39.

The sky flashed suddenly and it started to rain. Natalia and Vitale stumbled into the small cave, their breaths visible in the cold air.

They quickly gathered some dry wood and started a fire, hoping to warm up and rest for a while. The cave was dimly lit, the dancing flames of the fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. The mood had shifted, and Natalia found herself acutely aware of Vitale’s presence.

He was sitting next to her, his dark hair tousled and his green eyes sparkling in the firelight. He was handsome, she had to admit, but he was also dangerous.

The fire crackled softly, the only sound in the cave as they settled by its warmth. Natalia shivered slightly from the chill of the night, and Vitale noticed immediately. Without a word, he removed his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. The gesture was intimate, and she felt a rush of warmth not just from the jacket but from the proximity of his body.

“Thank you,” she murmured, her voice soft as she glanced up at