GioGio stared at the news reports numbly, switching from one channel to another as they went to commercial, ashamed to admit the stories and images of Felix and Bianca hurt just as much as the coverage of the fire.His second home, 5th Street, had been destroyed. Jack was gone, and Gio still had room to mourn for Bianca. He watched the latest reports that showed her getting into Felix's car with her luggage and flipping off the photographers. They were now said to be on their way here—together.Gio had never felt so stupid in his life. He'd hardly said two words since he came to over an hour ago, and the doctors advised him that the pain he was feeling was from his body being slammed against the wall. He'd been bruised and scraped up pretty bad from all the flying debris, but otherwise the worst injury he'd suffered was a concussion. They didn't think it was too bad, but they did warn the pain would probably worsen in the coming days when the whiplash and soreness really set in.E

Bianca's mouth fell open, and she stared at him for a moment, her big stunned eyes searching his face for something. With her chest still heaving, she shook her head, blinking a couple of times. More tears leaked out of her eyes and down her cheeks before she turned around and walked away without saying another word.Drawing a blank about what to do or say to her now, he watched her walk away. As much as his heart begged him to go after her, he knew there was nothing more to say. He stood there immobile as the minutes passed. He wasn't even sure how long he'd been standing there, but it was long enough to rewind everything he'd been through with Bianca since the day he'd first gone up to Felix's cabin.Relentless hope flew out from the grave, suddenly pounding questions in his head. Why would she come down here just to lie to him? Why would she be so hysterical about it? He'd let his clobbered ego strangle those two questions down when she'd stood there before him and unleashed what

Gently patting the warm soapy sponge over Gio's big strong shoulders and then down his chest, Bianca examined all the bruises and scrapes that were still very visible. As the water from the shower rinsed away the soap, she kissed the bruises gently. She worked the sponge down to his hips as Gio brought his hand around her behind and squeezed a handful of her wet behind. He'd been hard from the moment she'd begun to undress him in the small hotel bathroom. Now he pressed against her, taking her mouth in his and kissing her with that need she loved feeling from him. As the warm water splashed down against their faces, she kissed him back with just as much need, moaning into his mouth.Gio brought his hand around the front, spreading her legs. If she let him and gave into her own yearning, she'd spin around and bend over, letting him take her right there, but she was determine: determined to not allow him to over exert himself—take care of him as she hadn't been able to this whole past w