Four days later, Christmas Eve…

We’re rushing through the shops at Columbus Circle, the girls buzzing with excitement like they’ve downed five candy canes each. It’s Christmas Eve, and Lucia and Giulia insisted on one last shopping trip before dinner.

Four years old, and they’re already calling the shots.

Ms. M is trailing behind, trying to keep up with their energy. The woman’s got fire in her, but even she’s struggling to corral them in this crowd. Meanwhile, Willow’s beside me, looking ready to chase them herself.

“Willow,” I say firmly, cutting her off before she can even think about running after the twins. “Relax. You’re pregnant, remember? No chasing after those two.”

She shoots me a sassy look, but I hold my ground. “I’m pregnant, not fragile.”

I step in front of her again, my hand gentle but firm on her arm. “You’re not fragile, but you are carrying our child. Let Ms. M handle it.”

Lucia and Giulia dart ahead, laughing as they spot a toy store, completely unaware of the chaos they’re causing. Ms. M throws me an exasperated look over her shoulder. I give her a nod. She’s got this.

Willow huffs but relents, leaning into me with a small smile. “Fine, but next time, I’m not sitting on the sidelines.”

I smirk. “We’ll see about that.”

We’re walking together, side by side, keeping an eye on the twins. The girls are in their own world, but my attention is on Willow. I glance down at her, watching for any signs that she’s pushing herself too hard.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” she says, giving me a small smile. “The concussion is pretty much gone.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I say, stopping her with a look. “Not just the physical matters. What you’ve been through—it doesn’t disappear just because you can’t see the wounds.”

She pauses for a second, leaning into me. “It was scary. I’m still a little shaken up, I won’t lie. But it’s over now. Jack’s gone. And more importantly, I know you’re watching out for me.”

I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Always,” I tell her, my voice low but full of promise. “I’ll always watch out for you.”

She tilts her head up, meeting my eyes. I see the trust in their depths. No matter what’s happened, she knows I’ve got her back. That’s all that matters.

The girls’ laughter echoes around us, pulling me back to reality.

We stop in front of the toy shop, watching through the glass as Lucia and Giulia dart around, eyes lit up, already hunting for the perfect gifts for each other. I keep one eye on them, but my focus shifts to Willow.

“Are you looking forward to tonight?” I ask.

She looks up at me with that smile—the one that always knocks me off balance. “Yeah, I am. My first Christmas Eve with the girls and you as… whatever it is we are now.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, we haven’t exactly figured that part out yet, have we?”

She grins, her eyes playful. “Nope. I guess we skipped the whole formal exit interview for my nanny services.”

I give the matter a moment of thought. “Alright, how about this? Ms. M takes over with the girls for the next week or two. I’ll bring in extra help for the house. Consider the next couple of weeks your Christmas break—time to process everything.”

I watch as relief washes over her, softening her expression. “I’d like that,” she says, leaning in a little closer. I tighten my grip on her hand.

The girls come bursting out of the shop, each of them clutching something behind their backs, barely able to contain their excitement.

“Papa, Willow! We got each other presents!” Giulia announces. , eyes wide with pride.

Lucia bounces on her toes, holding hers tightly. “But we can’t show each other yet! Can you hide them, Willow?”

Willow smiles, crouching down to their level. “Of course. I’ll keep them safe.”

Both girls eagerly hand over their carefully chosen gifts, trusting her without hesitation. She tucks them into her purse with a smile, and I watch the way she fits into this moment so naturally. It’s like she’s always been here, a part of this family.

“Alright, girls,” I say, drawing their attention. “Ready to head home for Christmas Eve dinner?”

They both nod, eyes gleaming with excitement as they race toward the car. We all pile in, the driver pulling away, the city lights flashing past as the girls chatter nonstop about tomorrow—what Santa might bring, what they want to do first thing in the morning. Ms. M chimes in, trying to keep them from getting too hyper, but I can see she’s losing that battle.

As I listen to their voices, my phone buzzes. I glance down at the screen.

Sal: The Rossis are keen to meet after Christmas. They’re ready to discuss terms for a formal peace treaty.

I read it over twice, a sense of satisfaction settling in. We’d been on the brink of war not long ago, but now we’re about to seal the deal and make sure it doesn’t happen.

We pull up to the townhouse, and the place is lit up like a damn Christmas card. The lights, the wreaths, the trees—it’s all decked out, festive as hell. I can’t help but smile. This is what Willow’s brought to my life—warmth, life, a real home. She’s made this place feel like more than just walls and security.

The girls pile out, racing inside, and we follow. The chef is in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the Christmas feast. Roasted prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and a pear and walnut salad. Dessert? A classic—chocolate Yule log with whipped cream.

The girls and Ms. M head into the den to finish wrapping the last of the presents. I watch them go, but Willow hangs back, lingering near me with a mischievous look in her eyes.

“I’ve been meaning to check out what you’ve been doing with the gym downstairs,” she says, her voice low and teasing.

I grin, stepping closer, lowering my voice to match hers. “You can unwrap that present in the morning.”

She winks, not missing a beat. “I’ve got something in mind you can unwrap tonight.”

I smirk, reaching out to give her a playful squeeze on her ass. She gasps, but I can tell by the way her lips curl into a smile that she loves it.

“Careful,” I murmur, leaning in close. “Or I’ll unwrap it right now.”

Her laughter fills the air, and damn if it doesn’t make me want her even more.

Dinner’s perfect. Once we’re done, the girls rush into the den, begging to watch a Christmas movie.

We settle on Home Alone—classic enough to keep everyone entertained, including Ms. M, who’s already into it.

The girls do their best to stay awake, determined to catch Santa in the act, but it’s no use. Within minutes after the movie’s over, they’re curled up in front of the fire, out cold, their tiny snores mixing with the crackling flames.

I scoop up both Lucia and Giulia, one in each arm, carrying them up to their room. Willow’s right there beside me, helping me tuck them in under their cozy blankets. The warmth of the moment settles between us as we watch them sleep, their little faces peaceful.

“They’re perfect,” Willow whispers, leaning into me. “I’m so happy they’re in my life.”

I don’t say it, but the thought hits me hard. She’s the right woman to be their new mother, to stand by my side.

As we quietly leave the room, Ms. M catches us at the door. She gives us a knowing look, waving her hand. “Go on, you two. I’ll take the monitor and stay in the guest room tonight.”

“Thank you, Olivia.”

We make our way back down to the den, where the fire’s still burning low, casting the room in a warm glow.

Willow grins, her eyes gleaming with mischief. ‘Time for a little holiday cheer.’

In a heartbeat, I pull her close, pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is deep, intense, like we’re making up for all the moments we’ve held back. Her hands are in my hair, and I’ve got my arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against me.

I pause, just for a second, breaking the kiss. ‘I love you,’ I say, my voice low, serious. ‘And I’ll do anything for you.’

Her face softens, and I catch the glisten of tears in her eyes. She smiles, the kind of smile that tells me she feels it just as much as I do. ‘I love you too,’ she whispers, before pulling me back in.

Before long, we’re on the floor in front of the fire, our hands working quickly to slip each other out of our clothes. The heat between us has nothing to do with the flames burning nearby—it’s all us, wrapped up in each other, lost in the moment.

I strip her bare, taking my time, and when I finally sit up to take her in, I can’t help but grin. Her skin practically glows, that subtle shift happening already, even though she’s only six weeks pregnant. It’s like she’s got this new light about her, and I feel this surge of pride knowing she’s carrying our future inside her.

“You’re staring,” she says, a teasing smile on her lips.

“Can you blame me? Look at you,” I murmur, running my hand over the curve of her hips. “You’re even sexier now carrying my kid.”

She bites her lip, giving me a mischievous look. “Oh, yeah?”

I laugh, leaning down to kiss her neck. “Yeah. You’re already glowing, baby.”

Her smile softens, and I can feel the love in the way she looks up at me. There’s hunger there, too—she wants me just as much as I want her.

I move between her legs, teasing her, letting my cock rest right at her entrance. She gasps a little, her hands immediately sliding down to grab my ass, pulling me closer.

“Stop teasing,” she breathes, her voice almost a plea.

I chuckle, pressing just a little deeper. “Say please.”

“Please.”

That’s all it takes. I push inside, slow and steady, and the warmth of her wraps around me, pulling me deeper. Every inch feels incredible, like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

“God, I love you,” I groan, feeling her tighten around me.

She pulls me closer, her breath hot against my skin. “Show me.”

I thrust into her slowly at first, savoring the way she feels—tight, hot, wrapped around me like she was made for this. Every time I move, she gasps, her back arching beneath me, and I can’t take my eyes off her. She looks incredible, her skin flushed, breasts bouncing with each thrust, and those eyes of hers—half-lidded, staring up at me with pure desire.

“You like that?” I ask, my voice low and rough.

Her lips part, a soft moan escaping as she digs her nails into my back. “Yes… God, yes.”

I smirk, leaning down to kiss her neck, picking up the pace, the sound of our bodies coming together filling the room. Each time I push deeper, her breath hitches, her legs wrapping tighter around my waist.

“Faster,” she whispers, her voice shaky with need.

I give her exactly what she’s begging for, slamming into her harder, faster, feeling her body start to tremble underneath me. She’s close, I can feel it—her breathing is ragged, her grip on me tightening.

“You’re going to come for me, aren’t you?” I growl in her ear.

She nods, barely able to speak through the pleasure. “I’m—so close.”

I push deeper, thrusting faster, watching her body tense up, her face twisting with pleasure. “Come for me,” I command, my voice firm.

And she does. Her whole body shudders, back arching off the floor, her lips parting in a breathless cry as she falls apart beneath me, clenching tight around me.

I hold back my own release, watching her unravel.

She grins at me, a playful glint in her eyes, then her hands are on my legs, pushing me back. I let her guide me, enjoying the shift in control. She climbs over me, her body glistening, and I can’t help but smirk.

“I love it when you get bossy like this,” I say.

She leans down, her lips brushing against mine. “I know,” she whispers.

.”

Her hands slide down to my cock, fingers wrapping around it, and I groan at the feel of her grip. She lines me up, holding it steady, and slowly starts to lower herself.

I watch, my breath catching as she takes me in, inch by inch. She’s so slick, so wet, that I slide inside her perfectly, her body stretching to fit me.

It’s intoxicating, watching her move like this—her hips sinking, breasts bouncing slightly, her lips parting as she takes me deeper. She’s in complete control, and it’s driving me wild.

“Fuck, you feel incredible,” I growl, gripping her hips., watching her face as her pussy swallows me whole.

Her breath hitches, and her eyes close for a second as she settles, fully seated on my cock. The heat of her, the tight, wet pressure—it’s overwhelming.

She’s got me exactly where she wants me, and the way she rolls her hips, slow and deliberate, makes it clear she knows exactly what she’s doing.

And all l want is more.

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