Page 209 of La Dolce Vita

"Adara?" he called out.

She didn't answer. Carlo went to the bedroom and found her sleep on her side. She lay on a towel. Her hair was wet from her shower. He walked over and stood next to the bed so he could get a good look at her.

"Adara?" he whispered.

"Mmm?" she moaned. Her hand reached out and touched his leg. It went up his thigh. "You came back.Facciamo l'amore—let's make love."

He chuckled.

She opened her tired eyes and smiled for him. Adara sat up slowly. Her wet wavy hair was slung over one shoulder, and covering one side of her face. Again she had washed out the pink. She opened the towel that covered her body and tossed it aside. She scooted back and got under the sheets.

"We don't need it tonight," he said. He ripped the sheet off her body so he could once again gaze down at her. And he was close to the edge. She looked like an Italian goddess to him. Every curve blessed by God, sweet and decadent.

"Cosa c'è?" Adara blinked in confusion.

He shed his clothes and stripped bare. He eased onto the bed and crawled over her. Adara reached for his face to bring his lips to hers, and he stopped her by turning his face away and opening her legs. He'd fuck her and forget the night. "Carlo? Kiss me."

He kissed her brow and avoided her lips. He just wanted her soft pussy and nothing more.

"Carlo?" She reached between them and pushed back on his pelvis to keep him from entering her. "Kiss me?"

"Fuck this," he turned away. He sat on the edge of the bed. She immediately came behind him. She put her arm around the front of him and kissed the back of his head.

"Why won't you kiss me?"

"I'm not in love with you."

"What? So if you give me a hug we are in love?"

“No,” he said.

“Every woman you kiss you’re in love with?” she asked.

“No.”

“I’m confused. Who are you in love with? The woman who wears Shalimar. Is she the reason I’m here?"

It was a question he wouldn't answer. When he used the word love, God heard his request and punished him for it. His soul was so dark and stained he'd never see his way out of the black tide of shit he'd given his life to. Adara pressed the side of her face to his. And everything about her tempted him. Losing Shae hurt. Losing his brothers hurt. Now the thought of losing his bestfriend hurt. He was tired of hurting. And more importantly, people that got close to him always felt the pain or suffered. That was why he stayed away from his mother and surviving sister. Why he lived out here at the foot of his Don, like a stray dog only released from his chains of self-hate and guilt when it was time to attack. This was the life he deserved. And he should not have brought her here.

"I will have one of the boys take you back. You can't go to Baldamenti. Alek is dead. They'll take you wherever else you need to go. And money..."

"Dead? Alek Baldamenti is dead? Did you kill him?" she asked.

"No. I tried. Someone else did."

"Oh?"

"Get dressed," he said and made to stand, but she tightened her arm around his throat and dragged him back down.

"Stay. You need to sleep, let me help," she said.

He looked over at her.

She smiled.

"Sleep would be good," he said. “If you can be quiet and not question me for the rest of the night.”

"Then lie still," she ordered.

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