Break Me Slowly (Shattered 1)

I settled back down, too tired to argue. Too tired to even speak. I lay on my stomach and slid myself down so my foot dangled off the end of the mattress.

“What are you doing?” Adam’s voice was sounding further and further away as sleep surrounded me.

“So I know where I am.” I tapped my foot along the edge of the mattress. “So I know how far away the ground is.”

“Why do you need to know where the ground is?”

The answer seemed obvious in my drunken stupor. “So if she comes in…I can run…”

I thought I heard him say, “You’re safe here,” but sleep enveloped me before I could be sure.

Chapter Ten

It was still dark out. Adam was next to me in bed, asleep on his stomach. Happiness swelled. My brain was foggy from stress and lack of sleep, but somehow I thought today would be different. Surely some kind of progress had been made between Adam and me?

I sat up and ran my hand along his spine. He snapped awake and in a flash, spun to his back and gripped my wrist so tightly I thought he’d break it.

He stared straight at me. “You sick f**king bastard.”

“Adam?”

His eyes were open, locked on mine, but I didn’t think he saw me. His brows furrowed.

“Katelyn?” Sleep fade from his face. He blinked several times, then looked at where he held me. He instantly dropped my hand. “Forgive me. I am used to sleeping alone.”

Part of me was so happy to hear that he didn’t share his bed with just any woman. The other part was worried about what I’d just witnessed. I knew from experience that what lurks in the night and in the back of your darkest memories can still haunt you.

“Adam. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I was just sleeping.”

Whatever turmoil was churning in his mind, he obviously wasn’t ready to spill it. I could understand that. Knew that some things didn’t bear recalling.

I placed my palm on his cheek. “I’m sorry I woke you.”

“I’m not.” He grabbed my hips and maneuvered me onto my back. He was over me a heartbeat later, spreading my thighs with his knees.

He kissed me. “I’m glad you’re here.”

My heart melted and he sank into my body. With his lips fused to mine, he brought us both to climax as we watched the sun rise over downtown Chicago.

~

Half way through the day, my phone buzzed with a text message.

Thank you for this morning, lover. I enjoyed myself immensely.

I smiled.You are a wonderful host. I found myself thoroughly entertained. If only more people paid their guests such attention…

Special attention for a special woman.

Are you flirting with me?

I don’t flirt.

Boy, that was the truth.I have to get going. I’m teaching in fifteen minutes.

It took several minutes for him to respond, but when I saw the message in my inbox, I downloaded the attachment and clicked Play.

“Hot for Teacher” by Van Halen boomed through my smart phone. I grinned like an idiot all the way to class, enjoying my own personal theme song.

~

“Well, look at you, Miss Happy Pants. I was worried after you went home last night, but you look great!”

Megan sat across the table from me, smiling. She took a drink of her diet soda while I forked my salad. I was happy we were having lunch together today. When Adam dropped me off at my apartment early this morning to get ready for work, Megan hadn’t been home.

“How was staying with Brian last night?” I asked.

Megan shrugged. And not her normal, happy-to-be-in-love shrug.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah, it was fine. How was the rest of your night?”

“It was pretty good. Adam and I…sort of made up.”

Megan’s face stilled and she stared hard at me. “What does ‘sort of’ mean?”

“Well, we talked through things. He told me he was sorry and I said the same—”

“Wait, why are you sorry? You didn’t do anything.”

I bit my bottom lip. “I didn’t tell him I was a virgin. It spooked him a little the next morning.”

Megan sat back in her chair, her mouth hanging open.

“But he’s talking to me today, so that’s a good sign.”

Megan shook her head. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“I know, and I appreciate your looking out for me.”

She blew out a breath. “Are you happy?”

Warmth flooded my cheeks. “Yeah. Right now, I’m really happy.”

“Okay, then. Are you going to see him again?”

Before I could answer, my phone rang. Kink flashed on the screen. I tried to hide my goofy smile as I answered. “Were your ears burning?”

“You were discussing me?” I could hear the grin in his voice.

“Maybe.”

“That pleases me. Good things, I hope.”

“Why, Adam Kinkade, what could I possibly say negatively about you?”

“I keep warning you about that mouth, lover.”

My breath hitched.

“Perhaps we can discuss this more tonight. There is a silent auction fundraiser. I would like to invite you to come with me.”

Megan was chewing, her wide eyes skating across my face, obviously dying to know what was going on.

“Um, is this a classy sort of thing?”

“Yes.”

I put my hand over the bottom of my phone. “Can I borrow a dress? A nice one?” I whispered to Megan.

She nodded.

“There’s no need, Katelyn. I will send everything you need to your home. I’ll pick you up at eight.”

“That’s not necessary. I can dress myself.”

“Yes, I am aware of that, but I want you to wear what I send. And only what I send.”

My heart jumped into my throat. Adam was picking something out for me? The idea that he wanted to see me in something specific had me excited and giddy.

“All right.”

“See you tonight.”

I hung up the phone and a tremor raced down my spine.

“So…?” Megan asked.

“I think I’m going on a date with Adam Kinkade.”

Chapter Eleven

“Oh my God and all things hot!” Megan screeched when I walked out of my room.

As promised, Adam had a dress, shoes, and jewelry sent to my house the moment I got home.

“This is way too much.”

I looked down self-consciously at myself. When I opened the garment box, there had been a note that read: