Page 53 of Crimson Vows
“I told you, Gia,” I attempt to reassure her. “I’ve got you.”
Her lip trembles slightly before she manages to recompose herself. “I know, it’s just—what if things don’t go how we want? I can’t lose you too. Not right now. Not when I feel so alone.”
My heart clenches at the vulnerability in her voice, the fear of losing me evident in her eyes. Moving closer, I take her hands, grounding her with my touch.
“That’s why we have to be careful, okay? Take our time with this plan,” I explain. “We’ll know when the time is right. I have to make him see how hard life would be without me looking out for him.”
“You really think he’ll listen?”
“Probably not, but I’m hoping maybe eventually,” I answer, wishing the desperation wasn’t so obvious in my voice.
She searches my eyes for a beat before nodding slowly, a silent agreement passing between us.
“Marco,” she whispers, her voice uncertain. “There’s something I want you to know.”
Anxiety knots my stomach. “What is it?”
“It’s about us,” she confesses.
“Okay, just tell me,” I urge her.
Her hands tremble in mine, and there is a nervous flutter in her eyes. “I can’t explain it. Honestly, it makes no sense to me at all, but after the other night with Dante and Nico and you, something has changed.”
Fear grips me as I press for her to continue.
“I haven’t been able to quit thinking about it, but I don’t want anyone else but you,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. The confession hangs in the air between us, heavy with unspoken implications.
“I don’t understand. I thought that being with other men was something you needed. That it wasn’t negotiable.” I attempt to clarify, nervous to let hope take hold.
“I never thought I would feel this way.” Her words falter as emotion threatens to overwhelm her. “I know sharing me doesn’t come naturally to you, but I could tell that all you wanted was to make me happy.”
“That’s all I ever want.”
Her words are raw, and I can feel their honesty and intensity. “That’s what made that night so incredible. If you can push past the things that make you uncomfortable for me, I want to do the same thing for you. If I ever allow a man besides you to touch me again, I would only want it to be with you as a part of the experience.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m telling you if that’s something you are never okay with, that’s fine. I’d rather never experience something like that again than experience it without you,” Gia admits.
Her revelation leaves me stunned. I never expected her to feel this way, to want me to have complete control over her. “I guess I should probably share something with you too.”
She tilts her head back to look up at me, question in her eyes.
“That night we all had with you was one of the most deeply intimate experiences I have shared with another human being. I haven’t been able to quit thinking about it either. To see the raw pleasure on your face and hear the sounds of satisfaction we were able to draw out of you,” I confide.
Gia’s eyes widen in response. “Well, I didn’t expect that from you.”
I laugh, pulling her closer to me. “I will live every day for the rest of our lives looking for ways to show you how much you mean to me. If that means sharing you with other men, I am happy to be a part of that.” As I hold her there, standing in front of the fire, I can see how unbreakable this newfound bond is.
Chapter Twenty
MARCO
The phone vibrates in my pocket as I steer the car into the parking garage, thoughts of my night with Gia lingering in my mind. I pull into the reserved spot and look at the face of the phone, surprised when I see Amelia’s name on the screen. Since becoming an Ivanov, communication with her is limited at best.
“Good morning, cousin,” I say as I answer the call, curious if Vincent has asked her to check in on me while he’s away. Based on his recent call, it’s clear his faith in my abilities is lacking.
“We need to talk.” Amelia’s voice is sharp and urgent. I kill the engine.