“Everyone?”
“Not the whole city,” he clarifies.
“Oh, my God.”
His mouth curves. “That was eerily similar to everyone’s reaction.”
I blink.
Then, despite everything, I laugh again.
Mario glances toward the door.
I follow the look, and my stomach dips again.
“What?”
His mouth curves faintly. “Are you ready to go downstairs?”
“Downstairs?” I squeak.
“My sons are very eager to officially meet you.”
“Oh, God.”
“You do not have to be afraid of them.”
“I’m not afraid of them.” I pause. “Okay, that was a lie. We're not off to a good start here.”
His mouth curves. “A troubling collapse of principle.”
“I know. I had one good minute of honesty, and now look at me. A cliché.”
“I knew what I was getting into when I got involved with a lawyer.”
“At least you know.”
“You are allowed to be nervous.”
“Oh, good, because I am.” I blow out a breath. “Maybe a little nauseous too.”
“It's because you haven't eaten,” he declares and takes my hand to start dragging me out of bed.
“Mario,” I squeal. “You have a terrible bedside manner.”
“I am not your doctor.” He grins wickedly. “But we can play doctor later.”
I yelp when he yanks me out of bed and into his arms.
“You can't say that to me right before I meet your sons. That is not fair.”
“I don't play fair,” he says. “You'll get used to it.”
Before I can think of a good response, he catches my lips with his.
Then his hand slides to my ass, and he pulls me hard against him.
The kiss is a quick, filthy one that has me clinging to him and moaning.
