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Niki flung her arms around him. He whispered things in her ear that at first had her blushing and made the pulse at the base of her neck speed up.

He scooped her up in his arms, and Niki waved to Gaby, who promised to come by the next day for coffee. Gio carried her through the mansion to the car and placed her on my lap once I was in the back seat.

Sandro was at the wheel and Gio climbed into the passenger seat. “It’s time to go home,” he said to no one in particular.

Chapter 18

Nicolette

I surfaced slowly, hot and sweaty, trying to kick the blankets away. When they refused to budge, I blinked my eyes open only to realize they weren't blankets at all. I was cocooned between Marko and Gio, one pressed against my back, the other wrapped around my front. Their combined scent—fresh wood, oak and dark chocolate—filled my lungs, making my stomach growl and my body ache with an entirely different hunger.

My stomach rumbled again, and I realized I hadn’t eaten in two days, not since before that last fateful rehearsal.

“Hungry, tesorina?” Gio was regarding me with a hunger of his own, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t for an egg-white omelet.

“How about some meat, Niki?” Marko growled.

I couldn’t hold back the wide smile. “Uh, yes please. I can’t remember the last time I ate.”

The guys exchanged dark looks but quickly shifted back to a more amiable appearance. I wondered what that was about.

“I’ll go make us breakfast, you two relax,” Marko ordered.

I watched him slide out of bed, his cock heavy at half-mast and his muscular ass flexing as he bent over to retrieve his pajama pants. I whistled at the view. Marko shook his ass, and I broke out in a peal of giggles.

“Go already,” Gio demanded impatiently. “I have to whet my appetite.”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that,” I purred.

Gio pinned me to the bed, his hands engulfing my wrists. He nibbled at my lip until I opened my mouth. His tongue tangled with mine in a very heated kiss.

He pulled back when I tugged my head to the side and his bright eyes held a glint of concern.

“I need you, Gio.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to push you.”

I acted in mock outrage. “Seriously? Pushing me is your favorite activity, Giovanni.” I’d meant my comment to be light and humorous, but his eyes darkened into a piercing royal blue.

“I’m not a gentle man, but I could be for you.”

He meant what he said, but that wasn’t what I needed from him. “Giovanni Luciano Alfonse Vitale, have I ever given you the idea that I want gentle?”

“You haven’t, at least not from me.” With a smirk, he spread my thighs with his knee and speared me with his cock in a single thrust.

“Is this what you want, tesoro?” He slid his hands under my ass, lifting my hips so he could sink his cock fully in and hit that special spot deep inside.

I wrapped my legs around his hips, letting him chase away the nightmare that had haunted me since my abduction.

For one fluttering heartbeat, it worked...Then Amergio lay before me, lifeless, his accusing eyes fixed on mine while blood spread beneath him like a crimson halo.

I did this, my mind screamed. I was responsible for Gio’s cousin dying.

“Stop!” I screamed.

Gio pulled out immediately and I backed up to the headboard. I felt wild, feral, and out of control as I looked desperately for a way to escape what was haunting me.

Marko came flying through the door. “What the hell is going on?” he asked.