The Exchange

Chapter 14- From Dusk till Dawn

*Warning: There is minor drug use in this chapter. If this offends you please feel free to skip/ stop reading. I do not endorse the use of drugs*

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It was silent downstairs. The rooms were cloaked in a deep, undisturbed slumber. The TV hummed in the living room, the clock ticked in the hall, and outside a street light blinked.

Sasha shuffled across the floor quietly and headed for the back porch, her muffled footsteps breaking the peaceful magic of dawn that seemed to encompass the house. It was early morning, maybe 5 or 6am.

Her feet were clad in a pair of fluffy pink socks and her mane of hair was done up in a loose bun.

She couldn't sleep. It had been another night of tormentous tossing and turning. The room had got hot and then cold. There seemed to be no air. And, like most of these restless nights, what always ran through her mind was the worry of 'I'll never be able to sleep!' and 'am I going to lie here like this until morning?'

Usually Sasha would try and brave these thoughts out, finally falling into a deep slumber that she could never remember beginning. However, because it was summer and college was no longer open Sasha did not feel that weighing pressure in her chest. She had no desire to stay in her bed and fight insomnia.

She couldn't sleep. So she wouldn't.

Besides, Sasha had always been fond of early mornings. The world was different at this time, it was fresh and new and gave you time to think. It could be hers and no one else's.

Reaching the back door she pushed it open, instantly being hit by the cool, outdoor air.

Sitting in front of her on the back porch, looking down at his crossed legs sat Julien. His curly hair half hid his face and she could make out only part of his shapely jaw.

She gasped, shocked to see someone else awake at this hour.

Julien looked up, his eyes wide, matching her surprised state. Meeting Sasha's gaze, he grinned. He had a cheeky look when he smiled, as if he knew something you didn't and his green orbs would twinkle.

Sasha had noticed that sometimes Julien's smile didn't reach his eyes. He wasn't an open book. His lips would tell you one thing, while his eyes told you another. You had to look more closely to try and understand. Julien didn't exhibit all emotion across his face; a master of concealment. A skill that both awed and distressed Sasha.

She was very different to him on this front. She was physical in displaying her inner feelings. If studied, her emotions could be predetermined daily, just like a weather forecast purely based on her body's movements. Her emotions were shown in the placement of her hips, the curling of her toes, the surge of anger that flipped up her spine, and the weakness of her knees and hands when sad. She hated being so readable, and not at all mysterious.

Julien was wearing a plain white t-shirt which appeared ruffled, as though he had only just got out of bed. This was paired with loose joggers and bare feet. His lips were wet and luscious. His sun kissed skin smooth and soft.

Although Julien's words weren't the most refined he always appeared poised and composed. Even his dirty talk sounded elegant to Sasha. Blushing she wondered if he ever unravelled and came undone.

The one time Julien had lost his self-assured nature was when he'd apologised to her. But internally she had already accepted that he wouldn't allow her in like that again. Not after she had messed up.

His comely curls were messy but Sasha decided she liked it even more that way, imagining herself threading her hands through it as he devoured her. She bit the pad of her thumb wiping those thoughts away.