First Night

[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.

I wasn't oblivious to the fact that Mr. Reinhold was still consumed by grief, even five years after Val's passing. It was evident in his eyes, those piercing gray eyes that held sadness and quietness. Until now, he had maintained the facade of a formidable businessperson who wouldn't allow himself to be diminished by any adversity, not even the loss of his own daughter.

Yet tonight, as we shared the same space and breathed the same air, I could sense the overwhelming sorrow emanating from every pore of his being, and I saw the mask slipping away. Perhaps it was the darkness that made him feel secure, giving him the confidence to reveal his true self without fear of exposing his vulnerability. I could relate to that sentiment. Truly, I could. And I respected his boundaries. I respected him immensely.

He must have noticed the tension that had gripped my body as he closed the distance between us, his hands gently finding their way around my petite waist, attempting to soothe me, his deft fingers acting as a switch to turn off the cascade of thoughts in my mind.

I won't deny that it worked.

"We don't have to go through with this," he murmured, and I realized how close his mouth was to my forehead, how easily I could reach up and capture his tender lips. "But you smell wonderful, Sonia."

I made an effort not to flinch when I heard the fabricated name the agency had assigned me on their website. And it helped that his hesitance in both his tone and demeanor suggested that this was a first for him as well. It was the first time he had sought a casual encounter with no strings attached. It shouldn't have brought me such profound relief, coursing through my chest. But it did. It shouldn't have caused a deep ache within me. But it did.

"What are you looking for, Brian?" I mustered the last ounce of courage and whispered against his chin, playing the role of Sonia, the escort from a well-known service. I didn't know what else to do but perform my job and treat him as exactly what he was: a client. Nothing more, nothing less.

"I'm not sure," he shook his head, the sound resonating with such depth and power that it shook me to my core. "I just... want to forget," he took a deep breath and let out a heavy exhale. "Can you do that, Sonia? Can you help someone forget their... heartbreaks?"

I knew exactly what he was doing. Quoting the lines from my profile on the site.

"I can make you forget the real world. I can show you the stars if you let me."

There was nothing inherently scandalous about it. In fact, I was told it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow, let alone attract a client. But then again, the world is a strange place, and while those two mundane lines were skipped over by countless clients, there were a few who paid for my contact details. I couldn't decipher what they saw or what thoughts crossed their minds.

Perhaps they glanced at my profile picture, mostly a shot of my nude back facing the camera, and assumed, well, maybe she doesn't have a beautiful face, but at least they have this ass they can indulge in.

If she's willing to show it off, why wouldn't she be into it?

You'd be surprised by how much people are willing to pay for a quick encounter. It's astonishing. And for the most part, I was fine with it as long as they compensated me generously and didn't cross any boundaries.

"I can do that," I replied, my hands instinctively moving forward to rest against his chest when a brief pause lingered longer than intended. "Or at least I can try, if you allow me," I whispered in a seductive tone. As Sonia, the alluring persona I portrayed, boldness was always a part of any scenario. Sonia was the version of me unafraid to express herself, ensuring that the client would never forget her name. Ever.

"Please," he whispered, his voice almost surrendering, as if pleading for a change. It seemed he was weary of the monotonous routine and yearned for something new, something captivating that would divert his mind from the surrounding madness. He desired respite from his grief, not because he had moved on or stopped loving his daughter, but because he simply wished the pain to subside, even if only for a moment.

His desperation claimed a space within my chest. I allowed his voice to seep in, permeating my bones like calcium. Reminding myself once again that he was solely a client, all I had to do was ensure a delightful experience and make him content enough to reward me with a generous tip.

"Of course!"

Withdrawing my hands from his chest, I gripped the smooth fabric of his shirt instead, taking a deep breath to gather myself for the next course of action. I turned around and encouraged him to lie down on the bed.

Mr. Reinhold complied without uttering a word. He sat silently on the cool sheets, but not before pulling me along with him. In that moment, I nearly stumbled, but his strong arms prevented me from crashing into him. The bulge in his trousers indicated once more that he was not only my friend's father but also a man with desires. At this moment, he desired me, unaware of the truth that lay behind my facade.

Me!

The thought had the same effect on me as a powerful drug does on an addict. It completely consumed me and ignited an intense desire deep within me. I assisted him in removing his shirt, shoes, and pants. I kissed his collarbone and ran my fingers over the contours of his well-defined chest. The excitement that surged through my body lifted me up like a kite. I felt an overwhelming urge to satisfy him, to help him forget the pain and heartbreak he carried. I wanted to relieve him of his emotional burden and make him feel lighter.

With that intention in mind, I gently kissed his exposed chest and stomach. A raspy groan escaped from his throat as my tongue flicked over his lower area. It caused a surge of pleasure in me and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I was relieved that I was doing everything correctly, and it only fueled my determination to please him even more.

As the next day approached, I quietly got out of bed and picked up my clothes from the floor, quickly getting dressed as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains.

Brian had already given me the money the previous night.

I glanced back one more time as I reached for the doorknob, cautiously unlocking it. My heart tightened when I saw him lying on his stomach, covered only by a thin black sheet.

He was beautiful.

Fear gripped my heart as he stirred in his sleep. I held onto the doorknob tightly, and without even realizing it, my legs propelled me out of the room and out of the hotel building.

Once outside, I took in deep breaths of the refreshing morning air, allowing my racing heart to gradually calm down. It was only then that the panic subsided, and a shy smile appeared on my lips.