We lay there on the bed, tangled up and catching our breath. My face was pressed against Aeri's chest, nestled right between her boobs, her skin warm and soft against my cheek.
Our breathing synced up, slow and heavy, like the world had hit pause for a minute. Her fingers slid through my hair, brushing it back gently, almost like she was patting a kid, soothing me without even trying.
"You were holding a lot in, huh, Ezra?" she asked, her voice quiet but steady, breaking the silence. Her hand kept moving, smoothing my messy hair as she waited for me to say something.
I lifted my head slow, my hair falling over my eyes, blocking her from view for a second. I didn't answer right away, just let the question hang there, heavy in the air.
"Ezra...?" she said again, a little more curious this time, her head tilting as she tried to catch my gaze.
I swallowed, feeling a knot in my chest.
"Aeri... do you hate me now?" My voice came out small, shaky, like I was scared of what she'd say. I couldn't look at her straight on, my eyes dropping to the crumpled sheets instead.
She let out a soft sigh, but there was a smile in it—like she couldn't believe I'd even ask. "I could never hate you for anything, Ezra," she said, her hands sliding up to cup my face. Her thumbs brushed my cheeks, warm and gentle, pulling my eyes back to hers. She looked at me like she meant it, her face soft and open.
I nodded, a little smile tugging at my lips, relief washing over me. Before I could say anything else, my phone buzzed on the nightstand, a sharp vibration cutting through the quiet.
I flicked my eyes to the side and caught the name lighting up the screen—Jonathan.
"Hold on," I muttered, rolling off her and swinging my legs over the bed. I stood up, the cool air hitting my bare skin as I grabbed the phone.
"Your friend?" Aeri asked, sitting up a bit. She pulled the bedsheet up to her chest, clutching it there with one hand while the other pushed her messy hair back.
"Yeah, just give me a sec," I said, flashing her a quick look before stepping out of the room and Aeri could hear the murmurs of my voice as I talk with Jonathan.
"Yeah, I remembered," I said, keeping my voice low.
"Okay, got it," I replied, leaning against the wall. "I'll be there."
I hung up, the call short and to the point, and walked back into the bedroom. Aeri was still on the bed, the sheet hugged tight against her chest, her hair now tucked behind her ears.
I grabbed my underwear from the floor and stepped into it.
"Going to work?" she asked, her tone light but with a hint of something else—maybe disappointment, maybe just curiosity.
"Yeah," I said, pulling my pants up and zipping them. "New client."
I yanked my black t-shirt over my head, the fabric stretching a little as I tugged it down.
Standing in front of the bedroom mirror, I grabbed a brush and ran it through my hair, trying to tame the mess.
Behind me, Aeri got up from the bed, the mattress creaking as she moved. She held the bedsheet up to her chest, clutching it tight with one hand, and shuffled over until she was right at my back. I could see her in the mirror—her hair still a little wild, her cheeks pink.
"Ezra..." she said, her voice soft, like she wasn't sure how to start.
"How long's the website designing gonna take?" she asked, shifting the sheet a bit higher. "I mean, the client's stuff—when'll it be done so you can come back home?"
I paused mid-brush, thinking it over. "Um... I don't know," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "Depends on how many pages they want. Could be quick, could drag on a bit."
"I wish they'd hire more people, you know? Ease up your workload so you're not running around all the time. You come home late at night as well because of it."
"Nah, it's fine," I said, cracking a grin. "More work means more money. Hehe." I wiggled my eyebrows at her in the mirror, trying to lighten it up.
"Ufff..." She let out a little giggle, shaking her head at me calming down the vibe of room to something light.
"I'll try to be early," I said, setting the brush down. I turned and brushed past her, my shoulder grazing hers as I headed for the door.
She lifted her hand, like she was about to say something else, but I was already out, pulling the door shut behind me with a soft click.
"Ezr—" She sighed, her voice muffled. "Sighhh... always in a hurry..."
I jogged down the hall, fishing my phone out of my pocket. The screen lit up with a message from Jonathan: *"The client's coming by evening, but we gotta prep stuff beforehand. Come fast."*
My thumb tapped out a quick *"Ok"* as I grabbed my keys from the counter, the metal jingling in my hand.
I stepped outside, the cool morning air hitting my face, and locked the door behind me. The street was alive, buzzing with the chaos of a regular workday. People hustled past me—guys in suits rushing to their offices, kids with backpacks dragging their feet toward school, college students chattering in little groups.
I hit the train station and squeezed onto the next one, finding a spot to stand near the doors. I leaned against a pole, arms crossed, staring out the window at the blur of buildings whipping by.
A group of girls nearby—maybe college age—kept sneaking glances my way. "He's kinda hot, right?" one said, giggling. "Look at those arms—those cuts are driving me crazy," another chimed in.
It didn't faze me much—just noise in the background.
The train screeched to a stop after a while, and I stepped off, the platform crowded with people shoving past each other. I walked a few blocks, the city noise fading a bit as the streets got narrower, until I stopped in front of a building that stood out like it didn't belong.
I stood there for a second, hands in my pockets, staring up at the sign. The place had a vibe—quiet, almost heavy, like it was holding secrets behind those royal doors.
It was painted black, sleek and dark, with fancy double doors that looked like they belonged on a mansion, not here. Gold lettering stretched across the top in bold, clean strokes:
"Welcome to Heaven's Feel Brothel"