Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 267 -

*Olivia*

"Have a drink with me in my office?"

I glanced at Giovani with a smile. By the look of lust burning in his eyes, he had a little more than alcohol on his mind.

"Oh, I don't know," I grinned teasingly. "I've already had a little wine, and I'm a little tipsy. I might not be able to control myself. Do you really think that's such a good idea?"

Giovani smirked, stepping closer to me until we were barely inches apart. He leaned down, his eyes smoldering me as he said softly, "I really do."

I suppressed the massive smile growing on the edges of my lips and instead, took the last step forward until my body was fully pressed against his.

"Then I'd like that drink," I whispered, my lips brushing against his, "caro mio."

The surprise that lit up in his eyes was reward enough, but he had opened up a pit of greed in my stomach, and I wanted more. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss.

Unlike before, I took control this time as I bit his bottom lip, pulling it with my teeth, and I felt the rumble of his growl more than I heard it as his arms snaked around my waist and pulled me into his hard body. I smirked into the kiss, and just as he leaned forward to deepen it further, I pulled back.

"You said something about a drink, Gio?" I said, pretending to be innocent as I fluttered my eyelashes.

Giovani gave me a dark look, one full of lust but also frustration and annoyance. I didn't blame him as he smirked at me, wickedly. "So I did," he said, stepping back from me and offering me his hand. "Then let me keep my promise, my lady."

"Why thank you, good sir." I took his hand with a flirtatious smile, and he chuckled as he led me up the stairs to his office.

The floorboards creaked as we headed to the office, and as he pushed open the door, it was exactly the same as when I last saw it.

My eyes traveled to the spot where we'd last been entwined. I curled my arms around my middle as Giovani moved around his desk.

I still remembered how it felt that night. I didn't think I would ever forget it. I licked my lips, staring at Giovani. He opened up his cabinet, his back to me, and I could see the outline of muscles through his thin shirt.

I remembered how I had dragged my nails down his back, and the look in his eyes as he gave in to the pleasure of us both.

He turned around, carrying a bottle of champagne in one hand and two champagne flutes in the other. He set them down on his desk and turned to me with a grin.

"Well? Would you like a glass?" he offered, still smiling.

I snorted, moving around to sit on the leather couch. I crossed my legs one over the other, leaning back as I watched him like one would their favorite pastime. "Oh? And how are you going to open it? I don't see a corkscrew." I said, teasingly.

"I don't need one," Giovani said confidently, taking the bottle in one hand. "I can open it with my bare hands."

"Oh really? I highly doubt that," I challenged him, my eyes twinkling back and forth.

Giovani didn't take his eyes off of me for a single second as he held the champagne bottle in one hand and kept the other on the tightly bound cork holding it closed.

With a single action, he dug his nails into the cork, and my eyes widened as it let out a huge pop. The champagne came open and Giovani gave me a smirk as the cork clattered to the ground.

"I stand corrected," I laughed.

The fizz of the champagne bubbled up from the bottle, overflowing down his hand and dripping onto the floor. Giovani didn't seem to particularly care, though, as he tipped the bottle into one of the glasses, filling it to the brim. He did the same to the next and finally set the bottle down.

I lifted myself from the loveseat and swayed over to the desk, grinning as I plucked the glass from the table. His eyes followed my every movement, and I gave him a sultry smirk.

"And what are we celebrating?" I asked, softly, running my fingertip around the tip of the glass.

He shrugged with a smile, taking his seat at the desk as he said, "Life?"

"Life?" I asked, disbelievingly.

"Liberty or the pursuit of happiness then? Isn't that what you Americans preach?" he suggested instead, with a little grin.

"Yes," I laughed, taking a sip of my champagne, "but we don't actually. It's all a lie. Happiness is for the rich mainly."

He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, a charming smile on his face as he leaned over the desk.

"And I just so happen to be rich."

"Lucky you," I said, slowly moving around the desk. "But that still doesn't call for a celebration, you know."

"Alright, fine." He shrugged. "How about you're in Italy, and it's a beautiful night? It's a Tuesday or just because? Who cares what the reason is?"

I laughed as he took my hand in his and pulled me down. The champagne in my glass spilled over the edge slightly, coating my fingers as I fell into his lap. My ass landed on something thick and hard, and I grinned, knowing what it was immediately.

"Champagne is perfect for any day," he murmured to me, brushing my hair over my shoulder.

I giggled, setting my glass down as I looked at my now champagne-soaked fingers. I made eye contact with him, and slowly and deliberately ran my tongue over my finger.

It tasted like salt and champagne-not bad, but what I loved the most was the way his eyes darkened, following me as I licked my fingers clean like they were a lollipop. "You're right about that," I grinned. "Champagne is perfect for any day."

Giovani shut his eyes as he breathed hard through his nose, and I laughed, wrapping one arm around his neck and placing the other on his chest.

"Merde. You're driving me insane," Giovani shook his head like that was a bad thing, but I could see the fond and teasing look in his eyes.

"Me?" I snorted, "I'm not the one who flipped out as soon as I walked through the door. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous of Adrian earlier."

Giovani fell quiet, and I glanced at him questioningly. His deep brown eyes were quiet, serious, like a tranquil pool with no ripples in it.

He grasped my chin gently, pulling my face closer to his as he asked softly, "Would that be a bad thing?"

The playfulness fell away, leaving my heart bare, honest and raw. The defenses I'd built up melted away like snow on a spring day. I couldn't answer for a minute as I gazed deeply into his eyes.

I knew what he was asking, but I couldn't believe it was real. The fear still lingered in a small corner of my heart, leaving me trembling with insecurity at the thought of being so honest.

But it was he who had taken that step, he who had never lied to me or given me any reason to suspect he was anything but what he was.

I knew who he was, just as I knew my own heartbeat out of a thousand others. But did I have the courage to take that last step and plunge over the edge?

I sighed, laying my head on his shoulders so I wouldn't have to see his eyes overflowing with emotion. He cared about me, perhaps more than I'd first thought. Now, it was my turn.

"Is it more than sex for you, too?" I asked, as quiet as a mouse.

For a moment, I thought he hadn't heard me, that my question would be lost in the silence of the study, but Giovani breathed in raggedly, his chest shuddering in response. "Olivia."

My name on his tongue sent shivers down my spine, and anticipation built in my stomach. This was make it or break it, and I wasn't sure what road we would be heading down. "Look at me, Olivia," he said, gently but firmly.

I gathered all my courage, taking a deep breath as I glanced up at him, feeling like I was smaller than I was, curled up in his lap and waiting for an answer.

He smiled at me, so soft and so gentle as he brushed his hand over my cheek. I leaned into his warm palm, my eyes shaking with anxiety. He could break my heart and snap it in two right now. It would be so easy for him.

But I desperately hoped I had placed my trust in the right man, that he was kind enough not to destroy my fragile hope.

"Yes, Olivia," Giovani said, softly, almost too quiet to hear, but it felt like thunder booming in my ears to me. "It's more than sex to me."

I couldn't stop the small smile from creeping up my face as my heart burst with joy. He felt the same way. It wasn't just me having delusions of grandeur or seeing something that wasn't there.

"I didn't realize you felt the same way," Giovani continued, a gentle look to him as he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

I smiled, brightly feeling like a firework on the Fourth of July. I was ready to explode and bloom across the sky in a burst of color. He was everything I'd ever wanted.

I couldn't imagine a better man, and the fact that he wanted me, despite how young and immature I could be, was sweeter than any candy.

"Dahlia has no plans to come home tonight," I said, softly, with a meaningful look.

I hoped he would take the bait, and sure enough, a smirk crossed his handsome features as he wrapped his other hand behind my hair, pulling me close.

"Is that so?" he said, pretending to be uncaring. "Does that mean you want to follow me to my bedroom, carino?"

"Hell yes."

The answer came blurting out of my mouth before I could even think it. I blushed as he growled, taking my lips for his own. He was more demanding and ferocious as his tongue brushed against my bottom lip, asking for permission he knew I would grant him.

I gasped, allowing his access as he explored every crevice, entwining our tongues together in a dance he would always win. When we broke apart, Giovani grinned at me and got to his feet, holding me in his arms like a blushing bride.

I yelped, grabbing onto his arms to hold myself but before he could move any further, I cried out, "Wait, wait!"

He paused, and I grinned, leaning over his arms to snatch up the bottle of champagne still on the desk.

"I'm bringing this with us," I said cheekily.