GIO
Millie’s face radiated an iridescent joy, her eyes lit up like constellations as she held her long-lost sister in a tight embrace. On the other side of this emotionally charged reunion, Sebastian stood, his expression a mixture of disbelief and profound desire, as if a single glance at Harper could awaken the most primal of instincts within him.
With a hint of playful sarcasm, Sebastian addressed his fiancee, “Given half the chance, I’m convinced you’d willingly dive out of this moving car.”
Harper retorted with a defiant flip of her hair, her voice dripping with exasperation, “I might not be the sanest person, but do you seriously think I’d gallivant around Chicago, defenseless, when my father’s goons are undoubtedly out to get me?”
Harper’s obstinacy grated on my nerves; I was far from thrilled about being entangled in the treacherous affairs of the Pearce family solely because of her.
Sebastian’s lips curled into a wry smile as he countered, his tone laced with both fondness and frustration, “So, you trust me enough to shield you from danger, yet you’re still opposed to marrying me?”
Harper inhaled sharply, her response catching in her throat, “You’re actually still up for this marriage?”
I chimed in with a hint of sardonic amusement, “You could probably thrust a knife into his back, and he’d still be all for it. The man’s got the stubbornness of a mule.” Millie’s hand came to rest on my thigh, a gentle gesture that carried a fleeting smile, softening the edges of my annoyance towards the whole situation involving Sebastian and Harper.
Sebastian’s resolve remained unshaken as he asserted, “I didn’t spend half a year hunting you down just to let you slip away.”
Even after discovering her entwined with another man, one would have assumed his interest in Harper would wane, but not Sebastian’s. The mere notion that another’s hands could graze Millie’s flawless skin, possess her body, drove me to the brink of insanity. In comparison, Sebastian seemed almost forgiving. Personally, I would have exacted a brutal vengeance on anyone who dared to lay claim to what was rightfully mine. As for Millie, the thought of her betraying me in such a manner sent my heart racing. The intensity of my emotions was alarming; I adored her above all else, yet I questioned my capacity for restraint in the face of disloyalty.
Millie’s eyebrows knitted together in concern, a silent question etched in her gaze. Knowing me so well, she reached out and squeezed my thigh, seeking solace in her touch. Offering her a tender smile, I felt a calming wave wash over me. There was no sense in losing my composure over a scenario that would never come to pass. Millie was unequivocally and irrevocably mine.
Sebastian had actually gone through with the decision to marry Harper, a move that surprised many. Pearce, undoubtedly, had handed her over without hesitation, knowing that her reputation was in tatters within our social circles. The scandal of her indiscretions was set to become the hottest topic of gossip in both New York and Chicago. She was now virtually undesirable, at least to anyone of significance. If Sebastian hadn’t agreed to marry her, Pearce would have had no choice but to give her away to a lower-ranked soldier or even worse. Harper’s stroke of luck lay in the fact that my brother’s infatuation with her hadn’t waned; in fact, it seemed stronger than ever.
As much as I hoped that Sebastian’s decision wouldn’t come back to haunt him once he’d satisfied his desires with her, my greater concern was that he would find a way to maintain control over her. Now that Harper was officially his wife, the dynamics in New York were bound to shift, tensions rising within our family and beyond. I could easily envision the disapproving whispers of my uncles, aunts, and other family members in response to his choice and even worse, my own complicity in allowing him to marry a woman tainted by scandal.
Damn him. It was as if he was devouring Harper with his eyes alone. From the moment we had boarded the plane in Chicago for the wedding until now, as we stepped into the elevator in our New York apartment building, his lustful gaze hadn’t wavered. Millie, Harper’s sister, was just as aware of this as I was, her anxiety palpable in the air. She was perpetually concerned about her sister, a trait that had become ingrained in her. Trying to divert her attention away from my brother’s fixated stare, I gently tugged at her hand, but her focus remained unwavering.
The elevator chimed, signaling our arrival on our floor, and the sleek doors glided open. Without delay, Sebastian practically pulled Harper into his apartment. I couldn’t shake off the hope that he would manage his volatile temper, as it would ultimately fall on me to clean up any mess left behind and console my wife, who was consumed by worry.
Millie took a step forward, as if compelled to follow them. I instinctively reached out, catching her wrist and drawing her back against my chest. “What are you thinking?” I murmured, the elevator doors closing in front of us. Millie tilted her head up, her face etched with distress.
“He’s radiating fury. I doubt he’ll accept refusal easily.”
The elevator resumed its ascent. “Indeed, he won’t, Millie. After what your sister has done, she should consider herself fortunate that he didn’t take more drastic measures. Their wedding night was meant to solidify his claim, yet she fled and allowed other men to lay their hands on what’s rightfully his,” I explained, my words dripping with the predictability of Sebastian’s possessiveness.
Millie shuddered. “Her actions weren’t heinous. She was trying to find her own way, nothing more. That shouldn’t grant him or anyone the right to treat her like a disposable object,” she asserted firmly.
At times, I overlooked Millie’s innate goodness and naivety, qualities that never failed to stir something primal within me. As the elevator halted on our floor, I guided her into our luxurious penthouse, my intent fixed on shifting her focus away from her concerns.
“Sebastian’s temperament is well-known. I-”
Interrupting her, I scooped her up in my arms, capturing her lips in a heated kiss that silenced her. She gasped, initially surprised, and then pulled back, her brow furrowing. “Gio,” she protested indignantly. “I’m being serious.” Ascending the stairs, I carried her into our bedroom.
“I understand,” I murmured, lowering her onto our bed. Leaning over her, I observed her closely as my hands traced the length of her legs, slipping beneath the edge of her panties and sliding them down.
“Your lack of seriousness bothers me,” she confessed in a hushed tone as I lifted her skirt, exposing her intimately.
Her arousal was evident, yet her words carried a hint of strain. Reclining beside her, I kissed her tenderly before addressing her concern, “Millie, I do take your concerns to heart, but you’re worrying about a situation I can’t alter. I hold authority as the Capo, yes, but Harper is Sebastian’s wife, and I’m bound by a certain code. I can’t interfere. You know this.”
Recognition dawned in her cerulean eyes.
“Stop fretting over it. Your sister can handle herself,” I advised, although doubt gnawed at me. If Sebastian truly unleashed his anger on her, it could escalate badly. I knew Sebastian’s inclinations weren’t inclined towards roughness in intimate matters, but consumed by jealousy and rage, things might spiral out of control.
My fingers traced a path down her side, slipping beneath her shirt. Gently, I explored her stomach before capturing her lips with mine once more. This time, her response was more fervent as our tongues danced together. Millie’s skirt was gone now, granting me unrestricted access, and I let my hand venture between her legs. Tracing along her folds, I found her clit, and then dared to dip lower. Millie seemed preoccupied, her usual readiness tempered by worry, but I was well-versed in altering such states.
Slowly, I eased a finger into her, feeling her walls grip onto me. Simultaneously, my thumb pressed against her clit. As I established a deliberate rhythm, our kiss deepened, and her lips felt exquisite against mine. Millie parted her legs further, a soft moan escaping her. Her arousal was unmistakable, her flushed face and half-closed eyes attesting to it. My finger slid more easily within her slick warmth.