Page 45 of The Mafia's Surprise Gift

“Are you telling me you didn’t put plans on hold because you had a kid? I know it’s a tough comparison, but sometimes, things crop up that we can’t avoid.”

“Like that?” She lifted one brow.

“Family and loyalty are the most important things to the Mafia. You have to understand that. When someone above you says jump, you ask how high. You don’t ask why.”

“So… like his father?”

I shrugged, already having hinted too much. “My point is, I’m not trying to dismiss how that all made you feel back then, but it did hurt him too. And me, although I was more sad that he got a taste of you and I had fallen asleep in the bathtub.”

Mae huffed out a light, amused breath and then tilted her head. “Why did you never say anything? Why didn’t he?”

“Life.” I shrugged and stabbed the fork into a piece of chicken. “It always gets in the way.”

“Is that why you kissed me?” Mae moved closer, pressing up against me slightly, but then she continued past and moved into the lounge. I set the bowl down, far more interested in following her through to the other room.

“I kissed you because I didn’t want to miss another opportunity.”

“And yet you let Rocco fuck me all by himself.” Mae dropped down onto the couch and leaned back against the armrest with her knee cocked up on the seat.

“You told us to stay away. To leave you alone.”

“I know.” Mae’s face softened. “It was the right thing at the time, and now… now I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know?”

“What I’m supposed to do. What I think I should do versus what I want is constantly…” She raised both hands to her temples. “Staying away from Rocco, from all of you, should be easy as pie because you’re all criminals, and that shooting was terrifying, but…”

“It turns you on?” I approached her slowly. “It does, doesn’t it?”

Mae looked up at me, her lips set in a firm line, but she didn’t deny it.

“It turns you on that three dangerous men can’t stop thinking about you. That we want to keep you and your family safe. That we can’t get you out of our heads because you’re so utterly intoxicating that one touch and we were all hooked.”

The flush on her cheeks deepened. “Stop.”

I paused, hovering over her and the couch. “Can’t handle the truth?”

“It makes it harder to resist you.”

I lowered myself down onto my haunches in front of her, then settled onto my knees. “Why are you trying so hard to resist?”

“Because it’s wrong.”

“What is, exactly?”

“You’re all bad men,” Mae said, her voice soft and her lower lip trembling.

“And? Bad is exciting.”

“I have a child.”

“We love kids.” I placed both hands lightly on her knees. “Are you feeling greedy about wanting all three of us? Or is it the attention that you can’t handle? The idea that three men want to eat up every delectable inch of you?”

“I don’t know.” Mae shook her head, and the flush on her cheeks swept down her narrow throat. “This is where logic and desire clash.”

“Logic is for nerds. Desire is for us.” I surged upward suddenly, leaned over Mae, and captured her lips in a soft, sweet kiss. She didn’t resist. In fact, her hands were on my shoulders before our lips had even met. She kissed me back eagerly, pressing into the contact while stroking the back of my neck with her long fingers.

“See?” I murmured against her lips. “Why fight to deny yourself something you clearly want so badly?”

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