I look over at Gio’s face. He’s so angry with me. Looking back down into my lap, I lift my headphones back onto my head and press play. Tears build as Brandy’s “I’m Yours” plays. This is what I need Gio to understand.
I will forever be his, I’m not saying I don’t want him. I have enough love for them both. I didn’t mean to cause this, I only wanted to show him what could be.
I stand up and go to climb into his lap. He purses his lips and glares at me but doesn’t stop me from settling in place. I place the CD player in my lap, then take the headphones and place them over his ears. I press the button to restart the song.
He cradles his arms around me and tugs me into him. I melt into his embrace, leaning my head against his shoulder, then lift my hand to cup his handsome face. He looks into my eyes with his hazel gaze.
His gaze softens as he listens. Some of the anger fades and I push my hand into his thick, dark, messy locks. He cups the back of my neck as he leans in and crushes my lips.
It’s like I’m breathing for the first time in a week. I’ve missed this so much. He deepens the kiss, pulling a moan from me.
I run my fingers through his hair, knocking the headphones out of place. The music is loud enough to still be heard. Gio shoves a hand into my box braids and groans. It’s then Jace’s scoff rings out, causing Gio to stiffen and his anger to return.
“Please don’t,” I whisper softly.
Gio places his forehead to mine. “What about that kiss…what about me…makes you think I can’t give you everything you need?”
“I never said you couldn’t—”
He stands, cutting me off and causing me to come to my feet. “Yes, yes, you are telling me this,” he growls.
“No, I’m not. You read all the things I gave you. You did your own research. You understood before…”
“Before I found you kissing him?” He folds his arms across his chest and tilts his head to the side.
I turn and face the sliding doors of the bedroom, staring out at the pool as the curtains bellow in the ever so slight breeze from the fan. I wish I could jump into the water and hide from this. I don’t want him to be angry with me.
“She only kissed me to see if the connection was there before—”
“If you don’t shut the fuck up,” Gio snarls.
I whip around to make sure he’s not charging at Jace. I don’t want them to fight over me again. Although, Jace is right. We only kissed to see if we had a real connection. One as strong as the one I have with Gio.
“She’s fifteen.”
“You’re both only sixteen. What’s a year?”
“Shut up, Ny. Just shut up.” I pout and fold my arms over my chest. “You know how long it took me to call her mine. How hard I fought with it.”
He turns back to me and points a finger. “And you, why do I always have to do what you want? I wanted to wait until your sixteenth birthday to take you on a date and become your boyfriend. No, it had to be now or never, you drive me crazy, Ny.”
“But you love me. That’s why you do things for me. You can’t help it because you love me.”
I smile as I search his face. I can still fix this. He loves me. He’ll give me anything I want.
He pushes a hand through his hair and growls at me. Then in Italian he grumbles. “Questo... questo è ciò di cui mi occupo.”
I move to cup his jaw. “Yet, deal with me you will. I love you, Gio. You will always be everything to me.”
With that, I lift on my toes and kiss him. He wraps my waist in his arms and holds me tight, swaying me from side to side. He kisses me hard. It’s his way of showing his dominance. I’m okay with that because my submission is for him. However, Jace is what I need to survive who Gio will become.
I may only be fifteen, but I see and know a lot. I get this life of ours. Ava is grooming us all for something, something we’ll need each other for.
We may not need each other this way, but in my heart, I know this feels right. I didn’t meet that couple for no reason, my interest was piqued, and now I want it all.
I push one hand into Gio’s hair and hold my other hand out behind my back. A smile comes to my face when Jace’s warm palm slips into mine. He gets it too. He doesn’t want to hurt Gio, he wants to see us happy.