37. Lark

Chapter thirty-seven

Lark

Thursday, April 3, 2025

“ O kay, one last ride and then we can go home and watch Jane the Virgin ,” I say, smiling up at Gianni. He’s been a good sport about this whole night, and I think he may even have actually enjoyed himself.

“Alright, one more ride. What will it be?” he asks as if he doesn’t already know the answer.

I drag him over to the Ferris wheel, excitement buzzing through me. The sun is about to set, so the lights are bright, and the view from the top should be pretty incredible, overlooking the skyline. “Where is Tiny gonna go?” he asks me, genuinely seeming concerned.

“I’m sure the guy taking the tickets won’t mind watching him.” I wink up at him, pulling out a wad of bills I’ve been saving for just this moment. Absolutely nothing is going to stop me from getting my perfect kiss at the top of the ride tonight .

Besides, Tiny would stay put wherever I tell him to, but I really prefer for someone to have a hold on him just in case.

When the last round of people get off the ride, we’re up next. I pass our tickets and the twenty dollars in ones to the guy taking the tickets. “Would you mind watching my service dog, Tiny, for us while we’re on the ride?” I ask, batting my lashes at the young man in the ticket booth.

“Uh, sure,” he says, accepting the money and opening the gate to let us through. I tie Tiny’s lead to the metal bar and tell him to stay put.

Grabbing Gianni’s hand, I pull him toward the two-person seat waiting for us. We close the gate, ensuring it’s firmly shut, and a minute later, someone comes by to do the same. When everyone’s locked in, they pull the lever, and we’re off. Gianni grips my hand as we make our way slowly to the top.

His hooded gaze is practically burning a hole in my mouth. “Was I a good boy tonight, little red?” he asks.

“A very good boy,” I tell him, trying to say it how he had, the words dripping sex but failing miserably because, frankly, I’m kind of an awkward person.

He lets out a low chuckle, dipping his head close to mine and nipping my bottom lip. He releases my hand, dropping it to my lap and raking his middle finger over the seam of my jean shorts. His chest rumbles with a sound of approval. “You’re already soaked for me, and I’ve barely touched you,” he says, continuing to stroke me through the thick fabric.

I look around, frantic, to make sure no one can see us, but we’re almost at the top. Just as I’d thought, the view is incredible, and yet, the only thing I want to look at is the man sitting beside me .

His hand cups the back of my head, dragging my mouth to his. He sucks my lip into his mouth, releasing it with a pop and dipping his tongue inside to taste me. The hand on my lap shifts, and I hear my zipper lower before the weight of his calloused hand slides in under my lace thong.

He puts pressure on my clit, and I’m squirming beneath him, ready to burst with one simple touch. I grip his hand, pulling it closer to where I need it most, and finally, he slips two fingers inside me. I roll my hips, unable to keep still despite the wobbling bucket we’re swaying in.

“Toujours aussi belle. Surtout sous ces lumières quand tu baises ma main.” Always so beautiful. Especially under these lights, fucking my hand.

He removes his hand, zipping my shorts back up and fixing the top button. When he pulls his face from mine just as we’re nearing the bottom, he slides those fingers that had just been inside me into his mouth, sucking me off them. “Definitely better than cotton candy.” He smirks, and it sends fireworks shooting through me.

How is he so damn sexy?

***

“I’d have sued, one hundred percent. Jane is too freaking nice!” I shout at Gianni as he lounges on the couch, idly rubbing my feet.

“It’s a TV show, little red. I’d like to think that Gina Rodriguez herself would have sued if this were real life. Now just keep watching,” he tells me, shaking his head .

I settle back into the couch, enjoying just how normal this feels. Tyler refused to just watch TV with me and relax. He’d throw a fit when I just wanted to cuddle or do pretty much anything, just the two of us.

I know that Gianni and I aren’t really a couple, and as much as I want to just ask him about it, I’m not ready to give whatever this is up if he isn’t interested in more. So, for now, I plan to just enjoy it and keep doing my best to make him feel as happy and content as he makes me in the hopes that this could last.

We spend the next several hours cuddling on the couch with the dogs at our feet until Pickles finally climbs over me to lie between Gianni and me.

She’s such a little cuddle bug. I love it.

“Do you guys wanna spend the night?” he asks me, and I feel like I could float away.

“We’d love to, right, boys?” I ask them jokingly, neither of them even looking in our direction. They’re both completely passed out at our feet.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He chuckles, maneuvering Pickles into his arms before carrying her to her bed and setting her stuffy beside her.

“Me next?” I ask, lifting my arms in front of me, only half kidding. He stands in front of me, gripping my waist, and slings me over his shoulder, carrying me to his bed.

He crawls in beside me, pulling my hips firmly into his and snuggling against my back. He buries his face in my hair, taking a deep inhale and letting it go on a long sigh. “ Fuck, this is nice.” He groans .

A smile tugs at my lips, hearing how at ease he is with me. It fills me up in ways I hadn’t known possible. “It is,” I whisper into the dark room.

Gianni trails kisses along my neck, pressing the last one between my shoulder blades. “Goodnight, my little red.”

“Goodnight, Gianni,” I tell him before drifting into the most relaxing dreamless sleep.