This blunt, honest confession caused Julian Sterling's defensive walls to crumble instantly. He understood that sensation perfectly. He himself occasionally felt the urge to dominate Ethan, wanting the man to follow his lead. The collision of two such massive egos was inevitable, but what mattered most was that Ethan had been the one willing to humble himself first.
Looking at the tall, powerful man kneeling by the bedside, his eyes brimming with genuine remorse and deep-seated affection, Julian felt his anger evaporate by more than half, replaced by a softening of the heart and a tinge of bittersweet emotion.
"You say you're afraid." Julian whispered, his voice still shaky: "But your fear manifested as aggression. You tried to chain me down so I couldn't leave, but all you did was make me want to run away faster."
