At my closet, he peered over his shoulder, then laughed while turning around. “Would Pietro and Cristian be proud?”
“I think not. At least you’re not racing to the top of Mr. Giordano’s To Kill list.”
He waved a hand through the air as he came to me. “What happens in the mountains stays in the mountains. No chickening out.”
While he started unbuttoning my shirt, I asked, “Stays in the mountains? Is this more slang, Sal?”
“Vegas, baby.” He patted my shoulders. “Off.”
Taking off my shirt, I growled, “Oh yes, Vegas. I can’t believe you let me lose so much money there.”
He headed back to the closet to hang my shirt. “Sometimes, being tossed in the pool is the best way to learn how to swim.”
“At an expensive gambling table?”
“Pfft!”
“Not even knowing the game?”
His head bobbled on that one. “Alright, maybe you have a point. Now, take off your pants.”
Unbuckling my slacks, I asked, “Am I being tossed into a pool again?”
“No. You know how to fuck.”
I stepped out of my slacks. “What about birth control?”
“They put a contraception in her arm.”
I had no idea what he meant but asked, “How do you know this?”
“It’s called conversation. You should try more of that and less snarling.”
“Sal… w-what if she doesn’t like sex?”
“Then I will come in and save the night.”
That had me chuckling again. But then I remembered— “You won’t be in here.” I could feel the blood drain from my face.
“Nope. Kitchen duties call.”
“Sal—”
“Nope. You’re a big boy. Take off your boxers.”
“But—”
He suddenly spoke in a serious tone, while peering at the ground. “I had a dream.”
“A warning?”
A gentle smile crossed his lips as he looked up. “No, my friend. A blessing.”
My brows bunched. “What happened in the dream?”
He touched my face. “Trust me when I say that tonight will be a blessing for you.”
He didn’t want me to know my future. I had to trust he had his reasons. So, I removed my boxers, laid down, and then lifted my hands over my head.
Smirking, Sal laid a sheet over my body, up to my navel. “We don’t want to spook the poor girl with your large ‘package’ that Mae has literally been eyeing.” He tied a napkin around my wrist, then paused. “You ready?”
I was a killer. Being extremely vulnerable wasn’t exactly a fun pastime, but this was for Scarlett. If she survived it, I would, too. “Do it.”
As he restrained me, his tone went serious again. “This is a wonderful thing you are doing, Angelo. You’re giving her the power to be in charge, something she has never known. But you are also honoring me by trusting I will watch over you both while you two are together.” He tapped his side, touching his gun to solidify his meaning while walking to the other side of my bed.
My stomach unsettled, I watched him tie my other wrist. “I trust you with my life, Sal. And I trust you with hers.”
Our eyes met. “Thank you.”
I gave him a curt nod, then tested the bindings. “Why do people purposely want to be tied? This is unsettling.”
“That’s the point, Angelo. Power. Surrender. You said it yourself.”
Examining my restraints, I grumbled, “Saying it and experiencing it are two different situations.”
Concern was mine when an evil smile crossed Sal’s face. “Are you particularly ticklish?”
Laughter felt good. “Find out and die.”
“I will go get Dove.” He started walking toward the door, then turned back around. “Oh, I forgot to mention, I may or may not have told her about orgasms while you were in Canada. And I may or may not have told her about wings, flying like a bird—” he waved his hand through the air between us, “and things like that. No big deal. Just be sure fireworks go off in here, okay?”
Blink. Blink. “Sal! What have you promised her will happen in here?”
Smirking, he rolled his eyes. “Stop with the dramatics.”
“Sal!”
“Can you just try to have a romantic bone in your body? You are an Italian, after all.” He winked and left the room.
It felt like forever had passed by four times by the time the door reopened. I had pretty much convinced myself Scarlett had changed her mind. With the door still open, she stood there in her nightgown, staring at me. I couldn’t see him but knew Sal was in the hallway for her.
I swallowed. Maybe she really was rethinking all this. “We don’t have to do this, Scarlett.”
Her full lips parted. “I never knew being tied could look so beautiful.”
That was not what I expected. In fact, that had my level of confidence building and me sighing in relief. I think every insecurity had stepped forward before that. Until this special night, I hadn’t even known I had any.
Scarlett didn’t pay attention to Sal when his hands appeared, reaching through the entrance while pulling the stick-thing from her hair. Long, thick black hair fell over her perfect shoulders.
Jesus. She is everything any man could ever want.
I heard Sal chuckle, “Lucky fucking bastard,” before the door shut.
Galaxy eyes stared… “Was he praying?”
“Cursing me for being so lucky to be with you.”
Completely unaware of just how striking she was, her dark eyelashes batted in surprise. “Oh.” She walked to me while observing the sheet. “You do know I have seen a naked man before?”
I closed my eyes to shut out thoughts of those vile men, but it didn’t work. Inside, I became furious. “I also know there was no option offered to you.”
Tilting her head, she raised her hands. “Fair trade.” Those artistic fingers were like a white flag as she mimicked me.
Ease entered my heart. Brilliant. You are simply brilliant.
“Do your wrists hurt?”
I was tied up like she had been most of her life, yet she worried about my well-being. I love you, Scarlett Giordano. “No.”
She came to my side, worry filling her eyes. “Angel… I don’t know where to start.”
I reached out to touch her—comfort her—until my arms jerked. I was restrained. It was foreign. It was wrong to be unable to move as I pleased—Oh, my poor Scarlett. It was tragic that she knew this too well.
No more, Star. It’s all about you now. “Start wherever you want.”
Timidly, she sat next to my thigh and asked a very unexpected question. “How do you feel when imagining me marrying a man in Italy?”
I felt my restraints tighten. “It doesn’t matter how I feel.”
Her voice almost cracked as she quietly told me, “It does,” she patted her chest, “to me.”
Awareness hit me. She was aligning her heart to her body. Brilliant.
It was going to wreck my world to walk away from her. “It hurts.”
Her eyes shut as a soft sigh escaped her. “Thank you.” She touched my thighs. “Thank you.” Her eyes still closed, she hiked up her nightgown to crawl over my legs. “Thank you.” Only her heart was open as she climbed up my body to lie on me. “Thank you.” Only our souls spoke as she gently kissed me. “Now… make me fly.”