved, and it’s seen as a sign of vulnerability. My father had to ensure the traitor talked before he could take his own life.”
“So you condone his actions? You would let someone you care about bleed out to safeguard the Familia and your power?”
Gio’s demeanor shifted, his expression growing still. “My father doesn’t love me. Sebastian and I are tools for his power and a means to preserve the family name. Love isn’t a factor.”
“I despise this life. I detest the mafia. Sometimes I wish there was an escape.”
A shadow crossed Gio’s face. “From me?”
“No,” I found myself saying, the word escaping my lips in a moment of unexpected assertiveness. I looked at him, almost surprised by my own response. “I mean, isn’t there a part of you that yearns for a different life, a normal life?”
He shook his head, his gaze unwavering. “No, Millie. This is my essence, my destiny. I was born for this role, and it’s the only existence I’ve ever known or desired. Trying to conform to a conventional life would be like confining an eagle to a small cage in a zoo.” His voice held a mixture of conviction and vulnerability. He paused, his intense gaze holding mine. “You need to understand, by marrying me, you’re binding yourself to the world of the mafia. Bloodshed and death will shadow us as long as I’m alive.”
A resolve ignited within me, fueled by his words. “Then so be it. I’ll walk beside you, no matter how dark the path becomes.”
In that moment, the air seemed to shift, and Gio held his breath for an instant before his fingers found the back of my head, pulling me into a fierce, passionate kiss.
~*~
I had anticipated that Gio might seek physical intimacy again shortly after our initial encounter, but he surprised me with his patience. Even though I tried my best to hide the discomfort I felt for the following days, he could sense it. He chose to pleasure me in ways that didn’t involve penetration, using his tongue to explore my desires. Likewise, I returned the favor, bringing him to the pinnacle of pleasure with my mouth.
I wasn’t entirely sure whether he awaited a signal from me or if he was simply giving me space, but one evening, about a week after he had taken my virginity, I sensed his exhaustion and frustration as he entered our shared space. He had clearly faced a trying day, his weariness etched into his features. After a shower, he stumbled onto the bed, his eyes carrying a weight of darkness that was hard to ignore.
“Rough day?” I murmured, my voice soft and concerned, as he collapsed beside me. He lay on his back, his gaze fixed on the ceiling with a vacant expression.
My worry deepened, and I gently prodded, “Gio?”
He sighed heavily. “I lost three of my men today.”
The news hit me like a heavy blow, and I could feel the anger and determination emanating from him. “What happened?”
His jaw tightened, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. “The Bratva launched an attack on one of our warehouses.”
A surge of indignation swept through me, mirrored by Gio’s intensity. “We won’t let them get away with this,” he declared with unwavering resolve. “We’ll make them pay, make them bleed for what they’ve done.”
Desperation gripped me, the need to stand by him in this turmoil overpowering. “How can I help?” My voice was gentle, laced with a genuine desire to offer support.
His grip on my hand tightened, and his gaze found mine, holding it with a fierce intensity. “I need you.”
“Okay,” I assented softly, my heart pounding as I slipped out of my nightgown and lowered my panties. My vulnerability mingled with determination as I knelt beside him on the bed.
He discarded his boxers, his arousal evident, and his hands found my hips, guiding me to straddle his stomach. Nerves danced within me, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. I had hoped he would take the lead again, especially after the pain I had felt the first time. Yet, if this was what he needed, then I was prepared to overcome my fear. As I settled over him, a cry of surprise escaped my lips when his hands suddenly gripped my buttocks, lifting me towards his eager mouth.
Sensations coursed through me, pleasure unlike anything I had experienced before. The power of his touch, his mouth, sent shivers down my spine. Instinctively, I pressed against his mouth, lost in the intensity of the moment. He growled, the vibrations resonating within me, and I began to move, to ride the wave of pleasure he was bestowing upon me. My hands gripped the headboard, my voice mixing with the sounds of pleasure that filled the room.
His gaze, burning with desire, met mine as his tongue worked its magic. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the sensations that consumed me, my head falling back as ecstasy overtook me. It was overwhelming, almost primal, and any thoughts of embarrassment were drowned in the tide of arousal that surged through me.
As my climax subsided, I made a feeble attempt to pull away, but Gio’s grip on me remained firm, his gaze unrelenting. His tongue continued its slow, deliberate strokes, building my pleasure once more. Moans escaped me, my breaths coming quicker as he skillfully brought me to the brink once again. The world around me faded, leaving only the sensation of his touch, the intensity of his gaze.
Without warning, he shifted our positions, and in a seamless motion, he positioned himself between my legs, his erection poised at my entrance. The moment was charged with anticipation, a mix of apprehension and longing that seemed to envelop us both.
My body tensed up in anticipation as I watched Gio hesitate at the entrance. The air was thick with longing as he lowered his head, his lips capturing my nipple while his erection brushed sensually against my clit. The mixture of his warm mouth and the teasing friction ignited an involuntary mewl of pleasure from my lips. I had teetered on the edge of ecstasy before, and now that familiar sensation was rushing back. He skillfully maneuvered, allowing just the tip of himself to dip into me, an initial twinge of discomfort accompanied by a gasp that swiftly receded as he retreated and resumed his tantalizing dance across my clit. This rhythm, a repetitive play between pleasure and restraint, pushed me to panting eagerness, my arousal evident even in the sounds that I emitted.
With a soft pop, he released my nipple and raised his face to mine, locking his intense gaze onto my eyes. The weight of his presence bore down on me as he once more positioned himself at my entrance. This time, he didn’t hold back; he slid into me, each inch a mix of pleasure and mild discomfort. My lips parted as if to release a sound, but I bit down on them, stifling any expression of vulnerability. The stretch, the sensation of fullness, it was all there. Gio’s grip cupped the back of my head, and with a gradual, deliberate pace, he began moving within me. My breath hitched in response, a reaction to the blend of sensations that spread through me. Despite the tempo’s unhurried nature, there was a relentless intent behind each motion, a dance that aimed to overwhelm my senses.