Words that rhyme with sticky

— Do you think the Skull gives everyone a choice? No. You work for him or you die. Everything is simple.

He bites his bottom lip and I'm surprised he doesn't really believe what he says.

Joel may be difficult... but he's not a bad guy. When he sees that I've come for him, he'll think of something.

I can't say that the best plan is to include a possible "villain" in order to escape, but it could be worse. I mean, at least he has some sort of plan.

— What if he doesn't want to?

Jai exhales and his features smooth out.

- If he does not want to, I will die.

Chapter 7

Second error

After our discussion, Jai left. I didn't ask where he was going, but I noticed a small wad of money he stuffed into the pocket of his backpack. He has a plan, one of the points of which is to pay someone money for certain services. Maybe he's paying off one of the Skull's thugs for information... and that's not a ridiculous assumption.

He did not return until late in the evening, and when he returned, he never looked at me. Never. I watched him as he lay on his cot and threw a rubber ball at the opposite wall. Each successive throw got stronger and stronger, but he caught it every time. As I dozed off, I had a dream about him, a dream that ended with his throat slit and me thrown over the railing. It was enough to make me open my eyes and return to reality.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness immediately. Jai draped his T-shirt over the lamp again, allowing only a faint light to enter the room. It is quiet at this end of the tunnel, but in the distance I can hear singing and loud conversations, like those that can be heard near a bar. I look at him, lying on his back with his hand thrown over his face. He's topless and I don't blame him. The air is thick and sticky. There is no breeze, no fresh air, and it's hard, and I give off a good amount of heat from my body.

Until he sees, I slide my gaze down his body. Lying there, he looks like an appetizing hottie, and my insides flutter. He has the body of a man, that's for sure. Muscles and lines in places I haven't seen on anyone except on the covers of fitness magazines. He created his body, fashioned it, and I wonder how many women have touched it. How many women have had the pleasure of burying their fingers in his hair or touching his belly with their lips? I can't help but wonder, since he's still lying motionless in just his underpants, what he looks like from the waist down. Sure, a man his size is packed with a decent size penis... or maybe that explains the size of the rest of him. Maybe he was forced to compensate for the lack there? I smirk. If I give my opinion, will he want to show me? I shake my head. What the hell am I doing?

I force myself to clear my head and close my eyes, hoping to pull my brain out of my vagina. A few seconds pass, I open my eyes again, and my mind goes back to this dirty sea around. It's kind of sexy that Jai paid so much money to save my life. I have never had someone who would do something for me without self-interest ... and it makes me feel in a way that cannot be described in words. Besides, by paying him back, will I ever be able to show him in that way how much his communication affects me? I've never been a real friend and I know that Jai and I are far from being friends, but it feels amazing. No wonder people surround themselves with people all the time. It's nice to hear your own voice and know that someone is listening to you.

There is some fuss in the corner and I change position on the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest. I clasp my fingers, noticing immediately that Jai has got me shoes and socks. How convenient.

- Jai? I whisper, wrapping my arms around myself.

I hear another fuss, then a distinct squeak. My heart stops. Damn rats!

"Jai. .." I try again, this time sounding frightened and unhappy.

However, he does not move. I thought I was fast asleep. I lean into the space between our beds and touch him. Under my fingers, the muscles in his chest tighten and before I know it, his arm wraps around me and I feed as he pulls me out of my bed towards him.

— Jai…

Somehow he grabs me in his arms and pulls me towards him until my body falls over his and I am unable to move. Bound. His legs wrap around mine and squeeze until my knee feels like it's about to pop out of joint.

— Stop…

After freeing me from his arms, but not from his legs, he pulls out the earphones that I couldn't see.

“Dammit, Kitten, don't sneak up on me,” he orders, his chest vibrating against mine.

I try to free my legs, but he bends his legs and I wince at the pain in my knee.

- I called you by your name twice, and for the last time, tie up with the Kitten. This is not my name.

— What are you doing? he asks, ignoring my protest.

In the dim light, I notice a slight smile on his lips and feel his chest rise and fall a little faster than it was a second ago. I wonder if it's because I scared him, or because my wet body pressed against him so tightly and it's affecting him.

- I think I heard rats.

My fingers twitch on his smooth chest, and the corner of his mouth does the same.

- Rats?

I nod.

- Large.

I hear muffled music that he was listening to through headphones. Sounds like rap. I rarely had time to listen to music after I entered the nursing course. Here it is nice to hear something other than screams and the rare sound of water drops. Jai notices me looking at the earpiece and picks it up.

- Would you like to listen?

I nod, forgetting all the rats and our strange posture. He tucks a large section of my hair behind my ear before inserting the earpiece.

I have never heard such a dramatic collection of lyrics before. It's mesmerizing and real and a million other things. I don't ask him who raps or who wrote it, I just take comfort in the unknown.

Jai is looking for his player, which is hidden somewhere near his body. Finds it and the player's screen lights up when he switches the song. I fight with myself not to pout, not wanting to change the song I'm listening to.

“You can lay your head down here for a while,” he says, gently pushing my head down until my warm cheek rests against his chest. “Well, you know, because of the rats on your side of the room and everything…

I smile in spite of myself and snuggle up to him. Soon the music moves from deep rap to slow rock. The singer has an even baritone that caresses my ears with its magic. It makes me think about my job and that I must have lost it. It makes me think about the apartment and the eviction I'm going to consider if I ever get out of here. Strange, but the music is soothing. When the song transitions to the choir, I think about my life up until now... and my parents. I could take the opportunity to ask the Skull for their names. If I get their names, I can track them down. I don't want anything from them, I just want them to know that I'm alive and that everything is fine with me, and that I did it without them. Or maybe I want to spy on them a little to see if they stop for a second and think of me.

- Do you think Skull will give me my parents' names if I ask?

Jai's whole body tenses under me. He doesn't answer, at least for a while, and in that silence I try to figure out what that means. Yes? Not?

"He'll help you," he finally admits. - For a certain price.

— Price?