Every time he made love to Daryn, it hurt. Not physically painful, no... Instead something deep inside in a place that Ethan couldn't even identify.

Really, there was no reason - there wasn't that much resemblance. There was just... something inside.

Ethan smiled, sneaking back from town long after dark, not caring so much if Daryn was already asleep so much as that it was night, the perfect cover for beautifully anonymous sex.

It wasn't that Ethan didn't want to fall in love with the demigod, just that... For some reason he couldn't help daydream about how things could have been.

Daryn was in bed, yes, but far from asleep. In seconds, Ethan found himself naked and getting pressed down against the bed, not even asked if he was in the mood for something more than a goodnight kiss.

There wasn't even any pain as lubricated fingers crept into his body, stretching muscle well-accustomed to Daryn's body now. Maybe Ethan did love the demigod. It was hard to tell. Each well-timed stroke against Ethan's insides made Ethan writhe and moan on the bed, finding himself caught in delicious bliss. And somehow, knowing it was Daryn and seeing it was Daryn giving him that pleasure became two very separate things. So very unlike him, really, to only take and not give back.

But this night he really needed it. This night... Hotly, Ethan was rushed into orgasm, grabbing at the bedsheets as he stained them, thrusting against the bed in the only play for friction it looked like he was going to get for the time being.

Ethan was actually surprised to be pulled back and up, resting on Daryn's lap and feeling the hardness of Daryn's arousal against his backside. He hadn't expected the tight, comforting hug before being turned around and kissed. And Daryn didn't let him go as he found a way to penetrate Ethan's opening, leading to slow pleasure, a lasting encounter that ripped at Ethan's heart. Daryn didn't even let go until they'd both come again.

Daryn kissed away the tears that were freely pouring down Ethan's cheeks, reminding Ethan that the past was the past and this was now, this was them, and this was what the future would be.

Ethan vowed never to let it be truly dark in that bedroom again.