Page 23 of Of Flesh & Bone

I stare back incredulously.He just returns my stare as though daring me to object.I shake my head, hoping to clear it of this domineering bullshit.

"Right.Let's go, Jolly Green Giant."

"What?"

"Let's go."

"Why did you call me Jolly Green Giant?"

"Well, you're pretty tall for a human and then there's your joyful demeanor.Slap on some green paint and a leaf robe and you've got yourself the Jolly Green Giant."

"It's almost like you want me to put you over my knee and spank your ass."

I have to clench my thighs at the thought of him spanking me.There is definitely something...maybe multiple somethings...wrong with me.

"Listen Sequoia, I don't have time for your Tom fuckery right now.We're going to be late."

He sighs deeply and with too much dramatic flair, if I'm being honest.

"Do I even want to ask?"He says exasperatedly.

"Tallest species of tree."

He closes his eyes and lifts his face toward the sky as if to ask Jesus himself for patience.Like he's the one who needs patience.This man is trying my nerves at every turn and has the audacity to appear vexed by me.I say nothing and get out of the Batmobile.

The air is heavy with humidity, but I've become accustomed to it.My first Summer in Austin was a merciless lesson in the feeling of live cremation, so the milder heat of Fall is a welcome reprieve.I try not to think about the balmy high seventies that I would be experiencing back home in Maryland right now.

I have enough sense to wait for him at the front of the car.He walks straight up to me and into my personal space bubble.Reaching out, he entwines his fingers through mine before bringing my hand to his mouth and kissing my palm.I can't stop the flutter that overtakes my heart or the goosebumps that spread up my arm. He looks down at the goosebumps.When I look back at him, he's looking at me with a pleased, almost victorious smile on his face.I mentally chastise my sympathetic nervous system.Traitorous bitch.

I'm annoyed by the number of detention staff and inmates that know who Adam is on sight.Apparently, he doesn't suck at football.He isn't rude to anyone either.He shakes hands and greets everyone who approaches him, but it's clear that he would prefer they not know who he is.I do my best to stay out of the way when he's greeting the adoring fans, but it's difficult when he won't let go of my hand.More than one person asks if I'm his girlfriend.His response?She's more than that.She is?I mean, I am?What is more than a girlfriend?I fully intend to Google it when he isn't looking.

We stay there teaching, talking, and playing with the detainees for most of the afternoon.Adam is surprisingly skilled in mathematics.He's also clearly partial to a young Hispanic boy named Agustin.Agustin is broody and doesn't participate most days, but I suspect that he's actually very smart, although he wouldn't dare show it.He has already solidified his position as someone to not be messed with in the three short weeks since he arrived here.

I can't help but notice that he is talking to Adam.He's not talkative by anyone's definition of the word but he is engaging with him.They're playing cards, but it's a game I don't know.My card play extends to Uno and Phase 10, both of which I taught myself just so that I could play with these kids.When the activities director comes to tell us it's time to go, Adam doesn't look ready to stop talking to Agustin.Awesome.That's just what I needed, to be more interested in this guy.Just shoot me now.

Adam reaches out his hand in offering to the boy.Agustin looks at his hand and then up at Adam.He squints his eyes and works his jaw while Adam just leaves his hand there in the air.Finally, he grabs the offered hand and gives it a curt shake before abruptly leaving the room.

Adam pauses once we're inside his car and without looking at me, he says, "Thank you."

I smile at his profile and don't respond.It's clear that he doesn't want to discuss it, and I remember how powerful the experience was the first time I felt like I had reached one of these kids.It was addictive and all-consuming.I can see it on Adam's face.He's processing a stack of emotions right now.

We pull up in front of my apartment building and we haven't said a word since the detention center.I don't ask why he didn't take me back to my Jeep.Instead, I reach for the door handle, but Adam grabs my hand, halting me in my seat.He gives nothing away when I give him a questioning look.Rather, he gets out of the car and makes his way around to my door, opening it for me and offering his hand.I take it and he leads me to the trunk, where he gets a black Prada duffle bag and slings it over his shoulder.Prada.Of course it's Prada.I wouldn't expect anything less from Bruce Wayne.

We walk into the apartment and Vaughn is in the kitchen eating Jeni's Everything Bagel ice cream straight from the container.The spoon pauses at her mouth when she sees us walk in.

"You brought him back?"

Adam ignores her and pulls me to the bedroom.

"I'll be back out in a minute," I call back to her.

Once we're inside the bedroom, Adam sets his bag on the dresser and turns back to me, pulling me into his large frame.He's kissing me softly as he parts my lips with his tongue.This kiss is so different than the other kisses we've shared.He's kissing me slowly and affectionately, caressing my tongue with his own.He doesn't bite or suck on my lips.Instead, he rubs his nose with mine.With a firm hand on my lower back, he's pressing my hips into his and he's holding the back of my head, gently cupping it into his large hand.

This kiss is tender and warm even though he can't seem to get our bodies close enough together.His hand on my back is pushing into me while his hips and chest are pressing back against the force.He pauses and moves from kissing to rubbing his nose up to my forehead and around to my cheek, exploring my face before putting our faces cheek to cheek all while never lessening his hold on me.He moves his mouth to my forehead and says, "I want to take a bath with you."

My heart and mind begin to race.I want that too.I also don't want that.My head and my heart are at war on this one andI don't know who to trust.I lean on my lack of resources and simply reply, "I don't have a bathtub."

"I know.That's why a shower will have to do until we get back to Eden House."

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