In the Name of Love

Ryan is a young artist hoping to make a name for himself. When he meets a man who offers to help him advance his career, he accepts. His career takes off when Merrick arranges two shows for Ryan at a local gallery. Ryan is elated, especially when their relationship becomes more personal. What he doesn’t expect is to end up being abused, physically and emotionally, as Merrick tightens his control over the younger artist.<br><br>After a vicious beating, Ryan manages to escape, naked except for a bedspread wrapped around himself. Policeman Shaun Levitt finds him cowering in an alley. Taking the battered young man under his wing, Shaun begins the slow process of helping Ryan come to grips with what happened.<br><br>Will Ryan learn to trust again? Or will he forever look at any man who might be interested in him as another potential abuser ... including Shaun?

Edward Kendrick · LGBT+

Not enough ratings

85 Chs

Chapter 57

“It won’t happen again,” he vowed, balling up the sketches of Shaun. Angrily, he tossed them into the wastebasket, on top of the one of Merrick. “I won’t take the chance. I can’t. It would kill me if it happened again.”

Turning off the lamp, he grabbed the towel and washcloth, stalking down to the bathroom, ignoring the pain in his ankle. He stripped, showered—as hot as he could stand it—finger-brushed his teeth, since he didn’t have paste or a toothbrush, then put on the sweatpants and returned to his room.

Easing himself down onto the bed, he stared blindly up at the ceiling—and the memory of the last days with Merrick assaulted him. Tears streaked his face and then he cried until, finally, he fell asleep.

* * * *

“Bad night?” Miss Gina asked Ryan with compassion when he came down to breakfast Sunday morning.

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