𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

18

Giovanni

I run my hands through my hair as I lay in bed not being able to sleep, I don't know why Mila's words at breakfast are affecting me.

Of course, this wasn't real, she had every right to not want to be intimate with me, In her eyes this was just a marriage contract and free shelter and housing for her and her kids.

For me, it was just that, a marriage contract, but I couldn't get enough of her even if I tried, her words from this morning hurt a small part inside of me that had never been affected by a woman before.

But Mila is different, I knew since the moment I laid eyes on her, that she was mine, she denies it but I know she feels something for me, even if it will take her a century to realize it, she is mine.

We're stuck together so I have the time.

I even grew an attachment to her kids, and if we're getting married their going to be my step-kids.

Was I ready for that?

I think of how upset Mila got as I was speeding down the road not realizing how much she'd be affected by it, it was a normal thing for me so I didn't think anything of it.

I must admit the sounds of her screams did...

Fuck.

I feel my dick grow against my boxers, I ignore it as I shut my eyes and attempt to sleep, but I can't.

Fuck.

Instead of rubbing one out to the thought of Mila screaming out my name, I take a cold shower.

-

I feel someone shaking me awake, assuming it is Lia I groan. "What the fuck do you want?"

"That's a dollar in the swear jar." My eyes fly open to see Isabella on my bed shaking me awake, she smiles brightly at me. "You're awake!"

My eyebrows crease as I check the time on my phone. "Why are you up so early." It was only 5 AM.

"I wanted some ice cream but I don't want to go downstairs alone."

"You can't eat ice cream at 5 in the morning," I say and she tilts her head.

"Why not?"

"Why haven't you asked your mom?" I ask her and she doesn't reply. "That's why."

"Pleaseeeee." She begs as she pulls my hand.

I tried my hardest to resist, I really did.

But those eyes.

"Fine." I get up and walk her downstairs and into the kitchen turning on the lights.

She climbs up on the counter as I grab a bowl and grab some ice cream out of the fridge. "How many scoops?"

She smiles in excitement. "Five!" She says.

Two it is.

I grab a spoon and hand her the ice cream. "You're going to rot your teeth, sweet tooth."

"Uh uh, my teeth are very strong, see?" She says as she taps her teeth.

"I see."

"What's going on?" Mila says as she walks over to Isabella and takes the bowl.

"Mommy!" She whines.

"Really? Ice cream for breakfast?" She asks me, I feel a slight ping in my chest at the fact that I disappointed her once again.

"Don't be mad at him Mommy, it was my fault." Isa frowns.

Mila stares at her daughter and sighs. "I'm not mad at anyone." She says as she hands Isa back the bowl and goes to make herself one.

My eyebrows crease. "What? You two can't have all the fun and leave me out." She says causing me to look at her, amused at what she said.

"Mommy, Mr. Gio owes another dollar in the swear jar."

"Does he?" Mila says as she sits down next to Isabella.

"Way to keep a secret Isa," I say as I grab water from the fridge.

Isa finishes her ice cream and Mila sends her back to bed. "Clean up and go to bed." Isa nods, already seeming tired as she heads to bed.

I grab the empty bowl and spoon and begin cleaning it out.

"Why are you up so early?" I ask Mila as she continues eating her ice cream.

She shrugs. "Having a hard time sleeping, I guess."

"Why's that?" I ask raising a a brow as I finish cleaning the bowl and step back leaning on the wall, watching her.

"I talked to my dad.." she said looking up at me as she finished her ice cream. "Well, he talked... I mostly stayed quiet and cried.. occasionally cursed."

"You okay?" I ask and she tilts her head as she gets up to wash her dishes.

"Yeah... I think I am, after that, I told him about my kids... I told him about you."

"About me?" My brows crease. "What about me?"

She stays quiet for a moment. "I told him I'm getting married, he said he wanted to meet my family." She scoffed.

"And what do you think about that?"

"I think it's bullshit, the man was emotionally absent my whole life, and now he's all of a sudden interested in it." She laughs, but I can hear the pain behind her soft voice.

I wrap my arms around her shoulder as I hold her, she stills. "What are you doing?" She said through her tears.

"Holding you."

She sniffles and lets out an empty chuckle. "Why?" She says as she presses her palms against her eyes.

I shrug, not really knowing why myself. "Because I want to." I settle with.

She turns around in my arms as I continue holding her close to my chest, she looks up at me, not saying a word the tears have left her long lashes and her face wet.

Moving my hand up I slowly wipe under both of her beautiful eyes. "No more of this, okay?" I ask and she nods.

No more crying over her past.

My fingers brush her hair out of her face and behind her ear, letting me see all of her, I gulp feeling a lump in my throat as I look at her.

So fucking beautiful.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks softly.

I want to kiss you.

I don't break eye contact as I ask. "Like what?"

She stays quiet for a second, and then looks away from my gaze, like she was afraid to see my reaction to what she was about to say.

"Like this is real.."

I tense at her words.

Like this is real.