Page 113 of His to Have
“You don’t need to thank me for protecting a woman I’ve always loved.”
Teo looked at my father with genuine respect, but there was still something in his expression that said — don’t fuck with me I protect what’s mine, even from you. So tread lightly.
I don’t know why, but heat rushed through me so fast it almost stole my breath. The way he claimed me openly, and dominated silently had my knees weak and I saw the moment my father realized Teo didn’t play about me. Not even a little bit.
A few minutes passed by, where something passed between them — an understanding — one that I may never fully understand. For the first time, my father was realizing that his role as my primary protector had been passed to the man he had chosen for me, and more importantly, that Teo had stepped into it completely.
Teo wasn’t asking for permission or approval; this was him acknowledging his gratitude while also making it clear that my well-being would always come first, even if it meant redirecting conversations with my father.
And Samuel Reed... he understood and accepted it.
“Your mother tells me you’ve been in Italy. How was it?” He changed the subject and pulled me closer, gently encouraging me to take a seat near his bedside. A quiet breath escaped me, thankful for the shift in discussion.
“It was perfect.”
“Good.” His voice was softer now, and slightly slower. “You look... happy.”
I considered it for a moment. Italy had been a refuge for me. A place where I found a new kind of peace and was able to separate family politics from my personal needs. Did it solve all of my problems, or cure all of my worries? Absolutely not. But it gave me the clarity I needed to face them, and be somewhat at peace with them.
“I am.” I breathed slowly, feeling the truth settle over me.
Despite everything, I was truly happy.
“Tell me everything?” He looked at both Teo and I, genuinely eager to hear about our time away from the states.
I smiled, exchanging a quick glance with Teo, before launching into stories of our time in Italy.
For the next hour, we sat with him while I described the villa, the markets, the peaceful mornings, all in awe of the beauty. Daddy listened intently, asking questions about the food, knowing how much I loved trying new dishes. Then he questioned if we visited any of the wineries or famous vineyards Teo’s parents often raved about.
We hadn’t. But we did visit a small family-owned vineyard nestled near our villa. It was intimate in a way I didn’t realize I needed. The owners were extremely hospitable, and even sent ushome with a bottle of their famous red wine, which we promised to open on a special occasion.
“Sounds... sounds like you found what you needed there,” Daddy said slowly, his words deliberate. “The peace... in your eyes. I can see it.”
“It was exactly what we needed,” I agreed, squeezing his hand.
This went on until his eyelids grew heavy, and my mother returned from her slumber.
A few days later, sleep still clung to my features as I sat on the edge of the bed with my hair flowing freely, and sleep lines pressing into one cheek. I blinked, slowly, attempting to adjust my eyes to the morning light pouring in through my home. From the bathroom, the faint scrape of a drawer and the muffled shuffle of movement filtered through the cracked door before he walked out looking as gorgeous as ever.
The steam from his shower followed behind him as he moved toward me. I couldn’t help but take in every detail — the way the water droplets traced paths down his chest, disappearing into the white towel wrapped low around his waist. Another towel worked through his damp curls while every tattoo across his torso was on full display.
He leaned down, placing a soft kiss on my lips that tasted like mint toothpaste.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured against my lips, his hand smoothing down my messy hair.
“Morning,” I hummed against his mouth, still half asleep but very much aware of his presence. “You have plans this morning?”
“Yeah, gotta handle a few things before we head back to New York.”
“New York?” I pulled back slightly to look at his face.
He straightened up, reaching for a pair of boxer briefs from the dresser. “I need to handle the Gianni situation. He’s lost control of his people, and it’s creating a cash problem for everyone.” He dropped the towel and pulled his underwear up, then grabbed an undershirt from a different drawer and slid it over his head before continuing. “We can’t be aligned with someone who’s lost control of his family. It’s not good for business.”
I nodded slowly, processing what he was telling me. It made sense from a business standpoint.
“I know you want to stay here a bit longer. But...” he trailed, giving my face a once over.
“I understand,” I said quietly. “When are we leaving?”
