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‘You’ve stopped dancing,’ he murmured.
She began to sway again, her free hand rising to his chest. She caught sight of her new rings—the engagement ring belonging to his grandmother, which he’d kept but not given her because the circumstances hadn’t been right, and the new wedding band he’d let her pick out for their second, family-only wedding—and her thoughts turned pensive. ‘I was thinking about your mother.’
Zaccheo tensed slightly. She caressed her hand over his heart until the tension eased out of him. ‘What were you thinking?’ he asked grudgingly.
‘I sent her pictures of the boys yesterday.’
A noise rumbled from Zaccheo’s chest. ‘She’s been asking for one since the day they were born.’
She leaned back and looked into her husband’s eyes. ‘I know. I also know you’ve agreed to see her at Easter after my first album comes out.’
Tension remained between mother and son, but when his mother had reached out, Zaccheo hadn’t turned her away.
Standing on tiptoe, Eva caressed the stubble she insisted he grow again, and kissed him. ‘I’m very proud of you.’
‘No, Eva. Everything good in my life is because of you.’ He sealed her lips with another kiss. A deeper, more demanding kiss.
By mutual agreement, they pulled away and headed for the nursery. After bestowing kisses on their sleeping sons, Zaccheo took her hand and led her to the bedroom.
Their lovemaking was slow, worshipful, with loving words blanketing them as they reached fulfilment and fell asleep in each other’s arms.
When midnight and Christmas rolled around, Zaccheo woke her and made love to her all over again. Afterwards, sated and happy, he spread his fingers through her hair and brought her face to his.
‘Buon Natale, amore mio,’ he said. ‘You’re the only thing I want under my Christmas tree, from now until eternity.’
‘Merry Christmas, Zaccheo. You make my heart sing every day and my soul soar every night. You’re everything I ever wished for.’
He touched his forehead to hers and breathed deep. ‘Ti amero per sempre, dolcezza mia.’
