Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Quid Pro Quo
Cedrick
My lips curve into a smile as I stretch out in my chair, legs extended in front of me. “Oh, my little mouse wants to play now?”
A hitch of breath. “Why not? Get it out of the way faster so we can both move on.”
“Hmm. Sure,” I hum.
“O-okay. Uh, um…”
“Did you actually have something in mind?”
“I’m making this up as I go. Cut me some slack!” he snaps, and I can’t help but grin. He gets so feisty sometimes, and I don’t think he even realizes it.
After a long pause, he finally asks, softer than I thought he could, “What’s your name?”
My blood runs cold.
“Excuse me?”
“It’s only fair,” he reasons. “You know mine. I want to know yours.”
“I don’t—”
“That wasn’t the deal, Static,” he reminds me. “Questions and answers for Mayhem, remember? So, if that’s what you want…”
Damn, my little prize is good.
I run my tongue along the fronts of my teeth as I spin back and forth in my chair, contemplating how I want to play this.
I could lie, and he’d never know, but the thought of lying to him feels… wrong somehow. And even if this doesn’t last, I don’t want that between us.
Fuck it.
“Cedrick,” I spit the truth of my name between us and hope it doesn’t cost me everything.
“Cedrick…” he repeats, and my dick twitches hearing it spill from his lips.
“Fuck, darlin’.”
“What?”
I shake my head, trying to clear the onslaught of thoughts barging into my head at just that one fucking word falling from his lips has brought upon me.
“You’re just perfect,” I try to explain, but that makes me sound crazier, so I pinch my lips shut and leave it be.
“So… your name’s Cedrick.”
“Yes.”
“That’s not a lie, is it? Because I don’t think lies count.”
I huff a laugh. “No, little mouse. I thought about lying to you, but I don’t want that between us. It’s the truth—and I promise everything I tell you will be the truth.”
“How can I trust that?”
I tsk. “You’ll just have to. Just like I’ll have to trust that me giving you this means you’ll come to Mayhem.”
A pause. “Quid pro quo.”
I smirk. “Precisely.”
“Fine. I’ll call you later. I’m busy with my friends right now, so quit calling me every three seconds.”
I chuckle darkly. He’s so cute when he tries to be bossy. “All right, Madison.”
“Okay, bye.”
There’s a resounding click, and then, the line goes dead. I throw my head back with a cackle, delighted at this turn of events, despite what I’ve revealed about myself.
If I have to get vulnerable with him to get him back, then that’s what I’ll do.
I’ll do anything to win my little prize.
“Does he have you lookin’ at your phone like that?” Kaser asks later that night as I sit in my chair, pathetically waiting for Madison to call me back.
I think he’s waiting so long on purpose… just to be a brat. But I don’t mind. If he wants to have this little bit of control, I’ll let him.
“Who else?” I mutter as I watch my darlin’ pace back and forth across his room, wearing a path in the carpet as he stares down at the phone in his hand.
His jeans are loose around his hips, gaping perfectly with every step, and my mouth is watering to touch him there, to trace that path of smooth, tanned skin with my tongue.
“You’re fucking obsessed, Ricky.”
“I fuckin’ know, Kase,” I mock them back, using the same tone of sarcasm.
But the thing is… they’re not wrong.
I am obsessed with Madison. Wholly and entirely, sickeningly obsessed with him. I want to devour him. I want to consume him.
I want to feel him. Taste him.
I want to know him. His fears and desires. What drives him and what keeps him awake at night. I want to know what it is that makes him want to live.
I need everything.
But if all I get is Mayhem…
Well.
I’ll take it.
“What the hell is that look for?”
“What?” I startle, looking away from my phone to glance up at Kaser. “What look?”
“You look like you’re about to do something stupid.”
“Aren’t I always?” I drawl, hiking a brow.
“Yes, but this is different,” they snort. “What are you going to do, Ced?”
And then, my phone rings.
My heart shoots into my throat, and I feel myself smile manically.
“Something I’m going to regret, I’m sure,” I answer them absentmindedly as I swipe answer on the call and put it to my ear. “Hello, darlin’,”
Kaser raises their brow but doesn’t say a word as they stare at me for a few moments longer as Madison responds.
“Okay, I think I’m ready.”
“Is that so?”
Kaser nods and then closes my door, which I’m grateful for. I spin around in my computer chair to face my computer and type in the password.
“Yes.”
“Had to steel yourself for it?”
“Y-yes.”
“Good.”
“You want me to be afraid?”
“Fear is healthy. And I think we’ve already established how good fear makes us feel… so I’m all for it, darlin’.”
“Oh,” he squeaks, and I chuckle as I type in the password for the website and log in to the webcam so I can load it on my computer.
I want to see Madison as I talk to him.
“So, did you have anything in mind?” I ask as I watch him sit on the side of his bed.
His legs are crossed, head bowed in front of him, light brown hair hanging slightly.
He’s picking at a thread in his jeans, unraveling it and twisting it around his finger, over and over again as we sit in silence.
I don’t break it.
I can’t.
Because I revel in it.
Madison takes a deep breath, and then, he says, “Have you been stalking me?”
I’ve been expecting this question, so it doesn’t surprise me. I chuckle darkly and smirk at my screen as he lifts his head and squints his eyes at the sound.
“Yes.”
He rears back. “Y-yes? Just yes? Th-that’s it?”
“That’s what you asked me.”
“So, I have to get specific if I want details.”
I shrug even though he can’t see me.
He sighs loudly. “Fine. How have you been stalking me, Cedrick?”
My eyes roll back as my name rolls off his tongue. What I would give to hear it in person…
“Fuck, darlin’, you have no idea what that does to me.”
I watch his throat roll with a swallow. “W-what does that do to-to you?”
My lips splay wide. “Which one do you want me to answer first, little mouse?”
He releases an irritated huff, and I chuckle, deciding to give him some mercy. “I got your number and address from your form at Mayhem, which I’m sure you already figured out. As for how I’ve been seeing you… There’s a lovely tree right outside your window—”
“I knew it!” he shouts, interrupting me, shooting up from his bed, eyes wide, and mouth agape, and I smile. My treat.
“Smart, darlin’.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good.”
Let’s go for gold.
“But there’s also a camera in your room.”
All the blood leaves Madison’s face. He sways on his feet before falling back onto his bed shakily. His eyes are wide and appear glassy as he stares in front of him.
It goes silent for several minutes, and I fear I’ve broken him.
“Madison… Madison.”
“I’m…” He clears his throat. “I’m here.”
“Good. I thought I lost you there for a second.”
“No… so, uh, um. What you’re… you can see me right now?”
“Yes.”
“What am I doing?” he asks, voice trembling as he slowly lifts his hand and holds up his middle finger.
“Well, treat, I think even if I couldn’t see you, I’d be able to guess that you’re giving me the finger.”
He drops his hand immediately. “Holy shit.”
“Yes.”
“You can really see me.”
“Yes,” I answer, softer.
“Like… really, really see me.”
“Yes, Madison,” I repeat again because I can sense his rising panic.
“This is actually insane. You know that right? Like this is crazy. All of this.” He twists his fingers together, and my brows tug. I don’t like the direction this conversation is headed.
“How do’ya mean?”
“You’re… Oh, God. You’re my… You’re my like actual stalker, and I’m talking to you! I’m engaging with you, and I… oh, no, no, no…”
My heart kicks with his words, ready for what he was about to say before he trailed off.
I lean forward, gripping the arms of my chair. “And you what, Madison? What were you going to say?”
“And I actually want it!” he wails, throwing himself back on his bed with a cry. The blanket poofs up around him, hiding his face from sight for a moment, and my breath catches in my throat.
Fuck, he doesn’t realize how perfect for me he is.
I let him have his crisis for a moment as I process his words and how, for the first time in my life, someone has made me feel… warm…
He wants me.
He fuckin’ wants me.
“Darlin’,” I say after a few minutes of haggard breathing.
“What?” he snaps snottily.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s okay?” he repeats incredulously. “It’s okay? What about any of this is okay?”
“I just meant—”
“I know what you meant, Static,” he sneers my name like a curse, and I wince. “You meant it’s okay because you get what you want out of this, and in the end, I’ll be left all fucked up again!”
I take a breath as I process his words… and the fact he said fuck.
I swallow because I hate them.
“What do you mean, again?”
Madison takes a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
“Why?”
“Because it does. I… I want to know you.”
“Because it fills your stalker-y fantasies,” he snarks.
“No,” I argue. “Because it’s the truth.”
He blinks once. Twice. Utters a soft, “Oh.”
I try again. “Please?”
“Wow. A stalker saying please.”
“I think most people would be surprised at how feisty you are.”
“Maybe.” But then, he chuckles, and the sound warms my blood.
“My parents are super religious, and, well, they-they’re not…
kind, I guess you could say.” He’s fidgeting with his fingers, and it makes me smile softly.
“I grew up really sheltered, which I know now, and it took a lot for me to get out of there and be where I’m at now.
So, of course, it’s only ironic that I end up back under the power of someone. ”
I clench my fists, hating the words I’m about to say. Words he didn’t ask for, but ones I’m about to give him, regardless. “You’re not under my power, Madison,” I tell him in a painful whisper. “If anything, I’m under yours.”
Silence descends.
And then, it shatters.
“W-what? That doesn’t… I don’t…” he stumbles over his words, head shaking between his shoulders, and I can’t help the small smile that curves my lips. Or the small jolt in my chest at the sight.
Damn.
He’s cute.
“It’s all about power, Madison. And it’s all yours, I promise you.”
“I don’t understand!” he shouts. “How is it mine when you’re the one doing all of this!”
I swallow sadly. “You’ll see.”
He huffs a breath like he doesn’t believe me. “Sure, I will.”
“You look cute when you’re frustrated,” I say to not only break the tension but to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“Oh, God. I… I forgot already! How did I forget…” he seems to mutter to himself before he stands with his hand on his hip, head cocked to the side as he looks around his room. “Where is it?”
Shit.
“Where’s what?” I ask, feigning ignorance.
“The damn camera, Cedrick. I want to know where it’s at.”
“Do I have to answer that?” I ask as I blow out a breath.
Madison’s brows furrow, and his lips purse. “Yes.”
“Fuck. I just love watching you, little mouse…”
“I know! Now, tell me!”
Damn it all to hell.
“It’s attached to the light fixture,” I mutter, hating this truth game more than ever before. I’m giving him so much and can only hope he gives me the same in return…
“You… that’s right in the middle! You can see everything!” he accuses me, and I smirk even though he can’t see me.
“I know…” I trail off.
“Oh, God… That means you’ve… you’ve seen…” he’s stuttering so bad, I just want to kiss his lips to still them.
“That I’ve seen… what, darlin’? That I’ve seen the way you wrap those fingers around your cock and pleasure yourself?
That I’ve seen the way you like to make yourself feel good?
That I now know how to do it myself for when we see each other again?
The answer is yes. And I fucking loved every second of it because you’re perfect.
Your body is perfect, your cock is perfect, and those noises you make…
Fuck. Those are incredible. I can’t wait to hear them in my ear again. ”
Madison’s face is bright red, and it looks like he’s about to swallow his tongue.
“Don’t look so surprised, my treat. It’s not like I haven’t tasted you already.”
“Shit,” he hisses, and I love it because I know he so rarely swears. “I don’t need the reminder.”
“You don’t?” I tease. “Think about it enough already?”
“Yes,” he admits easily, and I grin. Oh, that’s just perfect.
My treat is incredible.
“Are you thinking about it right now?” I ask lowly, leaning in closer to the screen.
“Y-yes…” he stutters, and my heart soars.
Gotcha.