Ava barely slept after that night. The memory of Theo's fading voice haunted her through the next workday. She caught herself staring at blueprints, fingers tracing the lines he had suggested, her body still tingling from the way he had guided her to release.
By evening, dark clouds gathered again. She drove to the warehouse faster than she should have, heart racing with a mix of anticipation and dread. The moment she stepped into the atrium, she felt the change — the air felt heavier, the echoes slightly distorted.
"Theo?" she called softly.
His voice came through, warm but threaded with static. "I'm here, love. Barely."
Relief flooded her. She dropped her bag and sank to the floor, back against the familiar pillar. "I made the taller windows today. You were right — the light will be perfect."
"I know," he said, pride clear even through the crackle. "I felt the shift the moment you decided. But it cost me. Your voice is softer tonight."
Ava's chest tightened. She hated the guilt, yet the pull to be here with him was stronger than ever. "Then let's not waste time talking about buildings."
Theo's low chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. "Greedy tonight, are we?"
"Yes," she admitted, voice breathy. "I need you."
The rain intensified, and for a while the connection stabilized. Theo's tone turned darker, more commanding — the one that always made her melt.
"Take off your sweater, Ava. Slowly. Let me imagine every inch of skin you reveal."
She obeyed, peeling the soft fabric over her head. Cool air kissed her bare shoulders and the swell of her breasts in her lace bra.
"Good girl," he praised, voice like velvet. "Now touch yourself the way I wish I could. Start at your neck… trail your fingers down… circle those pretty nipples until they're tight for me."
Ava's head fell back against the concrete as she followed his instructions. Her own hands felt electric under his guidance. He described exactly how he would suck and tease if he were there — slow, wet kisses, gentle bites, the heat of his mouth. Her moans grew louder, echoing in the empty space.
"Lower now," he urged, huskier. "Slide your hand inside your panties. Tell me how wet you are."
"So wet," she gasped, fingers slipping through slick heat. "For you, Theo. Only for you."
He kept her on the edge for long, delicious minutes — praising her, telling her how beautiful she sounded when she whimpered, how he would bury himself inside her if time allowed. When he finally allowed her release, it crashed over her hard, her cries filling the atrium as pleasure pulsed through her body in waves.
Afterward, she lay trembling, sweat cooling on her skin. Theo's voice was softer again, almost tender.
"I wish I could hold you right now," he whispered. "Kiss every inch that just trembled for me."
Ava smiled through the lingering haze. "One day… maybe."
But both of them knew "one day" was becoming less certain.