I hadn't seen Adam for a week. On Wednesday night, I came home around ten o'clock after playing squash. The bulb had blown, so the staircase was dark. I rounded the landing to mount the second flight. A figure stepped out of the shadows. I screamed.

"Hey, it's me." Adam touched my arm.

It took me a moment to regain my composure. "Don't do that to me!" I stormed up the stairs.

He joined me at my door. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

I shook my head as I unlocked the door. "It's okay. I didn't mean to yell. It, it just triggered me." I forced a grin and tried to lighten the situation. "I almost peed myself."

Adam didn't laugh as I expected him to. When we got inside, I turned on the light. He had a split lip and appeared washed out. Any anger I had vanished. I gasped and touched his face. "Are you okay?"

He sighed. "Tired. I've had a big week." Adam bent and kissed me gingerly.

I pulled away, sensing it hurt him. "What happened to your lip?"

"I got in a fight."

"Why?"

"Can we not talk about it?" Adam pleaded. He cupped my head in his hand. "A stupid thing to do with work. An unhappy customer."

I accepted what he said, but was sure there was more to it. I said, "I need a shower. I'm sweaty from playing squash. Make yourself at home."

"Do you mind if I lie down? I feel like shit."

Concerned, I said, "Yeah, no worries. Have you been to a doctor? Maybe you..."

He held his finger against my mouth to indicate I should stop talking and grinned as best he could. "I'm all right. Just tired."

I finished showering and slipped into my dressing gown. His clothes were scattered on the floor, and he was curled under the blankets, facing the wall. I touched his shoulder. "Adam."

He didn't answer. I shook harder. "Adam." He was sound asleep. What had he been doing to make him so tired? I sighed, made myself a cup of tea and toast, switched off the lights and put the TV on low.

Now and then, I glanced at Adam, hoping to find him awake. His breathing got steadier and steadier. The cuts on his knuckles made me anxious. I put my dirty dishes in the sink, scrubbed my teeth and crawled into bed naked.

I dreamt of Adam holding a syringe in front of me. He tapped it with his fingers, saying, "It's good...you'll feel good..."

"No, I'm frightened," I said.

He put his lips on mine as he injected the needle into my arm and then touched my naked body where I needed to be touched. His husky voice said, "You feel so good."

I moaned my agreement in my dreamy, drugged state and heard myself gasp at the pressure of him entering me.

"Jasmine...!" he rasped.

I whimpered and opened my eyes. Adam thrust again. I gasped at the realisation that I wasn't dreaming. He was here, touching me, making me want him and whispering my name. Panic seized me. Was it real? Had he injected me?

Adam lay behind me, gripped my hip and thrust.

I didn't feel drugged.

He touched me as he created a rhythm that I willingly joined. My breath caught; I whimpered as the sensation I now yearned for formed inside of me. He fought for breath and moved faster. Our bodies pulsated together, heightening the experience. No tears this time, just pure satisfaction and bliss.

Adam rested his forehead against my back. His heavy breaths warmed my skin. When we'd settled, he rolled me to face him. "I love touching you, being with you."

I hugged him and buried my face in his neck.

Adam crushed me against him. He caressed my body with his hand as I wrapped myself around him.

We lay like this, and then he said, "Jasmine...do you dance at that club?"

I lifted my head to meet his eyes in the dim light. "Not really," I whispered, knowing why he asked me this.

"What does not really mean?"

"Gillian told you I did, didn't she?" He nodded, so I added, "I thought you said she wasn't going to cause any more trouble."

"She wasn't causing trouble. She said she was at Kæ'feı 'Rɒbərt on Saturday night and understood why I was attracted to you. That you're beautiful and every guy in the place had his tongue hanging out over you when you danced. They trampled each other to get a better look. She said a guy licked your stomach."

I sat straighter. "Why are you asking me this?"

"You told me you didn't dance."

I frowned, then said, "I don't normally. Sometimes when one of the girls is sick or needs time off, I fill in. The money's good."

Adam stroked my face. "Do you need the money? Just ask and I'll give it to you."

"You don't want me to do it. Is that what you're saying?"

"I can't tell you what to do." He shook his head. "But no. I don't like you letting other guys touch you. Most of the men who go to Kæ'feı 'Rɒbərt at night..." He stopped talking, studied me in the dim light, and continued, "The girls who dance sell themselves. You must know that."

"Not all of them," I said in their defence. "I don't. That guy was celebrating his bucks night, and he didn't lick me, just pretended to, for a photo. I work an extra shift now and then."

"Do you have to dance when you work that shift?"

"No. I serve drinks and clear the tables. They were short one dancer, so I filled in. I do it to help out, and it's only in the introduction. Not as one of the main dancers." I hadn't told him the complete truth and hated Gillian for telling him. I lay down and put my head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry if you're disappointed. I didn't lie to you; I don't normally dance."

He fiddled with my hair. "I'm not disappointed, just jealous. I don't want other men to fantasise about you." He tilted my chin and added, "I can't tell you what to do, Jasmine, but I'd like it if you didn't work at night. Mainly because you have to walk to the train in the dark. There are lots of sick pricks out there. Believe me. I know."

I smiled at him. "I won't work the night shifts unless they're desperate."

Adam kissed me and sighed. "Good. Thank you."

I said, "Gillian told you to cause trouble. I danced for ten minutes."

He laughed. "Why are you so anti-Gillian?"

"I don't like her and haven't even met her." I huffed. "I saw her on the train with you a couple of times, and she asked me some weird questions on Saturday night."

"Hey, she's not that bad when you get to know her." He flicked my pouted lip. "I'll introduce you one day."

I pouted some more. "I have no desire to meet her."

Adam laughed, flipped me on my back and tickled me. "Are you jealous?"

"No," I squealed as I thrashed about. "Is she better in bed than me?"

Adam stopped tickling me and flung himself back on the bed, dragging me with him. He laughed. "I don't know any woman who is better in bed than you."

"You didn't answer my question properly."

He frowned. "I'm sure I did."

"Then I'll rephrase it. Did you make her orgasm?"

Adam hesitated, then shook his head.

I huffed, sat and folded my arms across my chest. "You are such a bad liar."

He laughed and pulled me down. "And you're that sooky little girl who needs cajoling." He sucked on my ear lobe and whispered, "She never turned me on like you do. No woman has ever turned me on like you do."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and laughed, "I don't believe that, but thanks for telling me what I wanted to hear."

He snuggled against me and whispered in my ear. "It's the truth, Jasmine. I swear to God."

What is Adam up to?  Is he showing real concern for Jasmine or is he trying to control her?  Hmmm.......

Jasmine's dream was a bit weird.

And there's Gillian again causing trouble.

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