Too scared of what a yes might mean.
So I just disappeared. And now he's in front of me again. I duck my head, waving a hand like that will make the compliments go away.
"Okay, no—shut up," I mutter, half-laughing. "I look like I got lost in the club and just gave up."
"You look like you belong here," Carla says, eyes scanning me. "Seriously. You glow. What are you even doing here all alone?"
I laugh under my breath. "Oh, you're not gonna believe it."
I tilt my head toward Gio.
He's cornered, shirt still unbuttoned halfway down his chest, his silver chain catching the light every time he moves.
He's…devoured, by at least three people. Two guys, one girl. Carla's eyes go huge. "You came because you want Gio?!"
"No!" I shout immediately. "No. Of course not. We just came together. That's it. Literally it."
I look back at him. His lips are on a shot glass now. He downs it, or at least Ithinkthat's what he's doing, but he doesn't swallow. He turns. Stops behind some guy.
Slides a hand around the guy's neck, fingers pressing just enough to make him lean back into him. He grabs the guy's jaw, tilts his head back, and he slowly pours the shot straight into the guy's mouth.
The guy looks happy too, swallows like he's starving for it. And Gio doesn't stop. He leans in, bites the guy's lower lip, and kisses him deep.
It's not even sensual. It's absolutely raw.
Watching it feels illegal.
"Jesus. Is he—? Is this normal?!" I ask.
Dario leans in, sipping something neon green. "Oh dude, this is Gio on a leash. You should've seen him last month. I swear everyone gets a chance, except for us."
"What?"
Carla chokes on her drink, laughing. "Oh, tell him, Dario." Dario groans. "I asked him out too. One time."
I turn to him. "You wantedhim?! Are you insane?"
"What? He was hot and I was horny!" he mutters.
Carla grins. "Gio shut him down with one sentence."
Dario mimics Gio's deep voice. "You look like someone who apologizes for moaning too much..."
I lose it. "What the actual—? He said that?"
"Verbatim," Carla nods. "And then he left with a bartender and a DJ. At the same time. Who knows what they did."
I stare back toward Gio.
His hand is resting on someone's waist while he whispers something into another person's ear. There's something magneticabout the way he moves, but not in a good way, if that even makes sense.
He's the kind of person who doesn't just walk into a room, he rewrites the temperature. I sip my drink, trying not to let the heat creep up my neck. "So… this is just him?" I ask, casual as I can manage.
"Oh, babe," Carla says, "you haven't even heard thegoodstuff yet."
"Like what?"
Dario smirks. "He tagged his name on a cop car. Middle of the day. I don't know how he got away with that."
