The soft hum of the hotel’s air conditioning filled the room, blending with the distant sounds of the city beyond the window. Ainara was laying naked on the bed. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of nerves and anticipation twisting in her stomach.

She wasn’t usually this bold—if anything, she avoided vulnerability at all costs. But tonight, something was different. Maybe it was the late-night conversations, the way you always made her feel safe, or the loneliness she had carried for too long. Either way, she was done pretending she didn’t crave something more.

As soon as the bathroom door creaked open, Ainara’s breath caught. You stepped out, pausing mid-motion as your eyes met. The dim glow of the sunset cast a golden hue over her skin, highlighting the curves she had never dared to reveal before. Her cheeks burned, and she instinctively wanted to cover herself—but no. She had made this choice. She wanted this moment.

Her fingers fidgeted with the sheets beneath her, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Are you just going to stand there... or say something?"

The air between you grew thick, electric. Ainara’s gaze flickered downward, then back up, her lips parting slightly as she swallowed hard.

She had always been terrified of being vulnerable. But right now? She was willing to take the risk.