Tangled In Strings

Chapter One

He regards me closely, not appearing to be breathing. My mouth hangs, nervously.

"I was in agony when you left. I understand that you had no choice but to go. I understand that Norman blackmailed you and your life also turned upside down but it doesn't change the fact that you asked me to open my heart to you and then broke it." My stomach flips, my chest cavity aching. I resist the urge to rub it. "It still feels broken, even though you are here and we are together."

"I will do everything I can to make you trust me again, Scar," he whispers. "You are everything to me. Everything."

I nod, water rimming my eyelids. "You are everything to me too."

He stands, sucking in a gulp of air. "Is there anything else you want to ask?"

He's facing the windows and even from my distance, my eyes glue to the tense muscles in his back, his shirt is straining as he crosses his arms over his body.

With my peace said, I can focus on the true worry on my mind. Him.

"You are different, Giovanni."

"So are you," he replies, softly. It's a simple observation, not intended to insult.

"Tell me what's going on," I whisper. It takes him forever to answer.

"I'm in the process of throwing my own brother into jail, Scarlett. My mother will hardly speak to me... My entire company is funded off of stolen money, a scandal just waiting to come out. Day and night I'm followed by paparazzi, to the point where they've broken into my house in the middle of the night to search my things. And I've hurt and lied to the person I never want to hurt." His head shakes but he doesn't turn around. "When we met, the only thing I could complain about was a woman screwing around on me. Now..."

"Everything's changed," I finish for him.

"My life feels like a lie." He breathes in. "I was ignorant and conceited, privileged. I still am. I shouldn't have what I have."

Holy shit.

"You had no idea your father did what he did."

"It doesn't matter."

I stand up, setting down my drink with a thump. "It does matter. You are a talented man and you have gotten to where you are, you have risen to fame because of that talent. Money can only take you so far."

"Scarlett."

I hold up my hand, even though he's not looking. "No, I can listen to pretty much anything but I will not hear you doubt your talent. Not that."

His head flicks back to down the rest of his drink.

"Giovanni, we may be different people, but I still love you the same. It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done, what's happening around us." I walk towards him, eying the world he's fixing on. "I love you."

I hear his inhale shake.

My cheek presses to his back, my hands pressing to his shirt, feeling a rock hard wall beneath them.

"Scarlett," he breathes. His heart is wild.

My fingers spread out, digging into his stomach. My eyes close tightly as my cheek nuzzles to his warmth, relieved to be able to do so. So many nights I've spent wishing he could be near and I had to accept that he would never be mine again.

But he's here. And not even a shattered heart could dismiss that fact.

He turns beneath my grasp, leaving my cheek bereft for mere moments until they are clasped in his strong hands. He tilts my head up to meet his eyes, which find a way to make me understand his wants, his fears, his needs without a word spoken.

He wants to feel okay.

He fears the world around us.

And he needs me. He needs me.

Our mouths break the distance between us, meeting with an untamed passion that slams my heart back into drive, the blow shattering my nerves. His grip tightens, so mine does too out of instinct as he takes my mouth, licking and sucking in desperation. I moan, pressing up into him as his hands ascend into my hair, grasping onto the locks tightly, so tight my toes arch up to relieve the ticking nervousness from his attack. His lips drift to my cheek and he exhales harshly, breathless.

"I'm sorry."

I shake my head, over and over again, unable to hear the despairing apology come from his lips. "No."

"I'm sorry," he whispers again. "I'm so sorry."

"I love you," I whisper just as pleadingly and his grasp on me tightens.

"I'll make this right, I promise... I swear."

My arms wrap around him, crushingly. My breath leaves in harsh gasps as my head rests in the curve of his throat and chin.

There's no resentment within me. No anger. No pain.

Only love... Soul changing love.