THE DRIVE BACK TO his beautifully redesigned warehouse was quiet. A quiet that settled around us like a thick, dark blanket - impenetrable, but not wholly uncomfortable.
I think we were both a little shocked by the events of the last hour.

MORE. Did I want more with Ethan York - wickedly gorgeous, predatory and secretive... yet so kind, even though I had a feeling he didn't think it himself?

The answer was a resounding yes. Even if it didn't make sense. Even if, on paper, we were worlds apart. Even if the darkness he warned me about was really there. Settling under his skin, running parallel with the lines of swirling black and red ink.

I wanted him. Only him.

ETHAN SLID THE HEAVY door open, then closed it tightly behind us. "Eve," he groaned. Halting my progress as I slid my coat on a hanger. "I've never been in a relationship... I've never asked anyone to try something like that with me." He pulled his tie off, flinging it towards the rack as his fingers ripped at the top buttons of his crisp, dark shirt until the top two were undone, allowing him to take a deep breath. "Talk to me. Am I completely off base here? I know you're attracted to me, but is that it?" He tugged at his hair. How could he possibly think I'd want his body, and not his amazing soul and mind.

I finished hanging my coat up. Taking my time while I gathered everything I wanted to say. Finally, I turned to face him. His eyes were dark. Haunted. But his face was as soft and vulnerable as I'd ever seen it. I cleared my throat. "What did your... what did Frank mean when he called you a stray?" The word had been swirling around in my mind ever since it had been thrown from his mouth, like a weapon.

Ethan let out a gust of breath. "I, I think we should sit." He took my hand, leading me over and placing me on the soft leather of the couch. I thought he would sit next to me, but he took a few steps back, sitting in the large, comfortable chair. "Elizabeth and Frank... are not my parents."

I sucked in a mouthful of air, and he quickly continued.

"You're not going to like this story. No sane person would... and I'm afraid you're going to look at me differently afterwards. With pity... or disgust."

I shook my head, breathing my answer. "I won't."

His eyebrows lifted, eyes narrowed, he didn't believe me - that much was obvious - but even if he didn't believe me, he pushed on. "My birth mom was a drug addict. Heroin. I think life was different in the beginning, I don't remember much, but by the time I was older, things were... bad."

My heart was breaking. Fissures spreading with each painfully uttered word from his beautiful lips. He rested his elbow on the arm of the chair, rubbing his eyebrow with his thumb. Not quite capable of looking me in the eyes. "Men came in and out constantly. Most of the time, she'd shove me in the bathroom. She never had to tell me to be quiet, I was a smart kid and kept my mouth shut on my own, but one night. One night I came out looking for food - when one of her regulars grabbed me."

No. I screamed in my head. I suddenly knew where this was going, and I didn't want to hear anymore.

"She woke up at some point during... but she didn't stop him. She just covered her face in that shitty - " he spat. "- floral motel blanket and rocked herself back to sleep. It happened a lot more often after that; with more people. Sometimes men, sometimes woman." He grew quieter. "I think she was just relieved it wasn't her anymore. Thankful she could just get lost in her high and forget I'd ever even existed."

"Oh, my god Ethan," I sobbed.

He snapped, startling me. "Don't fucking look at me like that Eve. Not you."

I nodded. If he was brave enough to share his story, the least I could do was take it, without asking for emotional support in return.

"I was around ten when my mom left. I knew, even as she told me over and over that she was just going to get us some food, that I'd never see her again, because it was the first time in years she had hugged me." He shrugged slightly. " I stayed in that motel room for two days before someone kicked me out. I had no idea where to go, or what I was going to do next. So I sat on the chipped concrete steps, just waiting. That's when Elizabeth showed up. Her face was bruised under her wide sunglasses, but she looked like she was from another world. Poised and polished and so nice. I'd never met anyone like her before."

"After getting me a meal - after I let it slip that I was alone - she took me home. Frank was so thankful his trophy wife was back, that he accepted the arrangement at first - especially since his father Teddy was thrilled. He always wanted a grandson, and regardless of my background, he welcomed me with open arms. He and Elizabeth became the family I never had, but it's still... hard for me..."

I waited to see if he would say more, but the silence stretched between us. He looked dejected. Most likely waiting for the inevitable discomfort, or disgust, as he had called it to appear on my face.

I stood, approaching him slowly, like you would a wounded animal. You'd never know that this strong, dominant man was broken, but he was. So. Completely. Broken. It made sense now. Him wanting to know if I just wanted him... or if I wanted him, the whole man.

I slipped into his lap, and wrapped my arms around him. He was stiff. His arms still pressed firmly against both armrest.

Evening had settled in the sky, a damp grey bleeding purple, and the room grew darker by the minute. I took a deep breath.

"My mom died slowly," I said. Twisting my fingers together behind his neck. "It was little things at first. Her saying she was getting clumsy because she had a hard time holding onto things, or when she was unsteady on her feet... but I knew she was hiding something."

His whole body seemed to release, like a crashing wave, and his arms wrapped around me as well. "You don't have to."

"Yes, yes I do." I squared my shoulders. Sitting up straighter. "I was sixteen. All of my friends were getting their license, and starting to date, and I was home. Making sure my mom was still breathing and cleaning her up when she lost control of her bladder, and feeding her - when she could still chew. Sarah came to stay with me during the worst part, but I still felt so alone. Smiling because my mom couldn't. Speaking to her long after she lost her voice -" my throat cracked. "It hurts so bad. I hurt so bad all the time, and no one knows."

He gripped a handful of my hair, pulling my head back enough to run his nose along the column of my throat. "I know," he growled. "I've known since the second I saw you in that club on New Years Eve. You were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. Gorgeous, yet awkward in your borrowed clothes, and with so much pain hiding behind your smiling eyes. And then you kissed me, and I had to physically tear myself away from you."

**********

Alright! I'm going to stop there because I'm trying to keep the chapters to 1000 words!

I don't know if you liked the chapter or not, but Ethan and Eve needed to get their stories off their chest, and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders as well.

I'm so happy and excited you're with me on this journey. That more of you join everyday. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

xxxBre

There's a few people I'd like to thank specifically. A few of you who I write for, even on days where I don't feel like it.

Audriana15 tracisek footnoteofhappiness LongTitti tannythebored K_Blackwood moapersson83 Skamaddict2 ITS_ME_SP Shannnxoxo Adidarose dianaisweird Niklaus_Is_Bae Starlight87 kitkatluv18 TeaceFindlay Anonymiss93 BeforeandAfter2