Page 19

NINETEEN

giovanni

T he splash pulls me from a light sleep. I groan, rolling over to see the time. It’s still relatively early, not quiet midnight yet.

I swear I heard someone diving into the pool.

Throwing the blankets off I pad barefoot over to my balcony and peer through the closed glass doors into the darkness - there is someone in the pool.

Quietly, I unlock the doors and push them open. The pool water is glittering, bright turquoise, the surface rippling and disturbed.

I move to the corner of my balcony, staying out of sight, and I watch her beautiful body as she swims just below the surface, her hair cascading behind her like a river of gold in a bright blue sky.

My heart tugs in directions I wish I could ignore.

She surfaces, rolling onto her back to stare up at the stars and my eyes trace over every curve, her swell, every dip - I’ve never seen anymore more perfect than she is.

It almost seems unfair - that she got so lucky.

Or is it me that got so lucky?

I clench my jaw, my hands knotting into tight fists.

Fabio’s words have been bothering me.

She will be my downfall.

Why?

Why can’t I have her?

Zina swims to the step, spreading herself over it.

My heart begins to hammer wildly.

Surely not.

Surely she wouldn’t.

I deep growl rumbles from my chest and my cock hardens like steel.

If I have any self-control, I need to turn and walk away. Now.

But I don’t. Because she is my weakness.

I push my hand beneath the elastic of my sweatpants and wrap my fingers around my rigid cock.

With my back against the wall, I free my cock and stroke it, up and down, watching her while I imagine myself down there in the pool, fucking her in that crystal blue water.

The visions of her last night in the pool are still teasing my thoughts. I can’t figure out if she knew I was watching her or not. She’s not giving me any clues.

The dining room smells of garlic and mushrooms and creamy sauce.

When I walk in Santino is dishing up tagliatelle for himself. Zina is waiting patiently, watching him. Guido and Dante are chatting as usual. At least that friendship has only strengthened.

Romeo nudges Santino. “Hey man, leave some for me.”

Pulling my chair out I eye Santino with disappointment. “Why did you not dish up for Zina first?” I ask, scowling at him.

He snorts.

“I told him too, but he wouldn’t listen. Mom would have kicked his ass if he did that.” Dante taunts him.

“Don’t you dare compare her to mom.” Santino snarls, his eyes darkening. “She is a whore, and you will never compare her to our mother.”

His words hang in the air like poison.

I’ve had enough.

Reaching out I backhand him across the jaw. He yelps in surprise, stumbling he lands hard on his ass, his eyes wide with shock.

“I’ve had enough of your disrespect towards Zina. I won’t tolerate another second of it. One more word from you and I’ll ban you from this house.”

Santino stands up, wanting to fight, but hesitant, knowing he doesn’t stand a chance against me.

Romeo looks uncertain.

I raise my hand again, ready to make sure he understands the warning.

“Stop.” Zina shouts, standing and grabbing my arm, pulling me away. “This has to stop. This isn’t going to solve anything.”

She gently pulls me towards my chair.

“Thank you, Giovanni. It means so much to me that you stood up for me. But seeing it happen breaks my heart. I don’t want you to fight with your sons. I’m sorry this is what it’s come to.”

She bites at her lower lip, turning her eyes to Santino and Romeo.

“I was outside your room last night, Santino. I heard everything.”

Santino and Romeo both turn as white as ghosts. The blood drains from their face and they look sick with worry.

“What is she talking about?” I ask, my stomach knotting.

“I know about the plan to kill me tomorrow night.” She says slowly.

My body is ice cold when her words reach me. It can’t be true. My sons wouldn’t so this.

She’s still facing them. Santino is glaring at her in disbelief. Deny it. Deny it, Santino.

Zina takes a deep breath. “The thing is - I understand why you want to get rid of me. I understand that you think I don’t belong and you miss your mother. But I’m not trying to replace her. I’m not trying to make your lives more difficult?—”

“It isn’t true?” I say to Santino, a statement and a question.

He presses his lips together.

“It is true?” I stammer. “You were planning to kill her?”

Santino looks down, his face turning red. “I have to fix things.” He mutters quietly. “Romeo and I wanted to make things right.”

“This is not how you do it!” I shout. The rage burning through me makes me want to tear them apart. I’m in disbelief. How do I punish them for such an unspeakable crime?

I feel her hand brush over my arm. “Gio.” She says gently. “It’s ok.”

“It’s not.” I say, shaking my head.

“It is. Nothing happened. It’s not going to happen.” She turns her eyes to Santino and Romeo again. “I forgive you. I would like to let this all go and move past this. I don’t want to fight. I don’t want there to be so much hate. But I can’t change things alone. We have to work together.”

“What will you do to us?” Santino asks her, his voice dry.

“I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“What will you do to us in retaliation? As punishment.” He huffs bitterly.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “I’m serious. I forgive you. I don’t want this go any further than tonight. It’s over - right now.”

“Why?” Romeo blurts out. “We were going to kill you.” He looks broken by his own words.

“But you didn’t. Ok. It was a mistake. A stupid idea. Born out of anger and misunderstanding. I’m letting it go.”

Santino sits down slowly. He can’t believe she’s been so gentle about this.

Neither can I.

If I overheard someone plotting to end my life, I would not be this graceful, this understanding.

Across the table, in full view of my sons, I take her hand.

Threading my fingers tightly through hers I squeeze it.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Zina. I had no idea it was that bad.” I say in horror.

She shakes her head. Smiling.

“It’s ok. It can be different now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you come to me with the information when you overheard them?”

Santino shifts nervously. Romeo is breathing so loud I can hear him.

She glances at the boys then back at me.

“I thought I could talk to them myself and find a way to sort it all out. But then - when I saw you fighting with him tonight I realized that the more secrets we keep from each other, the more we hide and whisper, the further this family drifts apart. So, here we are - all cards on the table for everyone to see. Its better this way. I’m not angry. All I want is for everyone to see that we can work together. We can solve things together.”

Santino nods, Romeo quickly doing the same.

“I’m sorry.” Santino mutters, struggling with the words. “I’m sorry too.”

I stare at both of them. “It would have broken me, to know you were capable of such horrors. To know you were willing to hurt me like that.”

My son’s shoulders slump forward in defeat. When Santino looks up at me his eyes are wet with tears. “I’m so sorry, dad. I wasn’t thinking. I only wanted to protect you.”

Reaching out I squeeze his shoulder.

“Can we move past this?”

He nods.

“Good.”

* * *

That night, after dinner ends, I take her hand and lead her to my room.

Pulling her into my arms I nestle her safely against my chest.

She shocked me today. She showed her strength in ways that took my breath away. Her ability to deal with that - it was beautiful.

And it opened my eyes to the mistakes I’ve been making all along. In my own confusion - I gave my sons room to hate her.

But I am the king of this mansion. This is my family. They run by my rules and when I make a choice - they follow.

I never made a choice. And it sent them into chaos.

I’m making a choice now.

Leaning down I kiss the top of her head, the warmth of her scent teasing me.

“I’m done pretending I’m not in love with you.” I whisper.

The softest little gasp sounds from her and she tilts her head up to look at me with wide, beautiful eyes.

Her lips part as she searches my face, a million questions flickering through her eyes.

I laugh. Brushing her hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ear. “I love you, Zina.” I smile.

Her face suddenly glows, her side brighter than I’ve ever seen it.

She reaches up and grabs my face and pulls me against her lips to kiss me.

It’s the most beautiful thing - to finally give in to the truth of how I feel.

I lift her in my arms, wrapping her legs around me as I carry her to bed.

Laying on the blankets I slowly pull her clothes off, pieces by pieces, taking my time to brush my hands against her skin and let my gaze wonder over her perfection.

Naked, I crawl over her, gently pushing her legs wider with my hips.

I trace my fingers around the curve of her breast, gently touching her nipple, watching her shiver in delight.

“You are beautiful, Zina. More beautiful than my eyes have ever seen.”

She reaches up to touch my lips. I rock my hips forward, rubbing my cock against her warmth, letting it push against her pussy. Her eyes are locked with mine.

“Do you mean it? Do you love me?” She whispers.

“I love you.” I say it again, pushing into her, my cock sliding inside her, stretching her slowly open. Her pupils dilate and her gasps softly.

My cock slides deep into her, making me growl with pleasure.

She wraps her hands around the back of my neck and pulls my mouth over hers and as we fuck, slowly, in tantric waves of desire, I slide my tongue inside her mouth. The kiss lasts forever, our bodies joined together, the depth of my emotions flooding from me as I wrap my arms around her and hold her, determined to keep her safe from the everything and anything.

She is mine.

She has always been mine, I just didn’t accept it.

“I’m so sorry.” I whisper against her lips.

“I love you, Giovanni.” She says her body shuddering as I push deeper into her.

My movements become more urgent, faster, and she spreads her legs wider, wrapping them around me.

I lift myself up on, pressing my hands into the bed on either side of her head as I watch her, each thrust eliciting the sweetest moan from her lips.

Her brows knot and she tilts her head backwards. Her lips part and she cries out.

My cock slams into her, faster and faster until she digs her nails into my back and arches up against me.

I explode into her at the same time as her orgasm pulses over my cock.

And both of us are left gasping, shocked by how intense the connection is.

She snuggles against me with her cheek resting on my chest and my arm wrapped around her.

I’m going to make it up to her.

There wasn’t ever anything holding me back - except my own stubborn fear. I was afraid of the love I have for her. But that fear is gone now.

And I’m free to possess her in the most beautiful ways.