Last Day
Aviana
I woke to an unnatural silence. The light through the thin curtains was faint, hesitant. The retreat felt off—too still, too empty.
The bed felt massive without Ryan. I curled up, seeking warmth, but there was only cold space. Sleep had been restless, haunted by the absence of his steady breathing. Every time I reached out, I found nothing.
I sighed, pushing off the covers. The air was ice against my skin, seeping into my bones. My last day here. The thought sat heavy on my chest.
A ringing phone cut through the haze. Not Ryan—he was still dealing with Cade’s body. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. Relief? Guilt? I wasn’t sure.
“Hello?” My voice wavered.
“Aviana, this is Dr. Carter.” My nerves flared, but I kept my tone even.
“Good morning, Dr. Carter.”
“Cynthia mentioned you had an appointment with Dr. Brenner?” His voice held uncertainty.
I hesitated. “Yeah, he called last night to discuss closing out my file. We planned to talk this morning, but he didn’t set a time. Am I late?”
“About that…” Dr. Carter paused. My stomach clenched. “We found a letter on his desk. He’s no longer with us.”
Panic flared. Had everything unraveled? “What do you mean? He didn’t… you know—” I forced concern into my voice, but my unease was real.
“No, nothing like that,” he reassured. “He mentioned crossing a line with a patient, doing the right thing, and resigning.” A beat of silence. “I’d like to discuss it with you and close out your file as I’ll be taking over your case.”
I swallowed. “Of course, Dr. Carter. I just need a quick shower and coffee.”
“Take your time. I’m here all day,” he said, voice softening before the call ended.
***
Walking up to the office, my heart thudded. Cade’s last breath lingered in my mind, haunting me. I felt somehow to blame, though I couldn’t explain why.
“Aviana!” Cynthia’s cheerful voice jolted me from my thoughts. “What can I do for you this morning?”
“Dr. Carter asked me to come in since Dr. Brenner left,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the knots in my stomach.
“Oh yes,” she whispered conspiratorially. “He left a note—something about inappropriate relations with a patient.”
Her words twisted my gut, but I didn’t have time to process it as Dr. Carter appeared from down the hallway, motioning for me to follow him to his office.
He picked up my file, the same one that sat on Cade’s desk, then looked up. “Looking over all of Dr. Brenner’s notes, it looks like you’ve shown strength, Aviana, and I believe you’re ready to go home. But I need to hear it from you. How are you feeling?”
“Well, change won’t happen overnight and I still have nightmares but I am sure with all the lessons I have learned here, I can eventually control them all.”
Dr. Carter nodded and followed, “You are right. It won’t happen overnight. Now, as to what happened with Dr. Brenner.” He paused, “Aviana, I know it was you.”
My heart caught in my throat. Does he know, I thought to myself. “I know he had feelings towards you.”
I hesitated, feeling a bit of relief, heart pounding. “I told him it was wrong. I had a boyfriend, and he was my therapist. It was inappropriate. But… he wouldn’t stop. ”
Dr. Carter nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.”
Closing up with our meeting, I left his office feeling both lighter and unburdened.
As I walked outside, I bumped into Scarlet.
“Where’s your boyfriend?" she asked, her voice a little too casual, like she was trying to be subtle but wasn’t quite pulling it off.
I shrugged, not wanting to give too much away. “Probably in his own classes. Or maybe he’s in the cabin packing.” I tried to keep it simple.
Scarlet’s gaze lingered on me, and the silence between us grew heavier. Then she spoke again, her words slow and pointed. “You know, Aviana, the whole thing with Ryan . . . Cade is right. It’s wrong. I mean, it’s not just the age difference but that he is your foster brother . . . it’s pretty taboo, don’t you think?”
I could feel my jaw tightening, annoyance flickering in my chest. “Scarlet,” I said, my voice firmer than I meant it to be, “maybe you should focus on your own healing and growth instead of sticking your nose in other people’s business.”
I didn’t wait for Scarlet to respond, brushing past her with quick, deliberate steps. I could feel her eyes on me, but I wasn’t going to entertain her any longer. She could believe what she wanted. I had bigger things to focus on.
Then I saw him. Ryan stood at the top of the trail, dressed in black, his dark eyes locking onto mine. The air between us crackled with unspoken words, the intensity almost unbearable.
I turned, forcing myself back to the cabin, but he was right behind me. As soon as I stepped inside, he pulled me into his arms, his breath hot on my neck. Without a word, he ripped off his hoodie, his lips finding mine with a fierce, consuming kiss.
In his arms, everything else faded. The storm of emotions, the chaos of everything that had happened—it all melted away. There was only this, only us .
Ryan turned me to face him, his grip firm yet reverent as he pulled me into his arms. The moment his lips met mine, it was as if the rest of the world disappeared—nothing existed beyond this. His kiss was fierce, consuming, an unspoken claim that sent a shiver down my spine.
Driven by an insatiable hunger, I claw at his hair, forcing him closer to me with each tug. My need for him is primal, a burning desire that consumes my entire being. Our mouths move in a frenzy, lips and tongues colliding in a passionate dance of longing and lust. Every touch, every kiss, feels like an unbreakable bond — one he vows to fulfill.
Breaking apart, Ryan’s hands trace down my body possessively, claiming every curve and inch of flesh as his own. “I need you, Avi,” he growls hungrily. “But first,” a mischievous glint shines in his eyes, “I want you on your knees for me. I need to feel your mouth on my cock.”
Falling to my knees before him, his fingers grip tightly into my hair as I unzip his pants. His hard and throbbing member springs free and I eagerly take him into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the head.
“Little Bird,” he moans, thrusting forward as I take him deeper, hitting the back of my throat.
“Fuck, Little Bird,” his grip tightens even more as pleasure washes over him. “Your mouth is pure heaven and if you keep going like this, I’m going to come down that pretty throat of yours.”
Before I can continue, he pulls me up to my feet and crashes his lips onto mine once again. Backing me towards the bed until my legs hit the mattress, I fall back with a thud. In an instant, he’s on top of me, effortlessly pulling down my lounge pants and panties in one swift motion.
“God damn it, you’re soaked for me,” he groans, sliding his fingers inside of me.
“Ryan, please,” I beg, grinding against his hand in desperation. He replaces his fingers with his tongue, teasing and taunting until I’m on the edge of ecstasy. “Ryan!” I scream, my hands gripping his hair and pulling him closer.
As he brings me to the brink of madness, his tongue retreats, leaving me gasping and aching for more. “Please, Ryan, don’t stop,” I whimper, my body trembling with need. He sheds the rest of his clothes, his rock-hard cock standing proudly in front of me. Crawling back on top of me, our eyes lock onto each other’s.
“Baby girl, Little Bird, I don’t deserve you,” he whispers hoarsely.
I pull him down into a fierce kiss, pouring all of my love and desire into it as if it were our last.
“I love you, Ryan. I always have,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.
“I love you, Avi,” he growls, his voice filled with raw desire. “I love you so fucking much.” In one swift motion, he thrusts into me, filling me completely. Our bodies move together in a frenzied rhythm, the intensity building with each passing second.
Moaning uncontrollably, I wrap my legs tightly around his waist, urging him deeper inside of me. He responds by grinding his hips against mine, hitting that sweet spot inside of me that makes me cry out in pleasure.
“You feel so good,” I gasp, my nails digging into his back as he picks up the pace. “Don’t stop, Ryan. Don’t ever stop.”
Our bodies slam against each other on the creaking bed, the sounds echoing through the cabin. My body is on fire, my orgasm building rapidly as I cling to him for dear life.
“I’m so close, Little Bird,” he groans. “Come with me, baby. Let me feel you come all over my cock.”
His words push me over the edge and my body explodes with ecstasy. I cry out as my orgasm crashes over me, my body convulsing and clenching around him. He follows soon after, spilling his hot seed deep inside of me.
As we collapse in a sweaty heap on the bed, he pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. I listen to his heartbeat as we catch our breaths and then he whispers, “I need you again, Little Bird.”
Giggling playfully, I ask him if he can go again. Before he can answer, he has rolled me onto my stomach and is thrusting into me from behind with a new wave of passion. His fingers find their way to my clit, rubbing it in time with his powerful thrusts. I moan loudly into the sheets as my body responds eagerly to his touch.
“Fucking hell, Little Bird. You are amazing,” he groans, finally succumbing to another mind-blowing orgasm with his cock pulsating deep inside of me.
He pulls out, his breath still uneven as he rolls onto his back, then tugs me into his arms. His warmth surrounds me, grounding me, as if he’s afraid to let go, even for a second.
“Roll over, Little Bird. Let me see you.”
His voice is softer now, edged with something I can’t quite place. I shift onto my side, propping my head up with my hand. He lifts his head just enough to capture my lips in a kiss—slow, lingering, like he’s savoring the taste of me, like he never wants to stop.
“You will be the death of me, Little Bird,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine.
A quiet laugh escapes me, but there’s a tremble in my chest, something raw and real beneath it. “You can’t die on me, Ryan,” I whisper. “I need you now and forever. I have needed you my entire life. When I found you, I never wanted to let you go.” My voice falters as a shadow of the past creeps in, the memory of that night—when he pushed me away, when I thought I lost him forever. I close my eyes, forcing the thought aside, and exhale. “But now that I have you back, I don’t think I could ever let you go.”
He reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch so tender it makes my chest ache. His dark eyes hold mine, filled with something deeper than just words.
“I won’t, Little Bird,” he promises. “I will always be with you.”