Moth to Flame

CHAPTER 1

Mia

"Wake up, Mia!" my brother Wyatt yelled while jabbing me in the shoulder with his bony fingers.

I rolled away from my comfortable pillow. "Dude, couldn't you just shake me a little? Poking me is seriously annoying,"

I was used to my brother's antics. Since I wasn't a morning person and tended to break my alarm clocks, Wyatt had taken it upon himself to wake me up each day. It was extremely annoying, but my brother was all the family I had left. For that reason alone, I dragged my lazy butt out of bed.

"Get up now, Mia! You insisted on coming to my interview today. We're going to be late if you keep lying around." I heard him walk out of the room. I assumed he was going to get dressed.

The interview in question was important because it had a salary which would get us out of our current small, crappy duplex apartment and allow us to move into a new condo downtown. I didn't really care where we lived as long as we were together, but Wyatt wanted the best for his baby sister.

The reason I was so tired was because I hadn't been sleeping well at night. I still had nightmares about my mom and dad. Mostly I saw them standing together beckoning me to join them, but I was always too far away. Then, they disappeared, and I was left alone. I missed them so much sometimes, but I was thankful for Wyatt. He kept me grounded.

It wasn't easy in a family consisting of only two people, with me being twenty-three and Wyatt at twenty-eight going on fifty. He’d had to grow up fast after our father died. I had been just sixteen when it happened, so Wyatt had essentially become my surrogate father. My brother worked full-time while earning a degree in Business. He'd gone through all the steps to become my legal guardian. I would never forget the sacrifices Wyatt made to take care of me.

All the kids at school had thought our house would be the party house where they could hang out anytime. They quickly found out Wyatt was stricter than most of their parents. He took his job as big brother and father very seriously.

I'd graduated from University of Washington a few months ago with a degree in English. I had moved out of the dorms and back in with Wyatt so that I could look for a job. I wanted to make some money, but I knew having an English degree meant jobs would be low pay and hard to get. I’d always loved reading and writing, though. I planned to get an advanced degree later.

I'd missed Wyatt while living in the dorms, but I had done it because he deserved to have a normal bachelor life for once. He surprised me by practically begging me to move back in with him after graduation.

I was hoping I would get an assistant job in a publishing company to start, and then work my way up. My biggest dream in life was to be a published writer or editor. Wyatt and I were far from wealthy, but we made our lives work. We were comfortable as long as we were together.

Dragging myself out of bed, I went to the bathroom and plugged in my phone. I used a waterproof Bluetooth speaker Wyatt had given me for my last birthday. I massaged shampoo on my long mahogany hair, which made the smell of strawberries waft all around the steamy bathroom. I turned on a playlist and sang along as I bathed.

Wyatt hated all the girly smells and feminine products in our bathroom. Because we shared the space, he'd learned to live with it. Sometimes I left a box of Tampons out just to mess with him.

I got out of the shower and watched as a brown moth circled around one of our sink lights. Poor things, what did they get from following the light and flames? It was like they were addicted and couldn't help themselves, even though the light was too hot and could kill them. I caught the moth, opened the window, and threw it out. I hoped it would find another bright light to stalk.

After the bathroom was bug free, I concentrated on trying to dry my hair. I considered makeup but ultimately decided against it because I didn't usually wear any. I was what people would describe as a "plain Jane".

I tripped in the hallway heading back to my room; typical clumsy Mia. Next, I dressed quickly in black cotton, creased pants and a fitted dark blue, button-down shirt with ruffles. I left my hair hanging down to dry and sectioned it off. I added some blue pins to tie the front part back. I finished off my ensemble with my favorite black ballet flats.

Since I had a job interview later this afternoon, I figured I might as well dress for success. The day called for typical Seattle weather - foggy, rainy, and cold. I would also need to wear my heavy gray pea coat and scarf.

I headed downstairs to cook some breakfast for Wyatt and me. I decided to make bacon, eggs and French toast. I didn't want him to have an empty stomach. He was nervous enough about the interview. I enjoyed cooking and Wyatt liked eating whatever I made. Honestly, I could probably have made mud soup, and he'd have eaten it.

"Hey, Wyatt. Foods ready," I called upstairs as I plated breakfast.

He entered the kitchen-s***h-dining room. "Mmmm, smells good, Mia."

Our duplex apartment was small and not in the best part of town, but we made it homey. It was always filled with the smell of fresh baked goods or candles. I bought small vintage items which made our apartment comfortable, too.

About half an hour later, we were in Wyatt's black Range Rover headed downtown. The drive over went pretty smoothly. We listened to music and told stupid jokes.

"Wow, Mia. You look almost like a girl," Wyatt teased.

"So do you, Wy." I replied, giggling when he rolled his eyes at me.

When I was six and Wyatt had come to live with us, I’d started calling him that nickname. Wyatt had sounded too intimidating to the lanky boy with the blond hair and big blue cornflower eyes which seemed to exude sadness. He had been caught shoplifting and was taken in by our dad, Mitch. Most people had only seen a little ruffian when W they looked at him, but I’d seen a brave kind soul.

"Alright, Mia, we're here."

I stared at the building in front of us. It was an industrial type with about eight floors leading up. The sign out front said HADES, which seemed to fit the vibe. I got an eerie feeling. The building was clearly a nightclub, but it had a menacing look to it. The name didn't do much to lessen my nervousness.

"Um, Wyatt, exactly what is this job for?" I wasn't sure if I wanted my brother working here or not.

"The position is for manager of this club. It would be perfect for me, Mia. It pays extremely well. The job starts at six figures and there are benefits included. I could finally take care of you in the manner you deserve." Wyatt sounded confident, but I still had doubts.

"You do take care of me, Wyatt. I just want you to be careful, because I get a creepy feeling from this place."

We drove into an underground parking garage. Wyatt told the on-duty security person his name and that he was here for the job interview. The guard gave Wyatt a ticket and allowed him to park. There were some majorly fancy cars already in the lot, including a Mercedes-Benz, an Audi, and a Cadillac. That was all I could make out, since I knew almost nothing about cars.

A big guy with dark hair led us to an elevator and hit the button for the eighth floor. I glanced over at Wyatt. He looked very handsome in his dark gray suit and white pressed shirt. He even wore the silver silk tie I had given him for Christmas. With his messy blond curls and big blue eyes, he looked like he should have been in GQ Magazine or something.

When we reached our destination, the big guy - Frank was his name, led us to a waiting area. He went to see if the boss was ready. I could tell Wyatt was nervous, so I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Then we impatiently waited for him to be summoned.

The room we were in was nice, much nicer than I’d expected for a nightclub office area. There were Persian rugs and cherry wood furnishings everywhere. It was a very masculine office, but there were a few feminine touches - such as the vases and potpourri. There was also a famous band autographed poster on the wall. I assumed the owner was either a younger guy or someone really into newer artists.

All of a sudden, I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. It was like I was being shocked with a stun gun all over my body. The feeling was so intense I rubbed my skin to make sure nothing had bitten me.

I heard a man enter the room. "Frank, you can go now. I'll take it from here." His voice was like velvet.

When I saw the person the voice belonged to, my life changed forever. I no longer thought moths were stupid, because I was being drawn by the same intense desire. Time stood still as I looked at the gorgeous creature in front of me. My heart rate tripled, and that tingly feeling was out of control. Usually, I was never sexually attracted to men, which was why I was still holding my V-card. Needless to say, my response to this stranger frightened me.

He was handsome; the kind of beautiful you couldn't get from plastic surgery or makeup. The first thing I noticed about him was his height. He was tall, probably a little over six-feet-two inches. His hair was the most beautiful darkish blond color I had ever seen. It stood up everywhere but managed to look sexy. His eyes were a crystal clear light blue. They reminded me of a vast ocean. His lips were pink and made to look like he was pouting. He had an Aristocratic nose and pale yet smooth, slightly tanned skin. All of this could have made him seem somewhat effeminate, but he had a solid muscular body. His broad shoulders and strong jaw oozed power and dominance.

I assumed he was rich, because he was wearing a black tailored suit with a white collared shirt and nice cufflinks. The cufflinks had some kind of symbol on them. His shoes were shiny and looked expensive - like the rest of him. His feet were large. My mind went straight to the gutter, considering what that meant. Don't go there, Mia, I chided myself. Overall, his outfit probably cost more than my first year of college.

"Hi, my name is Ethan Sodero. We spoke over the telephone. I presume you are Wyatt Watson."

The Watson surname made me smile. Wyatt had taken on me and Mitch's last name to become a true part of our family. I was just grateful I wasn't alone in namesake.

Wyatt shook Ethan's hand. He took it upon himself to introduce both of us. He told Ethan that I had just graduated from the University of Washington with an English Degree. I also vaguely heard him tell Mr. Sodero that I was also looking for employment. Ethan stared at me strangely, but he did finally manage to greet me just as professionally as he had done with Wyatt.

I could smell Mr. Sodero, and it was the greatest smell in the world. It was slightly sweet, like vanilla and sandalwood. I also caught a whiff of mint coming from his mouth. I had to resist the urge to sniff him relentlessly. He smelled like desire and sin, both rich and dark.

I still felt that tingling feeling all over my skin. The sensation got worse when Ethan looked at me. Thankfully he didn't shake my hand, because I would have collapsed like a ton of bricks. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I felt slightly dizzy.

Pull yourself together, Mia. He's only a guy for Christ's sake!

"I see you brought your wife to the interview with you, Wyatt. You aren't trying to play on my sincere side are you? Because I can assure you, I don't f*****g have one." Ethan's voice was cold as he eyed Wyatt and me.

I cringed at his language, but it wasn't my place to correct him. I had spent enough time cleaning up Wyatt's vocabulary. Besides, hearing Mr Sodero's dirty mouth aroused me. I was stunned by my reaction to Ethan; I even felt my lower body getting wet. I didn't know why I reacted to a stranger so strongly.

Wyatt looked confused for a second before he figured out Ethan thought he and I were husband and wife. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sodero. Mia is my sister. She's too nosy for her own good. She insisted on coming to the interview with me. I hope it won't be a problem if she waits out here until we finish." It didn't escape my attention how my brother was glaring at me.

"I am sorry, too, Mr. Sodero, I honestly didn't think it would be a problem, I could wait in the car if…"

Ethan cut me off with a wave of his hand. "It's perfectly okay, Ms. Watson. Just don't touch or break any of my shit." He practically snarled the words.

Unfortunately, his eyes hadn't left my face. I kind of wished I wasn't so dull and plain, so he would really have something to really look at. After hearing him speak, it was clear he was arrogant and cocky. He had probably only dated models and debutantes.

"I'm not a child," I mumbled under my breath while shuffling my feet on the floor.

Ethan turned around. His eyes moved from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet. He gawked at me for a several minutes. "That's pretty f*****g obvious, Persephone." He had a small smirk on his face.

Persephone? Oh right, sweet virtuous Persephone who had been kidnapped and forced to serve as queen of the Underworld alongside Hades. Great. Ethan Sodero, a stranger whom I had just met, could tell how sexually inexperienced I was for my age. I felt a blush crawl up my cheeks. When I looked at Ethan, he was still smirking, which only made me blush harder. I wished that I could fade into the background.

Wyatt tensed up at Ethan's words and blatant s****l assessment of my body. Before he could say anything, I shook my head signaling him to let it go and get the interview finished. Ethan gave me one last glance. Then, he turned to lead Wyatt into his office. I watched them walk away and close the door.

The tingles were still tickling my skin, and I didn't know why. I had just met Ethan Sodero, Mr. Asshole; and yet I was kind of attracted to him. I had always been shy, virginal, and sweet. But here I was attracted to the sinful nightclub owner. I chalked it up to my hormones being out of whack. He was so gorgeous that he would fluster any woman.

A part of me hoped Wyatt got the job because he wanted it, and it would get us our condo. The other part of me was afraid that if he worked here, I would see more of Mr. Sodero. The rational part said being close to Ethan was a bad thing. I could already tell he didn't like me at all. The irrational and hormonal part said it would be good because I needed to be close to Ethan. Maybe I'd even get to know him personally.

Ha! As if he'd let me breathe the same air. I thought bitterly.

Usually, I listened to the rational part of my brain and did the right thing. After meeting Ethan, I no longer wanted the mundane. I wanted to live for once and see where it took me. I knew I wouldn't be able to stay away from Ethan, because just watching him leave the room made my heart ache. He could break me. He probably would, but it was a risk that I was willing to take. This time I was going to step out of my comfort zone.