Page 25 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

“Wait? In the car? For how long?”

"Until we can get help.”

"This is a shitshow."

I grit my teeth. "You got any better ideas?"

"No," she admits, eyes flicking away.

We climb back into the car. It’s not much warmer inside, but at least we’re out of the wind. The windows fog up almost immediately, isolating us from the outside world.

The tension that’s been building all day thickens between us.

Gia crosses her arms, staring out the window. I can feel the weight of her beside me, every breath, every shift of her body.

She lets out a frustrated breath, running a hand through her hair. Her knee bounces nervously like she can’t sit still.

"Stop fussing."

"Stop staring at me."

I lean back in my seat, forcing myself to relax. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You’ve always been so damn stubborn."

She glares at me. "I wouldn’t have to be if you weren’t so...arrogant all the time."

I bark out a laugh. "Arrogant? I’m just trying to fix the damn situation."

Her eyes flash. "It’s not just the situation, Dante. It’s everything. You think you can just come back into my life and..."

"And what?" I lean in closer, unable to stop myself.

"And act like nothing happened."

We’re inches apart now, our breaths mingling in the cold air. Her eyes are blazing with anger, but there’s something else there too. Something that makes my blood heat despite the freezing temperature.

"I never said nothing happened," I murmur, my voice low.

Her lips part, but no words come out. For a moment, neither of us moves. The space between us crackles with tension, on the verge of something explosive.

And then, in one quick motion, Gia jerks back.

"Dante, don’t."

But I don’t stop. I can’t. I lean in, close enough to feel the warmth of her breath on my skin.

"Tell me you don’t feel it," I whisper.

She inhales sharply, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Her eyes are locked on mine, wide and uncertain.

"Tell me you don’t want this."

Her eyes flutter, lips parting slightly. She’s on the edge of letting go, I can feel it.

I slip my fingers into her hair, running a thumb along her jaw, and she moans. The sweet sound pushes me forward.

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