Page 29 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

"Nothing about last year was easy." The admission tears from my throat. "Every minute I spent avoiding you, trying to keep my distance… it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

"Then stop fighting it." Her voice drops to barely above a whisper.

God, I want to. I want to give in to this overwhelming need for her.

“You did nothing wrong, Max.”

“I left you with Aldo.”

She looks down, and I can see that it is a point of contention for her. She feels, as I do, that I abandoned her.

She looks up at me, and I see the strong woman she’s become. “There was no getting out of that. I see that now. You gave me something beautiful to carry with me, to help me through those next two years.”

I can’t believe she sees it like that.

“You gave me exactly what I wanted, what I needed. Why would you feel guilty about that? Why would what I’m telling you now not carry weight over all your excuses about why it’s wrong?”

Emotion wells in my chest. It’s all consuming, all powerful. It breaks my control, shattering it like glass. Her eyes widen as I cup her face in my hands, but she doesn't pull away as I capture her lips with mine.

She tastes sweet, just like I remember. My fingers tangle in her hair as I deepen the kiss. Her soft moan vibrates against my lips, and I'm lost. The guilt, the responsibilities, the complications, they all fade away until there's nothing but her warmth pressed against me.

Her hands slide up my chest, around my neck, drawing me impossibly closer.

Thank fuck, I think. She’s not pushing me away but pulling me to her. I’m not alone in this crazy desire.

I back her against the desk, lifting her onto it. Papers scatter to the floor, but I can’t care less. All that matters is the way she arches into me, how perfectly she fits in my arms.

My tongue traces her bottom lip, and she opens for me with a whimper that shoots straight to my cock. One of my hands drops to her hip, gripping tight enough to bruise. The other cradles her head as I pour six years of wanting into the kiss.

The rational part of my brain screams that this is wrong, that I'm crossing a line I can never uncross. Again. But with Gia's fingers in my hair and her taste on my tongue, I can't stop.

10

GIA

My breath stalls in my chest as Max's lips crush mine. This kiss is different from our night together six years ago. That had been gentle, almost reverent. This is raw need, years of pent-up desire finally breaking free. I match his intensity, pouring all my frustration and longing into the kiss. His dick presses against my core, and need floods my body with liquid heat.

Yes, yes, yes. I want this and more. But that doesn’t stop the warning bells from blaring in my head. This is dangerous territory. Nothing has really changed. All the reasons Max believes this is wrong still exist. He’d fallen for temptation before. Perhaps that’s all this is as well. I’m not sure I could take it if he had regrets.

But my body betrays me. My fingers curl into his shirt, drawing him nearer instead of shoving him back. My lips part beneath his, inviting him deeper. A small whimper escapes my throat as his tongue slides against mine.

“Max,” I breathe against his mouth, not sure whether I’m going to tell him this isn’t a good idea or beg him to fuck me on his desk.

His answer is to grind his dick against me, sending all thought scattering to the wind.

"Mommy? Where are you?" Daniella's voice pierces through the haze of desire. Max and I spring apart, his hands dropping from my waist as if burned. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, lips still tingling from his kiss.

When I meet his eyes, I find them clouded with the same mix of desire and uncertainty churning in my gut. His jaw works as if he wants to say something, but he just gives a short nod.

"Mommy?" Daniella calls again, closer now. Her footsteps patter down the hallway toward Max's office.

I take several more steps back, smoothing my hair with trembling fingers, my legs unsteady beneath me.

"I should…" I gesture vaguely toward the door, my voice hoarse.

Max runs a hand through his dark hair, leaving it disheveled. His chest rises and falls with quick breaths. "Yes. Of course."

"Mommy!" Daniella's voice grows more insistent.