The knock at his open door came just as Gio rewound the story and he gulped hard not wanting Bianca to see the emotion he was feeling.
“Hey,” he said, unable to even look at her so he hit play and watched the TV instead.
“You okay?” She stood next to him and watched silently as the entire story replayed. As soon as it was over Gio rewound it again. Just like the other stories he watched over and over again back home, he thought maybe he’d grow immune to the fact that Trinidad’s entire family and now his fatherless daughter were still mourning the loss of the family member he had killed.
He hit play again as he stared at the screen gulping hard because the emotion was not going away.
“Gio, stop.” Bianca’s voice was cautious. “Why are you gonna watch it again?”
“Can you give me a minute?” he asked, still staring at the screen.
“Remember what we talked about? It’s not your fault. It’s sad but—”
“Bianca, please!” His words were louder than he’d intended and he felt her flinch so he finally turned to her, lowering his voice. “I just need a minute.”
She nodded and without another word walked out of the room closing the door behind her. Gio watched the whole thing a few more times then finally threw the remote on the bed. The temptation to turn the lights off, sit in a corner and lock everyone out again like he had just after this first happened was overwhelming.
The knocking on the door again, made Gio frown. He didn’t want Bianca to see him like this. He could feel himself getting pulled back into that same darkness he’d been in for weeks after Trinidad’s death and he didn’t want her to know how f**king weak he could be.
Instead of telling her to come on in, he walked to the door ready to tell her he was calling it a night—say he wasn’t feeling well and he would just take a pill or something and go to bed. He opened the door and Bianca stood there holding a tray. On the tray—two bowls of ice cream with all the trimmings.
“I thought you might be in the mood.” She gave him the most adorable hopeful look as she waited for his response.
Gio smiled, wishing now that she wasn’t holding a tray between them because he was overcome with an incredible urge to hug her—hold her like he had all day and never let her go. She was his magic pill. The one thing that brought light into his darkness. Because of her, he’d barely even thought of Trinidad the whole time he’d been here until tonight.
“Yeah, ice cream actually sounds perfect right now. Thank you.” He leaned in a little closer. That same familiar warmth he felt when he was around her was already pushing away what he’d been feeling just before he opened the door. “I’d kiss you if I could,” he whispered and her eyes did that thing that drove him insane. “I swear to God, Bianca. If you lick your lips I will kiss you. I don’t care where we are.”
She giggled. “Don’t tempt me.” Gio dropped his head back with a groan and she laughed. “You wanna eat it here or in the kitchen?”
Having Bianca in his bedroom all to himself was way too dangerous. Reminding himself that he’d already come to the conclusion that he’d be willing to risk it all for her, he decided he didn’t trust himself. “I think the kitchen would be safer.”
She smiled, turning around and he walked after her. The tray was set on the counter and they each took a bowl and a spoon. Gio dug in immediately. Then watched and waited as she took her first spoonful making that face she did whenever anything was delicious. “Why do you do that?” he asked, exasperated.
Instantly her eyes went into Bambi mode. “Do what?”
Gio laughed shaking his head. “Never mind.”
“No. Do what?” She insisted.
He leaned his hip against the counter taking another spoonful of ice cream before responding in a hushed voice. “Make that expression whenever something feels or tastes really good.” He glanced around wondering just where the damn cameras were and placed the spoon strategically over his mouth on the off chance Felix could read lips. “Like you’re enjoying a hell of an orgasm.” He laughed at her shocked expression. “It’s scandalous.”
“I do not.”
“Oh, yes you do. That expression of yours haunts my dreams” He paused when that reminded him of something. “Speaking of.” He used the spoon to shield his lips again. “Now that we’re safely somewhere where I have no choice but to behave, you wanna tell me about those dreams you’ve been having?”
Gio decided earlier that maybe he did want to know exactly what she was dreaming of. It’s what he planned on asking tonight before the newscast of Trinidad’s baby interrupted his thoughts. He didn’t think he’d get any sleep from wondering if he didn’t ask.
Bianca blushed just slightly and he wondered if that meant the dreams weren’t too explicit. But as usual she surprised him yet again. “They’ve all been different but you remember what Evelyn said she wanted you to do to her?” He nodded slowly, their eyes now locked like they’d been doing so much of lately. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it and I finally dreamed you did that to me.”
Gio swallowed hard, turning his body to face the counter to hide the evidence of his rapidly growing affection for Bianca from any cameras. “And you woke up content?”
“Very.” The sexy siren was back and he nearly gasped at the wicked smile. “I do every time.”