Page 8 of Asphyxia
Alexis was a grown fucking woman and could make her own decisions, however stupid they may be. For once, I needed to focus on myself.
Me: And what about you? You could do the same.
Chyler: Don’t start a fight over text just because you’re bored. You’re supposed to be the mature one here.
Me: Right, forget I even said anything.
Chyler: I’ll be home soon, Mads… I’m not enjoying this as much as you think I am.
Me: No, I get it. See you soon…
Chyler: Loveyou, Sis.
Blowing out a heavy sigh, I hung my head, setting my phone on the floor beside me.
I had been hiding in one of the resident on-call rooms, needing to escape the chaos of the ED for a few minutes.
Work had been rough lately, and I needed Marcus more than I’d like to admit. He had become a crutch to my sanity, and I tried my hardest not to show him any sign of attachment.
I didn’t know if I was mentally ready to handle a real relationship again—to allow myself to love someone as much as I thought I loved Adrian.
To Marcus, I was nothing more than a simple sex addict—yet it was so much more complicated than that—but fuck did he fulfill my ever-demanding cravings whenever they darkened my doorstep.
It was always easier screwing random men from the bars. No strings came with one-night stands, and that was what Marcus was supposed to be from the start, but something about him—
“Madison Scott to the ED.” A robotic voice chimed over the PA system, and I released a heavy sigh as I forced myself to stand.
I hate it here.
“Madison.”Adrian’svoicewasa whisper, soft and soothing. I could feel his warm breath against the shell of my ear. “Sweetheart.”
Igroaned, rolling my body in his arms to face him before opening my eyes, heavy with sleep.
“Adrian?” I croaked, rubbing my eye with the heel of my palm as his dark green eyes seared into mine.
“You know I’d do anything for you.” His eyes searched mine as my brows raised in concern.
“Of course. What’s the matter?” It was still dark, the moonlight from the open window creating shadows that danced across his face as he dragged a knuckle along my cheekbone.
“Nothing. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me. That I’d burn the world to the ground for you.”
“You’re being sentimental. Something is bothering you…”
“What if I were to tell you that soon I could give you everything your heart desired?”
“I’d say you were crazy, but I’m all ears.”
Curiosity was getting the better of me. I knew Adrian had an affinity for the dark and devious, so whatever he had in mind was nothing good—but ultimately, neither was he.
“Picture this…” He pressed his forehead to mine, closing his eyes as if imagining everything he was about to say. “You and me, ruling an unstoppable underground empire—controlling the entire world with fear from the mere idea of what would happen to those who crossed us.”
Adrian was always one for over-exaggeration with all his dreams of world domination. I swear he’d convinced himself that he was capable of anything, and here I was stroking his ego, among otherthings.
“You and me?” I play into his fantasy. It was late, and I was exhausted from the hospital and my most recent assignment from Charlotte—not to mention, I was not looking for a fight at whatever ungodly hour of the night it was.
“Just you and me, sweetheart.” He pulled me in tighter, cupping my cheek and kissing me deeply—the loving and tender side of him in full bloom.
These were the moments I lived and breathed for when I was with him.
