“I have one on my shoulder, too,” I said, turning to show him the scar.
“Four scars. Not much compared to yours.”
Something in his gaze made my pulse flutter, something dark lurking in its depths.
“Those scars,” he murmured.
“Did your father create them?” Oh. Now I understood the look.
“No,” I said quickly and, without thinking, put my hand on hers. His eyes lowered to our hands and then back to mine.
“He never hit me. He wouldn’t. He adores me.” It seemed vain, but it was the truth. My father was certainly a violent man, but not at home, not with me and my mother. Alessio chuckled.
“I understand why he does it.” I bit my lip, surprised by his words.
“Who gave you those scars then?”
“When I was young, I loved to climb trees. We had some old tall trees in our backyard. I liked to climb them. I shouldn’t have, but I snuck out all the time. One time I didn’t pay enough attention and fell. I broke some bones and was cut by a thorn bush under the tree. That was all. Father cut down all the trees after that.”
“You make it sound like Felix is a good father, which contradicts the opinion I have gathered about him as a human being in general.” I was not offended by his words. Dad did not have the respect of his fellow Underbosses. Christian had complained about it more than once.
“He doesn’t like you very much either.”
Alessio laughed, a deep belly laugh that made me smile.
“He gave me you. What a strange way to show his contempt for me.” Our arms brushed lightly against each other. He was so warm, so tall, so strong. With his unkempt beard, square jaw and sharp cheekbones, he was the epitome of manhood. I had always thought of myself as a girl who went for the ballerina type, the nerd with glasses, the sophisticated chess player. I was dead wrong, because Alessio’s body touched all the right keys. My eyes lingered on the Family tattoo on his chest, just above his heart.
Born in blood, sworn in blood I enter alive and leave dead.
I traced the intricate letters, without even thinking about it. The hairs on his chest tickled my fingertips and sent a shiver through every nerve ending in my body.
Alessio paused under my touch, but his eyes burned into me. I wanted him, wanted to feel his strong body on top of me again, his beard scratching my inner thigh, his lips warm between my legs. The heat flooded me.
I looked up. Alessio’s chest heaved. He didn’t move. He was waiting for me to say something, do something, but I didn’t know how. Once again, this feeling of overwhelm hit me.
I dropped my hand. Alessio cleared his throat.
“I have an early morning. We should sleep in.”
“Yes,” I said quickly, then got on all fours to crawl to my side of the bed.
Alessio’s sharp exhalation made me shudder, realizing my reckless move.
I had practically splayed my butt and knelt on all fours right next to him. I could almost see Alessio’s restraint break.
With a groan, he put his arm around my hip and gave me a kiss on the cheek before pulling me on top of him.
My lips were already half-closed in surprise as his tongue plunged into my mouth. His large hand covered the back of my neck, holding me in place. My pulse throbbed right between my legs at the fiery heat of Alessio’s kiss, the feel of his muscular thighs under mine, and the growing pressure of his desire for me. A shrill cry burst into our bubble.
We pulled away. Alessio cast a glance at the baby monitor.
“Simona.” I pushed off his lap.
My legs felt like rubber and my panties clung to my middle.
My excitement vanished the moment I realized that it was my job to console the crying baby and do whatever else was necessary in such a situation.
Alessio
Gianna looked at me with wide eyes. My brain was working more slowly than usual.
His taste lingered on my tongue and my thighs were still warm from his nice. Despite my promise to keep my distance, I had practically dragged her onto my lap at the first opportunity I had had. She had not resisted.
Because she wanted me, or because she was afraid of rejecting me? Simona’s cries grew louder and louder.
“She’s probably hungry.”
“Okay?” Gianna looked like a deer in headlights. I sighed and stood up, rearranging my cock so that it was not so obvious.
“Come on, I’ll show you everything.”
Gianna pulled on a robe and followed me. I was going downstairs to prepare the bottle, but Gianna froze.
“Shouldn’t we console her before going down to the kitchen?” I thought about it, then nodded slowly. Sybil had prepared the bottle while I took care of Simona. Once Sybil had fed her, I went back to bed. Gianna and I went to Simona’s bedroom and went inside. I turned on the lights. Simona’s face crumpled from her cries, her skin was already turning red. Her cries were tearing me apart.
She had always been a whiner, but after Gaia’s death she had gotten worse. Now her every cry seemed to resonate with an undertone of accusation, and my guilt weighed heavy on my shoulders. I walked over to the crib and picked up Simona, cradling her in my arms. She calmed only for a moment. Sighing, I headed for the door where Gianna hovered with an uncertain expression. “You don’t know anything about babies, do you?”
She hesitated.
“Only what I’ve read.” That was what I suspected. Her parents made it sound like she was an experienced babysitter, but it had obviously been a tactic.