Break Me Slowly (Shattered 1)

No answer.

I sent a quick text to Adam.

Done early! Thinking of you. Can’t wait for tonight.

I’m always thinking of you. I look forward to it, too.

Have you packed all necessary items?

You mean my pajama pants? Yes.

The blue ones, right?

Yes. But a man starts to wonder when his girlfriend is so adamant about him wearing clothes as opposed to not…

Those PJ bottoms get me all hot. I only want you to wear them so I can take them off…with my teeth.

In that case, I’ll buy twenty more pair and wear nothing else.

I’m sure your business associates would love that.

I’m the boss. I do what I want.

I know you do.

You love it. See you soon.

I giggled. Our sexy-texting had made the walk home fly by. I fished the keys from my purse, unlocked the dead bolt, and opened the door. The house was dark. I heard cursing. A man.

“Megan?”

Something broke. Panic swept through me. A shadowy figure raced at me. Before I had time to react, he pushed me hard into the wall.

A splitting pain shot through the back of my skull and the whole world went dark.

~

“Kate…Kate, honey, look at me.”

“Megan?”

I forced my eyelids to flutter open and was greeted with a screaming pain pounding from the back of my head. I looked around. I was on the couch. Megan was in her little pink robe hovering over me.

“Oh, thank God. Are you okay?”

Reality hit. “Meg! We need to get out of here, there was an intruder—”

“I know. He’s gone.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No. I was in my room. You must have spooked him. I saw him run out and knock you against the wall.”

“What the f**k is going on?” Adam’s voice boomed from the doorway, and instantly he was kneeling beside me.

“I’m fine. It was a burglar, I think.”

“Jesus Christ.” He cupped my face and kissed my lips, softly, though I could tell he wanted to do it much harder.

“I’m really okay. Just a bump on the head.”

He moved to examine it. “I want you to come home with me.”

“It’s really okay. We’ll get some new locks and everything will be fine.” I tried to keep the terror out of my voice, but it was there. Having a stranger break into my home left a violated feeling deep in my gut. I wish I had been able to see his face. But all I had registered was that he was barreling toward me.

Adam looked over at Megan. “Are you okay?”

She folded her arms over her chest and nodded.

Adam’s blue stare was back on me. “Stay right there. Don’t move.” He went to the front door and fiddled with the doorknob and dead bolt. “The lock is not broken.”

He moved to the windows, checking them all. None were broken or even open. All were locked. After going through the entire apartment, he was back at my side. “Nothing looks like it was disturbed. Did you leave your door unlocked?”

“No, we always lock it.” I had to unlock the deadbolt, right? I was certain I remembered doing that. “But Megan was here.”

Adam’s eyes darted to her. “Where were you?”

“I was changing in my bedroom.”

“And you didn’t hear him.”

She swallowed. “N-no, I didn’t.”

Adam looked at me, then back at Megan, then me again. “I don’t want you staying here.”

“Adam, this is my home.”

“It’s not safe. I want you to move in with me.”

“Whoa, what?” I sat up and my head throbbed harder.

“I was going to ask you anyway, but this just proves my point that it’s necessary.”

I gingerly felt my scalp where I had hit the wall. I wasn’t bleeding, but I didn’t have the energy to rationalize why moving in wasn’t a good idea—or to fight with him.

“It’s too soon, Adam. If we don’t work out, I’ll have to—”

“If we don’t work out? What the hell do you think this is?”

“I thought we were dating. Am I wrong?”

“Yes. We’re together. All the time. I want you and not just for now.”

My brows shot into my hairline. I looked at Megan, who looked just as stunned as I felt. If ever I needed her opinion telepathically, this was it.

Adam frowned and looked over his shoulder at Megan. “Can you give us a few minutes, please?”

Megan looked at me, silently asking if I wanted her to stay. “It’s okay,” I whispered.

She nodded. “I’ll just be in my room if you need me.”

“Thanks.”

Once Megan shut her door, Adam’s focus was back on me. “Move in with me.”

I shook my head, my jaw flapping because I was still unable to pick it up off the floor. Adam and I had been doing great lately, but there was still a long way to go. For instance, his opening up to me at some point. I wanted him. The thought of not being with him hurt my chest, but moving in was a big step. It could prematurely ruin things before we had a chance to get it right.

“Adam, this is…it’s just not a good idea right now. We’ve just gotten to a place where we’re stable…kind of. These things take time. I’m still learning how to do the relationship thing.”

“Are you happy when you’re with me?”

“Yes.”

“And I’m happiest when I’m with you. Stop running and finding excuses. I want you to move in with me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I can take care of myself, Adam.”

“I can take care of you, too.”

For some reason, the urge to cry was coming on. Had I thought about the long term with Adam? Yes. But this felt like it was a move because he was worried. I didn’t want him to want me out of obligation. That was how I’d ended up at my aunt’s house all those years ago. I didn’t want to make a choice that would end up hurting even more in the end, and possibly costing me Adam.

“Will you just stay with me tonight? Please. My head hurts. I just want you to snuggle with me.”

His features softened. “Do you have any ibuprofen?”

“In the kitchen cabinet by the sink.”

Adam stood, got the pills and a glass of water, and brought them to me. Once I took them, he scooped me up and took me to bed. He kissed my forehead.

“This conversation isn’t over,” he murmured.

I believed him, but I was in too much pain to think about it.