Rey's heart was racing all day during her shift at work. She tried to push back her nervousness about meeting Kylo. The thought of Kylo's arms around her , in her bed that she had shared with Armie.

No one else had been in her bed with her since she lost Armie. Besides for the night of the funeral where Rose sat with her on the edge of the bed and waited with her until fell asleep. Rey suspected that Rose was afraid that Rey would do something to harm herself.

If Rey was honest with herself, she was not thinking straight during the funeral. She hadn't thought of harming herself, but she thought about not wanting to be without him. She wasn't sure how she would make it through life without him.

Rose comforted her that night and assuring her that she would be ok. She told Rey that life would go on without Armie, but it was important to keep her memories of him, just not to let those memories trump living out her future without him.

Rey suddenly felt a cold splash of water hit her forearm as she stood next to the sink, staring out the back windows of the kitchen into the alley.

"Earth to Rey", Finn stated as he waved his hand in front of her face, breaking her trance.

Rey looked startled for a moment and then turned to face Finn.
"Whats on your mind Peanut? You've been distant all day today. You've been staring out the window for the past ten minutes. Plus you almost spilled a whole crock of seafood chowder onto Mr. Karsinski's lap earlier", Finn asked. He frowned and his lines on his forehead became more pronounced.

Rey shook her head. She appreciated Finn's concern. She knew that her nervousness about hiring a stranger to come to her apartment and cuddle with her at night was written all over her face.

She thought about backing out of their arrangement several times throughout the day. Her finger was poised on his phone number on her cell phone at least five times.

She had almost talked herself out of having him come over but then Rose would come around a table where she was and tell her bits and pieces of stories of her sister Paige's experience using his service.

"Kylo was so sweet around her. Totally professional though. She never felt like he was coming on to her. She felt more like it was a therapist that goes to bed with you. Someone that soothes you and talks you off of the ledge. Nothing romantic or even anything remotely sexual was brought up in any of her sessions", Rose said reassuringly.

Rey would smile halfheartedly and tell her that she just had an odd feeling that something was going to happen.

"What do you mean by 'something'?", Rose asked.

Rey scrunched up her eyes and rubbed her fingers against her temple.

"It's hard to describe. I just have a feeling. I had a dream last night that this man with long , dark hair with eyes shining like amber and skin the color of alabaster was staring into my eyes, his face mere inches from mine and then he brushed his lips against mine. Then I work up in a cold sweat. I felt tingly all over", Rey explained.

Rose winked at her, and a grin spread across her face. "I mean, Rey, you did see his photo. You are describing him to the tee. You just probably had a fantasy, that's all. I mean he is a good-looking guy. Having a dream about someone that looks as good as he does is completely normal and expected", she had reassured Rey.

Rey stared blankly at Finn and blinked several times. "I'm just nervous about tonight. That professional cuddler that Rose recommended is scheduled to come over tonight around 10 pm. She reassured me that he was a perfect gentleman and professional around Paige but I don't know I just have this really odd feeling", Rey explained.

Finn threw back his head and chuckled at her. "Oh, you mean Rose talked you into hiring a gigolo?", he managed to get out in between his laughter.

Rey stared at Finn like he had two heads. "Kylo is not a gigolo Finn. He is a professional cuddler. Nothing sexual is involved", she clarified.

Finn rolled his eyes at her. "Sure, sure. Think about it this way Rey. A gigolo is not necessarily always paid for sex. They are paid for companionship or to accompany you to events or on dates. Sex isn't always involved unless you make an arrangement that specifies sexual acts will occur. How is a professional cuddler any different? You are paying for this 'Kylo' person's time and companionship.", Finn explained.

Rey shook her head. "There's a difference Finn. Cuddler's aren't prostitutes or sex workers. Its different. There are no sexual acts involved and these sessions aren't events or dates". She told him.

"Finn, there's a three seater party that came in and I need you to get ready to manage their food orders", Rose shouted from the swinging door between the dining area and the kitchen.

"Just a minute", Finn shouted back.

"All I am saying is I don't think you are ready to get into whatever you are getting into with this guy. I am concerned about you. I don't want to slip further away from Rose and I then you already have. Also, Paige has a tendency to only focus on positive aspects of an experience and skims over the negative experiences so I don't think you are getting the full story from Rose", Finn noted as he grabbed the order ticket from Rose's outstretched hand that had reached in between the open window area into the kitchen.

Rey stared at Finn for a few seconds until she realized he was only focusing on prepping the food.

"I am going to go through with it and we'll just see how it goes. Maybe it will just be a one-shot deal. I'm willing to give his services a try at least once.", Rey replied as she walked into the dining area, order notepad in hand.

After her ship ended, Rey walked back home. She took a quick shower as she didn't want to scare Kylo away with the stench of meat and sweat that she felt had permeated her skin and hair.

She decided to keep her look simple. She wore a pair of grey cotton shorts and a Black oversized Green Day concert T shirt that she had kept for over a decade. Her hair was affixed in three small buns on top of her head and she had scrubbed her face clean of makeup but moisturized her skin. She put some lip balm on her lips.

She was in the middle of shoving some papers under the bed in a frantic attempt to make her room appear somewhat clean and organized when she heard a strong, loud rapping at the door.

Rey rushed to the door and glanced down at her phone. It read 10:05.

Rey hesitantly opened her front door and took a sharp deep breath in when she took in the man that was standing on the other side of the door.

He looked better in real life then he did in his photos online. He was tall, around 6 foot 2, a muscular build. His hair had a slight curl to it and a strand had fallen into his eyes.

"Rey? Are you Rey Niima?", Kylo asked. His voice was deep and captivating. Just with those five words Rey felt like her knees had turned to jelly and she was going to collapse if she didn't take a step backwards to steady herself.

Rey nodded and smiled tentatively at him. "Yep, that's me. Kylo I presume. Its nice to meet you", she told him.

Rey took a few steps back, still staring aghast at how handsome Kylo was when he strolled casually into her apartment and started to move towards her couch. Rey started to follow him. He sat down first and gestured for her to site beside him.

"He nodded at her and seemed to sweep his eyes over her.

Rey felt shame wash over her. She should have dressed in something nicer, she thought. It looks like I just came out of a college dorm room she thought even though her college days were put way behind her.

He pulled out a tablet out of the messenger bag that was dangling from his shoulder.

"Ok Rey, since this is our first session together, I'd like to ask you a few questions to get to know you better and your living situation. I'm not going to ask you about the specific reasons why you requested my services although If you choose to disclose that information, its at your own discretion", Kylo stated.

"Do you have a roommate that I need to worry about coming in and interrupting our session?", he questioned her.

Rey tried to stifle a laugh. Her apartment was tiny. She had lived in a large house when she was together with Armie but after he passed away and she took the job at the diner, she was forced to find something that she could afford on her own with her meager salary.

There was barely enough room for her at her place, much less a roomate so his question sounded funny to her.

"No, its just me living here", she replied.

"Do you have loud or nosy neighbors that could come knocking at your door at all hours?", he asked.

Rey shook her head. "No, noone like that. I mean my friends Rose and Finn that work at the diner with me may pop by in the morning but no one comes at night randomly.", she told him.

Rey tried to muffle a yawn and she covered her mouth quickly. "I'm sorry", she said looking embarrassed, "Its been a very long day and I am quite tired. I will try to answer as many of your questions as I can though.

Kylo smiled at her. "Ok then we will start with the ground rules. I promise that I won't ask any personal questions besides the information that you provide to me during our sessions and in turn you can't ask any personal questions of me. Does that make sense?", he stated.

Rey frowned and she was sure that the look of confusion marred her face.

Rey shifted uncomfortably on the hard seat of her wooden kitchen chair. She was concerned at that moment. Why would Kylo ask for personal information about her up front in his app in order to book his services but then refuse to give her any personal information? That didn't make sense to her.

It would be nice to know some basic information about him at least. She didn't expect him to give her any information besides that but it would be nice to know just enough personal details about him that she would feel comfortable enough around him to trust him.

Trust was very important to Rey in any relationship, personal or professional. Rey wanted to be able to trust someone, especially a someone that would be sharing her bed with her. Rey was never a casual relationship kind of girl. She didn't have 'casual' friends. She definitely didn't have casual romantic relationships. Armie had worked to earn her heart and she worked to earn his but it took time and a lot of trust from both sides.

Rey chewed on her bottom lip. "I already gave you personal information about me when I signed up for your service. I told you my name, age, my education level, what I currently do and why I needed your services. So you are telling me , I can't ask you any questions about yourself?", she questioned.

Kylo laughed and put his hand over hers, which were intertwined, resting on her crossed leg.

"You can ask me questions but I am not going to deviate from my normal protocols of not giving up personal information about myself. You'd be surprised by the questions that clients ask me during our sessions. Each session is meant to be about my clients needs being satisfied. Building you up to a point where you can feel comfortable. The sessions are not about me, just what I can do to help you. Think about me like your cuddler therapist. ", Kylo explained.

Rey shifted again in her seat. "Ok, I got that. I won't ask you any personal questions".

"Ok good, now that we got that out of the way. Lets get down to the information about what will happen tonight.

He waved his arms around as he spoke. His hands flew in front of Rey's face. Rey felt like he was speaking to her through his hands and his hands seemed angry, even though he was sweetly smiling at her. Rey stared at him. He wasn't giving off the air of being an angry person but Rey just had a feeling that deep down, he harbored anger that he just didn't show to everyone.

Just the way he had told her that he wouldn't answer personal questions during their sessions. It felt like he was closing himself off to her from the beginning. Like a giant STOP sign in front of his face. Its for the best, Rey thought. I don't want to get too close to him because after I can't afford him anymore, he'll be out of her life for good.

Kylo stood up abruptly and made a sweeping gesture throughout her studio. What size bed do you sleep on and where is your bed located?".

Rey giggled. She pointed to the left hand side of the apartment, where a large white wooden cabinet stood.

"I have a murphy bed. It pulls out from the cabinet. It's a great space saver in this tiny apartment. I have very limited space. Its only a twin size so uhh given your size, you may not be very comfortable sleeping in it with me. I do have a full sized bed within a pull out couch though in the living room area. That may be a better fit for you.", she said.

He nodded at her. "Ok that works then. Lets try the pull out couch then. For tonight we are just going to practice some distance comfort exercises so a twin bed wouldn't allow us that opportunity to have that space between us.", Kylo told her.

Rey got up and went to grab some clean sheets, four pillows, a comforter and a navy blue chenille blanket from her linen closet. She went to work, pulling out the bed from the couch and making it up.

Rey let him use the bathroom before her to get ready. He grabbed his backpack and went in. He came out in a pair of black cotton pajama bottoms and a black V neck cotton T shirt. His long hair was combed back into a pony tail. Rey couldn't help it, she stared at him and moved her eyes down to his muscular arms and pecs which were highlighted by the tight T shirt.

Kylo seemed to notice but only smiled at her. He nodded towards the bathroom, "Now its your turn".

By this time, Rey was exhausted. It was past 11 pm. She just wanted to curl up in bed and stare up at the ceiling like she normally did. This wasn't a normal night though. She was going to lay next to a man she didn't know, who she was paying to comfort her and help her sleep better.

Rey's mind raced with a million different thoughts. What had she gotten herself was the main thought that dominated her concerns.

Kylo had already gotten underneath the covers and he propped himself up on one elbow and motioned for her to join him next to him.

Rey tentatively went under the covers and laid her head on a pillow. Yep, she thought, she must have lost her mind. She didn't know what to expect from the rest of the night.