“Carys, can you relieve me?”

I turned beet red as Bryan squirmed in distress, sweat soaking his face.

Little did I know, there was more to the harmless-looking man I had always seen as a brother.

“Can you wipe me down, Carys?” Bryan Cumberland parked his wheelchair outside my bedroom door.

His request took me by surprise.

How was I, a lady, supposed to help him?

While I was a year older than him, I was not related to him by blood.

Mom brought Bryan home.

She and a friend, along with her family, were in a car accident while traveling a week ago.

Unfortunately, Bryan’s parents died in the crash.

Bryan and Mom were lucky to survive the ordeal. While Mom was alive and well, Bryan’s legs were broken.

Given her friendship with the family, Mom volunteered to care for Bryan, and the arrangement would remain until Bryan could walk again.

Mom would usually be on top of Bryan’s hygiene care. However, she was out today.

Before leaving the house this morning, Mom urged me, “Please watch Bryan, Carys.”

Come to think of it, I should give him a good wipe because of his mobility issues. However, I panicked the moment I wheeled Bryan into the bathroom.

My heart raced.

Bryan took off his shirt, revealing his rock-hard abs.

Feeling the burn on my cheeks, I gulped hard.

I didn’t expect Bryan to be so ripped.

When sitting still in his wheelchair during the day, he gave off a harmless puppy dog vibe. Now, though, his physique was that of a powerful beast.

He was quite the man.

His shirt was off, but he needed help with his pants.

Bryan read my dilemma in my reluctance. He said, “I can shower on my own, Carys. I’ll be careful not to get my legs wet.”

His remark filled me with guilt.

As the patient, Bryan didn’t read much in the situation. He was too considerate for his own good.

Yet my mind was in the gutter.

“I’ll get you cleaned up,” I bit the bullet and said.

I then unbuckled his belt.

It unhooked with a click; the noise echoing in the quiet bathroom.

The only sounds were Bryan’s and my breathing.

I got down on my knees to slip him off his pants, careful not to aggravate his injury.

As his lower legs were in casts, only his upper legs were accessible for washing.

My eyes fell on the muscular lines running across his strong legs, and my cheeks turned red.

With my eyes closed, I helped him out of his boxers.

My hands shook when in contact with his burning skin.

Amid my fluster, Bryan let out a muffled grunt.

After wringing out the towel, I started to wipe him down. Still, his body temperature remained high.

“It’s boiling, Carys.”

Sweat dripped from his face.

I immediately wiped the sweat off his face, but he grabbed me by the hand.

His breath was hot against my skin, his dark eyes boring holes into my skin.

I was horrified to discover my shirt was undone, and I frantically covered myself.

Bryan quickly looked away.

“I’m sweating down there. Can you help me with a quick wipe?”

My mind went into overdrive.

I held the towel and reached my hand out as if under a spell.

It was over with one hasty swipe.

“Uh…” Bryan groaned with furrowed brows, as if in distress.

“I’m sorry. I-It’s my first time.” I was tongue-tied.

Bryan chuckled lightly. “I know it’s your first time, Carys.”

His words kept playing in my mind when I got back to my room.

What did he mean by that?

I blushed, embarrassed.

On my way to the bathroom, I heard a man’s moans.

His voice was clear in the dead of the night.

It came from Bryan’s bedroom.

Assuming he was unwell, I barged into his room without thinking.

I was taken aback by what was unfolding before my eyes.

Bryan had his hand down low, his eyes closed and his breathing rugged.

As an adult, I knew what he was doing. I kicked myself for entering the room.

“Sorry! I’ll get out right now!” While talking, I backed away.

“Don’t go, Carys. Help me, will you?” His voice was hoarse and raspy.

I paused.

Did he know what he was talking about?

The next minute, I heard him whimpering.

I cocked my head back to find tears hanging off the lashes of his red-rimmed eyes.

“I feel miserable, Carys.” Bryan stared at me sadly, looking like a lost puppy. He seemed in distress, his bangs clinging to his forehead in sweat.

A blush crept across my face, and my heart raced.

For some reason, I went over to him.

Bryan grabbed my hand and took my breath away. It was right there and then that I knew I would do anything for him.

As a man, he had needs.

“How should I help you?” I asked.

“Touch me, Carys.”

Bryan put my hand on him, his voice mesmerizing me.

My hands trembled against his warmth. A moan could be heard.

Then a tingling sensation spread throughout my body, intensifying the longing within.

Bryan led my hand at will. His rugged breathing filled the room.

As the bedroom flung open, I recoiled my arm in fright.

“What are you doing?!” The voice sounded furious.

Mom had shown up at the door, interrupting me and Bryan.

“N-Nothing.” I stumbled with a reply before scurrying out of there.

Hearing Mom’s voice no more, I heaved relief.

His lingering warmth pulsed in my palm, leaving me flushed and eager.

Lying in bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened.

I had fallen for Bryan, a man who was a year younger than me.

However, I couldn’t speak of my love for him. Who knew if Bryan minded the age gap?

Plagued with insomnia that night, I grabbed a pillow to clip between my legs. I rode hard against the fabric to release the rush inside me.

It didn’t take long for me to sink into bed in relief.

I removed my soaked underwear and tossed it aside before heading to bed.

The next morning, I woke up to Mom standing over me.

I jolted up and exclaimed in fright.

“Smack!” Mom slapped me across the face.

The slap came out of nowhere, clearing my head from sleepiness.

I was angry. As far as I could remember, Mom had never hit me since Dad died.

“What are you doing?” I snapped an angry look at her.

“It’s important for a woman to know her boundaries. Stay away from him.”

Reality struck me.

Mom was talking about last night.

I could understand where Mom was coming from since no parent would want to be in the same position.

“But I like him. I want to date him.”

Mom answered me with another slap on the face.

My cheeks burned with pain.

“Don’t even think about it. You two can never be together.” Mom stormed off.

I had never seen Mom so upset.

Confused, I wondered what was stopping Bryan and me from being together, especially since we were around the same age.

I teared up in hurt.

Maybe Mom was put off by Bryan’s disability. However, I did not mind it at all.

Bryan flashed a smile at me while walking past my bedroom door. He seemed to be comforting me.

Due to the incident, Mom did not talk to me for days.

One morning, I went to her room to apologize, but she was nowhere to be found.

Before leaving, I caught a glimpse of the rubber on her vanity table.

Surprise washed over me.

Did Mom have a man?

That was the first thought that entered my mind.

Dad had been gone for years, and Mom had no time for a boyfriend while raising me. The item could only mean that she was seeing someone.

Who could it be, though?

Amid my confusion, I heard the moans of a woman coming from Bryan’s room.