My brow furrows as my fingers curl into a fist, punching right into his chest. I step back, holding my hand with the other. I think that did me more harm than him.Holy fuck, that hurt.
“It’s your thumb. You should have tucked it into your fist, like so.”
“Oh, well, thank you so much.”
“You done now?”
I look down at my feet, my body shaking with anger. Even if I am still pissed, he was right: that did help somewhat. “Yeah,” I mumble as he laughs, putting his arm around me.
“Brava.”
27NINA
We stand in the elevator going up to the first floor, the penthouse. I don’t know where I expected Gio to live, but this wasn’t it.
I glance over in his direction. His arms are tense, holding my bags. Looking down at my feet I remember everything that has happened over the past two hours.
The elevator chimes as the foiled doors open slowly.
Giovanni’s arms gesture for me to walk before him.
I take a step out, and the overwhelming smell of man surrounds me. How can the smell of him feel like the biggest hug?
The windows cover the wall from floor to ceiling. They’re so large they remind me of the windows of a storefront.
I can feel him behind me, big and captivating.
“You have a really nice place,” I say as I walk toward the middle of the apartment. It’s open concept. There is only one hallway leading to the bedroom.
I didn’t think there would be a place nicer than my home, but that idea is canceled out. Being here makes me feel like a damn princess.
The people below in the city look like ants. They’re so far away it feels like I’m in another world, just spectating.
“Thank you.” He puts the bags on a couch that looks like it’s made of clouds.
Everything in his place is clean and white. But there are hardly any pictures. The only one I saw was a picture of a forest when I walked out of the elevator.
“Gio.” I look over at him. “What is going on?”
“It’s just not safe.”
I nod and place myself on the couch. It’s just as comfortable as it looks. There is a flat-screen hanging off the wall, much bigger than anything I have ever watched from.
“I thought you didn’t have time for movies.”
“Nina, let me take you to bed. I think you need to get some sleep.”
He takes a couple of steps toward me, reaching his hand out for mine.
I get up by myself. “Show me to my room?”
He clears his throat as he tilts his head toward the hallway and opens the door across from the room I assume is his. The bed is a California king with gray bedding and there’s black furniture—the complete opposite of the main room.
The bed that is meant to be mine looks smaller than his, but just as nice. I take off my earrings and bracelets and place them on the nightstand. Giovanni doesn’t say anything else as he closes the door behind him.
Hot-and-cold.
* * *