Page 87 of Christmas Vows with the Devil

“I think,” he begins, licking his chocolate mustache, “if she like you, then I like you too…just don’t kiss in front of me. That’s gross.”

I chuckle and pull him close, giving him a one-armed hug. He doesn’t pull away and we stay snuggled for a few minutes. Finally, Gia sighs and kneels down in front of him, taking his hands in hers.

“Matteo, you know how you’ve always wondered about your daddy?” she asks nervously, her eyes darting to mine. He nods, unconcerned, and sips his hot chocolate.

“And I told you that it didn’t matter that your daddy wasn’t with us, because you had me…and I loved you enough for the both of us?”

He nods again, picking up on Gia’s tension, meeting her eyes now. “Yeah? You told me it’s not because he didn’t want me or he didn’t love me…”

“Right,” Gia confirms, pulling his little gloves onto his hands. “Would you like to say hi to your daddy, if you could?”

Matteo’s eyes light up, joy flashing across his face. He nods, trying to suppress his energy and sit still. Gia glances at me for help, not knowing how to proceed.

I think about my own father and what he’d do in this situation. He’d be gruff, cold. Hell, he probably would never admit to fathering a Vitale child in the first place. So, I do the opposite.

I tap Matteo on the shoulder, causing him to tilt his little face up to mine, and wrap my arm around his shoulders.

“Hi, Matteo,” I say, gently.

He’s confused at first, his eyes darting between mine and Gia’s. Realization suddenly hits him. I watch him have a lightbulb moment while a hundred emotions flit across his face—confusion, happiness, anger, sadness, caution, joy.

“Hi, Daddy,” he answers finally, his voice quiet and shy. Then he ducks into my armpit, hiding his little blushing face as Gia and I chuckle.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Gia

We find Rocco illegally double-parked outside the main gates, blocking the road. A delivery driver curses at him while he calmly smokes a cigarette. We pick up the pace and duck inside the SUV, smiling apologetically at the delivery driver.

My family informed us that everyone was heading back to the lodge for the New Year’s Eve celebration tonight. Russo, apparently a huge softie for happy family reunions, loaned us his SUV, so we head straight there from Central Park.

Matteo peppers Dante with questions during the drive and Dante handles them like a champ. I smile down at his happy little face, finally allowing myself to fully relax.

“Are you gonna move to our house in Silver Springs?” Matteo asks happily. “Wait, or are we gonna live in New York City?”

“I’m not sure yet, buddy,” Dante answers carefully, glancing up at me. “All I know is, we’re going to be together, wherever we are.”

We finally pull up to the lodge and I feel a sense of unease for the first time in a while. This is where Matteo disappeared. Would he feel scared to be back here? Would I feel scared to stay here again?

Matteo bounds out the car, running straight into the house to find his family. I let my breathing steady and follow behind him with Dante’s firm hand on my lower back.

The house is still decorated for the holidays but the staff have outdone themselves setting up the formal room for a celebration banquet tonight.

“Gia!” My mother rounds the corner, once again the picture of grace and elegance. “There you are! We took Matteo to see his cousins before Aunt Lucia gives him a bath for tonight.”

“Great. Thanks, Mom.”

“Enjoy your time alone,” she glances quickly at Dante and winks, heading to the kitchen.

“A steamy hot bath sounds nice right about now,” Dante whispers, nuzzling my hair and tracing his fingers down my back. I swat his chest but practically race up the stairs, my heart kicking up its drumming to a frenzied march in my chest.

Dante chases me up the stairs, and our laughter rings throughout the house, making it feel even more merry. We explode into my bedroom, closing the door and falling over each other, giggling like teenagers. He traps me against the door, trailing wet kisses across my cheek.

I lick his nose in retaliation and suddenly, the air shifts and we’re kissing. Not in the playful way we were before, but in an urgent, passionate way. Passion clouds my mind and makes my body weak.

Dante’s hands slip down from my waist, cupping my ass cheeks, and pulling me closer to him. We’re still wearing our winter layers from the Central Park adventure and my bodyburns with desire. A fever is spreading through me, needing Dante.

I nudge his chest, walking him toward the bed as we shed our layers, coats and scarves leaving a trail behind us. His thighs hit the bed and I sink to my knees, gazing up at him, all my love for him contained in a single glance.

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