Chapter 30
Mia
2 months later…
Santino pulls up to our house and I smile at the Christmas lights framing the doorway and swirled down the railings.
I wanted our first holiday together to be special, especially after everything that happened, so I worked hard to get the house ready by Christmas Eve.
Santino has worked hard to recover and has actually followed the doctor’s orders after he was released from the hospital.
Of course, I may have threatened to withhold all kissing, touching, and sex if he didn’t do as he was told, and that seemed to keep him motivated.
“Do you want to give me a tour?”
he asks, placing his hand on my thigh.
“Yes, I’d love to. I put up the decorations with Aria and Gia yesterday and it’s perfect.”
“I know it is.”
Santino opens the car door for me and then we walk up the steps of our home. Our home.
I never would have imagined life could be so good a few months ago, but here we are.
We step through the door and I smile. “It feels like home,”
I say, squeezing Santino’s hand.
“It does,”
he agrees. “It’s perfect, farfalla. You made us a home.”
“Do you think Kat would’ve done this good of a job if you married her?”
I ask playfully, nudging his shoulder.
“Mia,”
he says sternly.
Laughing, I pat his chest. “Just kidding, my handsome husband. You know you would’ve seen and met me eventually if you were truly going to marry her. Then all bets would’ve been off.”
I smile and lean up to kiss his cheek. “You would’ve still wanted me and gone after me instead.”
“You’re fucking right I would’ve,”
he growls. “You’re my woman, Mia. You were made for me. No one else.”
“And you were made for me.”
Santino kisses me hard, a back bending kiss that has my legs turning to Jello and my heart in overdrive.
“We haven’t christened the house yet,”
I say, breathless. “I’ll let you pick where.”
“Mia,”
he rasps, nuzzling my neck. “I’ve thought a lot about where and how I’d have you in here.”
A shiver runs down my spine. “And which won out?”
“I want to finish what we started in the kitchen that first time.”
“That’s all I’ve thought about every time I’ve been here.”
I step away from him. “Maybe I shouldn’t let it be so easy for you. I could pretend I’m the good little virgin again.”
“Baby.”
He gives me a look that has my panties flooding. “You still are my good little virgin. I’ve dirtied you a little. But not nearly enough.”
“If you catch me, you can have your wicked way with me,”
I taunt, and take off down the hall towards the kitchen. I knew I wouldn’t get far, and in a matter of seconds, Santino’s arm is banded around my stomach and he’s lifting me in the air and dropping me down on the kitchen island.
“Caught you,”
he rasps in my ear and I lock my arms and legs around him.
“Because I let you.”
“Can I unwrap you now, farfalla? I want my Christmas present early.”
“Depends. Do you think you’re on the naughty or nice list this year?”
“Definitely naughty.”
Santino licks the shell of my ear and bites down. “You’re about to find out just how much, my wife.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say,”
I tell him, and he scrapes his teeth down my neck. Moaning, I scratch my nails through his hair and he sucks on the curve where my neck meets my shoulder. “Santino, wait.”
“No, farfalla. No waiting. I need you.”
I pull on his hair and bring his head back so he’ll look at me. “How badly?”
“What?”
he asks, his eyes dark and searching mine.
“How badly do you need me?”
He gives me a scorching look. “Very badly, baby.”
“Then beg me.”
I smirk, scratching my nails down his cheek. “I want to hear my husband beg like he did on our wedding night. In fact…” I shrug my coat off my shoulders and lift my sweater over my head, revealing the red version of the white lingerie I wore on our wedding day. “Does this look familiar?”
Santino looks at me like he wants to tear the delicate fabric from my body like a caveman.
“Yes,”
he croaks. “You look like my wedding present, but for Christmas.” He runs a finger along my ribcage under the lace trim.
“Ah, ah, ah,”
I protest, shaking my head. “No touching yet. Not until I hear the magic words, dear husband.”
Santino’s jaw flexes and he fists his hands to keep from touching me.
“Mia,”
he purrs seductively. “Farfalla. My beautiful wife. I need to touch you. I need to taste you. I need to see all of you. Please, baby. Let me unwrap you and devour you. Let me fuck you right onto the naughty list. I’m begging you, farfalla.”
I smile triumphantly. “Just as sweet as the first time. I believe you’ve earned your gift now, Mr. Antonucci.”
Santino palms my breasts and my head falls back with a relieved sigh.
“I was never one to carefully unwrap my presents, though,”
he says, then grips the cups of my bra and tears it down the middle. “That’s better,” he praises, kissing me hard.
I push his coat and suit jacket off and grab ahold of the opening of his shirt and yank it apart. Well, I try to, but it doesn’t budge. “Damnit,”
I grunt, making Santino chuckle as he kisses his way down my neck. “I always ripped into my presents too, but…” I tug again and manage to pop only one button.
“Let me, Mrs. Antonucci.”
He gently pushes my hands away. “I wouldn’t want to keep my wife from her own gift.”
Santino rips his shirt off and I place my palms on his chest straight away. I run my fingers around the scar on his shoulder first, then across the scar below his ribs that’s still bright red.
Santino closes his eyes and swallows hard. He’s been reluctant to let me touch his scars since they healed.
“You’re not any less devilishly handsome or roguishly sexy to me. In fact, I like my gift even more than the first time I unwrapped it. These scars are a part of our story. I see a battle-scarred warrior who fought to stay alive and come back to me. I love them, Santino.”
He grips my chin, hypnotizing me with the depth of his gaze, drowning me in their dark chocolate. “I love you, Mia.”
“I love you, too.”
Santino’s lips crush against mine just as I get the last word out, and the intensity of the moment only adds fuel to the already raging fire between us.
The best thing Santino ever did was be crazy enough to make me marry him.