Later that night, after he finished putting Sophia to bed, Anton went out to the living room. Elena was sitting on the couch, watching a talk show. Anton walked over and sat down next to her. Elena picked up the remote and turned off the television. She set the remote down on the coffee table and looked at Anton.

"Did you finish putting Sophia to bed?"

"Yes, I did."

Elena leaned her head against his shoulder, cuddling up next to him. Anton placed his right arm around her.

"So, how did it go with Marge today?" Elena asked him.

"Okay", said Anton.

"Just okay?"

Anton paused for a minute. He turned his head right and looked at her. "I asked her to look into the murder of my parents", he said.

Elena widened her eyes and looked at him. "You did what?"

"I asked her to have the case reopened", said Anton.

Elena sat up straight, looking at him in disbelief.

"I don't know why I did this, but something told me I needed to."

Elena said nothing and continued to stare at him.

Anton rose from the couch and turned around. He sat down on the coffee table, meeting the same eye level as Elena. He stared at her for a minute. He lowered his eyes and placed his hand over her right wrist.

"How's your arm?" Anton asked her.

"It's healing", Elena answered. "The doctor said I could get the cast taken off in a few weeks."

"That's good."

Elena blinked and looked at him, her turquoise eyes glistening in the moonlight.

Anton looked at Elena and asked her, "What about you?"

"What about me what?" Elena asked him.

"How come you never talk about your parents?"

"Because I never knew them. My parents died in a fire when I was only a baby."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You didn't have anything to do with it."

Anton kept his gaze on her for a minute and said nothing. After a while, he rose up and took her hands into his, standing her up on her feet. "Let's go to your bedroom", he said.

They went into the bedroom. Elena sat down on the left side of the bed and undressed herself. Anton stood over by the window, looking out into the silent night.

"Anton, can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Are you scared of losing me? Is that why you had Marge look into the murder of your parents?"

Anton turned his head slightly, but not enough to look at her. His eyebrows knitted together. "Why would you ask me that?"

Elena put on her nightgown and answered, "Because I know you. I know you're scared of being caught. You just don't show it. Why ask Marge to look up information about your past if you weren't?"

"I hardly remember who they were", said Anton. "My father was a doctor, my mother was a housewife. There is nothing else after that."

Elena turned her head and looked at him, a melancholy expression on her face. He still didn't look at her.

"What about me?" Elena asked him, standing up. "Don't I mean anything to you?"

Anton turned around and looked at her. He looked neither angry nor offended. Elena remained silent, looking hurt by his unspoken answer.

Anton walked over to Elena and brought his hand around to the back of her neck. He kissed her gently. Elena moaned in response. When he broke away from the kiss, Anton leaned in toward her ear and whispered softly, "I would rather die than live without you."

Elena looked at Anton and stared into his eyes. She cupped her hand to his cheek, stroking his face.

They both sat down on the bed. Anton looked away from her and began to take off his boots and socks. He stood up and went over to the dresser and open the top drawer. Elena scooted over to the right side of the bed, watching him. He slowly unbuttoned his shirt and allowed it to slide down off his shoulders. Tight muscles against soft skin. This enticed Elena, as she rested her chin against her knuckles and continued to stare at him with longing eyes. Anton removed his pants, stripping down to nothing but his underwear, his bulge slightly noticeable. He looked in the top drawer and found his nightwear and dressed himself. He stood there for a minute. Finally, he turned his head and looked over at Elena. He walked over to her.

Anton sat down on the bed and climbed on top of Elena, who gave him a faint smile. She looked nervous. Anton stroked her hair, admiring how beautiful and alluring she looked. He leaned over her and kissed her again, cupping a hand to her face. Elena rested her left hand on his right thigh, moaning. Moving his hand away from her face, Anton grabbed hold of her wrist and placed her arm over her head, holding it into place with his other hand. He ran his right hand down her left side and caressed her thigh, grabbing hold of the hem of her nightdress.

Elena gasped and grabbed at his wrist, stopping him.

"What are you doing?" Elena asked him. Her eyes were bright and innocent. Longing, but also afraid.

"You know what I'm doing", said Anton. His face showed no emotion. His eyes remained stoic.

"Don't", Elena whispered.

"Why? Does this make you feel uncomfortable?"

"Anton, I'm not an experienced woman like you think I am."

Anton seemed confused by her words. Staring blankly at the beautiful woman, he sat up slowly and asked her, "You've never had sex before?"

Elena shook her head and answered, "No...I've done things to myself, but..."

"But you've never had a man make love to you?"

Elena shook her head again and said nothing. He could see the tears starting to build up into her eyes.

Anton stared at her for a minute, dumbfounded. He sighed to himself and stood up and walked over to the window. He placed a hand on the wall and leaned his forehead against it, closing his eyes, his breathing calm and deep. He regained his posture and stood up straight, opening his eyes again. They looked angry. Frustrated. He did not seem to care about her distress, though he wondered why she had waited to reveal such a sensitive bit of information to him. Had he reached the central nerve of her delicate core, Elena would be of no value to herself, at least in her own mind. As much as he wanted her, Anton Chigurh could not go through with the act of ravaging her.

Worried that she might have upset him, Elena sat up in bed and asked him, "Are you mad at me?"

Slowly, Anton turned around and looked back at her. He walked around to the other side of the bed and stood there looking down at Elena. She did not know what to expect from him.

"I cannot take away what is yours to give", said Anton. He pulled back the covers and told her, "That is for you to decide. Whether it be me or another man, you'll know when the time is right."

Anton got into bed and lied down on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Elena lied down again and turned over onto her left side. She placed her arm around him and rested her head down onto his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Anton wrapped his arm around her form, kissing her forehead. Elena sighed to herself, feeling bad about the situation. As much as she wanted him, Elena did not feel she was ready for sexual intercourse. In fact, she had hoped to save herself for marriage. It was no secret anymore that her fear had been revealed to the man she loved, though she had yet to discover that Anton had never bedded with another woman before.