Chapter 39 Opposite Sides

• Vittoria let out a soft laugh as she rested her head on his shoulder, as if the simple act offered a rare moment of respite.
• She closed her eyes and surrendered completely, feeling his hand glide slowly down her back, the caresses so gentle they felt like whispers of unspoken emotions, tracing her skin with an intimacy that spoke without words.
• “And now?” Vittoria murmured, her voice low and laced with uncertainty, her hand brushing his face, fingers softly tracing the contours of his beard as if seeking an answer in the warmth of his skin that he hadn’t yet voiced.