CHAPTER 10

GIA

‘Holy shitting hotness,’ I thought, mentally waving a hand in my face to cool down. There were three of them. Who would have thought? They looked enough alike that they could be brothers, never mind second cousins or something like that. I’d tried to keep track when Hope explained but gave up in the end.

Gram had been thrilled to see me and have me back with her; I was happy to see she wasn’t any worse for wear given her adventures. Hetty had stayed close, and I’d never been more grateful for our cook.

“Where’s everyone?” he asked, looking around as we entered the house.

“I left them in the sitting room,” I said, waving a hand in the general direction of the sitting room.

“Great, let’s go meet your gran,” Navy casually replied, tossing his bag down on the bench in the hallway that had a pile of shoes in a basket under it.

It’s the first thing I’d noticed about this house; it wasn’t just a house, it was a home. While it was clean, it wasn’t tidy, you could tell a family lived here from the shoes tossed in the basket by the stairs and jackets hanging on hooks in the hallway.

The same could be said for the lounge that had big comfortable couches and armchairs, a bookcase brimming with books, blankets tossed carelessly over the back of the couches. It was warm and friendly somewhere that nobody would raise an eyebrow if you put your feet up on them. Vastly different to the show home I’d grown up in. I much preferred this, it was more my style. I didn’t need much, I just wanted to be happy, and I was hoping that I’d found that.

Hand in hand, we walked to the sitting room where I’d left Gram and Hetty being entertained by Violet and Hope.

Hope was busy pouring out tea and Aggie, who’d I’d been introduced to as Hope’s right-hand lady and that she wouldn’t know what to do without her, was handing out slices of cake. My stomach rumbled. Until that moment, I hadn’t realised how hungry I was.

“There you two are,” Hope said, smiling. “I thought you’d got lost.”

“It took me time to drag her away once she caught sight of Derek,” Navy teased with a smile that widened when I blushed bright red.

“Ah, yes Derek, he’s a good-looking young man and so nice,” Gram agreed.

Navy laughed as he stopped in front of Gram and held out his hand, “You must be Gia’s Gram. I’m Alan Goode or Navy, whichever you are most comfortable using.”

Gram took his hand and looked up at him with a small smile, her eyes twinkling a little, “Well now, you’re just as good-looking as your cousin. Navy, right? I think we’ll stick with that. Military I assume?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Navy smiled, squeezing her hand gently and letting it go before turning to Hetty.

“The infamous Hetty, I hear you organised the rescue.”

Hetty’s cheeks reddened at having all of Navy’s attention on her, then she straightened up, “I wasn’t going to let that idiot sell our Gia.”

“Definitely not,” Navy agreed. “I’m in your debt. How else was I going to save a damsel and swoop in to save the day?” Navy continued a little dramatically. Hetty laughed at him, but settled back looking more comfortable than she’d been when we’d walked in. I was grateful to Navy for taking the time to make her feel that way.

There were no airs and graces with this family. I caught Gram’s eye, smiling at her thumbs up and watched as Navy moved on to tease his niece and nephew, then taking a mug of tea from Hope and a slice of cake before sitting down next to me on the couch making it feel remarkably smaller than it had earlier. He was a big man and took up a lot of space, and as I wasn’t the smallest woman, we touched from shoulder to thigh. When I tried to move away, his hand fell on my leg, holding me still, and that’s where it stayed until Derek and Bas came in not long after we’d settled in.

“I’ve put all Gia’s luggage in your room,” Derek informed Navy, who just nodded in thanks.

It was much later, once we’d had supper and the children were in bed, that we spoke about what was going to happen regarding Julian and the will.

“I’m worried about Tristan. What happens if Julian decides it’s better to kill him off and inherit everything even if he doesn’t want it? I know it was easier for him to marry me off. One, because he really doesn’t like me and two, the ten million is better than nothing,” I spoke out during the discussion.

“That’s what I don’t get,” Derek murmurs. “Why didn’t he get rid of your brother right away? He could sell the company and have all the money.”

“Because as much as he hates me, he actually loves Tristan, but now that we’ve stopped him getting the money that was left to me, I’m not sure that it will stop him from hurting Tris. I’d happily sign it all over to him. I don’t want the money,” I grumble tiredly. My head was aching, thinking how complicated it had all gotten. I’d spoken to Tris earlier, and he’d been furious at everything that we’d been put through. He’d apologised that he hadn’t pushed Julian for more information on the cruise. I’d assured him we didn’t blame him, but I knew my brother — he’d still beat himself up about it.

“When’s he arriving here?” Navy asked.

“He was leaving early tomorrow morning, so he should be here by mid-morning,” I responded with a yawn.

“Give me his address,” Derek said, standing up from where he’d been sitting on the floor by the fireplace. “I’ll go and pick him up.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, sitting up straight.

“I’m sure,” Derek assured me. “Let’s rather be safe than sorry.”

“Thank you,” I sighed in relief and gave him Tristan’s information.

“Do you need one of us to come with you?” Navy asks but Derek just waves him off.

“Nah, I’ll be good. It’s only three hours away and at this time of night, it will be an easy drive.”

“Okay,” Navy agrees, standing up and pulling me with him towards Derek, hugging him. “Make sure you check in when you get there.”

“I will,” Derek assures him before wishing everyone goodnight and leaving.

“Well, now that’s all sorted, it’s bed for me,” Gram says, pushing herself up from her chair and taking her walking stick from Hetty.

“I’ll come with you,” Hetty says. “Night everyone.” They disappear down the passage where there were a couple of downstairs bedrooms, so they didn’t have to climb the stairs.

“We’re going up too,” Bas informs us, yawning, pulling Hope and the kids with him. They hug me as they leave. And then it’s just the two of us. I know I was brave earlier today, but now that the hour was here, I wasn’t feeling as certain.

“Come on, sweets, I’ll show you to a room or you can sleep with me again. And by sleep, I mean sleep, I’m bushed. It’s your choice.”

I sagged in relief; I should have known he wouldn’t force the matter. Feeling brave again, I reply, “Your room, please.”

Taking my hand, he walks me out of the living room and up the stairs all the way to the end of the hall, taking the last door on the right. Walking into a large bedroom with a super king bed, covered with a dark grey bedspread. The walls were painted a soft light grey, and along one side of the room there’s a mirrored built-in wardrobe. The mirrors on the doors making the room feel larger than it is. Turning in a circle so to take it all in, I note that our bags are on a luggage rack just inside the door.

“The bathroom’s through there, sweets. I’m going to use the bathroom next door so take your time,” Navy declares with a gentle smile. He presses his lips to my forehead before turning and leaving me. Going to my bag, I remove a pair of lilac sleep shorts and a strappy top. My usual choice to sleep in. It’s not like I had much to choose from, just what I’d been able to pack up. It would have to do.

Grabbing my wash bag, I hurry to the bathroom. Starting the shower, I set out my shampoo, conditioner, and razor. Brushing my teeth quickly while I wait for the water to heat up. It feels so good to have clean teeth again.

Twenty minutes later, I’m feeling a hundred percent better now that I’m clean, my hair washed, and teeth brushed. Taking my comb, I run it through my hair before plaiting it. It probably isn’t the best idea to go to sleep with it wet, but I’m too tired to mess around with it tonight.

Leaving the bathroom, I switch the light off and come to a stop when I see Navy waiting in bed for me. He’s so gorgeous and I don’t think he even realises it. He’s covered in tattoos from his wrists, up his arms and over his chest. There’s a bare patch on his one pec, making me wonder what he’s going to have put there. I know he said we’d wait, but I’m not sure that I want to now that I’ve seen him like this. I think I’ve changed my mind; no, I don’t think, I know I’ve changed my mind. I’ve waited a long time for this. I’m shaken out of my thoughts by Navy asking, “What’s wrong, sweets?”

Smiling, I switch off the bathroom light and saunter in what I hope is a sexy sway over to the bed. From the way Navy’s eyes widen then lower, my attempt must be okay. He bites his lip, and he rests one of his hands on my hip when I stop next to his side of the bed.

“Do you know what you’re asking for, sweets?”

Nodding, I lift my hand and run it through his thick black hair, “I do, Navy. I want this,” I assure him.

Squealing a little as I’m taken by surprise when he lifts me and settles me across his thighs. The evidence of how I’ve affected him is more than clear in the hard length that I feel pressing up against me. Grinding down against him, I’m rewarded when his fingers tighten on my hips. A little thrill of excitement ran through me, and my belly tightens in anticipation of what was to come.

“You sure about this, sweets? I’m good to wait until your situation is resolved. I don’t want you to do this thinking that you need to.”

Pressing my finger to his lips to stop him talking. “I’m sure, Navy. I promise that I know what I’m asking. This isn’t some misguided form of thanks. I know you’ll help me no matter what. It’s one of the reasons I’m choosing you. I’m nearly twenty-six years old and this is the first time I’ve felt comfortable enough to be in the same bed as someone. So, unless you’re no longer interested, then I’d really like for you to make love to me.”

There was no need for more words, I’d made myself as clear as I could. This was for me. For the first time ever, I was putting myself first. Navy must have taken me at my word because he lost no time in gathering me close and sealing his mouth to mine, hands tight on my hips as he rocked me back and forward on his cock. Grinding down with every rock of his hips, I was unable to stop the moan that left me. I had needs and over the years I’d used toys, so I wasn’t a virgin in the strictest sense as I’d long since done away with my hymen. None of the toys I’d used had ever felt this good, though, and we were both still clothed. How good was it going to feel naked?

“It’s going to be good, sweets, I promise,” Navy assured me. Taking hold of the bottom of my pyjama top, he lifted it up and over my head, leaving me naked from the waist up. Not a feeling I was truly comfortable with, Navy didn’t give me any time to think about being naked though as he cupped the heavy weight of my breasts in his hands. Hands that were hard and rough on my breast, thumbs rubbing gently against my nipples.

“So fucking beautiful,” he murmured before bending his head and sucking one of my hard nipples into his mouth. ‘Oh, my god how good did it feel.’

Thrusting my fingers into his hair, I held him to me, never wanting this feeling to stop. I must have said it out loud because Navy lifted his head from my breasts.

“Oh, sweets, if you think this is good, wait until I get my mouth and fingers on your sweet pussy. I can’t wait for you to come all over my fingers. I’m going to eat you so good, baby, that you’ll be ruined for anyone else,” he assured me before turning us both so that I was now lying flat on the bed, and he was kneeling over me. A full body shiver travelled through me at the look in his eyes.

‘Oh yes, this had been the best decision I’d ever made.’