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?

In the Name of Love

Ryan wanted to call in sick, so he could start to work right away on the drawings he was going to do of Merrick. He didn’t. Not only did he need the money, but he was too ethical. Not showing up would leave everyone in the lurch. Other waiters he worked with had pulled that, though thankfully not often. Trying to cover for them when they did was a pain.


He stopped at the apartment long enough to drop his bag in his studio and change into his work clothes. Then he was off to the restaurant, where he didn’t have time to think about Merrick until after it closed.


Chapter 8