Page 87 of The Don's Soulmate

"Better," I reply, my voice still shaking from the aftershocks of my orgasm. "You're...incredible," I mutter, my cheeks flushed.

He chuckles, a low sound that sends a shiver down my spine.

We lay there for what feels like hours, our hands entangled, skin to skin.

"I love you," I say, whispering the words that I never thought I'd say aloud.

"I love you too. More than you’d ever know,” he whispers drowsily before we both fall asleep.

Chapter 40

Ettore

Carlotta lies curled against me, her head nestled on my chest as my fingers trace lazy circles along her spine. The cabin is quiet, filled only with the sounds of our breathing and the crackling fireplace.

After two weeks in hiding, a deep familiarity has settled over us. The need to constantly watch over our shoulders has faded, replaced by the comfort of each other's arms. I don’t know how long this can last, but I pray it’s forever.

One morning, bored out of our minds, I take Carlotta for a walk through the woods, showing her the plants and birds. Anotherevening, we try our hand at woodcarving. One evening, Carlotta asks if she can learn to light the fire. I watch with pride as she stirs the dwindling embers, her green eyes reflecting the flickering flames. The cabin is quiet, save for the crackle of burning wood and our steady breaths. Today marks three weeks of us being holed up in here.

I like how our life is shaping up. In the morning, I go chop wood, while Carlotta makes breakfast. In the afternoons, we whip up lunch together before going to soak at the lake nearby. The evenings are spent making love, drinking wine, eating leftovers.

In a way, it seems like a hedonistic escape. But what choice do we have when the world is at our heels and this happens to be our only place of solace?

"Time seems to pass so quickly when I'm with you," Carlotta says softly, breaking the silence.

I reach over and pull her to me, wrapping my arm around her waist. "I know what you mean. It's hard to believe how much has changed since we first met."

She leans into me, resting her head on my chest, and I can't help but think of how perfectly she fits against me as if she were made just for me. But I worry. How soon before she gets sick of this life?

And whatever the hell can I do then? Perhaps it’s time to carve out some hours, to make a plan, to give her more and give her better.

One Sunday, I wake up later than usual. I was up all night, selling some crypto to go to an offshore account in the Bahamas. Now, if I find a way out of the country, we could be at a safe haven.

I walk into the kitchen and stand at the door, watching her dig into a simmering pot with the spoon. Her hair is up in a floral hair tie, and her feet are void of shoes. Her dress, all fluttery and sweet, makes her look like the prettiest woman in the world.

"Buongiorno tesoro,” - Good morning, sweetheart - I say, walking up behind her, putting my arms around her waist. She cranes her neck to kiss me on the cheek.

“Good morning,” she sings like a bird. “Here, taste this,” she passes the spoon to me. The sauce is absolute perfection.

“We’re lucky we have tomatoes growing in the garden,” she murmurs. “So fresh.”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumble, reluctantly pulling away since she’s shoving me off. When she’s busy, I know she hates being disturbed. She pours the sauce over a tray filled with eggs and vegetables, then pops it in the oven.

I watch her delicately pour two cups of coffee, and then she comes sits next to me. Finally! There’s nothing I like more than to have her complete, unwavering attention.

"Hey, love," Carlotta says, suddenly serious. "We're almost out of food. We can't stay cooped up in this cabin forever."

I furrow my brow, well aware of the danger that lurks outside. "I know, but going to a store is risky. If someone recognizes us, we'll have more than just hunger to worry about."

Carlotta looks at me, concern etched across her beautiful face. Her soft-spoken nature belies a fierce determination, and I can see her mind working to find a solution. She's been my rock through all of this, and I can't imagine facing the chaos without her by my side.

"Maybe we could go to a small shop somewhere close to here, where nobody knows us?" she suggests hesitantly.

It's not a perfect plan, but it's better than nothing. The danger of discovery is ever-present, but there's no denying the urgency of our situation. We can't survive on love alone.

"Alright," I agree reluctantly. "But we have to be careful. I’ll do some research and see what’s nearby, but for a couple of days, we need to manage with what we have. You see, I’m almost out of cash and we can’t use our credit cards or it can be traced to our location. I’ll have to see if I can get some cash from somewhere with crypto.”

As I mull over the risks of venturing out to a store, Carlotta's eyes suddenly light up with an idea. "Ettore, I have some gold jewelry I’m wearing,” she shows me her necklace, and a few rings she has on. “We could sell it off? And while you figure out all that stuff, why don't we go fishing? To that lake we go to? We can catch our own food while we figure things out."

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