Page 40 of Mafioso's Muse
‘You could have told me not to come,’ she said. ‘I would have stayed away if you had.’
No response.
‘I think you let me come here as a test,’ she said, feeling brave. ‘You wanted to watch me with your family, see me in this setting. Perhaps you wanted to prove to yourself that I don’t fit, and then you would be justified in keeping your distance.’ When he didn’t reply, she asked, ‘Does my single-parent upbringing disqualify me?’
He exhaled. ‘You think I give a shit where you came from or who raised you?’
‘I’m certain your dad does.’
Vaughn watched her for a few seconds before speaking again. ‘He was the first person in our family to marry someone outside the… larger family. You think his parents were welcoming of my mother?’
The question caught her off-guard. ‘Seems like they accepted her eventually.’
‘It was alongroad to get to that point.’ His eyes moved over her. ‘When he looks at you, he sees his own struggles.’
She sat with that information for a moment. ‘And you’re trying to avoid that struggle?’
He blinked. ‘The only time our worlds should meet is when someone like me is enjoying art made by someone like you.’
Something pulled in her chest. ‘Because of’—she lowered her voice—‘the larger family?’
‘Because of who I am.’
‘I trust you,’ she said without hesitation.
He leaned in. ‘Don’t.’
Willow found herself pushing up onto her toes and kissing him. A proper lips-to-his kiss, with no idea how he would react. The moment their lips met, his fingers went into her hair, simultaneously pulling her closer. A wave of fire tore through her, followed by a melting sensation. It coursed through every part of her body. Her hands went to his face, to the hint of stubble that prickled her skin in the most delicious way. Touching him was an entirely new sensation.
Breathe, she reminded herself.
Vaughn returned the kiss with intense enthusiasm, his movements slow but firm. Then he pulled away and dropped his forehead to hers, his breath coming fast like her own. He stroked the back of her hair as they gathered themselves.
‘Willow.’ Her name from his mouth was a new kind of pleasure. ‘I’m going to need you to walk back inside. Can you do that for me?’
She shook her head.
‘Please.’
‘I don’t want to.’
His fingers pressed into her head. ‘Willow.’
This time, her name came out as a frustrated growl. The tone of his voice had her drawing back and looking at him. His broken expression had her stepping away.
Confused and embarrassed, she said, ‘You know, I think I’m going to skip the cannoli. I couldn’t possibly…’ She touched her lips, which were still warm from his. ‘I should go thank your parents and say goodnight.’ Turning away, she headed towards the house before he could respond.
‘Finn will take you home,’ he called to her back.
She hugged herself despite the warm air. ‘I’d prefer to get an Uber.’
Vaughn jogged up behind her. ‘Stop.’
She didn’t stop.
‘Willow—’
‘Please don’t say anything else. I’m already humiliated enough.’ He caught her arm, and she turned to him. ‘It’s fine. Everything you said, your reasons, it’s all fine.’ She pulled her arm free and resumed walking.