Chapter Four: Lunch Date
Madison paced her living room, irritated beyond all belief. She should be writing a fifteen page essay on the politics behind the Salem witch hunt, but she couldn't focus. It had been more than a week since she'd seen Seth, but that shouldn't be upsetting her. On the contrary, she should be pleased. It's just because he could be plotting something, Madison told herself. I don't want him here, I just want to know what he's up to so I can...avoid it.
Grumbling to herself, she headed into the kitchen. She'd have a sandwich, she decided, and go back to apartment hunting. That would take her mind off Seth. Madison hadn't been able to find a satisfactory apartment. Oh, she'd seen plenty of nice ones, but... Damnit, she thought, dropping into a chair at the kitchen table. This is madness. She'd told herself any number of things; that she didn't want to leave the home she grew up in, that she wanted to be absolutely certain she'd found the right apartment, that she was worried about her parents now that they were getting older.
"I didn't used to be out of my mind," Madison grumbled to herself as she opened the refrigerator.
"True, you were always rather level-headed."
Madison shrieked. She whirled around, clapping a hand against her chest, where her heart pounded furiously against her ribs. Damn him, she thought, glaring up at Seth. And damn myself, for forgetting about that back door! It was frightening, how silent he could move. But then, she had been rather absorbed in her thoughts. Madison backed up as Seth advanced, until she came up against the refrigerator.
"Hello, Maddy," Seth crooned, smiling at her. "I see I'm just in time for lunch."
Madison scowled. "No, you are not. Because I'm having lunch alone."
"Nonsense," Seth scoffed, shaking his head. "I'm hungry, Maddy. I want something to...eat."
Her eyes widened. She pressed up hard against the refrigerator. There was no escape. Her blood roared through her veins like hungry fire, and Madison knew that it was excitement, not fear, that made her body tighten. Seth's fingers trailed down her arm, making her shiver. His fingers closed around her wrists and pulled her hands up over her head. Madison struggled, but she knew she couldn't break his hold.
"Don't fight," Seth murmured, leaning down and pressing his lips against her neck. "I know what you want. What you need. Let me give that to you."
"You don't know anything!" Madison retorted, glaring at him. "I don't want anything from you!"
She gasped as he jerked her forward suddenly. Keeping his hold on her wrists tight, Seth pushed her down onto the table, on her stomach. Madison struggled as he pressed up against her, pinning her down. His hands left her wrists, but she couldn't get out from beneath him, even with her hands free. Seth's hands slid beneath her shirt, pushing her bra up, and cupping her breasts.
"Stop!" Madison cried.
"Relax," Seth crooned, as his hands kneaded her breasts. "I know you don't want to give into me. Your stubbornness is part of what I love about you."
His hands were rough, but not too rough. The way she liked it, and he knew it. Madison bit back a moan as his teeth nipped at her neck. What is he doing? she wondered, as his mouth traveled down to her shoulder. Seth's hands left her breasts and began tugging her shirt off. Madison flailed, trying to slip out from beneath him. He wound her shirt around her wrists, then flipped her over onto her back.
She struggled to get her hands free of the tangle of material. As she did, Seth unfastened her jeans and began pulling them down. Madison kicked at him, but he simply pushed her leg away. She was startled when he paused, leaving her jeans around her thighs, and leaned over her. Seth's hands cradled her face and his mouth brushed over hers lightly.
"I know I left you aching last time, Maddy," Seth murmured. "But I'll make it up to you, if you let me. I know you didn't get what you needed, but I can give it to you..."
"N-no..." Madison stammered, shivering as warm breath tickled her neck.
"Stop denying it," Seth said quietly. His hands slid down and continued pulling off her jeans, and her panties with them. "You've needed this for so long..."
No, Madison thought, squeezing her eyes closed. Seth pulled back and finished removing her jeans. He tossed them aside, then bent over her again, lowering his mouth to her breasts. She moaned softly as his mouth closed on one painfully taut nipple. His tongue teased lightly, making her squirm. The shirt finally fell, freeing Madison's wrists, but she wasn't struggling anymore.
"Spread your legs for me, Maddy," Seth whispered.
She could feel the heat and the moisture of his mouth against her skin. Madison trembled, remembering what he had done that first night. If she gave in now, he would gain a hold on her. But she wanted to feel that again. Her cheeks burned as she opened her legs. Seth's hand slipped between her thighs and she gasped when his fingers touched her.
It wasn't what she wanted, but he knew that. Madison's body tightened in anticipation as his mouth traveled slowly down over her belly. His arms hooked around her thighs, lifting her hips up off the table. She moaned softly at the first touch of his mouth. Seth's tongue brushed her clit, teasing her briefly, then began long, slow strokes over swollen flesh. Madison's fingernails scraped at the tabletop, digging small furrows into the wood.
His tongue teased and tasted, sliding inside her. She writhed in his hold, her hips lifting to press against his mouth. When Seth's lips closed around her clit and sucked, Madison cried out. She closed her eyes, shuddering in climax. But he didn't stop. Even as she trembled with the aftershocks of pleasure, he continued with long, teasing strokes of his tongue. She let out a cry each time his tongue dragged over her clit.
Madison buried her fingers in his hair, holding his mouth against her. Her other hand gripped the table so hard that her knuckles turned white. She forgot herself completely, throwing her head back and arching her back off the table. Her body was so sensitive that before long she was coming again. Madison didn't realize that his name escaped her lips as she came. She didn't know anything except the sweet sensations racing along her nerves.
Seth pulled away at last, lowering her hips back to the table. She lay there, limp and panting, not sure she could move even if she wanted to. Madison felt his body settle over hers, felt his mouth teasing her breasts. She realized, only then, that she had her fingers in his hair. Startled, she released her hold on him and opened her eyes. Seth wasn't paying attention to her face. His mouth worked restlessly against her breasts. Madison sighed and closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy it for a few more moments.
"Feel better, Maddy?" Seth asked quietly.
"Mmm," Madison murmured. She half opened her eyes and looked at him. Damn him, she thought, biting her lip. He had to be right. She had needed that. Twice he'd left her aching with need and frustrated almost to the point of screaming. For some reason she couldn't give herself what she gave him. Damn him, Madison thought again, closing her eyes and tilting her head back. I'll get him back for this if it's the last thing I do.
*****
Seth stretched out on the couch, listening to the shower running upstairs. He was feeling rather pleased with himself. After resting for long moments, Madison had pushed him away, gathered up her clothes, and raced upstairs. But not before he'd caught a glimpse of the fire in her eyes. She was pissed off, true, although probably more at herself than at him. And Seth had a feeling that their game was only going to get more interesting from her.
The shower turned off. He waited patiently, allowing her time to gather her wits. Her surrender today had been an acceptance, although she might not even realize it yet. Madison wouldn't put a stop to this. She could have, Seth mused, staring up at the ceiling. Especially after last time.
He didn't know what he would have done if she hadn't given in like that today. Seth was running out of ideas to convince her. Now he could move on to the next part of his plan. It would be a battle the whole way, but he was looking forward to it. He hadn't been lying when he'd told her that her stubbornness was one of the things he loved about her. Madison had such fire in her; it seemed a shame that she had to hide it behind cold shrewdness.
"What are you still doing here?"
Seth sat up, leaning against the back of the couch, and smiled at Madison. She stood at the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. Still damp hair hung loose, free of her usual severe hairstyle. She wore pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, and it really amazed him that she looked so sexy that way. Seth beckoned for her to come closer and was pleased when she approached the couch.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay," Seth teased, grinning up at her.
"Shut up," Madison huffed, folding her arms over her chest and scowling.
She shrieked when he suddenly grabbed her wrist. Seth pulled, drawing her over the back of the couch so that she tumbled down into his lap. Madison sat up, jerking her wrist out of his hand, and glowered down at him. He found himself laughing. She's so darn cute sometimes, Seth thought, reaching up and lightly touching her cheek. Especially when she's all confused like this.
"Look, I have things to do," Madison said, pulling away from his hand. "So go home."
"What sort of things?" Seth asked, catching hold of her face again. He ran his thumb lightly over her lower lip.
Madison shivered. "I...I h-have to look for an apartment," she stammered.
"I could help you," Seth offered. "I've been thinking of moving, myself. We could get a nice place if we pooled our resources."
"With you?" Madison snorted. "As if!"
It felt like a slap across the face. Oh, he supposed she had every right to feel that way, but for some reason it still stung. Seth trailed his fingers along her arm, keeping silent. Madison was his. He didn't want to share her with anyone else; he never had. And he'd done his best to make sure no one would try. It had all backfired on Seth, just like his father's manipulations had backfired on him.
"Well, I suppose not," Seth said quietly. "I mean, we've only been friends for years..."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Friends? Funny, I seem to remember you as more of a tormenter than a friend."
"What's funny," Seth retorted, "Is how you remember yourself as always being the innocent one!"
Madison's eyebrows rose. Yeah, of course you're gonna look at me like that, Seth thought, scowling. How conveniently you forget. Sure, he'd mistreated her, but she had held her own when she wanted to. How well he remembered. In fact, he still had a scar on his arm from when she'd gotten him in deep. That time he'd been protecting her, but Madison had only seen it as interfering. She'd never realized what would have happened if he hadn't intervened.
"You and those goddamn innocent eyes," Seth growled. "Ever since we were kids! All you had to do is open those eyes real wide and suddenly I was the bad guy!"
"Like when?" Madison demanded.
"How about that time you stole my homework?" Seth reminded her. "Or did you believe yourself when you told the teacher that I'd dropped it and you'd forgotten to give it back to me?"
"You deserved it," Madison said, lifting her chin stubbornly.
He noticed the spark in her eyes; she thought it was funny. Oh, it's on now, Seth thought, sitting up. She squeaked in surprise, tumbling off his lap. Madison sat up on the couch and he recognized the look in her eyes. He'd seen it from time to time, when she got into an argument or a debate. She enjoyed these things.
"Did I deserve it the time I got blamed for you pulling up Ms. White's tulips?" Seth asked.
"You helped!" Madison retorted.
"Only because you got me with those damn eyes!" Seth shot back.
Madison turned her head and clapped a hand over her mouth. He realized that she was trying not to laugh. Yeah, remember that now, don't you? Seth thought, huffing. He supposed he couldn't blame her entirely for not remembering. Most of those times had happened when they were really young. Madison had gotten him into trouble countless times, which was probably why she'd tolerated his cruelty for so long.
"I'd forgotten about that," Madison said, giggling softly. "Ooo, and remember when I cut off all of Fifi's fur? And Ms. White chased you around with a scissor, screaming about what a 'horrible little hellion' you were."
"Oh, god," Seth groaned. "I'd forgotten about that damn dog. Now the dog definitely deserved it."
Madison threw back her head, laughing outright. Her guard was down and it seemed for the moment that she'd forgotten who she was talking to. Seth wished he could keep up this banter all day. Actually, considering the amount of mishaps they'd gotten into as children, he probably could. I can almost forget how twisted this whole thing is, he thought, when she laughs like that.
"Maddy," Seth said softly. She stopped and blinked at him. "I..."
He bit his lip. There was simply no way he could explain. Instead he threw his arms around her and rested his head against her stomach. Madison was so startled, she didn't even protest. She smells nice, Seth thought, sighing. He felt her hand rest tentatively on his head. She must have been so confused. Well, at least he knew he wasn't alone in this great big tangle of emotions.
"Do you remember when I stopped your date with Robby, back in high school?" Seth asked.
"Yeah," Madison answered, her voice soft. "You got that knife cut."
"You know why I did it," Seth said, lifting his head. "I know you do. Despite what you think..."
"I know," Madison whispered. "But you...you're doing the same thing."
"No," Seth said, frowning. He reached up and brushed his fingertips lightly over her lips. "He would have hurt you. I don't want to hurt you, I just want..."
He trailed off with a sigh. There was simply no way he could explain it to her, not when he couldn't explain it to himself. Obsession. The word haunted Seth daily. Without really thinking about it, he cupped her face gently and lowered his mouth to hers. Madison tensed, but she didn't push him away.
He hadn't kissed her before, not like this. It was a soft kiss, completely at odds with the force he'd been using. Seth closed his arms around her, holding her close as he coaxed her lips open with the tip of his tongue. Madison moaned softly; her fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt, clinging to him. Surprised, he released her and sat back. She stared at him for long moments, her eyes wide.
"Get out," Madison said softly, her voice quivering. "Get out now!"
She was trembling. Seth jumped off the couch and left the house. He thought it was better to leave now, before he did something stupid. Not that I haven't already, he thought, sighing. What would she have said if I told her that I love her? Probably that he was crazy, and he couldn't disagree. The whole thing was twisted and sick. But Seth couldn't pull himself away from her. He just couldn't.
*****
Madison sat on the couch, trembling from her to toe. What the hell is going on with me? she wondered, chewing fretfully on her lower lip. First I give in to his...his...and then I let him kiss me like... Why had he kissed her like that? And what he'd said about Robby...Madison wasn't stupid. She'd realized that Robby wanted sex and he would have gotten it by force if not willingly. Why had Seth stopped Robby when he'd planned to do the same thing himself?
Because it wasn't the same. Damnit, Madison thought, dropping back onto the couch. I'm so confused. What was she supposed to do? She'd tried running away, but that had failed. And of course she'd tried resisting, but that hadn't worked either. I can't think about this now, she thought, jumping up off the couch. I just can't. Still shaking, Madison went upstairs to her room and dropped onto her bed. She reached over, turning on the clock radio beside her bed. She turned up the volume and music blared, drowning out all else. Madison closed her eyes and focused on the music, slamming shut the door on what had happened tonight, for the time being.
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