Page 48 of Crimson Fate
With a final, deep thrust, I groan and explode in her mouth, filling her with my release. Gia swallows convulsively and continues to suck, her tongue gently stroking me as I empty myself into her. When I’ve finished, I gently pull out of her mouth, resting my hands on her head as I catch my breath.
“Fuck, Gia,” I manage to get out between gasps for air. “That was incredible.”
She smiles up at me, her eyes shining with triumph. “When you love what you do...” she says with a playful smirk as she shrugs, hopping up on the seat next to me.
I pull her close and wrap my arms around her, kissing her deeply. My taste lingers on her tongue.
“It shows you love it,” I whisper against her lips.
We sit in silence for a while, the waves lapping against the side of the boat as if echoing our contentment. I glance at my watch, and as much as I don’t want the adventure to end, the fact I haven’t had a cell signal for most of the day weighs heavy on me.
“Fuck, I hate to say it, but should we probably head back?” I ask as I start the engines and press the button for the anchor to retract.
“Oh, do we have to?” Gia asks, sticking out a pouty lip. “It’s so peaceful out here.”
I chuckle at Gia’s playful protest, her expression tugging at my heartstrings. “Unfortunately, yes,” I say with a sigh, maneuvering the boat away from the cove. “But don’t worry, we’ll have many more days like this one.”
Gia’s eyes sparkle as she leans against the railing, watching the horizon. “I’ll hold you to that,” she says, her voice filled with a mixture of hope and anticipation.
“It’s funny,” I add. “I didn’t realize how much I missed this place or being out on the water until now. I’ve been so preoccupied with everything—”
“That’s understandable,” she interjects. “You have so much on your mind. It’s a lot.”
“It really is,” I admit, finding comfort in her empathy. We settle into a quietness as the shoreline comes into focus. As we speed back toward civilization, I feel a pang of unease in the pit of my stomach. The worries I had pushed aside earlier now resurface with renewed intensity.
Once we dock and walk up to the house, I’m lost in thought.
“Do you mind if I freshen up real quick?” she asks.
“Not at all,” I reply, my mind still preoccupied with the mounting concerns. “Take your time.”
As Gia disappears into the house, I take a moment to gather my thoughts. The reality of my world begins to close in, suffocating the joy I find in Gia’s presence. The countless threats hang over me like a storm cloud on the horizon.
Chapter Eighteen
“Then he says, ‘That’s not a dog, that’s my wife!’” Nico’s bellow slices through the quiet of the afternoon as I make my way into the kitchen. Laughter bubbles up from Gia, rich and unrestrained, echoing off the tile walls.
I lean against the doorframe, arms crossed over my chest, an eyebrow lifting of its own volition. I never pegged Nico for a funny guy. He’s always been more... sharp edges and shadowed glances. But here he is, cracking jokes like some stand-up comedian.
Gia’s eyes are bright, cheeks flushed with genuine amusement. She’s leaning back against the counter, her guard down, her smile wide and infectious. For a moment, I forget who I am—a don with ice in his veins—and I just watch her, reveling in her happiness.
“Vincent!” she exclaims, her laughter dying into a soft chuckle when she spots me.
The shift in the air is almost tangible as Nico follows her gaze. His posture stiffens; the easy charm he carried himself with evaporates like mist under the sun. “Boss,” he greets, the word heavy, like it’s being dragged out of him.
“Nico,” I say, my voice low. My presence, it seems, can turn a room cold and laughter into silence.
“Uh, I’ll leave you guys to it then,” Nico says as he steps toward the exit at the other end of the kitchen.
“Oh no, you don’t have to go, do you?” Gia pleads as I continue watching the two of them.
“Got things to take care of, you know?” The lightness in his response feels forced.
“Actually, I’d appreciate it if you could get everything ready to drive Gia back to the city,” I interject, my tone neutral. Still, my eyes lock onto his for an instant. An entire conversation is held in the look shared between two men who understand the unsaid words.
“Yes, sir,” Nico says, tipping an imaginary hat at Gia before he exits without question, a little too eager to put distance between us.
“Wait, I thought we had one more night here,” Gia says, looking at me with a question in her eyes.