We made our way in silence up the metal staircase and along the claustrophobic corridor, the plaster peeling and dusty.

Her room was number 77A, how coincidental that my favourite number was her door.

She reached down her top and pulled out her key, my breath quickened and I hastily looked away, flushed.

Why was I carrying on like this?

She jimmied the key into the lock and forced the door open, groping for the light switch.

I was blinded by the beyond bright strip lighting that flickered continuously until it decided to stay off rather than on.

"For fuck's sake, not this again"

She slammed the switch again, the lights flickered weakly in response.

Then again. Nothing.

"Shit"

She hit the switch once more in frustration, dropping her key on the floor in the process.

I instinctively reached down to scoop it up, when another hand got there first. I felt a jolt at her touch and my reflexes yanked my hand away.

What the hell was that, I thought.

*

She straightened up and placed her hands on her hips.

"Well, you're just gonna have to try and punch the numbers in the dark, because this damn light won't work and no doubt it's my asshole of a landlord saying I owe him again, the creep"

I deciphered her tone. "He takes advantage of you?"

I heard her laugh sarcastically.

"Oh honey, every man in this freaking town takes advantage of me, it's kind of my job... did you not gather your surroundings at all? Look where you are, look at me, I'm a sleaze okay? Now call your cab and stop asking me stupid questions like you care"

I gritted my teeth in annoyance and stood up, towering over her slightly.

"Look. I know where we are, I know what you do, I'm not an imbecile and I'm not going to be treated like I'm some innocent know-nothing-snooty-rich guy okay? I'm tired of people thinking I'm too innocent to understand, too naive to make my own decisions. I slung out my security tonight because I was sick of them bossing me around and treating me like a child, I went to Foxx's office to see if he would lend me some of his staff as a favour, but instead I find you and you know the rest"

She shifted under my gaze again, then stuck out her chin.

"Okay, so if you know everything and you're so good at making decisions for yourself, how did you manage to end up on the opposite side of town with a random stranger with no way home other than trusting that they had a phone you could use?"

I frowned at her. "I offered to take you home, didn't I?"

"You did. Now I'm home. Now take your sweet innocent self over to my phone and call a cab so you can get out of here. You don't belong here, Jackson, you're not an outcast"

"You're not an outcast. You are just yourself. You are free if you would only let yourself"

Another laugh.

"This is exactly the kind of bullshit that proves just how naive you really are. Take your stupid quotes back with you, I don't want your false hope"

I tensed and stormed over to her, pushing her against the wall. I saw her breath quicken as my face inched closer to hers.

"I'm not naive. I'm not innocent. I'm not sweet." My voice had taken on a dark side I didn't even know I had.

She held my shoulders and reached up to my ear, her breath sending shivers down my spine.

"Prove it." She whispered, in the most seductive way imaginable, her tone alone was enough to put me on edge.

My heart pumped fast and loud as my mind tried to think of a response.

*

Instead, I crashed my lips onto hers, and she tossed her arms around my neck, pulling me in closer.

I let out an involuntary moan as her fingers tugged at my curls.

She pulled away for a split second before I kissed her again, my lips hungry as my tongue roamed every inch of her mouth.

I heard her gasp as I grabbed her ass and she pulled away from me again.

"Jump" I growled.

She complied, her legs wrapped around my waist, her body slamming into mine. I felt myself harden as her hips rolled in rhythm to our kiss.

I pressed her body harder against the wall, closing any remaining space between our rapidly heating bodies.

I kissed her jawline, travelling slowly down her neck. It was her turn to moan this time, as I hit her sweet spot and it turned me on even more.

I bit her gently and she tugged harder at my hair in response. It hurt but it felt so good that the pain was irrelevant.

Suddenly, I felt a hard slap against my face and I reeled backwards in shock, as she shoved herself from my grasp.

I fell onto the floor with a heavy thump.

We both stared at each other in the darkness, panting as we attempted to regain composure.

*

"What the he-"

"Shut the fuck up, Jackson, just shut it. Don't you ever do that to me, do you understand me?! Nobody kisses me, no one"

I grinned, despite the stinging sensation on the side of my face.

"Well I think I just did, unless you call that something else in your head"

"Just go"

"I can't yet. Wasn't that the whole reason I came up here in the first place?"

"Are you smart assing me, Jackson?"

"I'm only speaking to you in your language"

She let out another frustrated sigh.

"Fine. Whatever. The phone's on that wall, there's a taxi number pre dialled so you just have to press 3"

I got up slowly and inched my way across the room, weary of any hidden obstacles. I ran my hand along the wall until I hit the phone mounted there. I lifted the handset and worked out the position of the 3 from familiarity.

I heard her shuffling around in the background as I requested a taxi to pick me up.

"Sorry sir, but we're a pre booked service and we don't run this late. We can book you in for first thing in the morning, if that's appropriate"

"It's very inappropriate."

"Well we're sorry for the inconvenience sir, but would you still like to make that booking?"

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed.

"That won't be necessary, thank you. I can make my own way back in the morning."

"Alright sir, sorry again, but we really cannot do anything else"

"No no, it's fine, don't trouble yourself."

I slammed down the receiver and turned to face back into the room, ever retreating into pitch darkness, except for the blinds letting in single strips of orange light from the street outside.

*

I caught the view of a figure, and I saw her eyes cast into the light and only her eyes.

I let out a sigh.

"Well, it looks like-"

"I know. I heard"

"Do you always have to interrupt me?"

"You seem like the type that would talk forever if I didn't"

"That's a bit of a sweeping statement"

"So was yours about me being vulnerable because I interrupt people"

Silence.

I made my way over to the eyes, glimmering in the dark.

"Don't"

I paused. "Don't what?"

"D-don't come near me, just stay where you are"

"Why? I'm not going to hurt you. See, this just proves how vulnerable you really are. If you won't let me touch you..."

She moved out of the light and the eyes disappeared.

"I'm sorry... I'm being obnoxious"

"Yes you are. But, I guess you could be worse"

"I'm flattered, of course"

I started at the feeling of hands moving slowly up my back. She had moved behind me.

She reached my shoulders and tugged at my jacket, making it slip slightly.

I swivelled round and felt for her hand on my shoulder, sliding mine down her arm. She shivered.

My jacket dropped to the floor as I cupped her chin.

"Are you going to let me kiss you again? Or will you slap me across the face... again?"

She undid a few of my shirt buttons.

"That's something you need to find out"

Damn, that tone again.

"Can I trust you not to?"

I inhaled sharp as she suddenly cupped my area.

"You shouldn't trust me at all, Jackson, I'm a call girl... men don't usually like to hang around me except to get what they want"

My voice was jaggered as she began to rub me through my slacks, making me hard all over again.

"Well... I'm n-not one of those men. I d-do care, despite what you m-might think"

"We'll see... but for now... you better prove yourself right here and right now"

I grabbed her face and kissed her for a long time.

This time, she melted.

*