Page 31 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

But I’m too far gone to stop it.

“Dante...” I murmur, my voice barely a whisper.

And before I can stop myself, I reach out. My fingers trail down his chest. His skin is warm under my touch.

Suddenly, it feels like we’re wearing too many clothes. I need him. Naked.

“Dante, take me to bed?” I sway slightly, pulling my hair out of the bun I’d twisted it into earlier. It falls past my shoulders, and I glance up at him, biting my lip.

This feels so high school—all of these moves are designed to seduce. But it’s all I can manage right now.

His gaze burns through me, his eyes dark and dangerous. He steps closer, running his hand softly over my hair, down my shoulder, to my waist. A moan escapes before I can stop it.

I see him swallow—hard.

Is he scared of me?

A wild part of me hopes so. It seems only fair since I am so scared of him—of what he makes me feel, still, after all these years and so much heartbreak between us.

All that I really know is that I feel like I will die if he doesn’t fuck me. I don’t want to analyze that thought further. I’m tired of being logical, under control, in the right.

Right now, I just want to give in to the desire that has been flooding my senses ever since he touched me the first time. Tonight I just want to be Gia, who is still in love with the boy who broke her heart all those years ago.

Chapter Ten

Dante

She’s drunk.

She wants me to take her to bed.

My brain tries to process what’s happening, but it’s sluggish. Her scent wafting around me, dragging me closer.

I’m frozen, my hands around her waist, staring down at her like an idiot. My body’s screaming at me to give in, to take what I’ve wanted for so long.

Her eyes are dark, glazed over from the wine. The boldness in her gaze scares me.

I might beIl Diavolo.

I might torture teenage boys and murder men in cold blood. But I’d never take advantage of a woman like this.

“Gia,” I say, my voice low, strained.

She steps closer, her fingers sliding up my arm. It’s driving me insane. She tilts her head up, her lips parting slightly as if waiting for me to kiss her.

I grab her wrist instead, gentle but firm, and step back. “Not tonight.”

Her face falls, confusion flashing across her features. She doesn’t understand. How could she?

We’ve been playing this game for days now, circling each other, never fully crossing the line. And now that she’s ready to leap over it, I’m the one holding back.

Her eyes flicker with hurt, and I hate it. Hate that I’m the one causing it.

But I can’t. Not when she’s like this.

“You don’t want me?” she asks, her voice trembling.

I want to tell her the truth. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. Resisting her right now is like trying to hold back a tidal wave.

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