Page 94 of Trust Me
I’m overall feeling bubbly, content and more happy than I’ve been in a long time.
“I love seeing you smile, dolcezza. Of all the art in the world, that right there is the most beautiful thing.” His voice is soft, eyes glistening with so much damn love as he stares at me.
I fork the last bite of pudding into my mouth, letting the sweetness marinate on my tongue while I gather the courage to do what I’ve been wanting to do. I push my chair back and stand, making Elio’s eyebrows rise in concern, but then I settle onto his lap and he becomes content.
I push the single strand of hair that likes to hang over his forehead back, running my fingers lightly over his scalp. Elio sighs whimsically, at peace with me on his lap, my hands tangled in his hair.
It’s with a steady breath that I finally open my heart fully to him. “You want to know what I love?”
He nods, his hand gripping my outer thigh while the other palms my back.
“I love how attentive you are to the needs of others, always taking the utmost care of those you love.”
Elio grins, looking boyish.
“I love your mind, for how smart and creative it is. I love your body because, well, it’s sexy as fuck.” I giggle, which makes him chuckle.
“I love how gentle you are with me, how patient and sweet you can be. But I also love that you can be rough with me, while still treating me with respect. You’ve never once made me feel embarrassed for my lack of experience. Instead, you made me—still make me—feel safe, sexy and cherished.”
Elio’s forest-green eyes are locked on mine, not missing a beat as I continue. “I love that you challenge me and how you’re helping me grow my business. It means more to me than you’ll ever know. I love all the gestures, from flying your damn plane across the country to get me a dress, to taking notes for me when I was sick. The big and the small, they all matter to me. You matter to me, a lot.”
His eyes sparkle, drinking me in as he knows what I’m about to say next. And I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life than these three words attached to his name.
“I love you, Elio Mazzo.” My voice is soft, eyes glistening with unshed tears. I usually tease Aurora for being the emotional one, but damn it, Elio broke my defenses down.
“I love you, Jasmine, so fucking much. I want it all with you. A marriage, babies, traveling, helping you run your bakery shop. Anything and everything, I want it with you and only you.”
“I do too, all of it and more,” I admit. “But no kids right now. I want to start my life first if that’s okay.”
Elio laughs, the sound vibrating against my ribs. “More than okay. I might be older than you, but I’m in no rush either.”
“Oh, trust me, babe, I know. Your body can’t keep up the way it used to,” I goad him.
A single brow arches, his eyes darkening. “That so, dolcezza? I guess I’ll have to remind you all night long that my body doesn’t just keep up, it sets the pace. It determines when and how you orgasm. It has you screaming my name, and only mine. Remember this when you’re begging me to let you come later.”
“A reminder is definitely needed.” I smirk, knowing we have a very, very long night ahead of us.
“How about a reminder of how much I love you?” he asks, reaching into his pocket as he pulls out a green velvet box.
I eye him skeptically, praying it’s not a ring…but maybe also hoping it is, because I’ve fallen so deep for this man.
He hands it to me, the velvet feeling smooth in my hands. “Open it,” he urges me.
I do as he says and open the box to find a charm piece like the one my grandma got me.
It’s what started this between Elio and me because had I not gotten that gift from her and worn it all the time, including in my videos, Elio would’ve never learned my secret and used it to get me to move in with him.
Except this charm is a chess piece, a queen. Elio removes it from the box, gently grabbing my wrist so that he can add it to my bracelet. He attaches it to the rose gold chain, his eyes focused.
I admire it on my wrist, watching how it catches the sunrays and reflects the gold back at me. My throat becomes clogged with emotion because this signifies what changed our relationship, one damn game of chess.
It also symbolizes our situation, and ultimately, it was me who brought him to his knees, much like the queen does in chess. All of it is very fitting and I can’t handle how fucking cute it is.
I wrap my arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly. “This is so cute. I love it, and you, very”—I kiss his neck—“very”—another kiss to his jaw—“very”—one to his cheek—“much.” And finally on his full lips. He kisses me back reverently, like I’m something to be cherished, and it only intensifies the butterflies swirling in my stomach. It’s now a damn conservatory in here.
“You’re welcome, dolcezza, and get used to it, because I’m only getting started with spoiling you.” He beams, his face lit up with so much love as he looks at me.
“I think I could get on board with that. In fact, I know how you can start.”