Eric switched lovers like (most) people changed their underwear. He tried girls, he tried guys; short, tall; dark, pale; funny, cute; dominatrixes, whipped sons of mothers; everything. There was no such thing as the perfect match for him.
He snapped too much at the wrong times, he wanted too much when others couldn't give anymore. He wanted love, he wanted commitment, but he wanted space. He wanted to take it slow but he wanted the full experience. Their world would have to revolve around him but at the same time, they'd have to be able to put him in his place.
They'd have to look good with him; if they weren't compatible physically, they'd never be able to be compatible emotionally. Their hands would have to be the right size to slip right into his own and they couldn't be too tall or too short, because he was definitely a cuddler and he loved others' heads on his shoulder. Their skin couldn't be too soft nor too rough, it had to be the perfect mix of years of hard work and tender touches.
Any time he found a good mix of a few qualities he liked, he'd find more aspects he couldn't stand. Eric wanted to give up, he was done with this game. But each night, he continued his cycle; each night, a new name to add to his list of one night stands.
Whenever it did evolve into something more, they'd always run away. Eric worked late, he worked long hours. His job required him to see what most people would never imagine; he conversed with criminals and victims of various crimes daily; others just didn't understand why he did what he did.
His only solution would be to date someone from work, but that was risky... Though, for the right person, Eric would risk it all.
Ryan Wolfe; if Ryan wanted Eric like Eric wanted Ryan, he'd have no problem risking what he had earned in his field of work. Deliberately, no, but if he had to choose between love and his career, he'd have to choose love. True love only comes around once, catch it while you can. Eric was sure what he felt was true; he was sure Ryan was the reason that no one else could ever put up with him.
The only problem with Eric's feelings were Ryan's feelings... or lack of, back.
Every day, Eric would flirt almost endlessly with his co-worker and he'd always get a smile back, along with some playful banter. Though the smile made his insides melt, he knew it wasn't the same smile Ryan would be giving someone else later that night.
At the end of each day, Eric watched Ryan leave and walk into his boyfriend's arms. He would greet Ryan with a kiss and they'd walk, side by side, hand in hand, off to one of their cars.
Eric crumbled at the sight, everyday a little bit of him broke. He hated picturing Ryan with the other man, he hated the other man for taking Ryan away from him, he hated Greg Sanders for moving all the way from Las Vegas just to be with him. He hated him so, so much but respected him much more because he made Ryan smile that beautiful smile of his and made him happier than Eric ever could.
And each day, Eric would sigh and look away and every night, he'd find someone else to spend it with. Sometimes they had green eyes, other times they had brown hair, sometimes they were built just like Ryan, he even found someone who could pass as his brother; but it was never enough, it was never the real thing. Eric was left alone because Ryan found who he belonged with, and that killed him.