“Dixon?” Madison says, her voice the only beacon of light in the dark.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for allowing me to stay over. I like being here. I feel…safe,” she professes in a mere whisper.

If that wasn’t the sweetest darn thing I’ve ever heard, then I don’t know what is.

“I like you being here too,” I declare. “I feel…”

What do you feel, Dixon? I question myself. Thinking of the appropriate phrase, I know that only one word is enough.

“Happy,” I conclude, not feeling like a total pussy for saying my thoughts aloud.

“And you haven’t been before?”

Her simple question strikes a nerve, and I reply honestly. “Not for a long time, no.”

And it’s true. I may have been sexually satisfied, but I always knew what an egotistical asshole I was, sleeping with endless, faceless women and not giving a damn.

“Well, I’m glad I make you happy because you make me happy too,” she confesses, and the strain in her voice reveals just how hard that was for her.

Her petite body wrapped in my huge bed is doing things to my head that I haven’t experienced in a very long time. And I don’t mean the head between my legs. I think I’m falling, and falling hard for Madison. Her innocence, purity, but most of all, her honesty, is like a breath of fresh air, and it’s only now have I realized how oxygen-deprived I’ve been.

As she shuffles closer, her vanilla scent wraps me in a tight bubble, and I can’t stop myself as I inch forward, wanting to bask in her fragrance.

“If I snore, wake me up, okay?”

I laugh lightly at her sincerity. “I’m sure you don’t. But if by chance you do, I’ll just smother you with my pillow.” She giggles, the bed jolting with her amusement.

“Okay, deal.” There is a pregnant pause, before she shyly discloses, “I haven’t slept beside anyone before.”

“Ever?” I ask, taken aback.

Is this beautiful woman telling me she’s a goddamn virgin, as I can’t see her being a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am kinda girl?

My question is answered when she simply replies, “Never.”

That one, single word is my undoing, and I slowly bend forward, kissing her on the forehead. I linger a little longer than I should, but I can’t help it.

“Well, I’ll try my best to make it a memorable first time,” I say, pulling away slowly.

I hope my admission doesn’t freak her out because it could be misconstrued the wrong way. But in a way, I want her to keep that thought in her mind. We’re quiet for a few moments, facing one another in the dark, but I can feel her inquisitive eyes on me, no doubt absorbing what I just said.

“Goodnight, Madison,” I drowsily say, my eyes drifting shut, her gentle breaths lulling me to sleep.

“Dixon?” she whispers.

“Yes.”

“You already have,” she divulges.

I don’t reply, because the only way to do so would be smashing my lips to hers. I can’t for so many reasons, but the one that stands at the forefront is the fact that, once I start, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.

And that scares the living hell out of me.

I wake suddenly, a fine sheen of sweat covering my entire body. And it’s not because I’m slowly roasting under my sheets. I have a weird feeling that I heard someone outside my front door. Madison is breathing softly beside me, her exhalations deep and relaxed, so she obviously didn’t hear a thing.

I still decide to go check it out.

I carefully tiptoe through my room, as the moonlight peeking in from the blinds is my only source of light. But I know my apartment like I know the back of my hand, and have no problems navigating through. However, I’m used to things being in certain spots. Madison’s discarded shoe is not one of them.

Very ungracefully, I trip and land on both knees as I grab onto the end of the bed to stop my fall. I instantly look up, terrified I’ve woken Madison from her peaceful slumber. But when she murmurs lightly and rolls onto her side, I know she’s sound asleep. My reaction to protect her was purely innate. I haven’t felt that way in so very long, and it’s actually nice to care about someone other than myself.

Rising up slowly, I focus on the floor to ensure the coast is clear. Thankfully, I make it to the living room without further injury. I stop in the middle of the room and pivot my head toward the door.

Silence.

I could have sworn I heard a noise, but if someone was there, they seem to be gone. Deciding to go back to bed, I turn toward my bedroom but suddenly hear the gentle rustling of someone searching through a bag. I knew it.

Charging to the door as silently as I can, I yank it open to see Juliet outside, looking through her handbag. She stops rummaging through her purse and pulls back, confused, when she sees me in my sweats and tee.

“Nice pajamas,” she mocks, her gaze landing on my Yankees top.

She knows I usually wear nothing to bed, and considering I have a serious case of bed hair, I can’t exactly say I was bumming around watching TV.

“Why are you here?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

Juliet smiles. “I’ve come to tuck you in.” She takes a step forward, indicating she wants to come in.

That’s not going to happen.

I quickly place my arm across the doorjamb, preventing her from entering. She looks at me, raising an eyebrow.

“Who are you hiding in there?” she asks, standing on her toes to see over my shoulder.

I move to the left to stop her from seeing in. “No one’s hiding,” I say, trying to appear cool.

“Well, let me in.” She attempts to push me out of the way.

I stand my ground, however, because there’s no way she’s setting foot inside this apartment. “I’m tired, Juliet. Can we do this another time?” I say, hoping to stall her.

“Do what, Dixon? I haven’t seen you all week. You totally blew me off last time, and not in a good way. You owe me,” she states, cocking a challenging brow.

I’m afraid to ask, but I question anyway, “Owe you what?”

“You know what,” she replies, pursing her lips seductively. “You owe me at least one…” and she holds up a finger. “Two…” She holds up another. “Ten mind-blowing orgasms,” she concludes, holding up both hands. “It’s time to pay up.”

“Now?” I ask, standing rigid so she can’t shove past me.

“Yes. Right now.” She takes a step closer, her chest almost touching mine.

“Now is not a good time for me,” I reply, faking a big yawn. “I’m beat. I don’t think I’ll be able to deliver one orgasm, let alone ten.”

This will hopefully be enough of a deterrent for Juliet, because denying her pleasure means she has no reason to be here. But of course she has other ideas.

“Well,” she says, pulling back her shoulders. “If you’re not going to fuck me, the least you can do is watch.”

“Watch what?” I ask, swallowing.

“Watch me fuck myself.”

Before I have time to protest, she slides a hand down the front of her skirt and begins pleasuring herself.

“Juliet,” I hiss, looking down the hallway, afraid my neighbors will see a masturbating woman outside my door.

“Shh. This won’t take long,” she says breathlessly, closing her eyes as she bites her lower lip.

I don’t care how long she thinks it will take, this display has gone on long enough. But as I watch the way her fingers move frantically underneath her skirt, and hear the soft, breathy moans coming from her parted mouth, I know she’s close. I also know that if I lend a hand, she’ll come even faster and leave me the hell alone.

That fact sickens me, considering I have Madison sound asleep in my bed, but she’s the reason why I reach forward and stroke the flesh behind Juliet’s ear, in step with her demanding rhythm. The move drives her wild because she knows there’s more to come.

Gliding up her neck, I wrap my fingers in her hair and yank hard, pulling her head backward. She moans with the forceful movement and steadies herself by placing a hand against my shoulder. I feel disgusting, but the harder I pull, the louder she hums, and the faster this nightmare will end.