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I could barely believe that I was about to go to Colorado tomorrow with Rian and would be able to use my sleuthing skills to help him resolve his dilemma.

I told him I wanted to speak to Papà alone, but inside, I wished he were with me.

But I had to learn to stand up to my family about Rian.

It had never been an issue for me regarding anything else.

I would be loud and vocal about my objections or agreement.

After this morning’s meeting with all of them, they’d remained somewhat subdued.

It kind of worried me more than if they yelled and complained.

When I left for the day, Papà took me aside and told me to do what I felt was right in my gut.

And if Rian was who I wanted, then to give it my all.

There was sadness in his eyes. I knew he was thinking of Mamma .

He still missed her and kept her picture on his nightstand.

Sometimes, when I lived at home, I’d catch him murmuring in his room.

I couldn’t hear the words, but I knew he was talking to her.

When I called him, I was sick to my stomach.

I knew I was splitting hairs by doing DeSantis’s work at the same time as helping Rian.

After exchanging greetings and having Papà ask if I was okay, I explained what was occurring and how Rian asked me to go to Aspen with him to find a way to resolve it.

When I was through explaining, I held my breath, waiting for his reply.

What he said blew me away. Recalling it made me want to squeal.

“Bambina, if your man needs the kind of help you can provide, then you must assist him. Your brothers and I can handle the office. It’s wonderful that they would ask you to be an ongoing resource for them. You have a gift for the work. Go help Rian, and we’ll see you on Monday.”

“Papà, thank you. I wasn’t expecting you to react this way. I thought I’d have a fight on my hands,” I admitted.

“I could do that, but it would only alienate you, and I don’t want that, Gia.

I hope you and Rian are happy together and that you build a fabulous life.

I pray it’ll be a long one. I want to hold your children and bounce them on my knees.

If I want that, I can’t oppose everything you do.

I will go along with it as long as he doesn’t hurt you. Tell Rian he has you with my blessing.”

“Thank you. What about my brothers?”

“You leave them to me. Buonanotte, divertiti e stai al sicuro. Ti amo, Gia. Goodnight, have fun, and be safe. I love you, Gia.”

“Ti amo anch’io, Papà. I love you too, Papà.”

Filled with happiness and excitement now that I had his blessing, I rushed into the bedroom. “Rian, you won’t believe…”

Scanning the room, I noted it was empty.

Thinking he was in the bathroom, I went to it, but the light was out and it was dark.

I swore he said to meet him here. Had I misunderstood, or had he gone to do something elsewhere?

I was about to hunt him when I got a fright.

The wall next to where I was standing opened.

I gasped and stumbled back. Rian came out. He appeared amused.

“What the hell is that? You never showed me this on the tour,” I exclaimed.

“You’re right, I didn’t. I was saving it as a surprise. I thought tonight was a good time to reveal it. Before we go inside, tell me how your call went with your dad.”

“Surprisingly well. I’m all set to go.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Next, go ahead if you’d like to bathe or do anything before we get started. I plan to shower, and then I’ll show you my secret.” He smirked.

“What if I want you to bathe with me? Would that be an option? It might start things rolling,” I purred.

Just thinking of what might be in that secret room and what Rian had in store for me had my body reacting. My tits tingled, and my nipples hardened. Between my legs, my pussy became slick. After working today, I did want to bathe before we did anything sexual to dirty ourselves back up.

“I’ll grant your request. But Gianna, tonight, I’m in control.

You can ask, but I can’t promise to grant everything.

Only if it agrees with what I want or will lead to enhancing our pleasure will I allow it.

You and I need to talk soon about the limits, but know that since we haven’t, tell me if I demand something you don’t want.

If you say red, I’ll stop. But if you’re only hesitant, say yellow, and we’ll slow down and work our way to it.

Truthfully, we should have this all out of the way first, but I couldn’t wait,” he confessed.

His words triggered scenes from films I’d watched and books I’d read about the BDSM scene. The way he was talking, I had to ask, “Rian, are you a Dom? And if so, are you part of a club?”

He walked over to me. After he took my hand, Rian guided me to the bathroom, where he turned on the shower. As we removed our clothing, he answered.

“What do you know of sex clubs? Have you been to one?” There was a slight edge to his tone. It sounded like the idea upset him.

“Have you?” I countered.

“You answer first,” he demanded. I caught myself about to argue. He said to do as he demanded.

“I have not, but I admit, I wondered about them. I’m curious, but I was too chicken to go alone. I’ve read about them and seen films about what they’re supposedly like. I’m not completely clueless. Now, will you tell me if you’ve been to any?”

“I’ve only ever been to one, and while I’ve gone more than once, I’ve never been with anyone repeatedly. I had a few scenes and watched more than I participated. Being an O’Sheeran comes with scrutiny. I had to be careful. But it wasn’t as bad for me as it is for Cathal.”

“Cathal? Why would it be worse for him?”

“You investigated us. Surely, you looked into the businesses we own,” he said.

As soon as he did, it clicked. They owned a sex club called Wicked Desires. Cathal was the one who ran it.

“So he does more than just go there to oversee a business?” I muttered.

I hadn’t searched for sexual or personal matters, just business. Rian tugged me into the shower stall with him. It was large enough for several people and had three shower heads. One was a waterfall-type from above in the middle. I stood under it.

“Exactly. My cousin is into it much more than I am. He has to be careful what he does and who sees him, or it gets plastered everywhere. There have been things written about him and his ‘deviant desires.’ He hates it, but he can only be more careful.”

I was washing my hair while he washed his.

“I’m sorry he has to deal with that. Do you think of yourself as being deviant because of your need to be dominant?

Should I feel I am because I like to be told what to do?

And, to a degree, pushed? I think it’s ridiculous for people to put negative labels on anything they don’t understand or disagree with,” I told him.

“Me too. I have to admit something. I’m scared, Gianna,” he admitted.

Hearing Rian say that shocked me. I stopped rinsing my hair. “Rian, what are you scared of?”

“That I’ll take you to the room and show you the other part of me, and you’ll say it’s not for you. Or it’s too much. Or something else about it will turn you away from me. I’ll say it again. I want and need you. That kind of sex I don’t have to have.”

“No, but you want it and maybe even need it. Ri, I don’t believe you’ll do, say, or have anything I can’t cope with. Unless you have toys covered in spikes that you like to beat and mutilate your partner with,” I joked.

He raised an eyebrow. My heart skipped a beat, and then he laughed. “No, I don’t have those, but some individuals do. If that gets them and their partners off, they should do what pleases them.”

I playfully shoved him. He laughed harder. “Hush and let’s get done. I’m anxious to see what’s hidden in there. By the way, that is cool, the way you have no idea it’s there.”

“I wanted to have it hidden, but not because I’m afraid people will see and judge.

More than that, it’s a personal part of me that not everyone needs to know or see if they tour the house.

There are two other entrances like it. One is located in the master closet, and the other is in my office downstairs.

They go to an underground network of tunnels and a central Command Center that we use mainly to run the Hounds’ operations.

The family can escape into them and off the property if needed.

That is something we don’t advertise, Gianna. But you’re mine now. You need to know.”

“ Miele , thank you for trusting me with that. I swear, my lips are sealed. I won’t even tell my family.”

“Thank you, and yes, let’s keep it between us, at least until I get them to accept me.”

I nodded my agreement. We’d completed our quick wash by the time he told me the last part. Stepping onto the heated floors, which I loved, Rian wrapped me in a warm towel and twisted my hair up in another before he dried himself. When I went to dry myself, he shook his head.

“No, stay like that. I’ll take care of you.”

I stood still but let my eyes devour him.

After our first time last night, when we were so impatient, we could admire each other’s bodies the second and third time.

I mapped the tats that Rian had, and he got to see mine.

Mine was on my left hip and right shoulder, while his was on his shoulders, chest, and back.

His family coat of arms was one of them.