I never knew a shower could take so long. Or be so wonderful. Gio washed every inch of me about a dozen times, but I never once told him to stop. He finally had to pull us out of there because he said he wasn’t sure the tiles would be able to withstand his fucking me against them. When I giggled, he decided to test it by pinning me to them and eating me out.

God, I’m already tingling between my legs thinking about it. What is wrong with me? I don’t even know him. But the words he whispered to me are the things I’ve always dreamed of hearing. Can people actually find true love like this? If the pulse in my panties is any indication, then I’m head over heels.

“Are you hot?”

I snap my head up to look at Thea across the room.

“Um, no, I’m fine.” I place the back of my hand to my forehead, feeling embarrassed. My mind had wandered and my blush wasn’t going to let me hide from it.

Gio and I parted ways after breakfast so that he could do some work with Salvatore and I could spend some time in the nursery with Thea. He kissed me on the lips in front of everyone like it wasn’t a big deal, and no one blinked an eye. I was surprised, but realized if he wasn’t going to be embarrassed to show affection to me, then I wouldn’t be either.

“Just checking. I thought it might be something else.” She winks at me and I try not to smile. “It’s okay, I know that look all too well.”

“So, I think you’re all set as far as furniture and car seats go. The baby bumper just needs to come out of the crib.”

“Did you sleep okay last night?” Thea asks, completely ignoring me by trying to change the subject.

Images of Gio’s cock between my legs. So long and hard it pressed through my thighs. Flashes of his cum on my fingers and the taste of him on my tongue as he slid between my legs.

“Oh, I’ll take that as a yes.” Thea folds some baby clothes and takes them over to the dresser.

“He’s…” I try to think of a way to describe him, but all I can think of is sex on a stick. “Intense.” I land on that and it seems to fit.

“Really? He’s always so laid back and funny. He’s the first to crack a joke. But I guess I could see that he might be that way with someone he loves.”

The L word makes me pause and look over at her. “Has he been in love before?” I can hear the confusion mixed with disappointed and jealousy in my own voice. Now I’m suddenly thinking that the kiss this morning seemed natural and easy because he does it with all kinds of women.

“No!” Thea is quick to answer and shake her head. “No, absolutely not. As far as I know, he’s been waiting on the one.”

“What do you mean?” I can feel my eyebrows pull together as I stand by the crib, waiting.

She shrugs and smiles. “I’ve talked to Salvatore about it a few times. Apparently, the men in Gio’s family are known to see the woman they are going to marry and know it right on the spot. It’s instant love and they live happily ever after. It’s happened in every generation as far back as they go.”

“So he’s just using women until he finds his wife?” The jealousy is building, and I don’t know why I’m suddenly so angry at the thought of being a plaything until he finds his bride.

“That’s not what I said.” Thea shakes her head and waves her hand. “What I’m saying is that I’ve never seen him with a woman, and neither has Sal. And they’ve been friends since they were babies.”

“Oh.” For some reason my heart flutters a little at that. “So…” I trail off, hoping she’ll give me more.

“So…he’s never even given a woman a long glance until you. Be careful with him, Emma. He’s a good guy, and he doesn’t do a single thing without thinking it through.”

I go over and sit down next to her to help her fold the huge pile of baby clothes and sort through the sizes.

“How do you handle this life?” I finally ask, needing to know what I’m getting myself into.

If Gio is for real and this is what Thea says it is, then I might be in this for the long haul. I’ve never been one to believe in love at first sight, but I know Gio is different. I knew the first time we kissed that our worlds collided, and now that I’m here, I’m both scared and the happiest I’ve ever been.

Thea beams at me. “This is so much more magical and perfect than anything I could have ever dreamed up in my head. Salvatore is the best husband any woman could wish for, and I never want for a thing.” She takes my hand and squeezes it in hers. “I know that some of the things he does might not seem right in the eyes of the law, but he and Gio are the good guys. They protect everyone in their family, and that means sometimes making the hard decision that people like me aren’t capable of. I know that they would fight to the death to protect me and my baby, and they will do the same for you. To me it’s not a question of how do I handle this life. It’s how do I handle not having this life.” She smiles again and I can see the pure love in her eyes. “That’s not something I’ll ever have to worry about, thanks to my Salvatore. I’m thankful for him every day.”

Her words are heavy, but I understand what she’s saying. It’s what Gio told me before, but hearing it from someone who has come from the outside somehow makes it all easier to swallow.

I nod in understanding and smile back. “Thanks. That’s what I needed to hear.”

“It doesn’t hurt that my Sal gives me more orgasms than I know what to do with every day.”

We both burst into laughter, which comes to an abrupt halt when we hear someone clear their throat behind us.

I turn around to see Gio and Salvatore in the doorway looking at us. There’s a smile pulling at Gio’s lips, and then he winks at me. I feel the tingle between my legs again and I want him so much it aches.

“We’re going to be late,” Salvatore says to Thea, and she bounces up pretty quickly for a pregnant woman.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Salvatore is taking me to see Beauty and the Beast on stage, and then we’re going for dinner and ice cream,” Thea says, practically about to burst into glitter.

“Anything for you angel,” he says, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her on the top of her head.

“I’ve got everything covered,” Gio says to him as he nods.

“We’ll be back later on. Don’t wait up,” Salvatore says as he and Thea wave goodbye to us and close the door behind them.

After a moment, Gio and I are left alone in the baby’s room, and I watch as he leans against the doorframe, staring at me.

“What?” I say after a second. Having his eyes on me is intense, but I like it.

“You look good in here,” he says as he pushes away from the door and walks over to me. “Seeing you in here surrounded by all this baby stuff gets me thinking.”

I stand up as he comes closer to me. I take a step back, watching him, my heartbeat picking up.

“Thinking about what?” I ask as he takes another step toward me and I take a step in retreat.

“Thinking about spreading your legs and sliding my cock in between them,” he says, his voice deep and heavy.

“Oh?” is all I can manage to say when my back hits the far wall. My panties are soaked with just a few words from him, and I can’t deny how turned on I am.

“That’s all I’ve thought about all day, Emma. I couldn’t get anything done because I just kept wondering if that virgin pussy of yours would wrap around my cock easy like Sunday morning. Or if I’d have to pop that cherry hard a few times to get her to let me in.”

I swallow, unable to form words.

“Personally, I’d love to slide right in without so much as a fight. But I think that redheaded pussy of yours is going to make me work for it.” He licks his lips as he presses his body against mine, pinning me to the wall. “And that’s okay, Dollface. I like knowing that when I make her mine, she’ll know who she belongs to.”