Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Explanations

“Let her explain,” Bebe said as Giovanni started to walk away.

He froze, and Bebe gestured for me to keep going.

“When we were first together, I was a dancer, but when he started beating on me he made me quit the team. Later on, he decided to put my skills to use.”

My bottom lip started to tremble as my tears raced down my cheeks.

“Maybe we should go inside,” Bebe said, gesturing toward the door.

“When I left with him, whenever he felt like going to his club he took me with him. He forced me to dance and if I got a step wrong—that’s where I learned to dance like that,” I spat angrily.

“Luna,” he started.

“I tried to dance again before my parents moved me here, but I couldn’t because Johnathan . . .

“He screwed me up so bad I couldn’t even find the confidence to dance in ~sweatpants~ in my room for fun.

“I pushed all of that down—all of the bad memories—to help you and Alex, and did either of you give me a fucking thank you?

“What’d you think, Giovanni? That I was giving out private dances to Johnathan? That I did something like that for someone like him because I loved him?

“All I ask is for you to trust me. I’ve never given you a reason not to,” I sobbed. I walked into the house and bit my lip hard as I tried to swallow my sobs.

I made it to Giovanni’s room without being seen by Leo and I was flooded with relief because I hated when he saw me cry.

I leaned against Giovanni’s door and began to sink to the floor as my legs gave up under me.

All the memories I had done so well of burying began overwhelming me and I buried my face in my hands.

I took a deep breath and slowly got up. I took the clothes off and walked into the bathroom before taking a shower. I sank on the ground, letting the water hit me.

The bathroom door opened, but I ignored it. The water turned off and I blinked as I looked up at Giovanni. His eyes were full of unshed tears and his clothes were soaking wet.

He grabbed my towel and wrapped it around me before picking me up. He laid me down on the bed and stripped out of his own clothes before going into the bathroom.

He came out thirty minutes later with a towel wrapped around his waist to find me in the same position he left me in. He walked into the closet and came out with one of his hoodies and underwear.

He was wearing one of his Calvin Klein boxers, but that was it. He slowly walked up to me and sat me upright. He put the clothes next to me and kneeled in front of me.

“I do trust you,” he said softly.

I looked down at him but didn’t respond.

He shut his eyes tightly and looked down. “You hesitated,” he croaked. He slowly looked up at me with tears in his eyes.

“What?” I asked softly.

“I’ve been acting like this because you ~hesitated~. I know it’s stupid, but it made me wonder if you wished I was somebody else—if I was Johnathan.

“And then when you said you wanted to see him, it was like my suspicions were confirmed,” he said quietly.

He started chewing on his lower lip as some of the tears escaped his eyes and ran down his cheeks. He turned his face away and wiped them off despite the fact they kept falling.

I turned his head toward me and held his hands gently.

“I hesitated because I didn’t want to force you to be with me.

“I didn’t want you to wake up one day and look over at me to see how battered I looked—to see all my flaws and decide I wasn’t what you wanted anymore.

“I want to see Johnathan because I wanted to tell him that he didn’t break me. I wanted to thank him for trying because if it wasn’t for him, I don’t think I would’ve met you,” I said softly.

He shut his eyes tightly as if he felt stupid. “I could never get tired of you. You will always be beautiful to me,” he said gently.

I smiled to myself and slowly leaned in before capturing his lips in a kiss.

He stood up without breaking the kiss and gently pushed me back on the bed.

I felt his finger slip between my folds and whimpered as I tried to focus on kissing his lips and not moaning loudly. He growled when he realized what I was doing and sped his finger up.

He pulled away from me and gently bit my ear. “Moan my name, ~bambina~,” he growled.

I moaned his name softly as he locked his eyes with mine. His eyes were dark with lust, and the look of pure hunger on his face didn’t do anything but turn me on more.

He abruptly pulled his finger out and went down on me. He kissed the insides of my thighs as he made his way up to my throbbing core.

I gasped as his warm mouth finally made contact with it, and my back arched off the bed as he started to slowly lick me.

“Giovanni,” I pleaded. It was clear he was teasing me, and from the smirk he gave me he was enjoying watching me squirm. “Giovanni,” I moaned softly.

His eyes got the same hungry look as last time, and he went in. He started licking and sucking me up as if he hadn’t eaten all day and I was his favorite meal.

He kept going even as I came in his mouth over and over. My toes curled as I felt myself getting ready to orgasm. I pulled the bed sheet tightly as I moaned his name.

Stars invaded my vision, and I felt Giovanni pull away from me. I could feel my legs still shaking, and Giovanni chuckled as he took me in.

He sat me up and slid his sweater over my head. He pulled my panties and shorts on before he climbed into the bed to lay beside me.

He picked my head up and gently kissed my lips before putting my head on his chest.

I fell asleep shortly after, and when I woke up, he was asleep himself. I stared at him for a while until boredom sank in and I started poking him to get him to wake up.

I smiled to myself as I pulled his member out and went to work. He groaned as I went further, and his hands shot to my hair as I started gagging.

His hips buckled as his cum shot into my mouth. He started to sit up, and I pushed him down as I kept going.

He shot up as he came in my mouth for the fifth time, and I smiled at the bewildered look on his face. He had a lazy smile on his face and he looked like he was in pure bliss.

He pulled away from me when I reached for him, and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Relax,” I said softly.

He watched me closely as I bent back down. I kissed his tip, making him jerk, and pulled his boxers back up. I winked at him before leaving the room.

I bumped into Alex and rolled my eyes as I tried to go around him.

“Thank you,” he said, making me stop.

“What?” I asked, wide-eyed.

“I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you, so thank you for ignoring me and helping anyway,” he said nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

“You’re welcome,” I said softly.

“I’m afraid I’ll lose you again, and it feels like I’m drowning in failure,” he admitted.

“Alex, I’m not going anywhere ever again, and you didn’t fail at anything—if anything, you made me stronger.

“I was going to let Johnathan kill me because I thought he had killed you, but as soon as you opened your eyes and said my name, I fought, Alex.

“You are one of the strongest people I know, and I know I wouldn’t have made it as far as I made it without you,” I said softly.

His eyes mirrored mine as they filled with tears and I hugged him tightly.

“I love you, Lulu,” he said, sniffling.

“I love you more, Alex,” I whispered, closing my eyes.

We stayed like that for a while before we pulled away from each other.

“I’m going to see Mom and Dad to talk to them. Do you want to come?” I asked, watching him closely for a reaction.

He frowned and opened his mouth to argue when he suddenly decided against it. “Yeah, just let me change,” he said before kissing my cheek and running toward his room.

I walked into Leo’s room and smiled at him. “Get dressed, Leo. There’s some people I want you to meet,” I said, walking into his closet and picking out his clothes.

“Okay, Mom,” he said, nodding his head firmly.

I placed the clothes and shoes on the bed before kissing the top of his head and going back to Giovanni’s room.

He was wearing a dark blue suit that hugged his frame perfectly and brought out his icy blue eyes. He watched me closely as I stripped out of my clothes.

I ignored him like I didn’t know he was staring. I walked into the bathroom and took a shower before drying and moisturizing and walking into the room.

Giovanni had laid out a dark blue dress to match his suit. I smiled as I ran my fingers over it. I put it on and curled my hair before pulling my heels on.

I left the room and went to the family room, where everybody was waiting for me.

“Ready?” Alex asked.

I nodded my head, and he nodded before leaving the room with Leo and Giovanni. I followed behind them quietly as I tried to plan the conversation in my head.

“They said they were staying at a hotel somewhere near your house,” Luciano said as he hung up the phone.

I nodded my head in understanding as I got into the car.

We arrived at some fancy five-star hotel, and I didn’t even take the time to study it. Giovanni talked to the desk clerk to get the floor they were on and came back a minute later.

The clerk kept her eyes on him, and if he knew, he made no attempt to even glance in her direction. He led us to the elevator and pressed the up button.

The whole way to my parents’ room, I was silent. Leo walked up to me and took my hand in his as he slightly hid behind me. I watched as my father greeted Giovanni and Alex.

“Hello, Luna,” he said, turning his attention toward me.

“Dad,” I said, nodding my head in acknowledgment.

He went inside the room, leaving us to follow behind him. My mom greeted us next, and I took a deep breath as I prepared myself.

“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Leo, my son,” I said, picking him up.

The room grew silent as Giovanni and Alex watched them for a reaction, but they kept their eyes on me.

“You guys finally gave me a grandson,” my mom squealed happily.

I tensed, and Alex got the message. He took Leo from me before leaving the room.

“He isn’t Giovanni’s biological son,” I said softly.

“What?” my father asked, looking between the two of us.

“He’s—Johnathan’s son,” I said, playing with my fingers.

My parents started laughing, but when they realized I was serious, they immediately sobered up.

“There’s no way,” my father said, shaking his head.

I took a deep breath before explaining the whole story to them.

The room remained silent despite the fact I finished explaining what happened ten minutes ago.

Leo and Alex came back in the room together, but my parents could barely look at Leo, and I automatically knew the question ringing around in their heads.

~Why did I keep him?~

“We’re getting married, and we’d like for you to be there,” Giovanni said, breaking the silence.

My parents ignored him, and I took a deep breath.

“Leonardo is my son, and I love him. I already know what you’re thinking, so now it’s your turn to make a decision,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I think you should go,” my mom said softly.

I felt a pang in my chest, but I ignored it as I stood up.

“Please don’t contact us again,” my father added.

“Believe me when I say we won’t,” I said coldly.

We left the hotel room, and nobody spoke a word except for Leo, who was curious as to who my parents were.

We walked into the house, and Giovanni took Leo to wash his hands while Alex stayed behind to make sure I was okay.

When he had successfully conducted his survey and come to the conclusion I was as fine as I said I was, he looped his arm with mine.

We began walking hand in hand to the dining room where everybody was seated. Alex walked me to my seat and gently kissed the top of my head before going to his own seat.

“Are we waiting for Giovanni?” Bebe asked, looking up at me.

“I’ll go get him,” Leo said before running off to wherever Giovanni was.

The two of them came back minutes later, laughing. I smiled at the two of them before looking away. Leo ran to his seat, and Giovanni took his seat beside me.

He gently kissed my lips before turning his attention to the rest of the table who were already looking at us.

“Yes! You owe me fifty dollars,” Alessandro whispered to Lorenzo.

Lorenzo rolled his eyes and flipped him off in response before throwing a fifty at his head.

“You made a bet?” Bebe asked, laughing.

“Yeah, Lorenzo thought it’d take them at least a day to work through their problems, but I knew better,” Alessandro said, winking at me.

I giggled and shook my head at him.

We prayed before we began our regular routine of eating and laughing. I smiled as I looked around the table. This was my family, and they were all the family I’d ever need.