Page 9 of Merciless Attraction
Chapter 4: Antonio
I’m playing with fire. Falling for Gemma is out of the question. Yet, the desire for her to know how I feel overrules my logic at every turn.
Shades of crimson bloom over Gemma’s cheeks as she turns away just as the elevator doors open. Low lights flick on as we step into the living room area. The kitchen is directly to the right of the entryway with an island separating it from the rest of the first floor.
“I didn’t think you heard that,” she says shyly and steps into the open space.
The incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge from large windows lining the wall draws her deeper into the room. I can see her in this space, coming home to me every night. I want her to stay, but I know love isn’t in the cards for either of us.
Instead of dwelling on what could be, I move into the kitchen, getting her a glass of water and bringing it to her by the window. As she takes small sips, I watch her, the doctor inside of me worrying about any lingering side effects of the drugs she ingested.
“How are you feeling, Gemma?” I ask her.
“I’m feeling like I can’t catch my breath,” she whispers with her gaze fixed outside of the window. The slight stammer in her voice tells me the weight of the night’s events are catching up with her. “I fled, Antonio. I ran from New York like a fucking coward—”
Her shoulders shake with a mild tremble. Without hesitation, I pull her in for a hug. It’s not sexual. There’s no desire inside of me but to make her feel safe. Again, she’s so small in my arms.
Flashes of her passing out wash over me and I scoop her into my arms.
“Antonio‚—” My name stumbles off her lips.
I stop her, “You’re no fucking coward, Gem.”
“You don’t know what I did.”
“I don’t need to know,” I tell her, taking her up a single flight of stairs to my loft bedroom. I place her gently on the bed. But, before I can pull away, she wraps her arm around my neck.
“Antonio,” she inhales sharply, trying desperately to muffle the tears threatening to fall. “I killed someone.”
“So have I,” I tell her nonchalantly.
Gemma’s gorgeous gray eyes scan mine for more, but I shake my head and let my hand gently slide strands of hair out of her face. There’s no reason to hash all of that out tonight. We’ve both been through enough without dredging up memories that will douse the flames of desire she has in her eyes for me.
“You don’t have to tell me anything, Gemma. Whatever you did, whatever you had to do, I’m sure it was necessary. Everything that happened tonight has nothing to do with why you left New York.”
“How can you be so sure?” She sniffs back her tears. “What I did...”
Her voice trails off, but I have to reassure her. “It doesn’t matter what you did. I can look at you now; I know your brothers, your family, you wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t necessary. Get some rest, Gemma. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
Alone in my thoughts, I walk into the bathroom. The dark slate tiles begin to heat up as soon as I flick on the lights and I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. It’s nearly two in the morning and I have a shift starting in a few hours.
A glance over my shoulder lets me look just beyond the bathroom door to see Gemma lying on my bed. She’s here, finally here, and it’s not right. This isn’t how it is supposed to happen.
I need to distract myself before I do something I’ll regret. A shower is exactly what I need. The hot water steams up the bathroom and it takes me seconds to strip out of my clothes to walk into the large shower.
The water is scalding as I wash the night off. When the glass door creaks open behind me. Gemma wafts in like a vision of beauty, floating on the steam as water trickles down her naked body. Blood courses through my veins, rushing to the most illogical part of my body.
“You don’t want to be in here,” I tell her, turning my back to the wall to hide the jagged scars scoring the skin down the right side of my back.
I wish I could say they were from one accident that changed my life forever. No. They’re a constant reminder of the credits and debits I’ve extended and spent with the Marzano crime family over the years.
“Aren’t we to be husband and wife?” she asks softly and reaching up to stroke the side of my face.
“You were drugged tonight, Gem.” I gently pull away from her touch. “You don’t want this to happen like this.”
“Don’t tell me what I want, Antonio.” Gemma licks her soft lips and lets her hand drop to my hardening cock. “I’ve wanted you for as long as I can remember. You said it yourself. The woman you want thinks you don’t want her. I’m giving you the woman you want, Antonio.”
Anger, lust, and primitive urgency shoot through me like a bullet. The emotions warring inside of me don’t stand a chance against Gemma’s lips moving in for a kiss I let happen. Soft pushes of her tongue against mine make me relax as her hands gingerly move down my muscular arms.