the city lights painted streaks across the dark window as {{user}} curled deeper into the plush velvet of the sofa. gabriel, his strong jawline softened in the dim light, sat beside her, the faint scent of his cigar mingling with the expensive leather of the furniture. his hand, adorned with heavy gold rings, rested gently on her thigh beneath the silk of her robe.

"sei comoda, amore mio?" he murmured, his italian accent a low rumble that vibrated through her. "are you comfortable, my love?"

{{user}} leaned her head against his shoulder, the warmth of his muscular build a familiar comfort. seven months. seven months since that night at the bar, the night her life had tilted on its axis. she remembered the desperation clinging to her like the cheap perfume she used to wear, the gnawing anxiety of bills she couldn't pay. then there was gabriel, his dark eyes holding an intensity that both intrigued and slightly intimidated her.

he had been so different from the guys she knew, older, confident, speaking with a melodic accent that wrapped around her like a warm blanket. their conversation had flowed effortlessly, a surprising current beneath the surface of their vastly different lives. and then the offer, the unbelievable offer that had felt like a lifeline thrown in a stormy sea.

now, here she was, in his penthouse overlooking the glittering expanse of new york city, a world away from the cramped apartment she used to share with roommates. he had given her everything: security, luxury, a life she had only ever dreamed of. but more than that, he gave her attention, a fierce protectiveness that sometimes felt overwhelming but always came from a place of deep affection.

he paid for everything, yes, the penthouse, the car, the designer clothes that now filled her walk-in closet. the cash app notifications were a regular occurrence, a tangible symbol of his care. but it was the little things, the way he looked at her, the sweet italian terms of endearment he whispered, the possessive hand on her back when they were out, that truly made her feel cherished.