Jeremy had tapped on the door before he entered. Madison was in bed where he left her earlier except now she was surrounded by papers.

“What’s all this?” He asked as he took in the mess of papers and files spread out on her bed.

“Work. What’s that?” Madison pointed to the bag in Jeremy’s hand.

“Dinner. I had Mason wrap it up for me to go.”

“He didn’t ask where you were taking it?”

“Nah, he didn’t care. Let me carry you out to the kitchen.”

“Can you help me into the bathroom first?”

Jeremy removed his blazer and lifted Madison off the bed. Madison unconsciously nuzzled her nose into his neck. “You smell good, and you look very nice. Your date will be happy.”

“I try.” When Jeremy dressed this evening he wasn’t thinking about his date, he thought only of Madison.

While Madison used the bathroom, Jeremy brought the food out to the kitchen. He opened all the cabinets until he found plates and silverware. Jeremy ordered two of the same meals. He told Mason he was having a quiet dinner with a friend and Mason didn’t question him.

When he finished in the kitchen, Jeremy walked back into the bathroom. Madison managed to lift herself off the toilet and leaned on the countertop in front of the sink when he walked in. “I’m starving.” She said when he entered.

Jeremy lifted her and carried her out to the kitchen.

“You know I can walk with the crutches the doctor gave me.”

“It’s quicker if I carry you.”

“True that.” Madison giggled then she saw the food. “Mason must think you have an enormous appetite.”

“I do, now let’s feast, I only have an hour and a half before I have to perform.”

Madison laughed, “You’ll be fine. What room are you in?”

“We’re not talking about my night after I leave here while we share a meal together.”

“Okay then, would you like to share a bottle of wine?”

Jeremy stood and walked over to the wine fridge in the kitchen. “What would you like?”

“Whichever one you like.”

Jeremy picked a full body red that would go perfectly with the steak. Madison pointed to a cabinet and Jeremy took out two wine glasses. He opened the bottle, poured the wine and returned to the table. Madison picked up her drink, and they toasted each other.

They ate in silence for the first few minutes until Jeremy spoke. “I wish I could ask you about yourself, but it seems a large part of your life is something you don’t want to talk about.”

Madison placed her fork and knife down and lifted her wine glass and took a sip. “Jeremy, it’s not that I don’t want to talk about, it’s that you are still an Essential here and I’ve kept things private until today.”

“And you don’t trust me?”

“I don’t know you, but obviously I trust you somewhat since you are here now.”

Jeremy let that settle in. “Well, you can trust me. Your life will remain private but Madison I pretty much have this all figured out.” Jeremy swept his finger in a circle pointing to their surroundings.

“You think you do.” Madison raised her eyebrows at him.

“You want me to tell you what I think I know for sure?”

“Wow, you think you have this all figured out.” Madison looked down at her plate unable to make eye contact with Jeremy. She had a feeling he knew for sure who she really was.

 “I’m going to say it.” Jeremy warned her.

“Shoot.”

“You’re sixty percent owner.”

Madison flinched at the words. She gazed at him, swept her tongue across her lips then rolled her lips together. “Let’s talk about something else.” She suggested as she threw him a little wink.

“What can we talk about?”

“We can discuss you, and there are other aspects of my life I like to talk about.”

“Like what?”

“I paint, I like to read, and I’m a lawyer, though I hate talking about my work. I should have never become a lawyer.”

“That’s how I feel about medical school.”

“Bevy said you only finished undergraduate.”

“That’s all I told her.”

“You went to Medical school?”

“Georgetown but I only went because it was my parent’s dream to have a son who went further than a trade school.”

“Were you able to get some joy out of it?”

“Not yet but I haven’t given up hope. I’m hoping that one day it all just clicks and I can use my education for something that appeals to me.”

“What brought you here?”

“I need money to pay off my student loans.”

“Ah, well, rest assured you’ll make money here, and you’ll probably pay off those loans rather quickly.”

“What about you? Why do you hate being a lawyer?” Jeremy sat back in the chair and watched as Madison pushed the food around her plate as she thought about her answer.

“I’m a divorce lawyer, so I’m on the ugly end of things. It shocks me how a man and woman could be in love then it turns bitter and nasty.”

“Is that why you’re not married?”

Madison chuffed, “The answer to that question runs deep, too deep for this meal.”

“How old are you, Madison?”

Madison huffed, “Didn’t your mother teach you not to ask a woman her age?”

“Madison, you are a stunning woman, and I think you know that. You look young, but you carry yourself like a woman with experience, so I want to know your age.”

Madison had hesitated before she answered Jeremy, “Forty-two.”

“Now was that so hard?” Jeremy asked as he patted her arm.

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-three but you must have known that.”

“Bevy told me, but I wanted to see if you’d lie.”

“No lies, my age, your age makes no difference here at RAW.”

Madison wasn’t thinking about the confines of RAW; she was thinking about outside of RAW. What would happen if she met a man almost ten years younger out in the real world?

She looked at Jeremy as he sliced into his steak. If she met Jeremy outside of RAW, Madison would make sure she’d find a way to capture his attention. Madison had been surrounded by good-looking men most of her adult life but not one as charming as Jeremy.  Jeremy was an exception to most men Madison knew. For a moment, she considered the woman who raised him. She pictured an Audrey Hepburn type – elegant and refined.

As they explored each other’s lives, Madison found out that Jeremy loved to read anything and everything about history. He was a proficient skier, and if he does pursue a career in medicine, his focus will be on the underdevelopment of the brain stem in infants.

Jeremy fascinated Madison. He had an incredible life waiting for him as soon as he decided when it should start. She couldn’t see him staying at RAW for more than a year, maybe a year and a half, but only to bank more money. Staying any longer would be a waste of his talents.

They finished dinner, and Jeremy brought Madison back to her bedroom and helped her wash up for bed. After he had tucked her in, he went into the kitchen to clean up. Jeremy shut down the lights except for the lamp on the table next to the couch. He walked back into Madison’s room and sat down next to her bed.

“You will text me if you need me.”

“Yes, I will and have fun tonight.” She gave Jeremy a weak smile.

He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Should I stop by at the end of my evening?”

Madison wanted to say yes, but she decided she occupied enough of Jeremy’s time today. Plus, the thought of him coming to her room after he had sex with another woman oddly repulsed her. “I’ll be okay. I have my crutches, I have my cell, so if I need help, I’ll text you.”

“Okay.” Jeremy walked to the door and looked back one more time. “Good night Madison.”

“Good night Jeremy.”

Jeremy got back to the bar where a few of the guys greeted him. “Man, where have you been all day?” AJ asked.

Jeremy glanced over at the corner where Bevy was having dinner. She quickly shot him a look then went back to her meal.

“I was helping Bevy with some plumbing issue she had.” Jeremy flagged down Mason, “Could I get a club soda?”

“Sure, man, I was wondering if you were going to make an appearance here tonight.” Mason placed the glass of club soda in front of Jeremy. Mason knew something was up because earlier Jeremy requested two meals to be packed up for him and a friend. Mason knew it wasn’t his place to ask but he had his suspicions. Mason had a different view then every other guy at RAW. He sat back and watched everything from the bar and it was amazing the things he noticed. He caught the glimpses that other’s thought went unnoticed. He watched people’s behaviors change when certain people entered the room. And he knew the very minute Madison showed an interest in Jeremy.

“I wasn’t sure I’d make it either. Bevy worked me hard all day.” Jeremy eyed up Bevy’s table. “I’ll be right back. I need to talk to Bevy about her plumbing.”

Jeremy stood in front of Bevy’s table as she nodded for him to sit. “How’s our girl?” She asked as she brought her glass up to her lips.

“She’s better.”

“I want to thank you for everything you did today, and I’m thanking you in advance for your discretion.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So you know what I’m talking about?” Bevy clarified without actually saying it.

“Yes, I know what you’re talking about.”

Bevy smiled and nodded. “You may go but remember Jeremy; I’m still in charge. Everything that happens at RAW goes past me, and I am the final say. My partner is a silent partner as per her request.”

Jeremy left, dropped his glass off at the bar, and went to his first room for the night. When he finally got back to his room a little after one, he checked his cell. There was one message from Madison sent only thirty minutes earlier.

It read: Do you think you could come by in the morning and help me bathe?

Jeremy sent a text back even though it was late. He typed: Text me when you wake up, and I’ll be there.

She texted back: Thank you and good night.

Jeremy texted: Pleasant dreams.

Jeremy knew what he’d be dreaming about when his head hit the pillow. The morning couldn’t come quick enough.

 

Madison sent a text message to Jeremy around ten o’clock. He woke up at eight, worked out, and showered so when her text message came in; he was ready to go.

When he got to her apartment, he tapped on the door and entered. Madison walked out of the bathroom using her crutches. A smile stretched across her face. “Good morning.”

“Good Morning to you as well. How are you feeling?” Jeremy walked up to her took the crutches, leaned them against the wall, and picked Madison up in his arms and placed her on the bed.

“I slept good, and my foot isn’t throbbing as much. The pain killer helped a lot.”

“Good. Are you hungry or do you want to bathe first?”

“I’d rather bathe first then eat.”

Jeremy stared down at Madison deciding how to approach bathing her without getting the cast wet. “I’m going to need a plastic bag until I can get one of those plastic protectors.”

“You’ll find bags under the sink in the kitchen.”

Jeremy came back in the room with a plastic bag. “Let’s get you undressed and then I’ll bag up your foot.” Jeremy knelt in front of Madison and patted his shoulders.

Madison leaned on his shoulders while he slid her pajama shorts down her legs. She sat back on her bed while Jeremy slipped them off her feet. Madison removed her top. Jeremy smiled, as he looked at Madison sitting naked on the edge of her bed.

“Why are you smiling?” She swatted his shoulder.

“I like your naked body.” Jeremy easily admitted.

“Jeremy, you shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Madison, I’m about to bathe you, do you think there is nothing sexual about this experience for me?”

“For me as well, but we need to maintain some professionalism about this because we are under the constraints of the rules of RAW. You still are an Essential.”

“Understood,” Jeremy said, as he exhaled a frustrated breath. Jeremy picked up the plastic bag, covered Madison’s cast then took the second bag, rolled it up and tied it around the top of the first bag to secure it.

He lifted Madison in his arms and carried her into the bathroom and set her on the couch. He looked around the bathroom for the best possible way to bathe Madison without getting her cast wet.

Inside the shower was a teak wood stool. He thought about placing it in the bathtub, but that position wouldn’t be comfortable for Madison.

“Sweetheart, I think I’m going to have to put you in the shower and have you sit on the stool. I’ll use the hose to spray you, you can wash up, and then I’ll rinse you with the hose.”

“You’ll get wet.”

“I’m not going in wearing my clothes but I’ll leave on my briefs.”

“I’m a big girl if you want to take them off, I’m fine with that.”

“I don’t mind leaving them on. Let me put a towel down on the bench before I bring you in.”

Jeremy grabbed a couple of towels from the closet. He set up the shower then carried Madison in and placed her on the bench.

Jeremy shucked his clothes and tossed them on the counter. He joined Madison back in the shower, grabbed the hand held sprayer, checked the temperature of the water, then carefully sprayed Madison making sure to keep the water away from her cast. “I think this will work. I just don’t want water seeping under the plastic bag, so I’m going to place a towel right above it.”

“Do whatever you have to do. Can you hand me the sea sponge and the body wash?” Madison pointed to the items on the shelf in the corner.

“I’ll wash your hair for you?” Jeremy grabbed the shampoo. He soaked her hair, lathered up the shampoo and massaged the shampoo into her scalp.

Madison stopped what she was doing to enjoy Jeremy’s strong hands massaging her scalp. “Jeremy, that feels good.”

Jeremy continued massaging her head then moved his hands down to her neck. He worked deep into the muscles of her neck as Madison dropped her head forward. She purred as Jeremy worked the base of her scalp moving his thumbs along either side of her vertebra. She rolled her shoulders back as Jeremy continued kneading his fingers into her skin down her back then back up to her shoulders.

“You have great hands,” Madison said, purring.

Jeremy finished washing her hair then took the sponge from her and washed her back all the way down to her backside. He moved around her and bent in front of her. “Stand and hold on to my shoulders.”

Madison did as he said without asking why and then she found out why. Jeremy gently swept the sea sponge back and forth between her legs multiple times. The sensation prompted her to dig her fingers into his skin. “You can sit,” he said when he finished.

Jeremy cleaned every inch of Madison’s exposed skin followed by carefully rinsing her. He wrapped a towel around her and carried out of the shower and placed her on the couch.

“Do you mind if I rinse off real fast?”

“Not at all. You’ve been so helpful to me, do what you need to do.”

Jeremy stepped out of his briefs and flung them on the bathroom counter. He hopped in the shower and quickly washed off. Madison absorbed every detail about the moment. His perfect muscled body, his broad chest and back, his large hands, his thick dark hair that when wet looked inky black, and the piece de resistance, Jeremy’s massive cock. Madison gawked until she realized Jeremy caught her.

“Are you enjoying yourself over there?” He called out.

Madison threw her hands over her face, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’ve seen all of you, it’s only fair you get all of me.” And with that Jeremy turned around to give Madison a fantastic view of his perfect ass.

Jeremy shut the water off and grabbed one of the towels. He dried himself off and stepped out of the shower. He dressed in front of Madison then brought her back to her room and helped her dress.

“What do you want for breakfast?” He asked as he carried her out of her bedroom. “I’ll have the chef make something and bring it back here.”

“Did you eat?” Madison asked.

“Not yet.”

“Then order for both of us, and we’ll eat together. I mean only if you have time.”

“I have nowhere to be.”

“Good, I’m afraid I’ll go stir crazy being stuck in here alone for a month.”

“You could hang out in the mansion with everyone else,” Jeremy suggested.

“No, I can’t because then everyone will find out I live here and I can’t allow that to leak out, and besides, I’m not good at being social.”

“What do you mean?” Madison’s remark shocked Jeremy since living at the mansion almost forced her to be social.

“I just prefer the solitude. I have a lot of stress and the alone time is good for me.” Madison paused as she thought about what she said, “But you can visit whenever you like. I don’t like to be completely isolated.”

I’ll spend as much time as you’d like keeping you company.”

“I appreciate it.”

“What do you want for breakfast, I’m starving?” Jeremy asked.

Jeremy returned forty-five minutes later. They sat and ate together on Madison’s Balcony. They talked some more about their personal lives. Madison shared more of what she experienced in her career as a divorce attorney. Her opinion of marriage was soured by all the stories she’d heard of infidelity, cruelty, and downright nastiness. Her last client’s marriage ended with a brawl while the children watched. Madison recounted the story of the husband and wife shoving each other around until they wrestled each other to the floor. Chairs were broken, the husband walked out with a black eye and scratches all over his face while he pulled out a chunk of the wife’s hair.

“Madison, not every marriage ends in divorce.” Jeremy reminded her.

“But I’ve found that many that don’t should.”  

“Well, I can see I’m not going to change your mind just yet, so I’ll change the subject.  Do you ever get nervous speaking in front of the judge,” Jeremy asked.

“It’s the only time I’m not nervous.” Madison slumped back in her chair and rubbed her belly. “We have the best chef’s here.”

“I agree. I never thought when I took this job my favorite part would be the food.”

Madison laughed and then she shifted back to a more serious topic. “I hope I haven’t soured you on marriage talking about my career.”

“No, I want to be married.”

“Really? Our conversation hasn’t tainted you.”

“Nope, I will be loyal to my wife, and I hope that I am a good judge of character and pick a woman who will be loyal to me.” Jeremy scrunched up his napkin and dropped it on his empty plate. “I like the intimacy of being in a relationship. I need that intimacy. I crave it. I want to be someone’s husband one day.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I told you I need the money to pay off my student loans.”

“Will you ever tell your future wife about this part of your life?”

“I’ll worry about that when the time comes.”

“So you intend on being honest up to a point?”

“That’s not fair. To omit this part of my life would be to protect my wife. This lifestyle could make a woman feel insecure. I don’t want my wife ever to feel like I’m comparing her or judging her to other women I’ve slept with and if she knew I worked here, she’d know I slept with many women.”

Madison gazed at Jeremy. Something about what he said made her want to cry. If she could easily walk, she would have found an excuse to leave the room, but she was stuck there in front of him as tears fell from her eyes.

“Madison, sweetheart, what happened?” Jeremy leapt from his chair, scooted Madison’s chair out and knelt in front of her. He held Madison’s hands in her lap.

“I’m sorry, I’m just emotional all of a sudden. Jeremy would you mind setting me up on the couch and then going.”

“Did I offend you?”

“No. You just reminded me of how jaded I’ve become, and it feels awful.”

“I’m sorry Madison. It wasn’t my intention.”

“I know. It’s just you being you, sweet and charming.”

“Madison, it’s not too late to let someone love you like that.”

Jeremy wiped the tears from her eyes using her napkin, “Jeremy, I wish it was that easy.”

“It can be, you’ll see.” Jeremy stood and kissed the top of Madison’s head. “I’ll clean up and settle you on the couch.”

Jeremy cleaned up the dishes then carried Madison over to the couch. He brought everything she would need and reminded her to text him if she needed him for any reason. He kissed her forehead and left her.

As he walked back to his room, he rehashed their conversation. After the short time he spent with Madison, Jeremy began wanting those things with her; yet, he couldn’t see that being a real possibility after hearing her views on marriage. The time he spent with her allowed him to see a softer, more vulnerable side of Madison, and he liked it, but the problem was that Madison hated that side of her and she’d do anything to keep it hidden, even denying herself happiness with a man who loved her.