by C. A. Szarek
Too late.
That was her own fault, not his.
She shivered in his grip, but couldn’t pull away. Couldn’t lose the physical contact. She was starved, as if he hadn’t just rocked her world.
Twice, because they’d had sex right when they’d come to bed, less than two hours before. Right after making Jake call it a night, around eight p.m.
Her core was already throbbing; an ache, not arousal, but she’d do it all again as soon as his body was ready for another round.
You really are an idiot.
What was it about this man that made her a giant hormone?
She’d always felt a connection with him. Of course, they shared a child, so there was always that sentimentality in the back of her mind, even before Gio had known about Jake, but…
He’d always had this magnetism Maddie hadn’t been able to resist; even when he’d been more boy than man at twenty-three.
Maybe he scrambled her brains.
Or maybe I’m just crazy.
“It wasn’t too rough, Gio. I promise.”
He finally relaxed into the bed and tugged her close, like she had been before he’d played wandering-hands.
“You locked the door, right?” he asked after a few moments of silence.
Maddie lifted her head. “Yeah, why?”
“You were…loud.” He smirked, and it was as delicious as he was.
Heat of embarrassment kissed the back of her neck and scorched her cheeks. “Jake and Jamie’s rooms are on the other side of the apartment.”
Gio chuckled. “But your place isn’t that big.”
She groaned. The last thing she needed was her sister giving her shit if she’d heard them. Nor questions from their son, who was often too smart for his own good.
“I’m sure couples have sex with their kids down the hall all the time. If not, there wouldn’t be any siblings,” Gio mused, tucking his arm behind his head and closing his eyes. “I mean, people have to make the babies.” He gave a soft laugh.
She stilled, but tried not to show it. Their bodies were so close, he’d feel the slightest movement, and she didn’t want him to sense how her heartrate had kicked back up.
Siblings…babies.
He probably hadn’t meant anything by it, but it only made her think of when she’d been pregnant with Jake. Maddie had known then she didn’t want children with more than one father, so her baby…his baby…would be an only child.
Could that change now? Did she want it to?
She’d always imagined a little girl with her golden curls and big hazel eyes, like she and Jamie had had when they were little.
Jake had asked for a younger sibling, too, as kids were prone to do.
She really needed to stop this.
First, realizing she loved him, and now a second kid?
It blew the one-day-at-a-time thing out of the water.
I am an idiot.
“Mads? What’s wrong?” Gio asked. He cupped her cheeks and caressed them with his thumbs.
“Nothing.”
He paused, studying her. “Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah, how could something be wrong?” Maddie leaned up and brushed her lips against his mouth. “You’re here with me and…” she gestured between their bodies.
He flashed a lopsided grin, then sobered. “Can I ask you something?”
Her heart skipped, but she nodded. “Absolutely.”
****
“Why’d you leave me, Mads?” Gio stroked her shoulder and down her back. “I thought what we had was good.” He tried not to cringe at the emotion that made his voice shake.
He’d wanted to ask since she’d told him she’d answer any questions. He just hadn’t worked up the balls until now. He should drop it, let it be. After all, it was in the past, and he himself had said to move forward. But damn, he burned for the truth regarding his broken heart…and his son.
She tried to sit up, but he held her fast. Maddie tugged, then shoved, and he let his hands fall to his sides. “You really want to talk about this now? While we’re naked, after what we just did?” She averted her eyes and his heart sank a little.
“Yes. Don’t I deserve to know?”
She nodded. Then those hazel orbs he loved so much swung around to pin him with a look that was almost a glare. “You don’t remember that night?”
Maddie didn’t need to specify. It’d been exactly three weeks after his mom had died, and two since her funeral. His father had picked a fight, pointing out all sorts of things that were correct about the path he’d been going down, and they’d had a huge blowout, less than an hour before he was supposed to meet her in the VIP bar at The Giovanni.
Gio had waited for her, but not alone. He’d had all the scotch he’d wanted, and had already downed a full bottle before she’d arrived.
She’d texted she was running late. He’d had plenty of time to mull over Big Tony’s accusations, and how he wasn’t good enough for much.
Including Madison Granger.
“I remember I was drunk and we had a fight. At the bar.”
“A fight?” She scoffed and averted her eyes again.
Damn, if he made her cry, he’d want to shoot himself.
“That’s all, Nico?”
He stilled when she said his name—something she never did.
“Hey,” he whispered. Gio grabbed her wrist and tugged. “C’mere.”
Maddie shook her head, making her honey locks dance. “No. I can’t have you touch me if I’m going to say this.” Her words wavered with a sob and a tear slipped down her cheek.
He tried to wipe them away, but she leaned out of reach. “Mads?”
“You told me you weren’t good enough for me, Gio. You told me I was better off without you because you couldn’t get your life together. You might’ve been drunk, but you didn’t give me a chance to talk, to defend us. And damn, I wanted to. So I blurted I was pregnant, and you laughed. You laughed. You broke my heart, Nico Giovanni.” She inhaled, and instinct told him she needed it in order to continue. “I ran out of there, because I couldn’t take it, because…I loved you.”
A cold flush oozed over his head—hell, maybe that was why things started spinning—and went down his chest, making him freeze, despite her thigh touching his in her bed. His limbs started to quiver, and even his teeth chattered.
Gio remembered the massive fight with his father; the real reason for twelve or thirteen too many shots in the private high-roller lounge in the casino. Where the bartender wouldn’t dare cut him off.
He didn’t remember more than a fight with Maddie, and she’d fled.
She’d told him she was pregnant?
He couldn’t breathe. His chest burned and his limbs kicked up their tremors, like he was having a mini-seizure.
He’d abandoned her?
Because Gio had been so drunk he hadn’t recalled she’d told him the most important news, ever?
“No.” The denial came out as an agonized whisper, and when he had the balls to glance at her she had more tears streaming.
Maddie nodded.
Neither of them spoke for a long time.
Maybe he was going to puke before he got words out.
“I don’t know what’s worse, you never told me you loved me, or that I couldn’t fucking remember being told I was going to have a kid. Jesus Christ, I’m the biggest asshole in the universe.”
She stared, then one corner of her mouth shot up. Maddie laughed. It was small, but somehow as lovely as she was. “I’ve felt guilty enough for the both of us for not trying harder to tell you, so you don’t have to feel like an asshole. I’m an asshole, too.”
“I loved you, too,” he blurted. “Back then, I mean.” He stumbled over the clarification, because the truth wasn’t something he was ready to admit.
Still do.
He should tell her, especially when she was looking at him like that, and they were having this moment of honesty, but the confession wouldn’t form. He’d told h
er he wanted to be a part of her life, as well as their son’s but Gio hadn’t fathomed how that would work.
Maybe he didn’t know. Maybe he was afraid to hope she’d agree. After what she’d just told him, it was no fucking wonder.
Her gaze sharpened on his face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was a stupid kid that drank too much and had shitty family issues. That part hasn’t changed.” He didn’t want to talk about the case or his dad’s cancer.
“None of that mattered. Still doesn’t. Jake’s a Giovanni, too. I was never ashamed of that.”
A wave of emotion hit his stomach, and warmth rose, chasing away the chill in his bones. He kind of wanted to cry like a pussy.
“Gio?”
He settled his hands on her upper arms, since he didn’t have the guts to bare his heart. Tugged her into his chest and claimed her mouth.
If he couldn’t tell her how he felt, he could sure as hell show her.
Gio let his hands wander, cupping her perfect breasts and thumbing her nipples until Maddie moaned into their kiss and the taut peaks pushed back.
She didn’t fight him when he urged even closer.
“Ride me, Mads,” he begged, pushing the plea into her mouth, and pulling her thigh across his waist.
Her sex hit his hardening cock, giving his body all the remaining encouragement it needed.
She broke their lip-lock, and arched upward, her delectable ass landing right where he needed it, but his dick wasn’t in the right place as his lover started to rock her pelvis against his.
He groaned. “Don’t tease me, baby. Take me.”
When their eyes met, Maddie flashed a wicked grin. “Why not?”
“I’ll get you back later,” Gio growled.
“Promise?”
He chuckled and flicked her clit. “That’s a preview.”
She hissed and grabbed his wrist. “You better be glad I need you so bad.”
He tilted his head back and smiled. Grabbed her hips and helped Maddie lift up.
She palmed his cock and stroked him a few times, squeezing his tip until he writhed beneath her and rocked his hips.
“Mads.” His voice was half-demand and half-plea.
She put him out of his misery by lowering herself onto him, but she was in no hurry as he filled her inch by painfully-slow inch.
Gio grabbed her ass and yanked her down at the same time he thrust up.
Maddie gasped his name and braced herself on his chest.
He leaned up so he could kiss her as they started to rock together, finding a rhythm that teased more than satisfied. “Harder, Mads. I need more of you.”
She whimpered in answer, but put her hands on his shoulders and started to ride in him earnest, revving him higher and higher with each slap of her ass on his thighs.
When she started to tire, Gio held her waist and helped her move up and down, until she started circling her pelvis as she undulated, and the sensation was too much.
“I’m gonna come,” he groaned.
“Me too,” Maddie moaned. She lifted up once more only to slam down on his lap and cry out. She threw her head back, closing her eyes as her sex clenched around his.
He exploded inside her, panting, as his vision danced and his head spun.
It was always so intense with his Mads.
Gio caught her as she collapsed on top of him. His mouth found hers, because he had to taste her again.
Their kiss melted into something languorous and meaningful, and emotion pricked behind his eyes. Damn, he wanted to tell her how he felt about her. Everything.
Eight years ago, they’d never admitted feelings for each other, but tonight they both revealed it’d been true.
Would it be such a stretch to tell her it was still true now?
Maddie had finally admitted they made love, not fucked.
Could she feel the same way about him as she had once? Or was there a reason she’d said it the way she did?
Because she didn’t love him now?
Gio ended their kiss and gathered her closer, even as his softening dick slipped from her body.
Her closed eyes revealed pleasure and contentment, which made him lose his nerve.
Was it because he wasn’t ready to say how he felt? Or because Maddie wasn’t ready to hear it?
He gulped.
Those hazel orbs, still amber with passion, opened and zoned in on his face. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“I had a massive fight with my dad that night,” he croaked. He cringed internally. His father was the last thing he wanted to talk about while holding the woman he loved after she’d made him come hard.
Why had he blurted that?
Maddie’s expression cleared of her post-coital haze and she settled against his chest, snuggling close. She maintained eye contact and cupped his cheek. “I know.”
“You know?”
“I mean, I’d always guessed that was why you were doing all the ‘I’m worthless’ bullshit talk.”
Gio nodded and turned his head to press a kiss to her palm. “I don’t ever want to make Jake feel like that.”
“You won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?” He fought a wince at the obvious self-consciousness in the inquiry.
Her eyes were so serious. “You’re not Big Tony, Gio. You’re a great guy. You’re already a great dad to Jake. Even after only a few days, he adores you.”
“I adore him, too.”
Maddie’s face lit up and it took all he was made of not to tell her how much he adored her, too.
He loved her more than his own life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Gio had just climbed into the driver seat after shutting the car door for her, when their cellphones rang simultaneously.
They exchanged a glance and Maddie released her grip on the seatbelt.
The airport trip had sucked, especially since she’d been the only one with tears. She hated being the emotional freak of the family.
Jake had hugged them both, and kissed her cheek, but his concern wasn’t about when he’d see his weepy mother again.
He was worried Gio would disappear.
Of course, the man had been a champ in reassuring their son, just like his term of endearment for the little boy.
Jake loved that, and loved Gio. The little guy had been all smiles and waves after he was sure his father would be there when they came back.
Jamie had rolled her eyes a lot. She’d whispered in Maddie’s ear that she could be as loud as she wanted in the bedroom while they were gone, but she needed to get it together before they moved in permanently. Or get some sound absorbers, if there was such a thing. She’d even suggested padding the walls.
It wasn’t like her sister to wait to give her shit about any given subject, but it did figure she’d do so when she could maximize Maddie’s embarrassment.
No doubt her face was ripe tomato-red.
Jamie had made sure her whisper was more of the stage variety, and Gio had sported a shit-eating grin.
They’re both brats.
For once she wasn’t referring to her seven-year-old.
“Giovanni.” Gio’s deep voice was like a caress, as he put his cell to his ear.
She had to clear her throat to concentrate. “Granger,” she said into her own.
“Granger.” Her name, a gruff male bark in her ear.
Her new boss, Doug Randall, the head Marshal for Nevada’s territory. Maddie hadn’t talked to him much, as she’d been working out of LMVPD’s conference room, but she recognized him.
“Morning, boss,” she said.
“Report to Deputy Chief Patton’s office at Metro, immediately.”
She’d only met him a few times before her transfer, and he’d been friendly then, as well as when she’d checked into the office that day before heading to LMVPD for the first time. Randall hadn’t seemed like the stoic stiff man his current tone implied.
Was he upset or irritated with her?<
br />
“I was headed in. I had to put my son on a plane back to Chicago; sorry about the delay. Is there something wrong?”
“Just head into Metro, and I’ll meet you in Chief Patton’s office.”
Wait.
He’d meet her?
Something was wrong.
Her boss wasn’t overseeing the case. Of course, he was her supervisor, but the technical authority rested with her, and the lead FBI agent who’d first looped them in.
She hadn’t spoken with Nash Grey since before she’d officially changed posts. He checked in when necessary, and vice versa, via phone or email.
“What’s this concerning?”
“I’ll see you when you get to Chief Patton’s office. Step on it.”
The line went dead and Maddie frowned. She looked at her phone’s screen, which had gone dark.
“I understand, Captain. See you there.” Gio ended his call too, which could’ve only been with Olinsky, if the title meant anything. He also wore a frown.
They exchanged another look.
“Chief Patton’s office, ASAP?” she asked.
He gave a curt nod.
“Did he say what it was about?”
“Nope. Who called you?”
“My new boss.”
“Shit,” he spat. “Lemme guess, he didn’t enlighten you, either?”
“Nope.”
Gio cursed long and hard.
Trepidation twisted Maddie’s stomach, and her heart tripped over the next few beats. “What d’you think it’s about?” she managed.
“I dunno, but it can’t be good.” His kissable lips set in a hard line.
Her sense of dread spread up to her chest.
She, Jamie, Jake and Gio had eaten breakfast together before heading to the airport, and Maddie suddenly wished she hadn’t downed eggs, bacon, and two pancakes.
The food was churning like a cyclone, and the ejection seemed eminent.
Gio’s white knuckles gripped the steering wheel of his beloved classic GTO.
Yeah, this wasn’t good.
****
Maddie gnawed her plump bottom lip in his periphery for the whole too-fucking-short three-mile-drive into work.
