Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 330 -

*Olivia*

By the time the two of us got out of the hot tub, our fingers and toes were shriveled up like raisins, but we were both completely relaxed. The warm water dripped from the ends of our hair and across our skin onto the hot concrete below. I regretted not bringing any sandals with us as I quickly fled into the shade. It was colder, but at least my skin wasn't burning off my feet.

Dahlia grabbed her purple towel, patting herself down quickly as she stretched in the sun like a lazy cat.

"I'm gonna jump into the shower," Dahlia said, wrapping her wet hair in a towel. "My hair feels gross."

"That's what chlorine does to you," I grinned as I grabbed the towel I'd left on the lawn chair, wrapping it around myself. Bikinis were never my thing, and I felt better with another layer wrapped around me.

"Sounds good," I smiled at her as we headed inside. I glanced at the stitches on her bare stomach, hating how grizzly they looked. Even as well-healed as they seemed, it would take a while longer before they were ready to come out. Dahlia caught my glance and wrapped her towel around her waist, hiding the injury from my sight.

"Come on, let's go in." She smiled knowingly, gesturing to go inside.

I nodded as we separated at the stairs. Dahlia headed for her room on the first floor, and I headed up the stairs to my own.

Even if Dahlia was capable of climbing the stairs now, it wasn't good for her to do so every day, so Giovani decided to keep her room where it was.

As I was climbing the stairs, I heard footsteps heading my way. Alessandro appeared around the corner, and our eyes met as he stepped into my path.

"Nice look there," Alessandro smirked, winking at me as he descended the stairs until he was right in front of me. "But I prefer you without the towel."

I rolled my eyes, stepping around him and hurrying away from the lustful gazes he kept sending me, even as he tried to be discreet about it. He was anything but.

Once I turned the corner, I couldn't feel his eyes on my skin anymore, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The floorboards were cold on my bare feet, and I brushed my wet hair around my shoulder as I headed straight for my room. Just as I opened my door, another clicked open, and Giovani stepped out of his office. Our gazes met across the hallway, and I saw his eyes drift downward across my chest and then to my exposed legs.

I was extremely happy with the tan I had gotten this summer, and my legs showed it.

I smirked at him, one hand on my hip as I sent him a sultry gaze and then turned away. I entered my room, leaving my door open for him to follow me in.

He did, not saying a single word as I heard him quietly following me. The door clicked shut behind us, but I didn't look at him at all.

I paid him no mind as I dropped the towel onto the floor, stretching my arms up above me purposefully.

I was teasing him, and we both knew it.

I reached behind me to untie my bikini straps, glancing over my shoulder as I did. His eyes were focused on my hands, watching as I pulled on the string, allowing the knot to come undone. I felt his stare on me, like the sun kissing my skin.

"Could you help with the top knot?" I asked in a low tone, pretending like it was a simple, innocent request, even if I was about as innocent as a child caught with their hand in a cookie jar before dinner.

I grinned as I heard him suck in a low breath like he was restraining himself for my sake. He stepped forward, his shoes squeaking on the floor as he came close enough that I could feel his body heat radiating along my spine.

If I leaned back just a fraction of an inch, I would be in his arms.

I pulled my hair over my shoulder, exposing my neck as my bikini top hung loosely across my chest. It didn't cover anything anymore, and that was precisely the point.

His rough hands brushed across my shoulders, and I waited patiently as he trailed his calloused fingers across my skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps wherever he touched.

Even after having been together for months, he still affected me like it was the first day I was with him.

I hummed, taking my mind away from his slow and steady pace as he gently trailed along my neck, and finally, the top knot of my bikini.

He was as gentle as ever, treating me like I was something precious, like a glass rose he could hold in his palms. I was something to be kept safe and to be treasured, and that was part of why my feelings for him had grown so strong.

I let out a shaky breath as he finally untied the knot, and I didn't even try to catch my top as it fell to the floor.

My whole body was electrified, the tension between us more than my patience could bear as I turned around in only my bottoms, my exposed breasts just barely touching his suit.

I smirked at the hunger in his eyes. He devoured me in his mind with a look that any respectable woman would go running at.

I played my fingers up the soft fabric of his suit, gently grasping the tie around his throat and pulling him down a few centimeters to meet me. He went willingly, with no resistance at all, but I loved the way he kept his eyes on me at all times, not even blinking.

It was like he was trying to sear my image into his mind.

"Thank you," I purred, leaning in close to whisper in his ear, "carino."

The word was unfamiliar on my tongue but it was a taste I liked. The pet name he always called me was reversed.

A low growl came from his throat, and I could sense he was about one word from grabbing me and fucking me on this very floor.

I grew wet at the thought, but I wasn't planning on being that easy.

I dropped his tie, turning my back on him as I swayed into the bathroom. I opened the door to turn on the water, putting my hand under to check the temperature.

Behind me, I heard Giovani following me inside, lingering by the door as he didn't even hide how he checked me out.

"You know," I said, turning around to face him, "Tallon told me he knows about us."

"I figured." He chuckled, his eyes attached respectfully to my face and not my chest. "He saw me walking out of your room."

"Of course," I nodded, realizing now what had tipped him off. "He told me he wasn't bothered about us so I'm not too worried. He did say something else interesting." "Oh?" He tilted his head, curiously, "And what was that?"

"That if Dahlia found out about us-" I started, coyly glancing at him to check his reaction.

He simply raised his eyebrow in question, not getting where I was going.

"He said he doubted that she would even be mad." I smiled, holding my hands behind my back as I swayed over to him. The sound of the running shower made it hard to hear, but I was near positive that I heard him gulp. "So I was thinking," I said, smiling at the floor and then gazing into his eyes. There was no fear or doubt left inside of me. Just assurance.

Giovani was the man I loved, the one I wanted to spend my life with. It was time to let everyone know that.

"What do you think about just telling everyone about us, Gio?" I asked, brightly, laying my hand on his suit as I stepped closer. I could feel his erection pushing against my stomach and I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Giovani stiffened, an odd look crossing his face beneath the desire.

"Gio?" I asked, frowning as I laid a hand on his cheek. Our eyes met, and I saw a hesitancy I hadn't before.

He sighed, deep and heavy, and I felt his shoulders slump as he avoided my eyes. Pangs of insecurity shot through my heart. Wounded, I stepped away from him, removing my hand from his face.

"You don't want to?" I asked timidly, my eyes wide at the uncertain look he gave me.

"No, I want to." He grabbed my hand, pulling it back onto his cheek as he stepped closer, boxing me in. I couldn't decipher the emotions he was radiating, a complicated whirlwind of doubt.

"I'm just unsure," he finished lamely, his emotions finally settling on guilt. "Things are just complicated right now."

"Complicated?" I repeated, a fire lighting up in my heart as I realized what he was trying to say. "It's been complicated since the day we met, but I love you, and you said you loved me. So what's the problem?" "Look, can we talk about this later?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he backed away from me.

I grit my teeth together, incredibly unhappy now. I had finally figured it out... and now he was the one backing away?

I was tired of keeping secrets, of hiding and being blackmailed. I just wanted this to be a normal relationship, or as normal as I could get.

"It's either we tell people or we stop, Giovani," I crossed my arms over my chest, annoyed now at his lack of confidence. I thought we'd finally got past this hurdle.

But I was wrong.

Giovani stared at me, a lost look in his eyes as if he didn't know what to say.

I sighed, irritated as I brushed my hair over my shoulder, tapping my fingers on my arm unhappily. "Fine. We'll talk about this later. I'm getting in the shower. You should go before someone else catches you."

It was a low blow, I knew it, but he only sighed, glancing at me one last time before he turned away without another word.

I waited until I heard the sound of my door shut before I slumped in defeat. It felt like there was always one problem after another. When were we ever going to be together for real?

I stepped into the shower, pushing the heat to the highest setting. My skin turned an angry shade of red underneath the hot water, but I didn't care.

It matched my mood perfectly.