“Do I need to wine and dine you?” I tease. “I’m a pretty good cook. I think I’m pretty capable of achieving that.”
Gio chuckles. He does let me pour some wine and cook for us. When I ask about what he’s been up to, he tells me without hesitation. How he’s been working for my father, practicing his photography hobby, and trying to help his brother break out as a YouTube star. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like I have much to report.
When Gio notices me squirm under the question, he takes my hand. “For the record, I don’t think your father is doing the right thing.”
“With what? Being an underhanded sleeze at work, bullying me and those around me, caging me? There are a lot of options here.”
“With you. You have more potential when it comes to business than anyone I’ve met. You focus on the numbers as much as the people and you could really dominate the industry if he’d let you. He’s shooting himself in the foot there.”
I shrug.
“And he should let you live. Let you make your own mistakes. You are a damn good person like you said. He should be proud. I’m proud to be considered your friend, Juliana.”
“I’m trying to get you out of the friend zone.” I remind him, uncomfortable talking about myself.
I feel like that’s all people do. They talk about me, talk around me, but never consider what I have to say, what I think, what I feel.
Gio takes my hand. “What are you thinking?”
“That you can read minds to ask that question.”
He chuckles. “I mean it. I know I’m bringing up stuff you don’t like talking about.”
“I just don’t understand my father and I feel like he doesn’t want me to understand, he just wants me to obey. Maybe I should because I have a good life thanks to the money he brings in and I’ve never had to struggle, but I’m not wired that way. I have my own wants and desires that just get steamrolled because he wants to protect me.” I use air quotes to emphasize.
Gio tucks some of my hair behind my ear. “Doesn’t sound like you have a choice.”
I suck my bottom lip.
“We’ll have to burn his steamroller and set you free.”
I meet Gio’s eyes. “Really?”
“We won’t burn the whole world down, but a controlled burn lets better things grow.”
“Keep talking like that and I won’t be held responsible for jumping you.”
“Isn’t that the point of seducing you?” Gio smirks. “Especially if I’m seducing you while meaning every single word.”
I groan and fit my mouth to his. He sucks my tongue, nibbles my bottom lip, kisses me without holding a single thing back. I cup the back of his neck as he strokes through my hair and kisses me again and again.
When he lays me back, I have a feeling we aren’t going to stop and that’s fine with me. After last time, he promised me his cock next, and I’m ready to cash in on that tab. But Gio draws back once I start trying to get his shirt off.
“Oh no you don’t.”
“Gio!”
“I’m a second date kind of guy.”
I narrow my eyes. “I’ve already had my mouth around your cock.”
“Believe me, I remember.”
“And my dad might try to sneak cameras in here to make sure we’re not doing exactly this.”
“Not a good enough reason for us to have sex.”
First Konstantin not wanting to rush and now Gio holding back. I take a frustrated breath. “So I have to take you out on a date, but you don’t want any overlap between you and the others. Explain to me how that’s possible.”