Part 8 (1/2)

I felt him wiping his face over my shoulder before he stepped back and stared at me. ”We should get you cleaned up. You have to head out soon.”

I pulled him with me towards the tub. ”Yes, we, should, because we have to leave soon.”

Giovanni let his pants fall to the floor. He stepped into the tub and I followed. I sank down into his arms and put my head back against his chest. His arms reached around me and found the scented soap. He ran his hands over my chest and up my neck.

The smell of honey hit me. I turned to look up at his face.

”You planted these in here in the hopes I'd remember what I called you,” I said, grinning at him.

Two dimples appeared on his face as he flashed me his white smile. I leaned back against him and let my naked body rest against his. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my ear.

”We'd better get cleaned up. We have to leave soon.”

I turned into him and went for his lips. ”Grazie-thank you,” I said, hoping silently that I didn't screw it up.

His lips curved into a smile beneath mine. ”Prego-you're welcome.”

Chapter Thirteen.

I sat in the cream colored leather seat and clutched its plush arms for dear life. This was my first time on a plane, and I wasn't sure that I liked it. Sure, I'd flown in the arms of a vampire before, but this felt different. I felt less in control sitting in this giant machine than I did in the arms of a vampire. The flight attendant kept asking me if I needed anything. She meant well, I know, but I just wanted to tell her to leave me the h.e.l.l alone.

Candy and Brandy were sitting in the back hanging on Fritz. I left my chair facing forward and had been doing a d.a.m.n fine job of ignoring them. I was still p.i.s.sed that they'd shown up to go with us. I thought that since Giovanni had agreed to come with me that that meant they wouldn't be joining us.

”Relax, Bella. We will be landing within an hour,” Giovanni said, handing me a drink. I took it but didn't think I could drink a sip of it. He sat down in the seat next to me and reached over to touch my leg. ”You don't seem to mind when I leave the ground with you.”

”That's because I know you won't drop me.”

”Even if we crashed, there is a good chance that we would all survive it. Unless of course we were decapitated, or impaled, or ....”

I handed him the drink back. ”G.o.d, Giovanni... you are so not helping.”

”Sorry.”

”So, what's the game plan?” I asked.

He leaned back in the chair and tossed his ankle up on his other leg. He was so at ease with flying and I was jealous. ”The game plan, as you call it, is that Pallo is sending cars to meet us at the airport. From there it is your call where we all go. I a.s.sumed by your lack of interest in the omnis that you would rather they stay with Pallo.” He glanced back towards Mikhail and Malita and nodded.

I thought about Malita being around Pallo everyday and my stomach turned. ”I don't know. Do you think I have room for everyone?”

”I wouldn't know.”

I had never even thought about the fact he'd never set foot in my house. He really didn't know if I had enough room to fit everyone. I touched his leg and smiled. He took my hand in his and I knew it was his way of saying it was okay.

I thought about the sleeping arrangements and decided I would leave it up to everyone. I could fit everyone in my house somehow. It would be tight, but it would work. I had Giovanni go back and toss the option out there.

I slid on my baby blue sweater and took Giovanni's hand. I noticed him take a minute to straighten his jacket. He was as concerned as I was about what kind of reception we were about to receive. I wasn't so sure about letting Pallo send cars for us.

Giovanni squeezed my hand lightly and followed the others off the plane. Early Spring in the mid-west meant that snow was still a very real possibility. The frigid air hit me and I suddenly wished I'd gone with my gut and worn something warmer than the blue jeans and sweater I had on now. A s.h.i.+ver ran up my back and Giovanni turned to me.

”Bella?”

Four black cars picked that moment to pull up. They formed a semi-circle around us and came to a stop. I didn't recognize the first two drivers that stepped out, but I knew the other ones.

”Caradoc! James!” I smiled and glanced at Giovanni nervously. I was afraid he'd be jealous. I'd gotten so used to Pallo and Caleb's erratic behavior that I had come to expect it. He winked at me as he took off his coat. He placed the dark gray blazer over my shoulders and pulled me closer to him.

I tried to take it off. ”You'll freeze to death.”

He bent down and kissed my cheek. ”I love that you forget what I am.”

Someone cleared their throat and I turned to see James looking at me with the 'not now' look. I took Giovanni's hand and headed towards James. He opened the back door for us and we climbed in. I sat down, glanced up and saw Pallo sitting in the pa.s.senger seat. He was facing forward and his ma.s.sive shoulders looked stiff. Giovanni moved in next to me and noticed what I was staring at. His hand touched my leg and gave it a squeeze.

”I will go and ride with Mikhail,” he said, making a motion as if he was going to exit the vehicle.

”Giovanni?”

”Gwyneth, if he would like to ride in another vehicle then by all means let him,” Pallo said, still facing forward.

”That's it. Everybody out!” I yelled and opened the door. They all listened. James looked at Pallo and he shrugged. Pallo looked at Giovanni and he smiled.

”I think we set her off,” Giovanni said softly.

”Whoof ... yeah, the girl's got a temper like a rabid pit bull,” James said. We all stared at him. He put up his hands. ”Just tell me when you sort this all out, okay.”

My gaze went to Giovanni and Pallo. I pointed my finger at them both. ”This ends here and now, or neither one of you are riding in here. I'll take the d.a.m.n thing and drive home alone. I've had a long day and I want to go home and get cleaned up and,” I glanced at James, ”meet Diablo.”

James tried not to smile because Pallo was watching him. ”Did I make myself clear?” I asked, glaring at the Italians, daring them to protest.

They nodded and I climbed back into the car. Giovanni got in and tried to sit far away from me. I covered the distance to him and touched his arm. He glanced at Pallo and back at me and shook his head. He didn't want to provoke Pallo, and I could understand that.

James climbed in and I leaned forward. ”How bad is Caleb?”

Pallo let out a snort. I shot him a nasty look. ”You got something on your mind, Pallo?”

He turned his big brown eyes to me and let them grow cold. ”As if you really care what happens to Caleb. You took off and left and never looked back. If James had not called you I can guarantee you would still be ....” He let the last part go.

Good, boy!

I leaned back and turned my head to stare out the window. Pallo could think whatever he wanted. The fact was that I was home now and I was here to help Caleb. I didn't have any desire to fight with Pallo and that in itself was rare.

”What? You have nothing to say in your own defense?” Pallo asked.

Giovanni s.h.i.+fted in the seat and I put my hand out and took his. I gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand. He was trying hard to maintain his cool and I was proud of him.