Page 123 of Mafia And Maid

Absentmindedly, her fingers run through his hair as she stares up at the night sky riddled with stars, the soft illumination of the half-moon haloing around her. It bathes her in its glow like the goddess she is.

The smile that stretches my face feels foreign and yet natural all the same.

It’s a smile that only comes out when she’s around. Like I can’t help reaching for something I’ll never be able to keep. Knowing I’ll be burned in the end should make it less appealing. It should deter me. But it doesn’t. I dig in deeper with each day she remains mine.

Softly, I pad over to her, pressing a soft kiss to her head. She jolts slightly before easing back into the chair.

“You’re out late,” I murmur.

“Stargazing and catching fireflies. Ethan wanted to wait for you to get home to read him the rest of Peter Pan.” She smiles at me, and I can’t help but match it. “I think you’ve successfully replaced me with bedtime story duty.”

“Sorry.”

Her laugh is gentle. “Don’t be.”

I want to tell her I don’t know jack shit about kids or what I’m doing. I want to tell her that if it’d been anyone but them, I never would have taken that second look.

But I don’t. The words don’t form on my lips because I’m afraid she might laugh at me. Emotions and I don’t mix.

Never have. Never will.

Somewhere along the explanation, I’ll fuck it up, and that’ll be it. Maybe it’s selfish, but I love the way she looks at me. Like I’m someone she’s proud to be with.

“I can put him to bed so you can finish your tea,” I offer before my brain can process what I’ve just offered. It happens more frequently when I’m around her. Like I’ve forgotten everything about who I am and what I do. But I know that’s a lie.

It’s because of her.It’s me trying to be something worthy of her—of her and Ethan.

“I can do it.”

As she starts to move, I shake my head. “You worked today, yeah?”

“Yes?”

“Then let me. You deserve a fewminutes alone.”

“I’m fine. I don’t want to put you out or anything. You just got back from…wherever it was you were. I can carry him up.”

I ignore her, gently lifting Ethan into my arms. He weighs nothing. “Be a good girl and finish your tea. I have plans for us after.”

I watch as her skin flushes, and her bottom lip gets sucked between her teeth in a way that tells me her mind has slipped into the place mine constantly seems to go when I’m around her. I’m worse than a fucking teenager. But with her, it’s impossible to think of anything else.

The house is quiet as I walk the halls, clinging to the fragile body in my arms like it’s some priceless jewel. Ethan’s breathing is soft and even against my shoulder. This unnecessary and terrifying urge to keep him protected pounds through me with each step I take. I shouldn’t feel like this—whatever the hellthisis—so soon. And about a kid?

But somehow, both he and Rosa have slipped in past every single defense and wrapped themselves around me.

I’m not sure if I hate the idea or if I want more.

I tuck Ethan in quickly and flick off his light before making my way back down the stairs and out to where Rosa still lounges.

“That was fast. I barely finished my tea.”

“We can stay out a little longer. It’s a nice night.” For Chicago anyway. It isn’t too blustery, and the balmy air has cooled slightly as we inch closer and closer to the fall.

I nudge her over on the lounger until we’re sitting side by side, nestled just right so that her plush body meets every hard edge of my own. I itch to feel her skin under my fingers, to skim over it and explore every inch. Every rational action of my body disappears the moment the pads of my fingers skim her smooth skin.

Rosa’s breath hitches as my fingertips continue their leisurely path along her exposed leg. The way she fills out every inch of clothing she wears only taunts me to remove them. Even now, just in her simple denim shorts and T-shirt, she’s absolutely mouthwatering.

My hand moves further inward, feeling the way her skin pebbles and reacts under my touch. It’s a high I can’t get enough of—and if I don’t stop now, I’m certain the guards and soldiers patrolling the grounds are in for quite the show.

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