Page 139 of Dancing with the Devil

Just then, she walked over to us, heavily breathing. “Goodness,” she smiled. “I love them so much,” she nodded. I pulled her down onto my lap as she tried to catch her breath. “Their tiny hands, their fat little cheeks and adorable laughs,” she beamed, watching Emmanuel laugh—with his head thrown back and both arms almost stiff at his sides.

“You can have him,” Elio chuckled.

Nirah looked over at him with wide eyes. “I’m so sorry, I’m Nirah,” she smiled, extending her hand towards him. “Oh… oops,” she laughed, noticing Emmanuel’s frosting still on her hands. She quickly wiped it off, shaking Elio’s hand.

“Elio,” he introduced himself. “I’m serious. Take him,” he whispered, and Aurora walked up behind him, smacking the back of his head. “Don’t tell me you’re trying to get rid of our children.”

“Just that one,” he playfully teased her, pointing at Emmanuel.

“Nirah, run before it’s too late. Stay far away from the De Luca men. They’ll make you go crazy and try to sell your children,” she sighed, and he pulled her down onto his lap.

“Hey!” Elio and I frowned in unison.

“He’s already made me crazy,” Nirah shook her head at me, and they both laughed.

Leaning in, I kissed her softly, but she pulled back. “Oh,” she gasped. “Is your mother around?” she teased, and I leaned back against my chair. She smiled her contagious little smile, and I smiled too, looking away.

“My aunt got to you too, huh?” Aurora laughed, and she smiled in embarrassment.

“She started praying…” Nirah said in confusion, and the two of them both laughed.

“She’s very…religious, I guess you could say. You know the whole, sex before marriage thing?” Aurora said, taking a sip of water, and I grinned. Nirah cleared her throat, and Aurora’s jaw dropped. “You didn’t,” she whispered, looking around.

“Oh, please, Aurora. It’s not like you weren’t fucking Elio on your first date,” I scoffed and Elio choked on his champagne.

“Good times,” he laughed, putting his hand out and I took it.

“You told him?” she snapped in disbelief.

“I wasn’t supposed to?” he asked in confusion, and her jaw dropped.

“Speaking of…” I trailed off, placing one arm underneath Nirah’s back and one underneath her thighs. I stood up, and she wrapped her arms around my neck in surprise.

“Nirah and I have Bible study classes to get to.”

“On a Saturday evening?” Aurora crossed her arms over her chest. “Duringa family event?”

“Tragic. I know,” I said before walking away with Nirah.

“Neither of us even go to church,” she said as I carried her to the staircase. “Shouldn’t we start going to church?” she asked in thought, and I watched the realization in her eyes as she looked at me. “Never mind.”

Cesar was standing at the bottom of the stairs, and I ordered him not to let anyone upstairs until we came back down.

“Yes, sir,” he nodded, and we headed up to my bedroom.

I closed the door, locking it behind us. “But your family is downstairs,” she protested as I carried her over to my bed.

“They don’t dictatewhatI do in my house orwhenI do it,” I said, lowering her down on the edge of the bed, and I watched her subtly squeeze her thighs together.

I loosened my tie, and she sat up on her knees. “What if someone needs me?”

“You’ll be busy, and they’ll have to wait,” I answered, wrapping my tie around my fist. She swallowed hard as I unfastened my belt.

“What if someone knocks?” she grabbed my hand, stopping me.

“They won’t, but if they do they’llhearthat you’re busy.”

She got off the bed, dropping to her knees, and pulled the front of my pants down. I ran my hand through her hair, gripping her roots.