Page 49 of Undeniable

I ran a more thorough check on her after she told me that there was someone out there after her, it is always best to stay a few steps ahead of the enemy, and if there is someone out there trying to take her from me, then they are most definitelymyenemy.

To my total frustration though, nothing turned up. No domestic violence reports, no restraining orders, hell, she is a 24-year-old woman without any trace of social media. It doesn’t add up which is infuriating and a bit concerning. I know that if I asked her to tell me about him, she would shut down and push me away. It looks like if she doesn’t own up soon though, that is the route that I will have to go.

After I take a quick shower and toss on a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt, I head to the living room where I see Tasha, Alessandro and Seraphina all with crayon colored paper crowns on their heads. Tasha is bowing to them as Alessandro and Seraphina put on a star worthy performance of being a Prince and Princess.

“Your highnesses, what an honor,” Tasha says with a curtsey that causes Seraphina to giggle.

Alessandro nods very regally before he takes Seraphina’s hand and begins to dance. The two of them twirl around in the kitchen, laughing and giggling as they stumble. I see Tasha watching them with a smile on her face, completely unaware that I have even came into the room.

Quietly, I walk up behind her and snake my arm around her waist before turning her into my arms. She lets out a surprised gasp before she sees that it is me. Not letting her have a moment of hesitation, I take her hand in mine as I place my other hand onto the small of her back, leading her into a traditional waltz that my mother taught me when I was just a boy.

Surprisingly, Tasha jumps right into it, anticipating my every move and swaying in my arms as gracefully as a swan. The smile on her face is near blinding and I can’t help but smile back at her, noticing the way she leans into my touch with every move. I release her waist and draw her out for a twirl that she does beautifully before wrapping her into my arms.

Instead of continuing to dance, we just stay like that. Her wrapped up tightly in my arms, our lips only inches away from each other. Her eyes seem to be watching me closely, asking me a silent question. We have not tried to be as discreet as before, but we have never out rightly shown affection for each other in front of the kids either. I can tell that she wants me to kiss her but would understand if I pulled away. The thing is, I have no intention of ever pulling away from this woman, of ever letting go. I didn’t realize it at the time, but from the moment she quite literally bumped into me I have been falling for her, I just didn’t realize it until I had already crashed.

Without taking my eyes off of her, I lift one of my hands up to her cheek and bring her lips to mine. She melts against me instantly as her soft lips brush mine. Before I get the chance to deepen the kiss, I hear Alessandro shout, “YES!”

We break apart to see Alessandro and Seraphina watching us with toothy grins. Tasha flushes with embarrassment as she tries to step out of my hold, but it is no use. I haul her back into my chest, not allowing her an inch to move as I raise an eyebrow at my son.

“I knew you liked her Papa,” Alessandro says with a triumphant smile.

I nod with a smile of my own.

“How could I not?” I ask as I glance at Tasha.

Her embarrassment seems to have at least slightly faded as she settles back into my arms. Something clenches in my chest as I look at her and I instantly know that I will do anything to keep her, do anything to protect her. I will do anything to have her forever.

I’d be lying if I said that I feel no guilt for wanting to build a life with a woman that isn’t my wife, but in some weird way I am starting to see that maybe it is what Izzy would have wanted. She was my first great love, and I will never forget that, but maybe she wasn’t my last.

Chapter Nineteen

Tasha

The next day, I am woken up with peppered kisses gently skating across my bare shoulders. I hum my approval for a moment until I open my eyes. When I do, I see a freshly dressed and showered Gio looking incredibly devastating. He is looking at me with an adoring smile as his silver eyes practically sparkle.

“Morning beautiful,” he says as he presses a featherlight kiss to my lips.

“Morning. What time is it? I thought you didn’t have to work today?” I ask with more disappointment showing than I was hoping to reveal.

“I don’t. Alessandro has been begging me to take him to the Zoo.”

I arch a brow at him as I sit up a bit. “Is it safe?”

His jaw tightens slightly, like he is choosing his words carefully before he shrugs.

“If I am being honest, I don’t really know. But I won’t put my son’s entire life on hold for some piece of shit’s,” he curses vehemently, making me flinch from the intensity of his words and the growing rage behind them.

He blows out a breath before shaking his head and giving me a soft smile.

“Will you come with us? I know Alessandro would like you to come, and I really would too. We are going to have 3 men with us, we will be as protected as possible. I understand if you don’t feel safe and would rather stay here, though.”

I cock my head to the side for a moment as I ponder my choices. Though do I really have to think about it? Am I on edge because of all of this? Yeah. Am I scared for my life? Yeah, but that is nothing new. Like Gio said, I am not going to put Alessandro’s life, or mine for that matter, on hold at the idea of a possible threat.

I have spent too much of my life in fear, barely even living, and I am done. I am ready to step out of the shadows and face my problems head on. I am ready to take a chance and maybe let myself fall in love, to try to make my life stable, permanent. I am so beyond ready.

“I would love to come with,” I say with a small smile.

He grins before leaning down to capture my lips with his. His tongue gently prods at the seam of my mouth and just as he begins to settle onto the bed, the door swings open and an eager Alessandro bounds into my room.

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