The surprise that briefly flitted across her face did not go unnoticed by Giovan, the mere sight of it fueling his amusement further. It would seem he was succeeding in keeping her on her toes, even if just a little. He knew that she was expecting a motel instead of his personal home, the one place where he knew that no one would dare lay a hand on him; there was also a chance a few of his men had the confidence to verbally demean him for bringing a woman into such a confidential piece of architecture, yet that would be something he could deal with after he got what he wanted so desperately. Giovan wanted to be truthful with her, which was precisely why he was comfortable with immediately bringing her to the mansion. Of course, there were risks associated with it, but he could care less at this precise moment.

Giovan observed quietly as she sat up and stood beside him, that smile on her face driving him wild once more; it was almost as if she already knew what triggered him and what fueled the darkness within his psyche. When she slipped her hand into his own, he gently, albeit firmly, enclasped it as he continued listening to her words. He stiffened at the last words she spoke, his eyes narrowing in on her own as he promptly replied, ``The sentiment is reciprocated.``

He turned on his heel and guided her towards the bar`s entrance, sporadically glancing backwards to ensure she remained close. The moment she had accepted his hand was also the moment she had made herself a potential target for anyone that deemed him a target; guilty by association reigned supreme in the mafia world. It was not long before they made it outside, the evening air a nice refresher compared to the stuffy environment in the bar. His walk was calm and calculated as he guided Josephine to his car,

Giovan unlocked the sleek Mercedes Benz and opened the passenger door for her whilst standing to the side. It was then that he realized he had been subconsciously holding her hand this entire time. He reprimanded himself internally for what could have easily been considered a romantic gesture, letting her hand go slowly to conceal his observation. With a charming smile written all over his face, he crooned teasingly before gently closing the door once she was safe inside the car`s interior, ``Hold on tight. I`m not the safest driver.``

He walked in front of the car to slide into the driver`s seat, closing his own door once he was inside. Since the car was modern and a recent model, he had to merely press his foot against the brake pedal and press the ingition button, causing the car to roar to life. Giovan glanced over at her before he shifted the car into drive and took off, neglecting speed limits and traffic lights; he was Giovan Sicillian, and he had never once followed the law in his life nor did he ever plan on doing so. As he drove, he took great care in occassionally looking over at Josephine to gauge her reactions.

Giovan casually drove in considerably the most dangerous manner possible, one hand loosely gripping the wheel while he casually flitted his gaze here and there. He would smile whenever his cold gaze met her own, memorizing the expression written across her face and the noticeable gestures she gave him. God, this woman- Josephine- was truly driving him insane with desire; no other woman had been able to commit such a feat and it was precisely why it scared him, even if just a little. The mere idea of her being his, of her being more than just a one-night stand or occasional indulgence, was becoming increasingly appealing to him despite how much he despised being tied to someone. Of course, she was tied to him in one way or another since she was in his car, but still.. he could not help but want more.. so much more.

It only took approximately five minutes to reach the gorgeous, state-of-the-art Sicilla mansion, mostly due to his careless driving. Giovan drove the Mercedes down a one-way road that had been concealed between heavy foilage, finally slowing down since he knew it would be unappreciated by the men guarding the mafia`s headquarters to hear a commotion such as this late at night. When the mansion finally came into view, he glanced over at Josephine to observe her reaction; he wondered if she had underestimated or even overestimated the sheer amount of power and wealth he had. The mansion itself was over five stories tall with grand pillars and trimmed trees and hedge bushes, all of it creating a beautiful yet foreboding place of residence. The tall, metal fence that stood around ten feet tall circled the entire permiter of the mansion itself, a double gate leading directly into the mafia`s safe haven.

Giovan drove the car steadily towards the gate, reaching for the keys he had haphazardly tossed to the side and pressing a button. The gate, which had the Sicilla insignia engraved upon the metal, slowly swung open and permitted their entry, closing promptly behind them with a harsh click. He parked the car at the front and turned off the engine before he stepped outside and closed the driver side door. With his hands casually stuffed in his pockets, he walked over to Josephine`s side and opened her door for her, his gaze pinpointed on her and her alone. She truly was a gorgeous woman and her personality was an added bonus; she was a walking temptation, yet one he doubted he could ever have the honor of truly owning.

``Boss,`` a familiar voice broke his trail of thought, causing him to sigh heavily between gritted teeth. Giovan had not expected his consigliere (second-in-command) to be awaiting his arrival. He turned and raised an expectant brow, almost standing in a manner that blocked Josephine from his view. ``You`re home later than you said you would be.``

``Things happen,`` was his nonchalant response, giving the man a dismissing wave of his hand. Giovan could feel the uncertainty radiating off of his consigliere, but did not address it. He waited for him to leave before he shifted his attention onto Josephine again, giving her a smile. ``Welcome to the Sicilla Mansion, darling.``

Giovan chuckled once again at her words, his gaze following her own towards the mansion that was practically the phsyical representation of the power his family had held for multiple generations. Briefly, he found himself contemplating whether or not the mansion would meet her expectations, maybe even surpass them; if he truly wanted to stake his claim over this woman, to ensure that no other dared to place a mere finger on her, he knew the first step was to secure his place in her life. These thoughts, however, would have to be for a later time, especially since they had just met this very night. It was also apparent that he truly was not aware of how she would behave once he got her into the confines of his room, something he desperately craved to know and experience.

``Come with me and I suggest staying close,`` Giovan`s voice rumbled like a deep hum as he looked over at her, deciding to not hold her hand this time. The last thing he needed was to be questioned for seeming so close to her, even if it was all a mere result of his lust and desires. He closed the door of the Mercedes and locked it before finally turning on his heel and leading her up the stairs that led to the mansion`s front doors. Four heavily armed men stood there wearing suits, the bulletproof vests hidden behind the formal and professional attire. Giovan gave them respectful nods as they opened the doors for them, noting how one of them radioed in to enlighten everyone on the mansion`s grounds of his arrival. He knew there was a chance his parents may appear at any second and that was the last thing he needed to happen with Josephine at his side.

He kept his strides rather long yet slow, a pace that allowed her to keep up with him; he would never want to lose her in the mafia`s place of operations, knowing full well the dangers of what lay ahead if she were spotted without him with her. Truth be told, Giovan was not a nice man nor did he believe he had the capacity of even showing kindness. He believed that being ruthless and coldhearted was the safest route for someone like him, giving respect where it was due. He had not been kind to her due to his infatuation, but due to the respect he gave everyone; it was easy- very easy- to lose said respect. One wrong move on her part could end in disaster and he presumed she was perfectly aware of it.

After around two minutes of wandering the halls, he finally paused outside of a room that seemed secluded at the center of the mansion; it was on the third floor, situated in a corner that was heavily guarded. The hallways on this specific floor were brimming with portraits of generations of the mafia, some looking kinder than others; recent generations had been the most ruthless, the most selfish and greedy. Yet, Giovan was incredibly proud of all of them, including himself. He turned to face her completely for the first time since stepping foot inside the mansion, eyeing her quietly. He could never get tired of simply staring at her, those gray pools conveying emotions he secretly craved to understand and keep all to himself.

``My one request is for you to not snoop around,`` Giovan began as he reached for the doorknob, his voice clearly depicting the seriousness of his words. If he deemed it necessary, this gorgeous woman would not be walking out of the mansion alive. ``I don`t make exceptions.``

With his warning in place, he opened the door and followed her inside before closing it behind him, ensuring he heard the familiar click of the door locking. His room was colossal, its interior resembling that of a hotel suite. There was a large bed to the left, its gorgeous sheets and pillows arranged nicely. There was a door on the far left that led to the large bathroom while the open space to the right was a lounging area. A bar was visible from where they stood along with a kitchen, all of it a reminder of one thing: anyone that married a Sicillian was usually forced to stay in the confines of the mansion itself, expected to tend to every whim and need of the Sicillian. This was precisely why such things were present in his room, something he would let her figure out on her own or even in the future.. if she proved to be everything he desired.

Giovan walked past her and towards the walk-in closet, removing his suit jacket and folding it neatly before tossing it into the laundry bin; he despised messes, even if he knew the one he was about to make would probably be difficult to clean up. He tried his best to keep the damage to a minimum, hence why he had decided to at least keep one piece of clothing safe. Satisfied, he walked back over to Josephine and simply stared at her, gauging her reactions and waiting to see if she was confident enough to intiate something. He truly did enjoy submissive, unconfident women and the way they always hesitated and stumbled their words, yet he liked challenges.. no, he craved them.

Giovan observed her quietly as she made her move, narrowing his eyes as he focused on the single finger she used to trail across his body; her touch was intoxicating, so much so he desperately wanted more of it. His gaze returned to her own before it wandered once more, biting his lip lightly at the sight of her body being slightly more exposed due to her discarded jacket. He could only imagine what she looked like beneath every layer of clothing, how it would feel to have her skin against his own; it made him mad with desire, even more so than before. Her teasing was fueling it further, especially her wording and the way she seemed to know precisely what he needed to hear. Giovan absolutely admired the way she was approaching this entire situation so far, down to the very smallest detail.

He did not resist her tug and allowes her to bring him closer, making it easier by stooping just a tad; she should be honored he even contemplated doing such a thing. No woman had ever looked at him in disgust regarding his body, especially when he took great care of it. He ensured he was pure muscle, an unwavering force of nature that could handle practically everything life decided to throw at him. Giovan allowed himself a chuckle at the sensation of her breath on the shell of his ear, his mind already formulating his plans for the night and the best way to execute them. He whispered in response, his voice low and sultry, ``And you`re breathtaking, darling.``

Giovan tested the waters by taking a small step forwards, humming in approval when she took a step back; he would not use his words, not now at least. This ritual continued until he had her precisely where he wanted her: the foot of his bed, the very same one she had been infatuated with earlier. Slowly, he leaned forward until he had forced her to either sit upon its edge or lay against it entirely. His lips curled into a smile as he looked her over one last time, admiring how stunning she looked simply being there; he wondered what it would be like to wake up by her side every night, to feel her touch almost constsntly.. Giovan shook his head briefly in dismissal before he decided to have his first true taste of this woman.

He ensured she was comfortable with his approach before truly initiating it, wanting her apparent consent above all else. Giovan leaned further even more before he tilted his head, placing his lips firmly upon the nape of her neck as he kissed the delicate skin there. He switched between gentle, fleeting kisses and the occasional harsh nip, both of them an intoxicating combination and an unspoken promise of what lay ahead for her. He was willing to worship her as much as she deserved before he delved into the dark depths of his fantasies.

His hands were placed firmly on either side of her, making sure she could not escape too easily; if she really wanted to, he would let her go willingly out of respect. Her scent from earlier was intoxicating him further, his warm breath against her skin as he savored the scent that was uniquely hers. Giovan rarely started off his nights this slow, yet for some reason he wanted to do it like this, as if he was afraid this would be the only time he could have her like this.

He continued to adorn her sensitive neck with kisses and teasing bites, his lips curling slightly and a hum of approval escaping whenever she let out a delightful sound. Giovan was enjoying this immensely, even if it was taking the majority of his constraint to not tear away the remainder of their clothing. He was becoming more and more infatuated with her, the thoughts of keeping her here at his side becoming increasingly tempting; he despised the idea of another touching her, of another even having her as their own. It made him feel angry, perhaps even a tad possessive. All of this was strange for someone like him: a man that was supposed to be coldhearted and nonchalant regarding anything romantic.

Giovan closed his eyes when her fingers tangled into his dark hair, releasing another deep hum of approval. This gesture would become an everyday occurrence for her if she decided to continue to indulge him; he preferred actions compared to words and, perhaps, she was already aware of it. Her voice sounded ethereal as she teased him, causing him to chuckle and retort playfully, ``Patience is something reserved solely for you.``

His words were truthful, especially since he would have already been taking what he wanted from any other woman by now. He wanted to treat her the way she deserved in his opinion, which was with worship-like affection and, well, patience. She was rather fortunate he had not ravished her yet, his violent tendencies regarding intimate matters somehing very few had seen and even fewer had managed to tolerate. When her lips met his neck, he stiffened at the sensation, biting his lip at her own bites and kisses. No one had ever dared reciprocate his actions like this, which was precisely why he wanted nothing more than to keep her here; he would never admit it aloud anytime soon, but he wanted her here forever already. He remained still and allowed her to do as she pleased, watching as her kisses grew closer and closer to his waiting lips. The beckoning and the desperation in her eyes were all indications that she truly wanted the same thing he did.

``Josephine,`` he purred out her name like a mantra, his eyes becoming half-lidded as he gazed down at her; he loved the way her name sounded on his tongue. With a final look over, he leaned in and kissed her, albeit slowly at first until it escalated rather quickly. One of his hands shifted to cup her cheek, wanting to keep her close as he took what he wanted. Of course, the smallest indication of hesitation or uncertainty would be addressed, a privilege only she woukd ever have.