Page 36 of Silent Night With Alessio

I step closer, a playful smile tugging at my lips as I reach up, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

“You know,” I murmur, my voice low, “I’ve been thinking about you all day… about you touching me, just like this.”

My hand trails down his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble under my fingers, and his eyes darken, a spark igniting in their depths.

He lets out a low chuckle, his hands settling on my waist as he pulls me close. “Is that so?” His voice is a murmur, rough and warm, sending a thrill down my spine.

I nod, unable to tear my gaze from his. “I couldn’t help it. Every time I looked at you tonight…” I trail off, biting my lip as a rush of heat spreads through me.

The tension, the anticipation, has been building all evening, and now it feels like it’s about to burst.

He cups my face in his hands, his thumb tracing my cheek as he leans in, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that’s as fierce as it is tender.

I melt into him, my fingers tangling in his hair, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine. This is where I belong…here, in his arms, with the warmth of his kiss chasing away the winter’s chill.

We lose ourselves at the moment, the world outside forgotten as we surrender to the passion that has simmered between us all night.

And as we pull each other closer, our breaths mingling, our bodies entwined, I know that whatever lies ahead, whatever dangers we may face, we will face them together.

15

Epilogue

The ring gleams beneathmy magnifying glasses, the light glinting off its flawless, golden band and the diamond set in its center, a stone that seems to capture and hold the light, throwing tiny stars across the table as I turn it in my hands.

I admire its beauty, the hours of work I’ve put into perfecting every curve, every detail. Alessio had been so specific when he’d asked me to make it. “It’s for an important mission,” he’d said, his voice low and serious, revealing nothing more.

It’s been six months since the first time I saw that look, since the first day he walked into my shop, six months that feel a lifetime ago.

I think of all the small, beautiful shifts that have come with time. The way his world has become my own. And the way the Lucianas have welcomed me, made me one of their own.

A smile tugs at me as I picture Fiamma’s sweet grin. She’s been my lifeline here, grounding me and guiding me through the complex world of Luciana alliances and rivalries. There’s a strength about her I’ve always admired.

She’s become a sister to me in every way that matters. Her presence is a reminder that I’m never truly alone, no matter what dangers may come our way. I’ve found a family here, a family that chose me as much as I chose them.

But then, of course, there’s Alessio. Six months ago, I couldn’t have imagined the way he would become my center, my home.

I remember the Alessio I first met, a man who kept himself at a careful distance, guarded and controlled, even when we were intimate.

It’s different now. His responsibilities have grown tenfold since taking on the role of Chief Advisor to Massimo. Against all odds, he's stayed incredibly close to me, defying my expectations of how our relationship would evolve.

He has become Massimo’s most trusted man, a pillar in the Luciana family, someone people can count on, no matter what.

And though the pressure could have hardened him, it’s had the opposite effect…he’s softened, in his own way. He lets me in, lets me see the side of him he’s hidden from the world.

Thinking of it now, I let out a soft laugh. Alessio is protective. After Elio’s betrayal, after the horror of learning that a man so close to them had turned traitor, Massimo had grown paranoid.

I suppose I can’t blame him; betrayal leaves a wound that never heals. But now, Alessio’s the one Massimo relies on most, the one he trusts beyond question. And as Alessio’s responsibilities have grown, so has his protectiveness over me.

He’s moved me into his home, close enough to reach in a moment’s notice, his watchful presence always nearby. He thinks he’s subtle, but I see the way his eyes flick toward me whenever we’re in a crowded room, the way his hand finds mine almost unconsciously, like he needs that tether, that reminder that I’m here, that I’m safe.

As I look down at the ring once more, a little giggle escapes me. I love this about him, the way he tries to play it cool, but then goes to these sweet, almost ridiculous lengths to keep me close. I’ll admit, it’s adorable.

I slip the ring into a small velvet box, tucking it inside, then stand up, smoothing my hands over my skirt.

His office is only a few steps away, a short walk through the corridor of the home that has become our shared space.

When I reach his door, I don’t even need to knock; he seems to sense me before I step inside. His head lifts, and the way his eyes light up when he sees me makes my heart melt.

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