Dinner with the Mafia ✔

Chapter 34

His passionate words and firm tone affected me to my core, literally. I suddenly felt hot from his intense stare and firm determination, making me remember the forced kiss we had in front of everyone. It was so intense and had no business being so alluring, making me crave more.

"Are you okay?" he asked and placed his palm on my forehead. "Your cheeks are quite red. It doesn't seem like a fever, though."

I cleared my throat and gently removed his hand from my forehead but kept holding it. "It's definitely not a fever," I replied, my voice coming out a bit squeaky. I wanted to curse at my running mouth. "What I meant to say is that I'm good. You don't need to worry about me. You, on the other hand, look miserable." He groaned and started unbuttoning his dress shirt, which made him look unreasonably sexy. What is wrong with me? 

"I want to shower, but the doctor said not to for at least twenty-four hours, and when I do shower, I need to cover the wound. I feel dirty!" he exclaimed with an exaggerated sigh and tossed his shirt aside, leaving him half-naked. I had seen this half before, but he looked uncannily attractive. Who knew sweat could be a positive thing?

"Do you want me to wipe your body for you? And don't get any dirty ideas or images in your head," I quickly said, and he stared at me. After a minute of silence, he quickly placed his hands on his pants as a cover. I immediately grimaced, realizing the reason behind his action. "Asshole! At least try and be subtle about it! Damn it, Dario. Can't you just be normal for a damn day?"

"This is normal for any man! Is my manhood distracting my Bambi?" he asked with a cunning smirk and a knowing glance. I stood up quickly and put my hair in a messy bun. The ponytail I did before was too loose. I needed a shower. I needed to kill Dario too.

"Dario fucking Romano, I will skin you alive if you don't cleanse your dirty mind and mouth." He laughed, thinking I was not serious. I was not being serious, but he did not need to know that. "I will get a towel and a bowl of warm water to clean you up. This little monster of yours better be tamed by the time I get back!"

"Excuse you, it's not little, and you know it!" he defended with a grin. I slapped the back of his head and rushed to the kitchen. It was definitely not little...

"Do you want anything to eat since I am already in the kitchen?" I called as I turned on the boiler and found a big towel in one of the drawers. Why does he keep big towels in the kitchen?

"I am... not, uh, hungry, th-anks," he replied in a panting voice, and I could imagine what he was doing there. 

No, Jolene! 

Don't picture it! 

Clean thoughts, Joe, only clean thoughts... 

Stay pure!

I got so distracted by my stupidity that I forgot the boiler actually had boiling water. I screamed the second it spilled on my hand. "Fucking shit! Motherf-"

"What- ouch! What happened?" Dario called, seemingly in panic.

I looked over at the kitchen door and sighed. "Don't you dare move. I am fine! I just dropped hot water on my hand, that's all," I replied as I hit the air in agony. And to think I endured a stab wound better than this.

Not a second later, Dario slammed the door open, startling me. "Show me." He rushed toward me, and it was evident on his face that he was in so much pain. He was too stubborn and proud to admit it.

You are crying over boiling water while he got shot in your place; bravo, Joe!

I hid my hand behind my back and faked a smile. "I said I'm fine. You, on the other hand, are not! Let's get you back," I replied and tried to move him, but he grabbed my red hand and inspected it instead.

"I am fine when you are fine. So, both of us are not fine."

He brought cool water and put my hand in the bowl. We stood in silence for about ten minutes until I could not handle it anymore. "I was supposed to be treating you, not the other way around." Despite his mood swings, sly remarks, and temper, he was incredibly selfless. He almost died because of me, yet he was ministering to me.

"I don't fucking care, Bambi. Now let's go back to the living room and watch something," he suggested, and I did not move. "What?" he crossed his arms, disapproving of my motionlessness.

"Could you grab the towel while I hold the now warm bowl of water? I am still going to clean your upper half body for you. And don't argue with me. It's the least I can do to thank you, Dario. I will carry you if I have to."

"Fine." He rolled his eyes, assuming I could not really carry him. He was way bigger than me, so I also doubted my ability to do that. He was not completely happy but did not argue with me.

"That's a good boy," I grinned as I rushed to my previous chair.

"Don't joke around. I am a man, and you, of all people, know that. Plus, my little monster here confirms my point," he replied as he carefully laid on his back.

"Actions speak louder than lustful organs." I started not to make sense. I was too tired and sleepy.

"Are you kidding, Bambi? Do you not seriously see me as a man?" he asked, looking bothered. I knew he was a fine man, but it was fun messing with him.

"I don't know... you are just..."

"I am just what? What, Bambi?" I did not say anything for about a minute, which apparently was a long wait for him. "Damn it, say it!" he yelled in annoyance, and I laughed. He looked like an abandoned big puppy.

"Well, a man asks for consent before kissing someone," I said because I wanted to open this topic one way or another.

"You know pretty well that was not an option. I had to take that fucker by surprise and give you the chip. Kissing you was the only safe way to do so."

"You could have slipped it in my pants as Lazlo did with the knife. I know that you saw him do it."

He looked at his toes, wiggled them a bit like a child, and then glanced back at me. "Okay. Next time, I will ask for your consent," he replied in all seriousness, and my eyes widened.

"Next time?" I meant to ask that question, but another person beat me to it. 

Dario drew out his gun at the intruder, and I gasped, almost falling from my chair, as I looked at the entrance.

"Dad?" 

~~~

22.07.2023

The sexual tension is real :)

I hope you liked this chapter!