James stood in the corner of the grand ballroom, nursing his second glass of wine and feeling more out of place with every passing second. The charity gala was exquisite—the kind of event he'd only seen in movies. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, women in designer gowns glided across the room, and men in tailored suits clinked champagne glasses, their laughter cutting through the hum of the string quartet. Yet, all James could think about was how small he felt amidst it all.
Ethan was the centerpiece of the room. His effortless charm drew people to him like moths to a flame. Standing under the spotlight, he was surrounded by a crowd of admirers who hung on his every word, their laughter ringing out too loudly and their eyes lingering a little too long. James hated how natural it all seemed to Ethan—how perfectly he fit into this world of glittering excess.
From his vantage point, James could see the subtle touches: a woman's hand brushing Ethan's arm, a man leaning in too close under the pretense of a joke. Jealousy bubbled beneath James's surface, mixing with the insecurities that had been gnawing at him since the day he entered Ethan's life. Did Ethan even notice him standing there anymore?
By the time the night ended, James was wound so tight he could barely breathe. The drive back to Ethan's apartment was silent, tension thick between them. James stared out the window, trying to hold back the thoughts racing through his head. But the moment they stepped inside the apartment, the dam broke.
"You seemed to enjoy yourself tonight," James said, his voice low but laced with venom as he shrugged off his coat and tossed it onto the couch.
Ethan froze mid-step, turning to face him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
James crossed his arms, his frustration spilling over. "It means you fit perfectly into that world. All those people laughing at your jokes, hanging onto your every word… You belong there, Ethan. I don't."
Ethan's brows furrowed, his expression hardening. "Don't do this, James. Don't twist something innocent into a fight."
"Innocent?" James snapped. "Did you see the way they looked at you? The way they touched you?"
Ethan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's part of the job, James. It doesn't mean anything."
James let out a bitter laugh, the sound sharp and cutting. "It doesn't mean anything to you, but it means something to me. Do you know how it feels to stand there, invisible, while everyone around you acts like I'm not even worth noticing?"
Ethan's voice rose, his frustration mirroring James's. "I've never treated you like that, and you know it! I've done everything I can to make you feel secure—"
"Secure?" James cut him off, his voice trembling. "Ethan, I feel like a shadow in your life! Like I'm just… just something you keep in the background, safe and hidden, while the rest of the world gets all of you."
The room fell silent, their words echoing in the stillness. Ethan's jaw tightened as he stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking onto James. "Do you really think that little of me? That little of us?"
James hesitated, guilt flashing across his face, but his insecurities wouldn't let him back down. "I don't know what to think anymore."
Ethan closed the distance between them in a single stride, his hands gripping James's shoulders with a firmness that wasn't harsh but commanding. "Then let me remind you," he said, his voice low and steady.
Before James could respond, Ethan kissed him. It wasn't soft or tentative; it was a kiss filled with frustration, passion, and desperation. James tried to resist, but the intensity of Ethan's touch made his resolve crumble. He clung to Ethan's shirt as their kiss deepened, their anger bleeding into something far more primal.
Ethan backed James against the wall, pinning him there as his lips moved from James's mouth to his neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. James gasped, his hands tangling in Ethan's hair as heat coursed through his body.
"You're not a shadow to me," Ethan growled against James's throat, his voice rough with emotion. "You're the only thing that keeps me grounded, James. The only thing that feels real."
Ethan's hands slipped under James's shirt, tugging it over his head and discarding it onto the floor. He pressed their bodies together, the heat between them searing. James's breath hitched as Ethan's hands roamed over his skin, his touch both demanding and tender.
"Ethan…" James whispered, his voice breaking.
"Shh," Ethan murmured, capturing James's lips again. "Let me show you how much you mean to me." How much you make me obsessed with you. You are mine and mine only.
Ethan lifted James effortlessly, carrying him to the bedroom. He laid James down on the bed, his hands and lips exploring every inch of him. James arched beneath Ethan's touch, his doubts and fears melting away as Ethan worshiped him with an intensity that left him breathless. You make me like it rough and intense as Ethan slides his cock into James. He whispers, now that's how hard you make me . James moans as Ethan strokes in and out of him intensely.
Their movements were frantic yet deliberate, every touch and kiss a silent declaration of love and need. Ethan's name spilled from James's lips like a mantra as their bodies moved in perfect sync, their passion igniting like wildfire.
Hours later, they lay tangled in the sheets, their bodies still trembling from the aftermath. Ethan held James close, his lips pressing soft kisses to James's hair.
"I'm sorry," James murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I shouldn't have doubted you."
Ethan tilted James's chin up, his blue eyes filled with sincerity. "I understand why you feel the way you do, but I need you to trust me. You're not just part of my life, James. You are my life."
James rested his head on Ethan's chest, his heart aching with love and relief. "I trust you," he whispered.
The next morning, the harsh reality of Ethan's life came crashing back when his manager called, demanding his immediate return to the States for an extended work trip.
"I'll call you every day," Ethan promised as he packed his suitcase. "We'll make this work, James. No matter what."
As James watched Ethan leave, the ache of separation settled deep in his chest. He clung to Ethan's promise, but deep down, he knew the shadows of fame would always loom over them, threatening to pull them apart.