Forbidden Embers

The acrid scent of the smoke still clung to Ava, a harsh reminder of the fire that took her parents. At eight, her world was a scary, gray place. A cruel twist of fate left her alone, an orphan in a world that didn't make sense anymore.

A warm hand touched her shaking shoulder. Tears blurred her vision as she looked up at a strong man. He seemed so strong, unlike the weakness she felt. His kind face showed he understood.

"Please don't... don't... Please don't kill me too," she whispered, her voice small and scared.

Lucas Antonio,a man in his late thirties, a name whispered in boardrooms with reverence, a titan of industry, knelt before the small, broken child. The man who commanded vast energy empires, whose decisions swayed markets, found himself humbled by the profound grief etched on Ava's face. He recognized the hollowness in her eyes, a mirror of the despair he had once known. He gently lifted her into his arms. Her small body trembling against his.

"I promise, little one," he whispered, his voice soft and gentle, "I'll never let anyone hurt you.

My name is Lucas Antonio, your daddy's best friend."

"My Daddy's best friend? How come I never knew or saw you before?" Little Ava inquired.

"Your father helped me," Lucas said, his voice full of feeling. "When I lost my parents, he was there. When everyone else left, he took me in. He was like a brother to me. I'm successful because of Mr. David Smith."

"He was my best friend," Lucas went on. "He helped me when I needed it most. Now, it's my turn to help his daughter."

"You can call me Brother Lucas," he said, holding out his hand. It was a promise of safety and love.

"Thank you, Brother Lucas," she whispered, her small hand reaching for his. Just then, a tiny bit of hope started to grow in her sad heart.

**********

Ten years went by like a flash, filled with fun times, little secrets, and always having each other's backs. The little girl he'd helped through a rough patch had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her eyes, once sad, now sparkled like the stars. Her skin, tanned from the Texas sun, was a warm, pretty brown.

In the sanctuary of her room, with its soft curtains and sweet jasmine scent, Ava held a picture of Lucas. She looked at it with a mix of longing and love, caressing Lucas's cheeks on the photo frame.

"I love you," she whispered to the photo, her voice soft and gentle. "I want to be with you forever. I want to have your baby. I want to be your wife." She blushed, thinking about how she felt when he touched her, the butterflies in her stomach, the warm feeling spreading through her.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Ava quickly hid the photo under her pillow.

Lucas came in, grinning. "Happy birthday, kiddo," he said, his voice loud and friendly as he bounced on her bed. "My kiddo's all grown up!"

"Thank you, Lucas," she said, her heart full of joy.

"Uhm... What were you hiding from me? Don't deny it . I saw you trying to conceal something, so that I wouldn't see it." He said as he cocked an eyebrow.

"M...me , I.. I wasn't hiding anything. I was just trying out my new blend of lipstick." She said barely looking at him in the eyes.

"Anyways, I have got something for my princess, make a wild guess." He said moving his hands in a playful manner.

"Oh brother, you know I'm really bad at guessing so please just show it to me." Ava said rather impatiently.

Lucas knelt beside her, pulling a small box from his pocket. "What's this?" he asked, then opened it to show a diamond necklace.

"Tada!" Lucas exclaimed.

"Wow, it's beautiful! Thank you so much brother Lucas." she breathed, touching the necklace.

"Don't mention it, you're my kiddo," he said, his voice a little husky. He put the necklace around her neck, his fingers brushing her skin, making her shiver.

Ava's heart beat fast. The air felt electric, full of unspoken feelings, a quiet kind of wanting.

"Get ready," Lucas said, his eyes smiling. "Tonight's party is gonna be awesome."

"I can't wait," she said, smiling back. Tonight, she thought, she would tell him everything, the secret she'd kept for so long. Tonight, she would tell Lucas, the man who had saved her, how much she loved him.

The big party room was dazzling. Lights shone on the fancy guests, who chatted quietly. Ava, in a beautiful red dress, looked for Lucas. She saw him by the fireplace, talking to some important people. He looked so handsome, and his laugh sounded wonderful. She took a deep breath and walked over to him, her heart pounding.

"Lucas," she said softly.

He turned, his eyes lighting up. "Ava, you look incredible," he said, looking her up and down. "Like a princess. I can't believe my kiddo is all grown up."

"Thank you," she said, blushing. "You look very handsome yourself."

He chuckled. "Just handsome? I was hoping for breathtaking."

Ava laughed. "Breathtaking it is," she said, her eyes sparkling.

They stood there for a moment, the air thick with unspoken feelings. Ava's heart beat like crazy. She opened her mouth to speak, to finally tell him how she felt, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Lucas," she began, her voice a little shaky, "there's something I need to tell you."

"Bring it on Kiddo, I'm all ears, and you can ask for anything too because today is your special day." He said listening attentively.

"Okay, there's something I have been wanting to tell you for years now, but I couldn't." Ava paused while taking deep breaths.

"Go on, I'm listening, come on why are so tense you know you can tell me anything I am your big brother." Lucas assured her.

"Yeah, I ..... I.... "