[AVA]
"Can you please turn off the lights?" He spoke with a commanding yet surprisingly gentle voice. His patience, usually evident in his piercing gray eyes, blended with his voice, making him sound incredibly attractive. It ignited a fire within me, sending a shiver down my spine, reaching the tips of my toes and curling them with a newfound desire.
Having such intense feelings for someone like him felt forbidden. Not only was he someone I shouldn't be involved with, but he was also at least twenty years older than me.
It was wrong to feel anything other than sympathy and sadness for him.
It was wrong for me to be here. In a hotel room. As his companion.
It was wrong not to tell him the truth.
But as I walked into the room, closed the door behind me, and switched off the lights, all the complications of our situation faded away, just like the light that had filled the room before I entered.
I noticed him shifting on the bed, and although it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the enveloping darkness, I was taken aback by the fact that my heart continued to race. I had become incredibly tense in just the past ten seconds.
"Mr. Reinhold?" I gasped, my voice breaking through the darkness. I desperately needed to know if he was still there or if this was just some foolish fantasy, longing for a man who was clearly out of my league.
Before he spoke, I could hear the soft sound of his footsteps approaching.
"I'm right here," he whispered gently, and then something warm wrapped around my wrist. The unexpected intimacy made my chest tighten, and I felt my knees grow weak. I had to summon every ounce of strength to keep from collapsing.
"I hope the lack of visibility doesn't bother you," he said as he moved behind me, gently brushing my ginger hair over my right shoulder. A surge of electricity ran through me as I felt his face draw closer to the nape of my neck, and his warm breath brushed against my sensitive skin.
"It's... it's fine, Mr. Reinhold," I managed to say, surprised at how breathless I had become even before he had laid a proper hand on me. His voice and proximity alone seemed to have the power to leave me weak in the knees.
Damn it, when did I become so vulnerable to these desires?
Val would never forgive me for what I was about to do. If it was the last thing she did before finding peace in some heavenly paradise, she would haunt me for the rest of my days.
"Brian," his lips brushed against my neck, deliberately trailing down my shoulder, leaving a scorching path of desire and anticipation. "Please, call me Brian."
"Okay, um, Brian?" I struggled to find my voice, swallowed hard, and allowed him to guide me by gripping my wrist until my knees touched the edge of a firm surface.
The bed.
That was the last coherent thought before I sensed his presence once more. Brian's large, warm hands glided up my arms, releasing my hand for a few heart-pounding seconds, leaving a trail of burning sensation and fireworks behind my closed eyes. He swiftly turned me around to face him, his fingers gently curling over my shoulders. The room was engulfed in darkness, making it nearly impossible to see anything. The curtains blocked out even the faintest glimmer of moonlight.
I couldn't help but wonder what all the secrecy was about. Why so much hidden intent? Was Mr. Reinhold searching for something? Did he know my true identity and want to spare me any embarrassment? My body tensed, and my thoughts spiraled into mild panic. If he had connected the dots, surely he would have stormed out by now, right?
What kind of man would desire a physical relationship with his late daughter's best friend?
Perhaps there were a few individuals who would take up the offer. Grandma used to say that the world was a strange place. However, Mr. Reinhold held himself to higher standards. Way higher. He was not the kind of man who would engage in or condone anything unethical. He had proven his sincerity to me and the rest of the world on multiple occasions. Just a year ago, when my father declared bankruptcy, Mr. Reinhold was the first person to step forward and offer generous assistance.
But no matter how much money he provided, it wasn't enough. It helped us have a roof over our heads and food on the table, but being poor was more complicated than it seemed. Even though my family had limited funds and couldn't afford frivolous expenses, we couldn't change overnight. Not even for a single night. In less than a week, they had squandered all the money on absurd things.
Instead of using it to make the advance payment we owed to the apartment owner or to save for utility bills or any other essential expenses, my father gave the money to his needy friends, hoping they would repay it with interest. The jury is still out on that one. Meanwhile, my mother spent a significant sum on ridiculous lottery tickets, and my younger brother Max used his share to throw a lavish birthday party at an outrageously expensive club, seemingly unable to let go of the need to show off. As a result, we were left with a meager amount that would only sustain us for a maximum of two days.
It was a dire situation, as I mentioned before.
However, I wasn't the only one with reasons to worry.
