Chapter 15

Giovanni stands in the doorway, freshly showered in nothing but a pair of black pajama pants. I trail his body with my eyes and squeeze my legs together when I see the outline of his length.

"What are you doing?"

With his question, I snap back to reality and I swallow hard before speaking as the tears are about to flood me. I'm angry and I can't hide it, but Giovanni doesn't see them as tears of anger, he thinks little Marisol is crying for what has just happened to her.

I tear my eyes from him and immediately feel him walking my way. I don't look up, even as I see his feet in my blurred vision.

"Look at me," I don't budge and his voice is rougher. "Look at me, now."

"I need to go."

"Not like this you're not."

"I have to."

"In the morning, but not now," He says as he takes my face into his strong hands. "Shower."

I decide he's not going to take no for an answer, so I stand and he unclasps my bra. He does it so fast that I don't realize until he's pulling my arms out of the straps. I shudder under his gaze and nearly combust into flames as he strokes my arms. He traces the diamond collar with his thumbs as he holds me by the neck, but not in a way that makes me defensive, it's the exact opposite.

"These tears aren't for me, so tell me who they're for," He says pulling my eyes back to his. "Were you calling your boyfriend, Gatita?"

"I don't have a boyfriend."

"So tell me, who are these tears for?"

"It's none of your concern."

Giovanni stares at me in anger and I stiffen. I wipe my eyes quickly, pulling out the 'ego trick'.

"I've never been with someone like you," I say staring down and putting on my innocent face.

Giovanni begins tracing my nipples with his fingers and they began to constrict under his touch. I feel my need growing like a raging fire, so I don't stop him. I let my body become used to the rough touch and I moan as his mouth crashes onto one of my breasts. Giovanni's tongue swirls around my nipple as a heatwave soars through my body. Just as I get ready to touch his thick black hair, he bites down.

"Gio!" I scream out, but he continues.

I nearly lose my balance, but his hand grips my waist while my head falls back in pleasure. Giovanni takes that as an invitation to begin his beautiful torment of bites and heated succulent licks. This man and his mouth are doing wonders to my body. I feel him stop and I feel dazed as he's brought me out of my pleasure trance.

"Shower and I'll give you more."

"You bargain with pleasure?" I say breathlessly.

"One day, you will, too."

Giovanni exits the bathroom and I feel his words are a promise. I enter the shower, but before I do, I notice he's left the door open. I eye my purse and its contents to be sure they're safe and once cleared, I start my shower.

I stand underneath the heated water and feel the sadness of Santiago all over again. Showers are a safe haven for tears and I've done my share. I shed tears for my loved ones and vowed once again that the Lucianos will pay. I make sure to scrub away all the hurt and prepare to put on my facade once more, before facing him.

I step out of the shower and dry myself off. As I turn towards the mirror, I see myself. I see the trail of marks he's left on me from my neck to my breasts. I turned, dropping the towel and eye my scarlet red ass in the mirror, but instead of fury, I felt a smile creep across my lips. I rub the collar gently before I feel his presence.

"Admiring my work?"

"I can't work like this," I say turning his way.

"You can and you will," He says while signaling me to come to him and like the fool I am, I make my way over.

Giovanni runs a hand through my wet hair and leaves it dripping down my bruised body. The way he stares at me, I feel another pain of loss in my chest because soon, the eyes that stare at me with lust will be blank and cold.

"Do I scare you?"

"No."

"I don't scare you?"

"I said 'no' the first time."

Giovanni lets out a throaty chuckle and I feel that maybe Scarlett should have kept her mouth closed.

I walk past Giovanni and head out of the bathroom with his eyes glued on my body. I walk over to the far left corner of the room where the glow of the fireplace is at its brightest. I notice a shiny hook on the floor, but I don't pay it any more attention before I sprawl out on the black fur rug and pretend he doesn't exist. The heat instantly drying the droplets of water on my body and my hair becoming dryer by the second. I run a hand through it before turning on my side and propping my head up on my hand.

"Do I look afraid?"

"I'm not a boy scout, Marisol." He says as he begins to move in. "I kill people and I don't bat a fucking eyelash."

I want to tell him that that's what we have in common more than our attraction to each other, but I don't. Instead, I answer,

"I'm still not afraid of you."

Giovanni walks away briefly and I continue my charade of pretending like he doesn't exist. When he returns, he begins circling me like a shark about to attack his prey, but I don't budge. I watch him whenever he came into my vision and I wonder what he's thinking. When he kneels down by my feet with his legs shoulder-width apart and his arms behind his back, I turn and lay on my back facing him.

It never dawned on me that I was completely naked in front of him and completely unashamed. I found myself smiling uncontrollably as he stared down at me and he just stands there, staring back. Giovanni raises a brow and I couldn't hold back any longer, I burst out in laughter. I was in mid laughter when I felt a swift wind and before I knew it, I was staring up at Giovanni. His jaded green eyes were locked on mine and for the first time ever, I froze.