The Cunning (18+)

34

"How do you want me?" Madison asked as Jase slid down to the floor.

"Cross your arms, cross your ankles."

"Don't drop me," Madison said as she got into position, "I will crush you."

Jase rolled his eyes. "Shut up." The little giggle that escaped Madison was something he hadn't heard before. He pressed his lips together, suppressing his smile.

Madison lowered herself down. Jase pressed one hand flat between her shoulder blades, the other wrapped around the back of her upper thigh. She was so distracted by his hand placement that when Jase extended his arms, suspending her in the air with impressive ease, she wasn't ready.

She wobbled, squealing, "Point proven, put me down!" Jase let her get up, laughing at her as he pulled himself to his feet. They climbed back on the bed, both picking up their drinks. Once they had both regained composure, Madison noticed him staring at her. "What?" she asked, feeling self-conscious under his studious dark eyes. The corners of his lips turned upwards ever so slightly.

"You want to smoke another one?" he asked.

She grinned. "It's not like there's anything else to do."

Halfway through the second joint, Madison had to tap out. They left the rest to burn out in the ashtray. Madison's heart was beating hard and she was so clammy, Jase's t-shirt was sticking to her back.

"You good?" he asked, her complexion had taken on a dewy sheen.

She took a deep breath, nodding. "Yeah, it's just really hot in here." Jase got up, grabbing his keys and unlocking the window. When he turned around, Madison was fanning herself.

"Are you light-headed?" he asked, sitting back down. She nodded. Her skin felt too tight and her head was too heavy for her neck. Her movements were slow, each limb dragged through honey. Jase pulled her head into his lap. He brushed her hair back from the side of her face, gently running his fingers through it. "You're whiting out, you'll be alright soon," he said coolly. His tone was always so level and self-assured, it was hard not to believe him.

"You promise?" She didn't move out of fear that it would make the throbbing in the front of her head worse. Or that she would vomit, which felt like a strong possibility.

Jase picked up the rest of the joint, relighting it before replying in a soothing whisper, "I promise." He tipped his head back, closing his eyes, letting the smoke curl from his nostrils like a dormant dragon. Being high helped him justify to himself how much he wanted to touch her.

It was because of the skin contact, not because it was her. Though, he'd never sat and played with a girl's hair before, would have never even dreamed of doing so, either. Especially one he wasn't fucking, and he hadn't been fucking anyone recently. This sudden realisation and Madison, wearing only his t-shirt and a pair of thin knickers, with her head mere inches from his manhood, called for a rapid change in his train of thought.

"Madison?" he asked, she hummed. "Why isn't anyone looking for you?" Her body stiffened a fraction for no more than half a second, but he had felt it.

"The only person that would think to look for me is my mum, and she works abroad a lot. I'd be surprised if she's noticed I'm gone." It was only a half-lie. Madison saw her mum for ten-minute intervals between their busy work schedules around once every two months. Even if she had noticed her absence, it was unlikely she would publicise it. Madison could still recall times as a child when her mum was bombarded by journalists, nosy neighbours, and police day and night because of her dad. Her mum had undergone name changes, different hairstyles, houses, and wardrobes to keep a low profile and sever herself from her past. She even changed Madison's last name. Nothing would bring her out of hiding, not even the abduction of a daughter she no longer wanted through no fault of Madison's own.