Disclaimer: I owned nothing, related to Marvel! Plus, there are graphic scenes, and foul language. Rated-M. for a very good reason. Enjoy!

Chapter Five: Alike

Ashtyn slowly began to regain consciousness. She found herself laying, on what she thought to be a sofa or something similar in nature. The subtle vibrations that she felt, when her feet touched the floor let her know she was traveling. The movement was unlike that of a car, it was smoother and without any bumps that a motor vehicle would have provided. Trying her best to figure out where she was, she began to verbalize her thoughts. "A boat?" Yet, she knew that she would have felt the waves clashing. "Then it must be a…plane." She determined.

"I love how your mind works." Said a familiar voice, in a sultry tone that could have only belonged to one man.

"Erik?" She questioned. At first, she was relieved to hear his voice. Then she remembered that Erik was the reason why she was in her current predicament. "Why?" The word came out like a croak. She wanted to be mad at him. Yet, the emotion that was dominating her now was sadness. She didn't understand how their perfect moment had turned into something so horrible.

Erik sat across from her, on a built-in passenger's seat. His chest felt constricted. He had prepared himself for her anger, but facing her pain and sadness was worse than he could had ever imagined. Anger was an emotion that he understood, but her being like this…had wounded him. He didn't answer her right away, he couldn't. Ashtyn called out to him again. His name was spoken, as if it was a curse upon her lips, demanding for him to reply. So, he said the only truth that he knew. "I couldn't leave without you."

Ashtyn scoffed. "You couldn't leave without me, so you kidnapped me!" She exclaimed. "What sense does that make in your twisted, fucked up world?"

Erik winced, at the choice of her words. It was then that he realized that the one thing that he enjoyed the most about being with Ashtyn; was that she made him feel normal. She had accepted him as he was, she was unfazed by his scars, or his morbid ideology. So, it had especially stung him deep, when she had suggested that he was perverse. In truth, Erik knew that he was fucked-up on so many levels. Nevertheless, he couldn't let her know that her words had caused him concern. "It makes perfect sense to someone like me." He said, trying his best to sound indifferent. "We need to conversate."

"Higher-level convo." She stated angrily, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in her voice.

Erik chose to ignore her tone, "Yeah, something like that." He replied. He moved to sit next to her and noticed that she visibly tensed up. He chose to overlook her negative physical response to him as well, but he had to rub his chest at the twinge of sadness that he felt. It was obvious that she didn't feel safe around him, he found the notion almost unbearable. He wouldn't dare to reach out to touch her, fearing her response. However, if she was going to survived, she would need to get with the program quickly.

"We are on our way to South Korea. We are travelling on a private jet. On board, is a very dangerous man by the name of Ulysses Klaw, with him is his entourage. I have told them that you are an expert in your field, which is true. I said that your expertise will help us broker the best deals for any artwork that we need to sell. Money is the only thing that speaks to this man." He explained. Ashtyn listened intently, somehow understanding by his tone, that he was truly trying to help her comprehend the situation. Though, she was pissed at him, she still felt an odd connection to him. "We're playing the role of sheep right now. Tell me that you understand."

Ashtyn sat still, processing his words. Clearly, Erik's protection and control over the situation, was not absolute. She needed to play her part, if she was going to come out unscathed. Like it or not, she would have to set aside her anger. "Am I your prisoner?" Was her only response.

"Yes." Erik said. Tears began to flow from Ashtyn's eyes. Erik turned away from her, not able to withstand the sight of her crying. "I will not let anything happen to you. You have my word." He promised, not knowing what else to say.

As Ashtyn considered his words, her thought process was abruptly interrupted by a loud brash man's voice, that boomed as he entered the room. "Is the little lady awake?" He asked.

Eric grimaced, hating that he didn't have more time to discuss the situation any further. "Ashtyn, Ulysses Klaw." He introduced.

"Greetings darling. I heard that you are going to make us a lot of money." He said as he took his seat across from them. Erik, thought that a change in subject was in order. He didn't like Klaw speaking to Ashtyn and hated that he dared called her darling. She was not his darling.

"When do we land?" Erik redirected.

"Oh, in a couple of hours." Klaw replied casually, as he inspected his nails.

"Is everything set?"

"Yeah. Everything is good to go. You and Angel are to stay behind, just in case things goes bad. You know what to do."

Erik nodded in response. He hated being led by Klaw, pretending to need him. Yet, it was the only way to gain the vibranium, and get him to his rightful place. Erik wanted to dismiss Klaw, so that he could be alone with Ashtyn again. Yet, being too chummy with her would had drawn some unwanted attention. No, Erik would have to continue with the charade for a little while longer. So, when Klaw decided to leave the room, Erik followed him out. It pained him to leave Ashtyn alone, and confused in a strange environment. He vowed that once he was alone with her again, that somehow, he would make it up to her.

Once Erik was outside, of Ashtyn's impromptu holding cell, he had immediately encountered Angel in the hallway. Klaw smirked knowingly at Angel and then walked off singing a carefree tune to himself. She must have been impatiently waiting for Erik, and Klaw knew it. Erik had hardly said two words to her, ever since he had shown up with an unconscious Ashtyn. He had insisted on staying with Ashtyn as she slept, stating that he had to watch over his prisoner. Angel had undoubtedly been perturbed by his actions, but she hadn't yet vocalized her feelings. Erik felt emotionally and physically drained. The last thing he wanted to do was to argue with Angel, especially when he needed to make things right with Ashtyn.

"Is your detainee doing well?" She said spitefully. A muscle in Erik's jaw ticked, he didn't care for her attitude, her fury must have momentarily made her forget who she was talking to. However, he had to play his role and pretend like nothing had changed.

"She is fine." He answered plainly.

"I would hope so. After all, you have spent most of your time in there with her." Erik knew that she was fishing for any indication that there was more to his story than what he was telling her.

"I had to watch over her. It is not like she is here on her own freewill. You need to stop trippin' and get your head in the game. I don't have time for this shit." Erik said in a firm voice. Angel blinked a couple of times, surprised by his sternness. Erik had succeeded in making Angel question her own thoughts, she stood before him suddenly unsure of herself.

She was so different from Ashtyn he thought. Ashtyn would have argued, challenged him and demand more of an explanation. Yet, Angel's insecurities had made her backed down. This was the reason why she could never be the one for him. He needed a warrior, a soldier to stand by his side. The more he bonded with Ashtyn, the harder it was getting to pretend with Angel.

A quiet "Oh," was all that Angel had said. Then she invited him to come to bed with her, but Erik only desired Ashtyn. He looked at the door longingly, only for the briefest of moments.

"I will sleep once we get to our destination. I need to keep an eye on my prisoner." Angel started to argue, but her expression fell as she realized that her protesting wouldn't matter to him. Erik was a bastard, he knew that, but he didn't want to cause Angel any undue harm. Yet, he simply couldn't make himself care for her, not when he was falling in…

He abruptly cut off his line of thinking. He couldn't allow that word to form in his mind, he knew that it would hold him in bondage to Ashtyn forever. He had cared for his father and the pain that he had felt, when he was murdered, had destroyed Erik's innocence. He had promised himself in that moment that he would never love anyone ever again, but this thing with Ashtyn was becoming harder to ignore.

A few hours later, Erik along with Ashtyn and Angel, were checking into their five-star hotel room. Klaw and his men had decided to head straight to the nightclub, for the vibranium trade. Angel was still in a funk, but she had wisely chosen to keep her thoughts to herself. They entered the grand lobby of the hotel room, carrying only a few bags between them.

Erik had packed a small suitcase of Ashtyn's clothes, and carried it for her, along with his own luggage. Angel was pissed-off that he hadn't offered to carry hers as well, but damn he only had two hands. Plus, she was completely capable of carrying her own baggage. He had given Ashtyn her symbol cane. However, he still insisted that she rested her hand on his shoulder, so that he could help to guide her into the hotel. Angel had grunted an inaudible word, at the sight of Ashtyn touching him, but Erik didn't have the energy to address her discontent.

They approached the check-in desk, and Erik spoke to the attendant providing her with the necessary information needed to attain the keycards to their rooms. Once he had them he handed one to Angel and pocketed the other one.

Angel looked at her keycard and frowned. "We aren't sharing?" She asked.

"No. I will be in the room with Ashtyn." Erik replied nonchalantly.

"What!?" She exclaimed. Ashtyn shifted uncomfortably hearing the disdain in Angel's voice.

"Keep your voice down." Erik whispered harshly to her as he pulled her by the arm, closer to him so that he could whisper in her ear. He kept a weary eye on Ashtyn, to ensure that she didn't try anything funny. "I can't leave her alone in a room by herself, and all three of us in a single room would attract attention." His reasoning sounded sensible enough to him, and he hoped that Angel would simply drop the entire argument…she didn't.

"Then why don't I stay with her then?" She countered. It was a valid point, but nothing was going to stop him from being alone with Ashtyn.

"Because she's mine!" He said, in a harsh whisper through gritted teeth, as he clasped her arm tightly driving home his point. Then realizing what he had said, he added. "To watch over. I got her. I'll keep her. This is nothing more than work to me." He could tell that he had frightened Angel, but he had finally convinced her that his plan was sound. They checked into their rooms, Angel gave Ashtyn a dirty look as Erik opened their hotel room to allow for Ashtyn to enter. Erik simply didn't have the strength to say anything more to Angel, including goodnight as he stepped inside the hotel room. He shut and locked the door behind him.

"Well…she is pleasant. Obviously, you two aren't just friends." Ashtyn said in her sarcastic-rich voice. She stood before him with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

Ashtyn was as observant as ever, but he didn't want to get into the sticky nature of his involvement with Angel. "Yeah, I know how to pick them...huh." He said dismissively, as he gently turned her around and guided her over to the bed.

"You sure do." Ashtyn agreed, as he sat her down onto the bed. He took a seat beside her. Before the kidnapping, Ashtyn had always given him her undivided attention. She would face him even though she couldn't see him. Now, she stared straight ahead, as if he was unworthy of her attention. "She isn't a complete idiot. She knows that something is up." Ashtyn stated.

"Maybe, but the end results are what I wanted them to be."

His words caused Ashtyn to look in his direction. She tilted her head to consider him, "That is all that matters to you, isn't it? That you have your way, fuck the consequences." She admonished.

Erik didn't know quite how to respond. Rarely did he give any forethought about anyone else's desires but his own. Even his fondness for Ashtyn hadn't spurred him to change his method of operating. It had occurred to him, that there were some prices that he was not willing to pay. Ashtyn being distant from him was one of them. "You are right. I am selfish beyond belief. This thing with you is new for me. Understand that you are getting the best that I have to offer you right now."

Ashtyn listened to his words, as they sunk-in hitting their mark. He had not apologized, but he had revealed his truth to her. Yet, it wasn't enough for what he had done. He had taken her freedom away, the one thing that she valued most. He didn't understand how she had struggled to keep her independence, and his act had in one swift motion taken her right to choose away.

"You want me to understand you, but how can I when you don't care enough to try to understand me? I know that you aren't exactly a law-abiding citizen. Truthfully, I don't even want to know what all you are involved in, but how can I trust you and your promises?" Ashtyn confessed.

Erik didn't say a word, as he brought the back of his hand to her cheek. Ashtyn was startled by the contact of his cool skin against her heated cheek, but he began to gently stroke. It had been a long night, though she had slept most of it away, she was still exhausted. She unwillingly leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and allowing for him to soothe her.

"Bathe with me." He said. Ashtyn's eyes popped open. His voice didn't give her anything to go on. Was he trying to seduce her? If so, she wasn't in the mood for being used by him. They had issues, and sex wasn't going to solve them. She was about to gripe, but he added. "I am not trying to do anything more than bathe with you. I am feeling a bit jetlagged and all I want to do right now is unwind with you."

Common sense told Ashtyn to tell him no, but she was so tired of fighting. Bathing was an intimate thing to do with someone, but they had already had sex. What harm could a bath do at this point? Though, their circumstances had greatly changed, she longed for their easygoing interactions of yesterday.

"Okay." She finally agreed, and she heard Erik release a breath, she realized that he had expected her to say no. For the life of her she didn't know why she hadn't. Ashtyn felt the bed decompress, as he left her to run the bath water. She could smell something lavender-scented filling the air. "Where is that scent coming from?" Ashtyn asked, as she remained seated on the edge of the bed.

"It is the bath foam that they have here. Do you like it?" Erik asked. She was about to reply yes, when she heard his clothes dropping to the floor. Ashtyn's heart began to hammer within her chest. Thoughts of their last time together, made her want him all over again. Yet, she shouldn't have wanted him after all the shit that he had put her through. What am I doing? She thought to herself. Bathing with him was the last thing that she needed to do. She should be plotting how she was going to escape, and not getting all cozy with him. She would have been completely disappointed in herself, if it wasn't for the dull ache that was starting to develop between her legs.

Ashtyn must have been lost in her thoughts, because she didn't notice that Erik had approached her and was now standing before her. She felt his touch under her chin. He tilted her head upwards so that he could view her face. "You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do." He said. His voice was like velvet upon her ears, and his words dripped with concern. She suddenly didn't want to disappoint him, despite everything that he had done to her.

"I want to." She replied. He took Ashtyn by both of her hands and stood her before him. Then he grabbed at the hem of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. He didn't say a word, as he continued to undress her. Though he didn't do anything overtly sexual, the moment was so erotic to Ashtyn. She felt a strange electric energy that was building up between them. Something was changing between them, evolving into something more. He then took her by one of her hands and guided her over to the tub.

"Hold up." He said pausing her momentarily. Ashtyn could hear the splashing of the water, as Erik got into the tub. "Okay, come on." He said, his wet hand grabbing hers. Ashtyn carefully stepped into the tub, allowing Erik to guide her. When she settled she realized that she was seated between his legs. His rock-hard dick was press firmly against her lower back. She sucked in a hard breath, she abruptly moved, accidentally rubbing against him.

"Ashtyn…" He warned. Though he was exhausted she had managed to wake-up his little man. Truly, he had wanted their bath to be purely innocent. However, now that she was naked and pressed against him, his body had other plans. Yet, he needed to show her that sex wasn't the only thing on his mind when it came to her. "Would you like for me to wash you?" Erik asked. She nodded her head, which was something that she did when she was at a lost for words. Perhaps, she wanted him too. Erik couldn't lie to himself, it would have been a blessing if she could somehow move pass what had transpired within the last twenty-four hours. However, he was happy that she was no longer flinching whenever he touched her.

Erik took the bar of soap between his thick hands and began to work it against the washcloth. As he did Ashtyn moved her hair to rest over one of her shoulders, to allow him access to her back. Erik loved the smoothness of her dark skin, he thought oddly how he hadn't seen her naked from behind. Her back was a magnificent sight, and he only wished that he could see her ass. His lust was rising, but he had to keep it together. Though, his hard-on had certainly alerted her that his intentions weren't exactly pure; to his credit he had kept his promise of bathing only with her.

As Erik scrubbed her back she couldn't help but to think how she wished he would make a move. She was beyond tired, but she wanted him. She knew she shouldn't have, the logical side of her brain was screaming out to her how wrong it was. Yet, this man made her want to do all sorts of naughty things. Reasoning with herself she argued, what more harm could having sex with him do to her? Perhaps, he would continue to protect her, if she was submissive to his needs.

In truth, she knew her reasoning was total bullshit. She had believed him when he said that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Then, she had to determine her true motivation for wanting to have sex with him. His words from yesterday played in her mind, "People like us set our own rules and do as we please." Was she just adhering to some unspoken rule that told her that she shouldn't desire Erik, because of what he had done?

She had wanted freedom, and she had blamed Erik for taking hers. Yet, she was still bound by society's rules and regulations, but when she was with him she was boundless. Maybe she needed to change her perspective, being with Erik was an adventure; that she would have never had the gall to go on if he hadn't taken her. In his own messed-up way, he had freed her from a job that didn't appreciate her, and from an otherwise dull existence.

"You've been quiet." Erik acknowledged, as he rinsed off the soap on her back. "What's going on in that lovely mind of yours?"

"I was thinking…"

"About?"

"About what you had said about us making up our own rules." Erik said nothing, his silence prompted her to continue. "I think that sometimes I behave the way that I do because it is proper to do so. Like being sad when the people at my job had met their end. I acted distressed by the events that had occurred, but really I felt indifferent to it all." Then a terrible thought occurred to her. "Did you kill them?"

"No, that was all Klaw." Erik answered.

"But you were there and saw what happened."

"Yes, but it was quick if that helps. No one felt a thing."

It was a horrible thing to hear, that the man that she lusted for was involved in a crime. Yet, it did help to smooth things over in her mind that he wasn't directly responsible for murdering her co-workers.

"What caused you the think about all of this?" Erik questioned. Ashtyn took a deep breath, not sure if she wanted to say aloud her dark thoughts. However, she had started the ball rolling and she needed to provide him with some sort of explanation for her thought process.

"I am struggling with something regarding you."

"What is it?" His words were tight and tensed. Clearly, he thought that she was going to say something unpleasant.

"I desire something that I shouldn't want from you. For a moment, I had hoped that you would…" She stopped herself from confessing anything more. Then, it became apparent to Erik what she was struggling with. She wanted him, and she was conflicted because there was every reason in the world for her not to, but she did. He also realized that she was looking for an out, for not feeling guilty about her own lustful thoughts. If he would have seduced her, she could blame him for her actions that would surely follow. The idea of him being the aggressor, wouldn't have normally disturbed him. However, being Ashtyn's scapegoat bothered him deeply.

"I get it. You want me to be the reason why you succumbed to your own dark desires. If I were to seduce you, then that would put all the blame on me. Freeing you from taking any responsibility for your own actions. I may be a devil, but even I am not the cause of all that is wrong with the world, or you. If there is something that you want from me, you need to say it."

Ashtyn sat still knowing that it was wrong for her to want to place all the blame on him. If she was to go any further, she would have to own her choices. "I do want you still." She admitted.

"Then go on and have me." He said in a husky voice. She lifted herself up, he closed his legs to allow for her to straddle him. While still facing away from him, Ashtyn then lowered herself onto his bulging erection. The water only helped to make his entry into her smoother. He gasped, as his full length was taken in by her. He hadn't expected this blessing, he was sure that she would never allow for him to have her again. Yet, his initial assessment of her must have been correct. She was just as twisted as he was, she was just better at hiding it.

Ashtyn began to slowly grind on him. He moaned, loving how she was owning her own need for him. It was so much better this way, he thought. Though she had never said she had forgiven him; mostly because he had never asked to be forgiven. Her actions were saying that they had reached an understanding. She slowly began to pick up speed. Water began to splash onto the floor, as she positioned her body leaning forward, bracing her weight onto her hands for leverage. She began to push into him with a tremendous amount of force. All Erik could do was sit back and watch her glorious ass back up into him as she screwed the ever-loving shit out of him. He had asked for this from her, to have him, and have him she did.

He was trying to hold out, but his body was betraying him again. "Baby…" He called out in a soft whisper. Pleading for her to slow down. Erik was supposed to be the one making things up to her, and not the one who was receiving; but the one who was giving. Yet, none of that mattered as he was forced to succumbed to his own climax. He gripped her hips firmly, causing her to yell out in pain, and she too surrendered to her own feelings of pleasure. They sat for a while, conjoined and panting. Erik pulled her up, so that she could rest her back against his chest. Something had broken within him, he could feel it. He didn't want to give it a name, he still couldn't. He tightened his grip around her waist, trying his best to hold onto the moment.

"Let's go to bed." He said. Knowing that they were both tired and needed their rest. She lifted herself off him, breaking their connection. They rinsed themselves and then dried each other. Once out and standing, he kissed her deeply, trying to convey the apology that he would never verbally give to her. Frankly, he wasn't sorry for anything he had done, because it was all done to have her by his side.

They dressed for bed. Although, Erik was perfectly satisfied sleeping in the nude. Ashtyn had insisted that she dressed in her night clothing. Erik decided that he too would at least put on his boxer briefs to keep her from being the only one with clothing. She was dismayed at her choices for nightwear. He had only packed things that he found visually stimulating. She held up her skimpy negligee for his viewing, clearly questioning his reasoning for packing it.

"It is sexy as hell." He replied, with an impish grin that spread across his face. Then he wondered why she had such a sexy piece of lingerie in her possession. "Who were you wearing that for?" Ashtyn could hear the edge in his voice, but she wanted to quiet any jealousy that he may have over a previous lover.

"I bought it for someone who is long gone." She said, dismissively.

"Perhaps, we should go down a list of anyone who has ever seen you naked. I would like to pay them a visit." He sounded as if he was joking, but something in his voice let her know that he was serious. She had to make a mental note never to divulge any of her former lovers' names to him.

They finally got settled into bed. Ashtyn rested her head onto his chest and he wrapped his strong arms around her. Though, them being together was so wrong, it also felt so right to Ashtyn. They fell into a deep sleep holding each other. A few hours into their slumber they were awoken by a knock on the door. Erik cursed to himself, as he got out of bed. He walked over to the door and opened it only enough to see the person who stood at the threshold. It was Angel. She looked dismayed when she tried to push her way in, but Erik wouldn't allow her entry.

"What is it." He demanded. Angel attempted to look pass him, but his body blocked her view. "Angel, what in the hell do you want?" He said, finally gaining her full attention. She snapped out of her stupor and finally told him. That Klaw had been captured and they would need to devise a plan to rescue him. "Okay, we will figure everything out first thing in the morning. There's nothing we can do for him now." He told her. Erik attempted to close the door and get back to Ashtyn. Angel had wedged her foot in the door, preventing him from closing it.

"Erik?" Her voice pleaded. "What are you doing in there with her?" She asked, she sounded hurt. Yet, her words had no effect on him.

"I am watching over her." He said as he kicked her foot away from the door and shut it in her face.

Erik climbed back into bed, Ashtyn pretended to be asleep. She had heard everything. His coldness towards Angel was not a shock to Ashtyn in the slightest. Truthfully, it had turned her on in a way that she had never expected. Erik was now hers, and him dismissing his former lover in such a harsh way only proved one thing to Ashtyn. That she was now his too. Damn…he was right they are just alike.

A/N: This was a rough chapter to write! Dealing with the drugging was hard. Hopefully, you all loved it. Special thanks for my reviewers, please keep them coming. It helps me to know that I am not the only one looking forward to the next chapter. Also, thank you to the followers of this story. I will try to update at least weekly, so stay tune. Have a wonderful week! ~Concrete Lily.