I glance back at him. “Yes.” His tender concern is doing funny things to my insides. I flinch when his cool fingers land on my back.
“Relax. Take deep breaths.” His large palms glide carefully over my back as he applies the anti-bruising cream.
“Is this our thing now?” I say in a sleepy voice.
“I sincerely hope not.” He massages the cream in with confident strokes. “I don’t like seeing you hurt.”
“They’re only bruises.” I’m hurting way more inside, but I don’t share that sentiment. He doesn’t need me to anyway.
“Turn over.”
I lift my head and look back at him.
“I’m not trying anything, Gia. That is the last thing you need tonight, and I will never take advantage of you.”
I mock pout because I wouldn’t say no to some sexy time, but he’s right. It’s been a testing day, and it’s not the best time to make those kinds of potentially life-changing decisions. I already know sex with Joshua is going to be transcendental, and I’d rather wait until I’m not emotionally wrought and in pain. “I know you wouldn’t. You’re a good man, Joshua Accardi,” I say as I turn over, exposing my tits and my stomach.
“I’mnota good man, but I can be good for you.” His eyes drill into mine, and he purposely avoids looking at my chest, gently rolling the waistband of my pajamas down until my hips are exposed. He’s diligent in applying the cream and avoiding looking at my intimate parts. It only makes my heart beat harder for him. His touch warms my skin, sending delicious tremorsskating across my flesh as he works the ointment in. I can’t stifle my whimper in time. I’m a strange combo of sleepy and aroused, and my core is pulsing with the need to feel his fingers in me and on me.
“There. All done.” His voice is gruff, his pupils are dilated, and he doesn’t hide when he adjusts his erection behind his boxers.
Tension crackles in the air as we stare at one another. Leaning down over me, he presses a passionate kiss to my lips. Our chests brush in the process, and my body is totally down for this. But he pulls back, grabbing my top and helping me back into it. “Not tonight, honey.” He lies down, guiding me to his chest. “I don’t want our first time to be tarnished with the things that happened tonight. And you need rest.” He kisses the top of my head. “Sleep, darling. I’ve got you.”
I nestle into his side and fall asleep way too fast for my liking. I would have preferred to savor the joyful memory of being held and adored by him as we slept side by side for the first time.
When I wake, Joshua is already gone. His side of the bed is still warm, so he hasn’t been gone too long. There’s a note beside my bed explaining he had to attend an emergency meeting of The Commission and confirming he left breakfast for me in the kitchen.
The fact I’m smiling as I crawl out of bed is all thanks to Joshua. He transformed one of the worst days of my life into one of the best. I know I’m falling for him, and as I survey the decadent breakfast awaiting me in the kitchen, I can’t find a single reason why I shouldn’t.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Joshua
“We asked Leo to attend today as he has vital intel that could shed light on the situation,” Ben says after we are all seated around the table at Commission Central.
“What exactly did Gia overhear?” Leo asks, and I repeat it for the room.
“Shit. That is not good.” Leo shakes his head, looking deep in thought.
“Tell us what you know,” Massimo says.
“The Barone were a group of made men from Jersey. They were a bit of a laughingstock in our circles. Disorganized and a chaotic mess. They lost control of their business, and they started taking on jobs to pay the bills. They became known as the hit men of themafioso.” He levels a look at Caleb, Fiero, and Massimo. “Though none of them could hold a torch to you three.” All three men trained in Nepal, and Massimo was a contract killer for years, in secret, before he gave it up to take control of hisfamigliaand marry Donna Conti.
“Why don’t we know anything about them?” Caleb asks.
“Because we took them out,” Leo calmly explains. “Carlo Greco was the original Greco heir, and your mom was contracted to marry him. He was a monster.”
“The worst kind,” Massimo agrees. He has never defended his now-deceased older brother.
Leo grips the arms of his chair. “Carlo hired the Barone to kidnap your mother a few months before their wedding.” Anger flares in his eyes. “They would have succeeded if I wasn’t there to stop them.” He rubs at his shoulder. “I took a bullet to ensure they didn’t get their hands on her.”
“Why would he do that?” Caleb looks confused. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“Nothing ever did when it came to my brother.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” our stepdad says. “What matters is we wiped them from existence. Or so we thought.” He sighs, scrubbing a hand across his chin.
“Who was involved, and how did it go down?” Fiero inquires, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt.
