Paid in Full (Vitale Brothers, #2)

by Brea Alepoú

I looked at the man in my arms. When he glanced up, those big eyes made my heart do flips. It suddenly dawned on me that I had an entire person to figure out what to do with. I could turn him loose, but his father would pick him up and use him again. What option did I have? “Guess you’re coming home with me,” I muttered. Really hope this doesn’t bite me in the ass.

The last thing I needed was to bend over this tight little brunette, fuck him into a coma, and him turn into a love-obsessed puppy.

Maybe it was worth a couple of thousand dollars every time we fucked. At least I didn’t have to be alone anymore.

“The way you look at him, the way he hides behind you, and let’s not forget the way you just sent him away so he was out of my line of sight.”

Shit. If I’m not careful, I’m going to fall in love.

As sleep dragged me down, a hand slipped against my skin. Fingers threaded with mine. I glanced at the two of us holding hands and sank even deeper.

He was so meek, reserved, but there was a fire in his eyes every once in a while that he quickly smothered when I noticed it. I wanted to see more of that fire. I wanted to be licked by his flames.

He was staring up at me, his head tilted. I could imagine short, floppy ears on top of his head. Seriously, he’s a puppy.

I searched his face. He couldn’t be without me for more than five minutes. That level of clinging should have turned me off and made me want to lose him, but with Ash, it didn’t.

I cradled his cheeks in my palms. “What the fuck happened? Who hurt you?”

As our eyes locked, he tilted his head, and I imagined those puppy ears on top of his head again. So innocent.

Something was changing in me, but I couldn’t place a finger on it. I wanted to pull Ash into my lap, wrap him in my arms, and keep him safe from the outside world. I wanted to protect what was mine.

I’d already corrupted him, I didn’t want him gone. Even if I had just threatened to kill him. I would never. Unless he left me. That’s not unreasonable, right?

If Ash left me, I would drag him back, kicking and screaming. My puppy was way too entertaining to ever let him go.

I want to be Giancarlo Vitale’s forever.

“Never used to get up this early. Now I have a damn puppy, and my sleep schedule has gone to hell,” Giancarlo muttered. “I’m not a dog.” I glared at him. The brute had the nerve to laugh at me. I swear he said shit to get under my skin. “If either one of us is a dog, it’s you. A big bull mastiff. Drool like one too.”

“Ever think it’s you who needs a collar and leash on their neck? After all, Gin, you look best on your hands and knees.”

Being near him made me feel at ease. Even knowing his hands were drenched in blood, I still wanted him to touch me. To hold me close.

We’d gone so many rounds my brain, like my legs, was damn useless. He’d literally fucked the stupid into me, not the other way around.

The smile on Ash’s face didn’t fade. He looked so sweet, grinning like a crazy man, all because I reassured him that I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Don’t do that. Don’t run,” he said, grabbing my chin roughly. “Not from me, okay? You got to see me in that place, ugly and terrified. Let me see you too.”

I’m going to marry you, Ash. You don’t know that yet, but I sure as fuck do.

Giancarlo stole another kiss, and I was brought back up to that place where up was down, and everything around me made no sense. All except Giancarlo and the way he made me feel.

We were opposites in so many ways, and yet there was an undeniable pull between us.

Giancarlo gripped my chin and turned my head. Our eyes met, and I was stricken by the severity of his gaze. “You’re mine.”

No matter how many times I let him bend me over, the truth was that I was the one in control, and we both knew it. Ash could pout and say please, and I would melt for him. However, at the end of the day, he belonged to me. Mine. Mine. Mine.

His smile sent me to the fucking moon and back. Shit, I really think I’m in love with you, Ash.

“Why are you like this?” “Come on, baby. You wouldn’t want me any other way. You love that I’m insane.”

“If I die—” “Then we die together.” “Fuck,” Giancarlo moaned. “Did you just propose to me?” “Gin,” I stressed.

“You’re such a dick.” “A dick that loves you.”

“Don’t joke about this.” I crossed my heart. “Never. I can’t ever be serious about anything, but I can be when it comes to you. I love you, Ash. I’ve known that for a while now, but I didn’t want to say it out loud. It feels too real. Too raw. Come home. No more of that, your room, my room bullshit. I want to be with you and only you.”

“Right away, I knew I wanted to be with you forever. Why do you think I added so many fees? I didn’t want you to go.”

“I love you, Ash. Stay with me. I—” I sucked in a breath. “I can’t live without you. I love you so much it fucking hurts.” Ash clung to my arms. “I know what that feels like.” He was quiet for a moment. “I love you too.”

This felt different than any time we were wrapped in each other’s arms. Our eyes locked, and I swore our souls melted together. Everything felt right. I wrapped my arms around Giancarlo’s neck and pulled him down the rest of the way. My legs crossed around his waist, holding him tight. I wanted to stay with him forever. Was that too much to ask for?

“I love you, Ash,” Giancarlo whispered. My breath hitched. Hearing him say it again brought a fresh wave of tears. Gin kissed both of my eyes. “I love you too. So much.”

I knew deep down Ash would be the death of me. Not physically, but mentally. I’d always been okay with being independent, or at least that was what I said. With him, it felt like an inferno was raging whenever he was away for too long. I needed to be around him every moment of every day, or I would lose my mind.

“Marry me,” I blurted out. “I don’t want to spend my time with anyone else ever again. I know without a doubt that you’re mine.” My teeth sank into my bottom lip. “And I’m yours.” I cleared my throat as Ash’s eyes clouded. “Okay, yeah, you still got shit you need to work through, I get that too. I can wait if that’s what you need me to do, but I want to marry you someday. Soon.”

Ash laughed as I carried him into the house. I never wanted the sound of his laughter to fade. No matter how much longer I had to grovel, I would forever work toward being the kind of man who deserved his love. Even after he said I do.