Page 19 of Stranded with My Mafia Boss

I found myself leaning into it ever so slightly. I was playing with fire, but for the first time, I didn't want to pull away. There was something magnetic about this man, something that drew me in despite my every instinct screaming for me to run when my brain engaged.

"Damien." Our eyes remained locked. We were teetering on the edge of something, but I wasn’t sure what. There was so much more to Damien Santini than met the eye, and I was suddenly desperate to keep the man under the ice.

I shivered, the cold air intruding, and smiled at him. "I need to get dressed."

His expression wolfish, he said, "Not on my account,cara."

"Freezing. I’m freezing." I headed to the chair where the clothes were piled and hurried into them. No underwear, which was a new thing for me. As soon as I was clothed, I moved as close as I could to the fire.

He laughed. "I can warm you up again."

He’d put the sweatpants back on and moved to the window, looking out at the pristine snow lying in drifts. The driveway was completely covered. There was no way to drive out of here at the moment.

Seize the moment, Katie. Make memories.

"Do you want to play in the snow?" I asked.

He turned to face me with a wide, incredulous expression. "Certainly,cara. There are abandoned coats and gloves in the closet. Try some on while I get my own. There’s another storm coming later this evening, so this is a good time."

Frowning, I asked, "Is there any way to get to town? If there’s another storm that’s going to keep me here longer, I really need to leave first."

"I’m sorry, but the roads are covered and unplowed," he said.

A guilty part of me was happy we had a little more time away from the real world. That didn’t stop the guilt, however.

I ran to the closet and rummaged, my fingers brushing against various coats before finally finding the kind I was searching for. The thick, black fake fur coat with its matching gloves would be perfect for the frigid, windy weather outside. It wasn't below freezing, but it was cold enough that I wanted to be bundled up.

Boots, boots, I needed boots. I spotted a pair that looked close to my size and hesitated. Gorgeous knee-high leather, but the snow would probably do a number on them. I shrugged. Warm was good and I’d brush them off thoroughly.

"Ready?" Damien asked, his voice deep and commanding as always. I glanced at him, taking in his tall figure clad in a dark gray cashmere coat that only served to accentuate his powerful presence.

"Yep." I slipped on the gloves and stepped out into the snowy morning with him. A gust of wind whipped my hair around my face, causing me to quickly yank up the hood of my coat. The cool air bit at my cheeks, leaving a mild sting in its wake.

As we walked, I noticed how Damien was still wary even in this setting. His piercing blue eyes scanned our surroundings with calculating ruthlessness, then when he turned to me, they were filled with warmth.

Geez. I was captivated by this rare side of him.

"Are you going to stand there all day?" His amused tone snapped me out of my reverie. I'd been staring at him.

"Sorry." Heat rose in my cheeks. "I was just, erm, admiring the view." The words slipped out before I had a chance to stop them. Eh, oh well.

Damien chuckled, the sound low and rich like dark chocolate. "The viewisnice," he said, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he turned his attention back to the surroundings.

A mischievous idea took hold of me, and I had to act on it. I bent down, my gloved hands scooping up a handful of snow and quickly molding it into a ball. With a gleeful grin, I hurled it at Damien, laughing as it hit him on the side of his face.

"Did you just—" His eyes widened in surprise, but before he could finish his sentence, I took off running, laughing breathlessly as my feet sank into the deep snow.

"Get back here!" he shouted, amusement evident as he gave chase. His boots crunched on the snow behind me, steadily getting closer. My heart raced with exhilaration, thrilled by this playfulness.

Unfortunately, the deep snow and my shorter legs conspired against me, leaving me winded and slowing down. Damien closed in, his long strides giving him an advantage. In one swift movement, he tackled me, sending both of us tumbling down into the soft blanket of white beneath us.

I shrieked, more from surprise than fear, as a shower of snow fell from the overhead pines, blanketing us both.

Damien laughed, the sound rich and genuine, and something in my chest tightened at the sight of him so unguarded and carefree.

"Gotcha," he said, his face inches from mine, his breath warm against my freezing skin. Without warning, he kissed me, his lips firm and insistent, staking his claim. The world faded away, leaving only the two of us and the electrifying connection between us.

As he pulled back, the lights inside the house flickered to life. A pang of sadness hit me. When life returned to normal, would we still be like this?

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