That day, I boldly avoided Gio. When he was at the beach, I left. When he was inside the house, I went out. As the sun began to set, I decided to go swimming at the beach. The sea looked inviting with its crystal clear waters and pristine sands, not to mention the breathtaking scenery.
I wasn’t sure if I had a swimsuit with me. After all, I hadn’t packed my own things. It wasn’t even part of my plan!
But then, I found a red two-piece swimsuit. I quickly put it on in the bathroom. Whoever had chosen my clothes for this trip had excellent taste. I loved the swimsuit; it fit my body perfectly.
I also grabbed a cover-up dress so that my skin wouldn’t be immediately exposed when I left the room. I gathered the items I’d need for swimming, including a pair of sunglasses I loved, and placed them in a small bag.
As I stepped out of the room, I saw Gio engrossed in his laptop in the living room. I grinned to myself and didn’t try to get his attention. I hurriedly made my way to the beach.
There were a few sun loungers and a parasol available, so I found one and began applying sunscreen. I removed my cover-up dress and applied the sunscreen, all the while humming with contentment. I was pleased with how my skin glistened as the sun kissed it gently.
Once I finished, I quickly stood up and ran towards the ocean. I was delighted as the waves lapped at my feet. The water wasn’t too cold, making it perfect for wading.
When the water reached about halfway up my body, I decided to go for a swim. I immersed myself completely, losing myself in the moment and forgetting about my worries. Just for a brief moment, I enjoyed the embrace of the sea.
Unbeknownst to me, there were a pair of eyes watching me. I suddenly stopped and my smile faded when I spotted Gio standing near the sun lounger where my things were. His hands were in his pockets, and the wind played with his hair and his attire.
I gasped. Even from a distance, I couldn’t deny that Gio was a handsome man. Anyone who laid eyes on him would be ready to worship him. And here I was, the woman he married, willing to let him go because of a cruel twist of fate that seemed to want to keep us apart.
I started floating to avoid Gio’s gaze. I wanted to believe he wasn’t here, but the way he looked at me had penetrated my very being. I couldn’t concentrate.
In the end, I decided to swim back to shore. Gio was once again messing with my thoughts! His effect on me was exasperating, and I couldn’t decide if I should be happy or not.
Gio greeted me with a towel when I emerged from the water. I gave him a meaningful look but accepted the towel he held out. Among all the things I could forget, the towel was not one of them.
Gio sat down on the sun lounger and watched me as I dried myself. I pondered whether to head inside the house or take a short rest because, honestly, I wanted to swim some more. It’s just that Gio was here, and I couldn’t concentrate because I knew he was observing my every move.
“Millie, come here…”
He tapped the space between his thighs and gestured for me to sit there. I shot him a look and rolled my eyes. Was this man trying to irritate me? He knew I didn’t want to get near him!
“I don’t want to,” I replied, while continuing to dry myself. It seemed like a bad idea to emerge from the sea since Gio could be more disruptive here.
He grabbed my wrist, and my eyes widened as I stared at him. “You’re going to do what I say, or you’re not getting any reward from me.”
Reward? What kind of reward was he talking about?
“I’ll give you what you want if you follow me, Millie,” he said, and my face lit up as if I’d glimpsed a chance to escape this place. Though I wasn’t sure if I wanted to leave. I was just afraid to be around Gio because he was dangerous. “Returning to the city is not part of the reward, but apart from that, I’ll give you what you want.” He added as if reading what’s on my mind.
My face immediately dropped at Gio’s words, but the offer was still tempting. “Fine. I want my phone and laptop back. I need to work while I’m here.”
Gio nodded in agreement and motioned for me to do what he had asked earlier. So I sat down in front of him, between his thighs on the sun lounger.
I could feel his chest against my back, and he emitted a peculiar warmth that coursed through my body. I had known that being close to Gio was risky, and I was going crazy.
I gasped when I felt Gio’s arms encircle my waist, pulling me against his chest. I didn’t want to do this; it felt like he could hear my heart pounding loudly.
He rested his face on my shoulder and took in my scent with a slight sniff. I inhaled deeply because of what he did.
“Your body is tense, Millie. Do I still have this effect on you? How much do you miss me touching you, Amelie?”
The way he pronounced my name in a low, hoarse voice sent shivers down my spine. Something tickled my system, and I had to close my eyes for an unknown reason.
“I miss you, baby,” he whispered, nuzzling my hair and giving my head a gentle kiss.
I didn’t like what I was feeling. I enjoyed what he was doing, and it was delightful to surrender to my emotions. But I also knew it wasn’t right. I shouldn’t be happy in Gio’s company.
“I miss kissing, touching, and making love with my woman. I miss you, Millie. Please, come back to me. Let’s go home together.”
The way he spoke was melting my resolve. I never imagined that someone like Gio could have this capability.
I allowed my head to rest on Gio’s shoulder. I’m not solely blaming Gio for what transpired. He wasn’t the only one at fault. I also blamed my mother. That’s what’s keeping me from being with Gio. I shouldn’t be feeling happiness and comfort from someone my mother hurt. Gio doesn’t deserve me, and I don’t deserve him.
I suddenly remembered. Do Gio’s mom and dad know the truth? What did they think when Gio and I got married? Did they agree, thinking Gio was going to play with me and seek revenge? I wanted to ask Gio, but something held me back.