34. We fear how we feel inside.

**Eve**

Eve and Eros spent hours on the rooftop, watching the stars and talking about whatever came to their minds. Eve found out how old Eros was and ended up being tickled, because she mocked and joked about his age. She truly enjoyed the time they spent together, holding each other as real lovers did.

"Does this mean that you're my boyfriend now?" The question popped into her mind and out her mouth before you realized. Eve felt a little embarrassed at her question. She placed her forehead against his chest, looking down, nervously biting her lip. For a while, Eros kept quiet, making her wonder if this was too good to be true until she finally looked up, and saw the bright smile on his lips.

"I wouldn't address myself as one, yet if that's what you want, I'll gladly take the role of your boyfriend for this, and a million more lifetimes." The adoration in his eyes nearly made her melt in his arms. Eve couldn't stop wondering how weird the situation was. Weeks ago, if their paths had crossed, Eve would have run for her life. He was so intimidating, any person with common sense, would avoid the man who stood in front of her. Now, she had ended up in his arms, loving each second they spent together.

"I know this might be a little too much, but why are you still wearing that mask? I've seen your face, there's no need to hide anymore," she raised her hand, nearly touching his cheek. Eros grabbed her wrist and sighed, unsure if he was ready to tell Eve his darkest secrets.

"Tell her, she's here with us, and she's not running away. She trusts us; I can feel it. If you keep the secret, you'll go against your own words, and break the promise you gave," Ares popped up in his mind, trying to help Eros get rid of his doubts.
"You might be right," without any hesitation, Eros agreed, blocking Ares out.

"Eros? Eros? Are you okay? Eros?" Eve was calling him; she didn't know enough about shifters to understand he was communicating with his beast.

"Yeah, sorry, I zoned out a little. If you want to know, I will explain everything. But first, let's get back inside, it's getting cold out here and I don't want you to catch a cold," he caressed her cheek, truly worried about the fragile human. Hand in hand, they returned to the apartment. Eros sat across the kitchen table, watching how Eve tried to find the ingredients for tea.

"You can speak, I'll boil some water," she jumped on the stool, reaching for cups.

"The mask helps me feel normal," he admitted.

"What do you mean? Can you tell me the story behind it?" Eve spoke casually- as if they had known each other for years.

"Well, first of all, I should explain simple things, I guess. You might not know this, but I'm not part of this pack. It's a bit complicated. I live and work here, but I'm more like a lone wolf. In any society, there's someone who looks like he or she fits in perfectly, yet never really belongs there. That's my role here," he spoke slowly, a bit afraid of how Eve could take the information. For Eros, it had always been a difficult task to gain friends or hold a lover. Most of them left as soon as they found out he was an outsider.

"I get that. Never felt like I belonged either. No matter what I did, everyone kept judging me and pushing me away. The only person who stuck around was Claudia. I'm afraid she did it for her own selfish reasons, yet I don't mind. She was a pretty good friend for a couple of years," Eve added, she didn't want to look as if she was trying to pity or comfort him. She was speaking the truth, pointing out how alike they were.

"I have a mother, my father died when I was very young, and honestly, I can't remember him anymore. My mother holds a high rank in this pack; that's one of the main reasons I never talked about her. She hates me. It's not an imaginary thing, she does- you can see it in her eyes, whenever she looks my way," Eros followed Eves movements closely, trying to stay calm. She placed a cup of tea in front of him and sat down, nodding her head.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Nothing to be sorry for, kitten, as I was saying- not the best relationship with Mother. She's one of the reasons behind my mask. When I was just a pup, she met her second chance mate, a high-rank wolf. Her new mate couldn't accept me; he kept pointing out how weak and useless I was; for years. So, I made a promise to myself, around the age of nine. No matter how long it would take- one day, I'd prove to him that he had been wrong for all those years. I started training more intensively than wolves who wanted to become warriors. As I grew older, I decided to find a job to do after school. I've done a lot of things- from construction and ending up being a waiter, but it was never enough. I was never enough." It was hard for him to speak about the past. He knew that his story didn't sound as bad as things other people had to go through. Truth be told, he was trying to protect Eve from the harsh reality and explained only the surface problems, the tip of an iceberg.

"You are enough, you're more than enough," Eve placed her hand over his, feeling the need to comfort him now. Eros took off his mask. And for the first time in years, he did it willingly.

"When I was thirteen, I wanted to prove myself in battle. Mother's new mate made me fight against ten top warriors. If I won, I would be worthy of being called his stepson. At that age, I didn't understand his manipulative ways and agreed. The scars are visible proof of what happened that day, keeping me caged in the hatred I still feel for them," Eros decided to skip the part where he was nearly beaten to death and fought for his life in intensive care. That day he was carried away from the training grounds unconscious. When he woke up, he found out that he had been crippled for life and the scars would never fade, since he hadn't shifted back then. Eve stood up, still holding his hand.

"It's been a rough day, let's get some rest. Together," she dragged him to the bedroom, happy that Eros didn't try to fight her and just followed in her footsteps. As the bedroom door closed, Eros dropped his shirt, showing off his muscular torso. Eve tried to avert her gaze, but she couldn't, no woman in her right mind would be able to look away from that body, sculpted by Greek Gods.

"Kitten, don't hold yourself back, feel free to touch me, I'm all yours," he winked at Eve playfully, enjoying how fast her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

"Umm, yeah, can you please lend me your t-shirt? My pyjamas aren't as comfy as your clothes are," Eve instantly changed the topic, too ashamed to admit that she stared at him like a hungry dog.

"Sure thing, I'll jump in a shower and join you. Before I go, I want to clarify one last thing."

"What is it?"

"You lied about having a boyfriend," Eros smirked. He had found out how enjoyable it was to tease Eve, and he couldn't stop doing that.

"Yeah. I lied. Before you ask why, just know that I was scared and confused, I needed to come up with an excuse for you to let me stay at home a little longer. Now take that shower while I change into something more comfortable," Eve mumbled, pointing at the bathroom door.

"Lies call for a spanking, kitten. Keep that in mind next time you want to lie to me." Eros headed to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Eve rushed into the closet, his last words replaying in her mind. She dropped the hoodie and shorts, sliding an oversized shirt over her head. His words wouldn't let her think rationally, as if she were stuck in that one moment.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist, this time, without hesitation, Eve spun around and threw her arms around his neck. They looked at each other with such longing; it almost felt like they had been apart for years. Eros didn't want to lose the moment; he leaned in and kissed her. They stood in the closet, both trying to get impossibly close to each other. His erection brushed against her stomach, this time feeling like the most natural thing to happen. The kiss grew more intense, passionate, and deeper, Eve's nails dug into his skin, a growl formed in his chest. When they broke apart, both were panting uncontrollably.

"I want you, Eve, I want you so fucking bad, it hurts," Eros hissed, he had to put in a lot of effort to think with his upper head, rather than the one between his legs.

"I'm not sure if I'm ready yet," she admitted truthfully. Eve wanted to be close to him, in all ways possible, but she was also afraid after hearing horror stories about how painful the first time is. Eros leaned to her neck, inhaling her scent.

"Are you still afraid of me?" His breath tickled her flushed skin, sending a wave of shivers down her spine.

"You don't scare me. I'm afraid of a lot of things. I'm human, Eros, it's in my nature to be afraid of the unknown. All of us, we fear how we feel inside. And now, I'm scared that it is going to hurt. You know..." she bit her lip, debating whether to say the word out loud or not.

"Sex?" he chuckled.

"Yeah that, I've heard it's painful."

"It's not supposed to be painful, Eve. People who share true feelings, look after each other. It is my responsibility, as a man, to make your first time an unforgettable experience, no pain whatsoever." He groaned, feeling his dick stiffen even more just by the thought of having her body under his- drenched in sweat, her a moaning mess, screaming his name.

"Are you going to mate me?" The question made the atmosphere tense; both of them held their breaths for a second.

"No, you're not ready for that yet. If you would like to give yourself to me- I'd make love to you. To mate you, I would have to put you on all fours, like a bitch, and bury myself so deep inside of you; it might even hurt a little. No woman should lose her virginity by being mated, it's low and cruel," just as promised, he spoke only the truth, being well aware of the possibility of him scaring her.

"Do you promise to be gentle and stop if I can't take it?" As the words left her lips, Eros stiffened. This was not what he expected. No way, in a million years, would he dare assume that Eve would sleep with him tonight.

"I do. That's not the only thing I promise, though," a mischievous grin grew on his lips, excitement filling each fiber in his body.

"What is it?"

"I do promise to be gentle and stop if you really can't take it. But, kitten, if you can, I promise that I won't stop until you scream my name so loud that all the neighbours will find out to whom you belong."