From Comedy To Craving

From Comedy To Craving
After their reconciliation, Alessandro, Gabriele and Diamond started to get closer and closer over the course of the next few days. They spent time engaging in casual things like having long conversations, playing games together, or just hanging out with each other in comfortable silence.

But tonight, they decided to do something nice together.

They’d made it a rule. No staff and no talk of anything mafia related.

The living room lights were low, the city a hush beyond the tall windows. Diamond was curled into a corner of the couch in soft shorts and an oversized tee, her hair tied up in a messy bun, legs tucked under her. Alessandro claimed the middle cushion. He wore black joggers and a plain tee, holding the remote in his hand like it was a detonator. Gabriele sprawled the wrong way across the opposite end, socked feet propped on the center glass table, hoodie sleeves shoved to his elbows.

Bowls of popcorn steamed between them. Condensation kissed the sides of three chilled glasses on coasters Alessandro had arranged in a perfect line.

Deadpool filled the TV screen with chaos and commentary.

Diamond shook the bowl in her lap so the salt settled. “Oh God. He’s talking to the camera again.”

“That’s the fourth wall,” Gabriele said with a grin. “I actually find it funny.”

Alessandro frowned. “If he spent half that energy checking his six, he’d live longer.”

“He does live longer,” Diamond said. “That’s the joke.”

Alessandro narrowed his eyes at the fight choreography. “That's not how you reload a fucking gun! This movie’s so fake.”

Gabriele laughed. “Sandro, can you just calm down and enjoy the fucking movie?”

“No!” Alessandro frowned, then after a beat, “I’m just pointing out the stuff that doesn't make sense.”

“Sandro,” Diamond teased, “I’m starting to regret that I agreed to watch a movie with you.”

Gabriele lifted his drink, taking a sip. “Sandro doesn't know how to shut the hell up when he's watching a movie.”

“Now that's a lie!” Alessandro snapped.

“Oh really?” Gabriele folded his arms, his brows raised with surprise.

“Yeah.” Alessandro replied.

“Okay,” Gabriele said, taking a handful of popcorn from his bowl. “I dare you to sit there and not say anything for the next five minutes.”

“Yeah. I can do that.” Alessandro said, almost as if trying to convince himself.

Diamond laughs, “And what happens when he loses?” 

“I'm not gonna lose.” Alessandro countered.

Gabriele rolled his eyes. “Sure,” he said with a mouthful of popcorn.

“I have an idea,” Diamond perks up. “If Alessandro fails to keep quiet for the next five minutes, he’ll have to run errands for us for the next three days.”

“Oh,” Gabriele smiled, “That's interesting. I wonder how my older brother would look doing the dishes at my place.”

Alessandro's face scrunched up. “In your fucking dreams, I'd rather die.”

Diamond and Gabriele burst out laughing. But Gabriele laughed so hard that he choked on his soda, coughing out as he repeatedly hit his chest with his fist.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Alessandro said, folding his arms with a frown on his face. “I’ll do the dare.”

Diamond clapped.

“Oookayy,” Gabriele said as he set a timer on his phone. “The dare starts… now!”

And with that, the living room went silent.

Alessandro's eyes locked on to the screen, his mouth pressed to a thin line, only opening when he took a sip of his drink or ate popcorn out of his bowl.

Diamond and Gabriele occasionally glanced at him, but he refused to look at them. He just kept his eyes focused on the movie.

Alessandro reached into his bowl to take another handful of popcorn but he grasped air instead. He reached deeper into the bowl and still nothing.

He looked down to see nothing but a few unpopped kernels inside, then his gaze drifted over to Diamond’s brimming bowl with the kind of focus that usually preceded tactical decisions.

“Don’t,” Diamond warned, already knowing what was going on in his mind.

He reached anyway, his long arm crossing the sofa divide, and scooped a shameless, mountain-sized handful from her bowl.

““Hey!” She lunged, fingers catching his wrist. “Thief!”

Alessandro leaned back out of reach, tossing a few kernels into his mouth, a mischievous smile curved on his lips, reaching his eyes.

Gabriele laughed at the exchange as he slowly moved his bowl and secured it by his side.

Diamond reached for his hand again but Alessandro extended his arm just far enough that she failed by inches, chewing triumphantly, each bite a provocation. She swatted at him but he dodged.

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re a menace. Give it back,” she demanded, half-giggling.

“No,” he replied.

“Aha!” Diamond yelled, pointing at him with a smile plastered on her face. “You talked!”

“And the time isn't even up yet,” Gabriele chuckled, flipping his phone screen to show them the countdown with two minutes still left to go.

“Oh fuck off!” Alessandro groaned. “This isn't fair, you tricked me into talking.”

“No I didn't,” Diamond said, raising her hands in defense.

“Yes, you did.”

“No. I. Didn't.”

All of a sudden, Alessandro flicked a single piece of popcorn at her. It bounced off her cheek with insultingly light force.

She blinked. “Did you just assault a woman… with corn?”

Gabriele covered his mouth, letting out an exaggerated gasp. “I think he did. We’ll need to file a report.”

Alessandro flicked another piece of popcorn at Diamond, and this time it hit her forehead.

“Ow!” Diamond frowned, rubbing the spot. “That actually hurt you motherfucker.”

Gabriele slid down the sofa, wheezing.

“Gabriele,” Diamond said in outraged appeal. “Tell your brother to stop.”

“No,” Gabriele said, half-laughing and trying to catch his breath. “Don't wanna get in the middle of whatever fight you and Sandro are about to start.”

A third kernel bounced off Diamond’s nose. She gasped theatrically and looked to Gabriele again. “Are you going to let him get away with this?”

Gabriele lifted both hands in surrender, laughing. “Okay. What do you want me to do? Fight him?”

Alessandro, drunk on his own recklessness, turned his attention and flicked one right at Gabriele’s face.

Gabriele froze, then lifted his gaze in slow offense. “You just attacked a neutral nation.”

“War was inevitable,” Alessandro replied with a mischievous smile on his face, as if daring Gabriele to do something about it.

“That’s it!” Gabriele said, grabbing a fistful from his own bowl and opened fire, throwing them at his brother.

He ducked, and the kernels hit Diamond. She yelped and returned fire without hesitation. For several ridiculous, perfect minutes, the room descended into a storm of white puffs and bad aim. 

Gabriele grabbed his bowl and ducked behind another couch.

“Ceasefire!” Gabriele cried, breathless, only to fling yet another kernel.

“Dishonorable!” Alessandro accused, pelting him back.

“Effective,” Gabriele countered, grinning.

Laughter tore through the room in bright, helpless waves until there was popcorn in their hair, on the rug, in the couch cracks, possibly in another time zone.

The final volley was a mutual surrender; the three of them slid unceremoniously to the floor in a tumble of limbs and breathless grins. They lay there, backs to the couch, chests heaving, giggles breaking through like aftershocks.

“Ceasefire,” Gabriele panted, his hand pressed to his chest as he tried to breathe.

“Armistice,” Diamond agreed, wiping butter from her cheek.

Alessandro lifted a hand without looking. “Truce.” Two other hands met it, a sloppy three way high-five that landed more on wrists than palms.

The movie carried on without them but the room didn’t need it anymore.

Apart from the sound of Deadpool still playing in the background, the room was completely silent.

Diamond felt it first, that subtle shift in gravity. 

The laughter still warm in her ribs, the warmth now turning into something slower, heavier. She became acutely aware of the space between breaths, of how close Alessandro’s knee was to her thigh, of the way Gabriele’s arm brushed hers each time his chest rose.

Alessandro felt it too. His grin faded to something softer. He pushed up on one elbow, then the other, turning toward her. Hesitation traced his features—an expression Diamond had never seen him wear on that face.

He looked unsure of whatever he was about to do.

He leaned in slowly enough to be stopped, slowly enough to be chosen, and when his mouth found hers in a soft kiss, it began like a question. Not hungry, just curious. 

He kept it close mouthed at first, a warm press and then a slight retreat, like he was trying to gauge her reaction. Diamond didn’t move for a heartbeat, her pulse thrummed loud in her ears.

Before she could even stop herself, she licked her lips. He tasted faintly of butter, salt and something sweeter.

His hand lifted hesitantly at first, then settled light at her jaw, his thumb tracing the line just beneath her ear. Those beautiful ocean blue and emerald green eyes started into her hazel orbs, searching them for an answer to his gesture.

She felt the question in it, the offering. Her answer rose before her mind could catch it. She closed the distance herself, kissing him back. 

The shift was immediate.

His mouth softened and she drew a low sound from his chest as she let him in. Their tongues brushed and teased, the rhythm uncoiling from playful to intent. Their mouths parted and met again, their breath mingling, a give and take that said more than any words could.

When she finally eased away, her lashes lifted slowly. Alessandro’s eyes were darker, steadier, a little stunned. He didn’t chase her mouth; he let her go.

She turned, as if drawn by the gravity, and locked eyes with Gabriele. The way those stormy grey eyes stared into her hers, it made her heart skip a beat.

She rose up onto her knees without breaking eye contact and leaned in. Gabriele met her halfway, his hand cradling the back of her head as if the moment were something precious. 

The first brush of their lips was lighter than a sigh, as if they were testing the waters. His mouth was warmer, plush. The heat between them started to build up as the kiss deepend. His lips parted to catch her lower one, a gentle pull that sent a shiver down her spine; his breath mingled with hers, unhurried, and when his tongue brushed hers it was a coaxing slide, she pressed closer and he answered with a firmer tilt, the kiss deepening until the room fell to a hush around them. 

When he eased back, he did it with reluctance and care, as if stepping away from a fire he’d happily throw himself in.

Diamonds lashes fluttered as she opened her eyes, breathing hard. The three of them hung there in the charged quiet, their hearts beating loud, their mouths still tingling from the sensation of the kiss they just shared.

The salted-sweet of the evening turned into something heavier

She looked between them the two brothers—Alessandro with that controlled chaos in his eyes, Gabriele warm and calm—Her voice, when it came, was a breath against the hush.

“I want you,” she whispered, her gaze moving from one to the other. “Both of you.”

Gabriele and Alessandro turned to look at each other. Then their eyes met Diamond’s hazel gaze again and the words that came out of her mouth, made the tension in the room almost unbearable.

“I want you to fuck me.”