Intro. That night, the apartment was not his entirely. Ney, his girlfriend, was there. Theirs was a relationship that sometimes defied his carefully curated public persona. They didn't live together, but their bond was a strong one, a seemingly incongruous blend of Ethan’s stoicism and Ney’s affectionate nature. While he projected a certain aloofness to the world, with Ney, he softened, lost in moments of gentle embraces and tender kisses. It was a side of him that few, if any, had the privilege to witness.
Their evening had been a tapestry of these intimate moments: whispered conversations, the comfortable silence of shared space, and soft touches exchanged on the velvet couch overlooking the city. Now, a soft cloud of steam curled from the open bathroom door, a signal of Ethan’s recent shower. He emerged, a damp towel wrapped low around his waist, the steam momentarily clinging to his skin