More Than Once by Dominique Wolf

CHAPTER 29:

W

e made it back to our hotel and Giovanni led the way up to the top floor. He unlocked the door and opened it, gesturing for me to step inside. I strolled into the room, shrugging my jacket off and placing it on the coat rack by the door. It was a spacious room with a double bed in the middle. There were large windows ahead of us with the curtains still open, giving us the perfect view of rainy London. We had a single chair in the corner of the room and a flat-screen TV on the wall across from the bed. Below it was a mini-bar and table filled with all you need to brew a hot cup of coffee.

“I want to go take a shower quickly. Do you want to order room service?”

I shook my head and Giovanni walked over to me. He reached out and placed his hands on my shoulders.

“You need to eat something baby. You haven't eaten all day,” he said softly.

“I know. I just can't think of food right now.”

He leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead. “I understand. Let me order something small just in case you get hungry later.”

He grabbed the menu off the table and started looking through it. I strolled over to the windows, taking in the storm. The rain had picked up and the thunder boomed across the sky. The city was dark but there were moments where the lightning illuminated it enough to reveal the beautiful view we had of Big Ben. I could see most of the city from our room and I had forgotten how beautiful it was. I had always loved living in London but I loved Barcelona more. The vibrancy of the city consumed me and there was something more freeing about Barcelona. It made me feel like I could be whoever I wanted to be. London was tainted by my family's ever-controlling ways and as much as I loved it here, I didn't think I could ever live there again.

“I've ordered something small. It should be up soon so I'm going to hop into the shower quickly.”

I nodded and smiled at him before he disappeared into the bathroom. I turned back to the view of the city and took a deep breath in. What a day. I thought my biggest problem today was going to be whether or not Giovanni's brother liked me or not. I certainly didn't think I was going to end up back in London with my father fighting for his life. The deep pain in my chest resurfaced and I had to stop myself from crying. He's going to be okay. I kept repeating that to myself - it was the only thing keeping me from breaking. It was surreal to see my family after so long. I wish they had been under better circumstances but thinking back, I doubt I would have returned to London at all. I didn't want to face the music with them. I was ashamed of how my life went and I knew I was a disappointment to them. Now, I was here and none of that mattered to me. I didn't want to marry Nate and I was thankful we never went through with that. Everything that happened brought me to Giovanni and he was all that was important to me.

A few minutes later, a soft tap at the door brought me out of my own thoughts. I wiped my eyes and went to open the door. An older gentleman stood outside with a trolley of food that was ordered.

“Evening, Miss,” he greeted politely. “Here is your order.”

“Thank you so much.”

I grabbed the trolley and brought it inside. With a sweet smile, he turned and I closed the door behind me. I left the trolley by the table. I had no idea what he ordered but it smelled great. I lifted the lid and two grilled cheese sandwiches sat on the plate. My stomach awoke at the sight of it and revealed just how hungry I actually was. I grabbed one half of the sandwich and bit into it. Holy hell that tasted good. The melted cheese mixed with an array of spices made it taste like I was eating a pizza.

Giovanni stepped outside of the bathroom with just a towel around his waist.

“That was quick,” he said, glancing at the room service tray. “See, I knew you were hungry.”

I smiled. “This is the best sandwich I've ever had.”

He chuckled and ran his fingers through his wet hair. He strolled over and grabbed one half for himself.

“Okay, you were right. This is pretty good.”

I smiled at him and finished off my half. My stomach now pleased with me that I actually decided to stop depriving it.

“Do you want a drink?” Giovanni asked.

“Definitely. I could use one.”

I didn't want to think right now. I needed a distraction from everything going on. He opened the mini-bar and observed it's contents.

“Okay, we've got some red wine, white wine, whiskey, vodka...”

“None of that is strong enough so I guess I'll settle for the white wine.”

I sat down on the bed as he handed me my wine glass and proceeded to pour himself a whiskey - neat. We sat in silence for a moment, both of us lost in thought. I had so much going on with my family but so did Giovanni.

“So, is your mom going to stay with Alvaro?” I asked.

Giovanni sipped on his drink. “They're going to go visit her tomorrow and suggest that. I don't know what's going to happen to be honest.”

He leaned against the wall next to the mini-bar. Every time I looked at him I felt a rush inside. He was so fucking sexy. The way he brought his glass to his lips and tilted his head back was surprisingly arousing to me. He ran his fingers through his dark hair again and stared into the night - his deep brown eyes full of worry. I just wanted to take it all away. Here I was dealing with my own shit but I just wanted to be there for him - the same way he had been there for me.

I downed my wine and held my empty glass out for him.

“You know you're supposed to sip that?” he mused.

“Not tonight. If there was tequila, I would have opted for that instead but this will have to do.”

He said nothing and topped me up. I worked my way through that glass quite quickly and eventually went over to grab the bottle to top myself up. I didn't know if it was still the lack of food in my system or the pure exhaustion I was feeling but I was already tipsy. One half of a grilled sandwich was definitely not enough to soak up the amount of alcohol I was now putting into my system.

“Slow down there, baby,” he murmured.

“I don't want to think right now.”

I felt the alcohol spread through my body and my concerns began to fade into the back. I stopped myself from thinking of what happened today - I didn't want to think of anything and it was easy for it to become white noise with alcohol in your system. I watched Giovanni down his drink and for some reason I couldn't keep my eyes off him. His strongly defined chest and abs are all covered in his tattoos that I found so attractive. Each time he lifted the glass to his lips, his arms flexed and I couldn't help but bite my lip. Of all his tattoos, the ones on his arms were my favourite.

“What?” he asked as he caught me staring at him.

“Nothing.” I shrugged. “I'm just looking at you.”

He placed his empty glass down and walked over to the bed. He leaned on the edge of it and flicked his eyes up to mine.

God, he looked so fucking hot.

“You're just looking at me?” He murmured. I tugged at my bottom lip and nodded.

He moved closer to me, “And do you like what you see?”

“I love what I see.”

I tilted my head back and emptied my glass once more as he smirked at me. He grabbed my empty glass and leaned forward to place it on the bedside table. He was so close to me now so I breathed him in. Fuck, he always smelled so good. How in the world was this man all mine? He leaned closer to me, our faces inches away from each other. The palpable tension rising with each longing look and slow movement, inching closer to each other. I couldn't hold back any longer and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“What do you want, Isabella?” he breathed.

“You, Giovanni. I've always wanted you.”

He leaned down and his lips met mine. The taste of whiskey lingering as he flicked his tongue over mine. He was intoxicating. All the alcohol in the world couldn't measure up to the inebriated state he put me in whenever he was around. It consumed me - every touch, every kiss set my body on fire and I couldn't help it. And the fact he was all mine now? How was that even possible?

I broke the kiss and asked. “Did you mean it earlier when you called me your girlfriend?”

He was inches from me and I could see the lingering desire in his eyes, “Of course I did. I realized I could have found a better way to ask you but there was no other way I wanted to introduce you to my family.”

I smiled. “So, you really want me to be your girlfriend?”

“Yes. I fought my feelings for you for so long but I don't want to do that anymore, Isabella,” he murmured. “I want to be with you.”

I was happy to hear what he was saying. I've wanted this for so long but I also wanted him to be sure. I wanted nothing more than to be with him.

“And you're sure that you're ready for a relationship?”

“Si, mi hermosa,” he said as he sat down next to me and gently reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know we're both dealing with stuff right now but that's what made it all clear to me.”

I reached for his hand and squeezed it tight. He stared down at them and I could see the vulnerability in his face. He was being vulnerable with me and I loved that - I wanted to do the same with him. I wasn't afraid of getting hurt anymore because the stakes were high for both of us. I wasn't feeling this alone and I didn't know if he loved me like I loved him but I knew he cared about me and that was enough for now. With everything going on right now, I was thankful I had him to distract me. I needed him to.

“It fucking terrified me to say any of this out loud,” he murmured. “I've never felt like this about anyone before so I know I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you - I need you in my life.”

“I don't want to lose you either, Giovanni.”

He looked up at me and smiled. Oh, how I loved that smile. I reached out and rested my hand against his cheek, his facial hair brushing against me.

“I love this,” I said and ran my fingers against his beard. “And this...”

I moved my hands to his chest and across his tattoos, “I love all your tattoos.”

I could sense the alcohol assisting me with the constant use of the word ‘love’.I wasn't intentionally hinting at anything - I just knew I wanted him to know how I felt.

“What else do you love, baby?”

I flicked my eyes up to his and the previous lingering desire made its way through again. He loved it when I touched him and I was running my hands up and down his body. I wanted to feel him all - I needed to. I shifted closer to him, our faces just inches from each other.

“I love the way you kiss me,” I whispered.

He brought his hand up to my hair and pulled me closer to him, our lips meeting.

“Like this?” He asked in between our kisses.

“Mmm-hmm.”

He pulled away, a level of concern had reached his eyes. “I want to be there for you, Isabella, whatever you need.”

“I just need you, Giovanni,” I murmured. “I don't want to think. I just need you to take it all away, even if just for a moment.”

He leaned his forehead against mine. “Are you sure, baby?”

I nodded and he slowly leaned into me. There was only one towel separating me from having all of him. I increased the urgency in our kiss - I wanted him and my own animalistic desires took charge. His insistent lips parted mine and his desire mirrored my own. My body was awoken to the sensation of his kiss - he wanted me and to feel like a wanted woman, and that was the most beguiling feeling in the world. I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it across the room, returning my lips to his. He made me forget everything I didn't want to remember. Everything disappeared and it was just him and I. My hands found their way through his hair and I tugged at it as his lips reached my neck. After all this time, he was still tantalizing to me. He laid me against the bed and towered over me. His lips found my neck again and moved across my collarbone and down to my chest. I threw my head back and closed my eyes. I couldn't help the quickening of my breath - every kiss making my body shudder with desire. Every movement of his had a purpose. He was careful and calculated and yet, he didn't hold back. He pulled at my hair and nipped at my neck. His lips reached mine and I couldn't help but tug at his bottom lip.

“Isabella,” he groaned. “You're killing me baby.”

“Now, Giovanni,” I breathed.

Without hesitation he reached for the button of my jeans and undid it, sliding my zip down along with it. I pushed my pants off and my underwear was next. I leaned up and he unclipped my bra, that too joining the pile of clothes on the floor. He stood up and removed his towel, exposing himself to me. Fuck he was so ready for me.