His voice, deep and probing, broke the silence.

“If I didn't come back, would you just let yourself starve? Would you continue Like that indefinitely?"

Laura felt blindsided by his sudden intensity.

This was new territory for them.

Tears welled up in her eyes. After what felt like an eternity, she whispered, “You'd always return."

Something in Edwin's expression shifted, but before Laura could discern it, he tilted her chin upward, sealing their lips in a fervent embrace. In a whirlwind of emotions, she found herself Lifted onto the kitchen counter.

The woolen blanket was slowly pulled away.

It revealed Laura clad in an oversized black shirt; her entire form seemed vulnerable.

Edwin embraced her with a passionate kiss, their connection intensifying.

Their intimacy deepened.

Once their passionate encounter concluded, Laura found herself in the bedroom.

It was quite dim.

In truth, Laura harbored a fear of the dark, especially in confined spaces, which left her feeling uneasy.

A haunting memory resurfaced from her childhood. She couldn't forget how her sitter locked her in the storage room as she indulged in card games.

Upon the woman's return, she completely overlooked Laura.

Laura endured a bleak and damp confinement for a grueling forty-eight hours.

When they eventually discovered her, Laura was on the brink of dehydration.

Despite her fear of the dark, Laura found solace in Edwin's presence; fear began to dissipate.

Following their intimate encounter, Laura felt a restlessness and the urge to shower, yet the twenty-six-year-old man was brimming with energy. She made a slight move, only to find herself beneath him once more.

Laura closed her eyes and all she could see was darkness.