by Fields, MJ
My heart does a flip inside my chest. What is he saying?
“I am yours?” I ask.
“Yes. No more games. No more waiting.”
“I … but … I don’t understand.”
“Yes, you do.”
All of a sudden, I can’t breathe. Is he serious? He thinks that he can just decide that I’m staying here, and, poof, it’s done?
I try to get up, and he stops me.
“Look at me, Gabby.”
I don’t, and I think he is going to get angry, but he doesn’t.
He just softly demands again, “Give me your eyes, Tesoro.”
I look up into his green eyes, which are alight and intense.
“Do you love me?”
“What? Yes. You’re Cross; I have always loved you.”
He smiles, and then he asks, “Are you in love with me?”
“That’s a different question.”
“I know. That’s why I rephrased it.”
I don’t want to answer him. I don’t want to be that vulnerable again. I look away, but he doesn’t let me for long. He puts his finger under my chin and brings my face back around to his. I squeeze my eyes shut. Like a bird with its head in the sand, I don’t want him to see me.
“Are you, baby? It’s a simple yes or no question.”
“There is nothing simple about it.”
“I need your answer, Gabby.”
“Yes, I’m in love with you, okay?” I manage to get out without opening my eyes. It’s an embarrassing admission. I thought we were past this, yet here I am, a little girl pouring her heart out all over again.
“I tried,” I say, and a sniffle escapes. “I tried so hard to fall out of love because I knew you did not want me like that, but I came home, and it all just came flooding back. I can’t not love you.”
I bury my head in his chest. He rubs my back as I let it all out. All the frustration of trying to date away my feelings, trying to hate him so that I wouldn’t love him, the hate I feel for Angelica because she has him, the pain of knowing it will never happen. It’s all been an act, a brave face for everyone else.
When I finally get it all out and I’m just a mess of hiccups and tears, he finally speaks, “Did you hear me earlier?”
“When?”
“You are mine, and if you want me, I am yours.”
It starts to hit me—what he has been saying and the conversation I overheard between him and Nicco this morning. He wants me. I am his.
“Do you love me?” I ask.
He smiles one of his unabashed smiles that causes the dimple in his cheek to come forth. I love that dimple.
“I have always loved you, Gabriella Mastreoni, and now I’m most definitely in love with you.”
At his words, I crawl up into his lap and seal my lips to his. Elation. Pure, unadulterated elation is what I feel. I kiss him with everything I have, and he lets me. No pushing me away. No stopping. No guilt. Just us. I pour everything I have into that kiss.
Cross stands to his feet, taking me with him as he walks to the bed platform. My lips never leave his. He has his hands under my hips; he lifts me up on the bed, and we disengage. He lifts his shirt up over his head and tosses it to the floor before he crawls atop me as I scoot back to the center of the bed. Then, he is there, covering me with his body, and I reach up and run my hands over the hard muscles of his chest. I have always wanted to explore him this way. Always wanted to feel my way down his body. He lets me, and I bend my head and run my tongue along his collarbone and up the column of his throat. I find his lips again, and I pull him fully on top of me. I wrap both my legs around his waist, trying to keep him there. I’mso afraid that he is going to change his mind and leap from the bed as he tears his mouth from mine.
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. I am right here.” He reaches behind himself, grips one of my legs, and brings it down. Then, he bolts up to his knees and brings his hands to the hem of my shirt. “Arms up.”
I do as I was told, and he pulls the tee from me and flings it aside. Then, he brings his hands down my sides, and I instinctively lift my bottom, so he can remove my shorts. I’m lying with him in nothing but my bra and panties, and I vaguely remember the night before with him between my legs, helping ease the ache I was feeling as a result of the drugs. He is wearing the same look of desire now, and the realization hits me that he wasn’t just doing me a favor last night. He wanted it. He wants me now. Me.
He runs his hand over my panties, and I tremble at his touch. I want so badly to touch him this time. To feel him. Taste him, but I have no idea what to do.
“Cross, I need to tell you something,” I start.
He continues to caress me through my panties, and I can feel them soaking through at his touch.
“What, baby?”
He loops a finger inside the fabric, and I lose my train of thought. I let my thighs fall open wider to give him easier access to me. He takes advantage and snaps the sides of the thong, and it falls apart and away from me. His eyes are focused on me as he runs his finger up and down my lips, getting me wetter and ready and more frenzied. Then, his eyes find mine as he takes his fingers and sucks them into his mouth.
“Mmm, delicious,” he growls.
Oh my God, it’s so hot. I come up to my elbows. I want to see him and touch him.
“Aren’t you going to get undressed, too?”
He chuckles. “My greedy girl is so impatient.”
Then, he stands and drops his pants to the floor. He comes back over me. He unsnaps the front of my bra, and my breasts spill out. They are already peaked and ready for his attention. He sucks one nipple, and I arch my chest to meet his hungry mouth. My hand flutters down his back, feeling every muscle, and then dips into his boxers. I squeeze his ass and press him into me. He feels so good—big, hard, and ready. I bring my hand around to the front as he continues to lavish attention on the other breast. I wrap my hand around his cock, and my nipple falls from his mouth as he groans. I slide my hand up and down his length. Alternating between a light grip and a tight one. His eyes are closed, and I see the sweat starting to glisten on his brow. I watch the muscles of his throat tighten and release as he swallows. He gets to his knees again, and I lose my hand on him. Then, his boxers are gone, and he sits there, fully naked. His erection reaching for me.
“Cross, we really need to talk. I have to tell you something.”
“Later, baby. No more talking now.”
He is over me again, and he takes himself in his hand and guides himself to my entrance. He swirls the tip in my wetness and slowly drags it up to my throbbing bud, and the pleasure that ripples through me is exquisite.
“I have wanted to be inside you for so long, Gabby.”
With that, he presses in a little, and I hold my breath. He is about to find out exactly why we really needed to talk.
“That’s it, baby. Open for me.”
He rocks back and pushes in further, and I go still and let out a small yelp.
He freezes.
No, no, no.
“Fuck,” he says between gritted teeth as he starts to pull out of me.
I grab his ass and try to keep him where he is. “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
“Baby, fuck, how?”
He’s looking down at me, and I just let it out.
“Because it has always been you. Always,” I cry.
He brings his mouth back down on mine, hard, and kisses me as he settles once more between my legs. Then, he is inside me again.
“This is going to hurt for just a second. Then, I promise I am going to make it feel so good.”
I nod because I want this.
One quick, hard thrust, and he is seated completely inside me. It is a delicious, burning stretch, and I love it. It’s a good pain. He stays there for a few minutes, letting me get used to the full feeling, and then he starts to move. Slowly at first and then faster. He brings his hand between us and starts massaging my clit with each thrust, and I�
��m drowning in sensation, reaching for that eruption that I know is coming. I plant my foot, and I arch up to meet every move of his hips. When I finally explode, it is intense and loud, and my entire body quakes as it rockets through me. Cross continues pumping in and out till his back bows, and he cries out as his own orgasm is milked from him while I spasm around him. It feels like too much and not enough, all at the same time, and I’m a soaking, sated mess when I finally come back down.
We lie there, tangled up in sheets and each other, for a long time before our breathing evens out. He raises his head to look at me, and I see it. I see the love in his eyes. It’s always been there. I just did not know that’s what it was until this moment.
Twenty-Seven
Brie — Present
“You know, you are lucky I’m head over heels for your cousin because, if I wasn’t, I would be lapping at that tall drink of water.”
Dawn is back from the holidays with her family, and she was delighted to find we had Nicco as a houseguest. He is bunking on our couch until next week when he and Daniel move into their new beach condo. I guess Papa didn’t cut him completely off when he left after all.
“Ew. That’s my big brother.”
“Yep, he sure is.” She sighs dreamily. “Damn, your family sure knows how to grow them.”
“You know, he and Daniel are getting a place together, right? You’d better learn to control that drool.”
“I know. It will be hard, but I’m sure I’ll eventually stop picturing him naked around the house.”
“You are such a good girlfriend. Daniel is so lucky,” I deadpan.
“I know, right?”
Kelsey comes walking in, wearing another dress. It’s the third she has tried on for us.
“Veto. It’s too conservative for New Year’s Eve,” Dawn declares.
“Dawn, you have said that about every single one,” she huffs as she stomps back toward her room.
“Well then, stop coming in here, dressed like a freaking schoolteacher. You are on the prowl for a new man to kiss at midnight, remember?” she calls after her.
I giggle to myself, and she turns to me. “What?”
“You just remind me of someone from back home. She used to badger me just like you are badgering Kelsey.”
“I only do it because I love her. If I let her sit and mourn her relationship with Brad any longer, she is going to get stuck in that cycle. He has taken enough time from her. He is not taking her confidence, too. I won’t let him.”
“I know. You are a kick-ass friend.”
She turns to me, and her eyes are glassy. “I love you guys. You are the sisters I never had. I would cut a bitch for either one of you.”
“Aw, I would cut a bitch for you, too.”
I throw my arms around her neck just as Kels walks in, wearing dress number four.
“What’s going on?”
“Brie is being a girl again.”
We laugh and turn to see Kelsey standing there in a stunning blue cocktail dress with a lace bodice; it flares out into a short swing skirt, which comes right above her knees. She looks good.
“Wow. Now, that is a showstopper,” Dawn proclaims.
She looks down. “You think? It’s not too much?”
“It’s perfect,” I agree with Dawn.
We hear the door opening, and we all turn to see Nicco and Daniel walking in, carrying bags of groceries.
“We picked up a few things at the—” Nicco stops mid-sentence when he catches sight of Kelsey standing there.
Uh-oh. This could be trouble.
I get up and go to take one of the bags from his arms.
“Hey, man, you going all the way in or what?” Daniel asks from behind him.
“Um, yeah. Sorry, man.” He comes the rest of the way in.
I look in the bag I took. “Wow, you guys did shop.”
“I figured I owed you guys for letting me crash here.”
He is still focused on Kelsey, and I realize that I have not had a chance to introduce them yet.
“Nicco, this is our other roommate, Kelsey. Her mom is married to Uncle Matt. Kelsey, this is my older brother Nicco.”
She blushes under his stare as she walks over and extends her hand. “Nice to meet you, Nicco.”
He takes her hand and gently shakes it. “You, too, Kelsey. I appreciate you guys letting me impose a couple of more days.”
“It’s no problem at all. You are welcome to stay as long as you need.” She turns back to us. “So, this one gets the thumbs-up?”
“That’s definitely the one,” Dawn approves.
“Thank goodness. I was running out of options.” She walks back to her room.
Dawn turns to Nicco and points her finger at him. “All right, lover boy, you watch yourself. She just shook off a douche bag, and she is a little fragile at the moment. You take advantage, and I will twist your balls off with a pair of pliers while you sleep.”
Nicco’s wide eyes shoot to mine, and I shrug.
“She’s serious, and honestly, I would look the other way.”
“I would never.”
“Stop.” Dawn brings her hand up in front of his face. “Do not even try to tell us we read that wrong. You were struck dumb when you walked in and saw her standing there in that dress. I don’t blame you. She’s freaking stunning, and if you happen to be standing in her vicinity around eleven fifty-nine p.m. tonight and don’t have anyone else to kiss to ring in next year, well then, so be it. You are both grown adults, and truthfully, she could use an Italian stallion to ride, but it’s none of my business. Just treat her with care either way. Okay?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She nods at him and then takes our bags and follows Daniel into the kitchen to put them away.
“Well, that was intense,” he says to me as he blows out a breath.
“Yep, we are a little overprotective of each other.”
“I didn’t mean to, uh … did I do anything—”
“Don’t even try to play that off, Nicco Mastreoni. Your tongue practically hit the floor when you walked in and looked at her.” I roll my eyes.
“You are exaggerating. It is a nice dress. She looked good.”
“Uh-huh.” I nod.
“Whatever. I’m going to use your shower and start getting ready. Where are we going again?”
“To the country club where I work. They are having a huge New Year’s Eve gala. I am going as Jake’s date, and you are going as Kelsey’s guest.”
“Guest? So, she”—he points at the door Kelsey just shut behind her—“is my date?”
I turn to him with my hands on my hips. “Her guest, Nicco. You are her guest.” I clarify, “You have to either be a member or the guest of a member to get in.”
“So, you are this Jake person’s guest?”
I walked right into that one. The last thing I want to do is explain my new relationship to him. The relationship that I swore was not going to happen. Now, here Nicco is, and Jake is on his way, so there is no way to avoid the meeting.
“No, I’m Jake’s date. We have been dating for a couple of months now. It’s not too serious or anything yet, but I do like him. Please don’t scare him,” I plead as I stare at the floor. I can’t meet his eyes.
“Hey,” he says as he moves toward me. He bends down and looks up at me. “I’m not going to say anything to your friend. I promise. As long as he is good to you, that’s all that matters to me. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you,” I whisper. “Oh, and by the way, your name is Masters now.”
He stops and turns back to me. “What?”
“Masters. I am Brie Masters. That makes you Nicco Masters.”
“You are kidding, right?”
“You are the one who wanted to move here and invade my new life. You have to play the part.”
“Fine.” He rolls his eyes. “But, sis, it doesn’t matter what you call yourself. You are who you are, and eventually, that will catch up to you.”
&nb
sp; * * *
Jake and Daniel rented a stretch limo for the night, so we could all drink without having to worry about getting home safely.
The meeting between Jake and Nicco was slightly awkward. My brother is intimidating, even when he is trying his best not to be. His six-foot-four frame stood a head taller than Jake, and he let his Italian accent and bravado fly when I introduced them. He shook his hand for a full two minutes, and I did not miss the tiny twinge of unexpected pain that passed on Jake’s face at Nicco’s unnecessarily tight grip. I swatted him away and gave him an I’m going to kill you look that made him grin. The moment was over, and Jake more than got the message. Do not mess with my little sister’s heart, was written all over his expression.
When we arrive at the club, the party is already in full swing. We grab a table and head to the buffet for food.
“Hi. I don’t think we’ve met,” says a girl with a platinum pixie haircut, who just finished loading her plate as I come up to make a salad.
She extends her hand for me to shake, and I reach to take it. I introduce myself when I hear Dawn approaching.
“Oh my God, who let the trash in? You are not a member here, Tonya.”
Daniel comes rushing in behind her, and Nicco, Jake, and Kelsey are around the corner.
“Trash? Pot. Kettle,” she says as she points between herself and Dawn.
Rage lights up in Dawn’s eyes, and I instinctively take a defensive stance between the two. About that time, Tonya spots Kelsey, and she smirks.
“I don’t have time to trade barbs with you, Dawn. I have to get back to my date, Bradley. He must be missing me.”
With that, she turns and heads back toward their table. I watch as Kelsey’s eyes follow her path and see the pain that rocks her when she finds Brad, who doesn’t see us, laughing at something the guy beside him said. She turns and walks rapidly back toward the restroom. I hand my plate to Jake, and Dawn and I head after her.
As we pass, Dawn looks up at Nicco. “I’ve changed my mind, handsome. Tonight, you show my girl the time of her life, and don’t let that asshole”—she points in Brad’s direction—“anywhere near her.”