Page 19 of Crimson Vows

“Courage?” A bitter laugh escapes her. “Or desperation?”

“Both can be true,” I counter. “You’re strong, Gia. Stronger than you know, and you proved it that night. You’re a goddamn hero.”

Heated breaths mingle, and suddenly, my lips press hard against hers. I can feel her heart racing as her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer.

My hands roam over her back, and she arches into me. I find myself lost in the sensation, the connection that deepens with every shared breath.

We shift, lie down, bodies intertwined. We both exhale a heavy breath, sinking further into each other. She closes her eyes, and I can feel her body heavy with burdensome emotions. I press my lips against her forehead, and before we realize it’s happening, we drift off to sleep, the morning all around us, a safety in each other’s arms.

Chapter Seven

Gia

My eyes snap open. The doorbell echoes a relentless chime that spikes my pulse. I lurch upright, the silk sheets slipping from my grasp.

“Shit!” I exclaim. Breathless, I plant my palms on the mattress, steadying myself. “Nico.”

Marco stirs, his brow furrowing as he sits upright next to me. “What’s going on?” he moans, still groggy.

“You have to go,” I gasp.

“What?”

“Dammit,” I whine as I scramble out of bed. “I have a date picking me up, and we fell asleep. You need to leave now. Out the back.”

“Date?” His concern shifts to confusion, then realization. “I don’t slip out the back. I told you that you can see other men, but you won’t hide me.”

Urgency fuels my movements. The floor is cold under my feet. I need to move, to think. My mind races, chasing down the seconds I’ve lost.

I dart to the closet, searching for something to wear. Marco watches me, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “Maybe you should cancel it,” he suggests. “Stay here in bed with me.”

“Marco.” I huff. “Not funny. We agreed you wouldn’t get in the way of me dating other men.”

“Come on, Gia.” He steps out of the bed and moves closer to me, that mischievous glint not fading. “We both know you’d rather be here.”

I shake my head, insistent. “He’s waiting for me. Can we not do this right now?” I snap, tugging on a summer dress with a floral print until it slips from the hanger.

“Fine.” Marco’s smirk disappears, replaced by a hard edge. “But remember our terms, amore mio.” His gaze pins me, unmovable. “I don’t slink around for anyone and won’t be made a fool of.”

“Understood,” I huff in frustration.

“So who is this mystery man?”

Before I can answer him, the doorbell rings again.

I sigh. “I told you last night, it’s Nico.”

Marco is quiet for a moment before he stands and slides his pants on. “You take your time getting ready, and I’ll entertain him.”

“Absolutely not!” I exclaim.

Marco chuckles, and it’s clear he has no intention of listening to me as he moves toward my bedroom door. “He’s my friend, Gia. What do you think I’m going to do? I’ll be on my best behavior,” he assures me.

“If you so much as glare at Nico...” I let the threat hang between us.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says before making his way down the stairs.

The last thing I want to do is leave these two men together waiting on me, but showing up for a date with Nico smelling like sex with Marco would be inconsiderate, to say the least. I race to the bathroom, turn on the shower, and drop my chosen outfit on the vanity. I step in, and water pelts my skin, hot and insistent. Steam clouds around me, a shroud over the chaos in my head. Emotions tangle—fear, excitement, defiance. My hands move mechanically, lathering and rinsing as if I can wash away the tension that knots my stomach.

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