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“But how?”
“You know how Ironman puts on his armour so he is protected?” He nodded again as I finished up Raya’s arms. “Sun cream is just like that. It’s like armour on your body to protect you from the heat of the sun.”
“You really have a way with words,” That deep voice that infuriates yet excites me made me jump and I turned around to see Giovanni striding towards us wearing jeans and a black V-neck T-shirt that hugged his large biceps. He looked so much younger in such casual clothes and I hated to admit it, but hot as hell.
“Are you going to wear it too, Gio?” Sani looked up at him hopefully.
Giovanni pretended to look shocked by his question before answering, “Of course! That’s if Olivia wants to share?”
I smirked as I held the bottle out to him, but the mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes again. “Raya, was Olivia good at putting sunscreen on you?” I glanced down at the sweet little girl in her blue summer dress as she nodded with a big grin on her face. “Well, I think I would like Olivia to put some on me. She can show you how to do it yourself, Sani.” His lips pulled into a sideways smirk as my eyes widened and I started shaking my head.
“You have hands! You are more than capable,” I shot back, but he wasn’t going to back down and I knew it. Taking a step closer to me, my breathing hitched as his masculine cologne invaded my space and he maintained his challenging gaze.
“Ok! I will put it on but Gio has to have it on too, Liv!” Sani shouted up from next to us and I threw my head back in defeat. We were never going to get out of this house if I didn’t give in.
“You are such a man-child!” I mumbled under my breath, but I knew he heard me as I squirted some sunscreen in my hand and rubbed it together. When I glanced up, he was smiling so widely, I forgot how to breathe for a moment. It was the first time I had ever seen his true smile. Not a smirk or snigger, but a genuine smile. It was beautiful.
“Maybe start with the face...It’s my best feature,” he teased. He was enjoying this far too much. I rolled my eyes and reached up to place my hands on either side of his face as I carefully rubbed the cream into his tanned skin. As soon as our skin came into contact, my stomach fluttered and I felt heat rise through me, causing a slight blush to creep up to my cheeks. His smile had vanished and he was staring at my face with a serious expression. Letting my eyes follow the trail of my hands to keep me from buckling under his heated gaze, I suddenly realised how intimate this was. My lips parted in reflex as I ran my fingers softly over his stubbled chin and strong jaw. As my hands came down his thick neck, he noticeably swallowed and my eyes flickered up to his. That was a mistake. The look in them was full of intense want and... danger. My hands stilled as I reached his shoulders and his T-shirt restricted me from going any further. We continued to stare deep into each other’s souls and for a moment I had no thoughts. Nothing but him. How perfect his skin felt under my hands. How every contour of his face was so distinguished. I wondered what it might feel like to let my hands wander under that shirt. To feel every rock-hard muscle ripple under my touch...
“There! I did it! Can we go now?” Sani moaned and I leapt away from him and quickly looked away. The spell was broken and I felt my cheeks flame and my heart pound in my chest.What the fuck was that Liv? He is your boss!
“Yes. Come on, let’s go,” I said quickly after clearing my throat and grabbing Raya’s hand in mine. I didn’t dare look back at Giovanni as we strolled down the stone steps where two Range Rover Vogues were waiting for us. Marco nodded at the man who was causing so much stress in my life behind me and threw him a set of keys. I was surprised when Giovanni pressed the fob key and the blacked-out SUV unlocked. Striding passed me, he opened the back door for the kids to jump in and I stood rooted to the spot. “You are driving?” I was glad to see my voice had returned to normal after our little moment.
“Yes. Something wrong with that?” He raised one eyebrow in amusement and I shook my head. Opening the passenger door for me, I climbed in carefully, holding my dress under my ass to avoid an embarrassing show as I could feel his hot gaze watching my every move. He closed the door and I fumbled with my seatbelt as he strolled around the front of the car and spoke to a few of his bodyguards. I wonder if they are coming with us? I glanced back and checked that the children had put their own seatbelts on just as he climbed into the driver’s seat. As I whipped back around, my eyes bulged when he pulled a gun out from under his top at the back of his jeans and placed it in the middle compartment between us. What the fuck? That is a real bloody gun!
He didn’t even seem to notice my reaction as he started up the engine and smiled at the kids in the rear-view mirror. I leaned sideways towards him and whisper-yelled in panic, “What the hell? Why do you have a gun?”
His face turned to mine and I realised how close we were. Our noses were practically touching, so I moved back to my seat quickly. “Just in case,” he said with a wink and turned his focus back onto the road as we started to make our way down the gravel driveway to the gates.
“Just in case of what? They don't sell chocolate chip ice cream?” I was trying so hard to keep my voice low so the children wouldn’t worry, but I was close to having a full-blown panic attack. I had never seen a real gun just sitting there in front of me before. I knew the bodyguards around the house had them, which had made me uncomfortable at first, but I soon forgot about it. But why did Giovanni need one? That’s what he was paying those men for, surely?
"Well, that would be a crime," he chuckled. He didn’t answer me but kept his eyes fixed on the gate that was pulling away slowly to let us out. Nodding to his men who stood guard, we drove through and I looked behind to see another black SUV coming out of the premises behind us. “Who is in that car?”
“Marco and my men,” he replied coolly.
“Are they coming with us?”
“Si.”
“Then why do you need a gun? If they are going to be with us to protect you, why are you carrying that thing around? And in front of kids?” I couldn’t keep the judgement out of my voice. It was one thing, having trained men who knew what they were doing welding guns around, but a completely different matter when it came to Giovanni.
“Full of questions today, aren’t we bella?” he smirked and I glowered at him. I wasn’t going to get anything of substance out of him when he was in this mood. He was too...happy. Everything I seemed to say or do today was just adding to his annoying amusement. Deciding this was dangerous territory after what had already happened between us this morning, I leaned back in the leather chair, folded my arms and stared out of the window.
Sani spent most of the journey talking about which flavour of ice cream he was going to have and which he thought we should all have too. I entertained him and giggled at his excitement but ignored Giovanni the entire time. I could feel his gaze on me every now and again, but I refused to look. Seeing him in his natural environment, so relaxed, was not helping my situation. I needed distance from this man. I needed resistance. But when I allowed myself to sneak a peek at his toned forearms to his huge, masculine hands that tapped away at the steering wheel to the music on the radio, I felt that warmth spread through my body and settle at my core. As my eyes travelled down to his thighs, which were so thick and muscular, an ache between my legs caused me to squeeze my own thighs together. He turned his striking face towards me and his dark eyes bore into mine. God, why did this man have to be so freaking gorgeous?But he knows it, Liv. Don’t give him the satisfaction of letting him know you know it too!I quickly turned my attention back to the window.
“Are you excited, Liv? To have ice cream?” Raya asked quietly from the back. I gave her a small smile.
“Yes. I am so excited!”
Ice cream Liv. Think about ice cream.
Love is Tragedy
Olivia
Every time I walk the charming streets of Verona, I fall even more in love with this city. There is always more to see. More to take notice of. From the intrinsic details of Roman architecture to the array of beautiful flowers that hang from walls and pretty piazzas filled with bustling cafes, restaurants and shops. I soaked up the relaxed and happy atmosphere as I took in the many faces of residents, tourists and locals. It always feels as if everyone is on their very own little holiday.
We strolled down the cobbled streets of Centro Storico and weaved our way through the crowds. Giovanni was leading the way with Soraya’s little hand in his and I was behind with Sani. Marco and two other terrifying men were marching behind us, constantly scanning the throngs of people for any immediate danger. It seemed like the unlikeliest place on Earth to feel unsafe, but what did I know?
