I told them I would, and I will. It’s just a matter of when. I don’t know how much longer I can avoid it before one of them goes and sees her without me. That is the last thing I want. I don’t want that woman getting in their heads, trying to worm her way into their lives.

Fuck that.

Vin is the one I worry about the most. He has questions for her. I get that, but he’s been doing well lately. He and his wife are doing well. I don’t want anyone coming in and fucking with his head.

“Hey, why are you sitting alone in the dark? That’s creepy, even for you, Gio.” Ellie flicks on the lamp next to me on the side table, momentarily blinding me.

I tilt my head to the side. My eyes roaming from my wife’s ankles all the way up to her face. My cock instantly hardens. “You think I’m creepy, Mrs De Bellis?”

“I don’t think you are. I know you are.” She smirks as she drops down to her knees in front of me. Her hands land on my thighs as she settles her body between my legs. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well, my wife is on her knees in front of me. The only thing on my mind right now is how quickly I can get her mouth wrapped around my cock.” Shifting in the chair, I make no attempt to hide the fact I have to adjust my pants.

“If you play your cards right, that might actually happen,” Ellie says while licking her lips.

Fuck me, I don’t know how this woman gets hotter every day.

“What cards are those?” I ask her, my eyes never leaving her face.

“Tell me what’s actually bothering you,” she says.

“Right now, my cock is hard as a fucking rock, Ellie, and you’re sitting here licking your lips. What do you think is bothering me?” I raise a brow at her.

Ellie shakes her head. “Nope, your filthy mouth isn’t getting you out of this one.”

“I was hoping it’d be your filthy mouth that would get me out of this one.” I give her my best smirk. It doesn’t work. Or she’s gotten better at pretending I’m not effecting her the way she affects me.

“Gio, talk to me. That’s why you married me,” she says.

“I married you because I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything before. I married you because I can’t imagine living without you. I didn’t marry you to burden you with my problems, Ellie.” Leaning forward, I pick her up and sit her on my lap. My arms circle around her waist and my face burrows into her neck as I inhale her fruity scent.