Page 42 of Of Flesh & Bone

"Yep.So is he.Seriously, you really are living under a rock if you don't know about Eden's two-time Heisman-trophy winning quarterback, Adam Davenport."She says this with as much mock awe as she can cram into her tone.

I put my head in my hands as it bobs up and down from the force of Adam's angry walk.Speaking to Adam, I say, "Okay, so say this is true and you two really are siblings.Why in the hell are you so mad at me?You're the one who screwed up here."

Adam stops abruptly and drops me to my feet.It's dark out now.The night air is cool, creating a stark contrast between it and Adam's hot, flushed skin.In a low and dangerous trembling tone that I haven't heard from him before, he says, "You.Left.Me.I don't care what you thought I did.I don't care what happens.You.Belong.To.Me.Always.This mouth-" He rubs his thumb roughly over my bottom lip."is mine.This pussy-" He grips me hard between my legs."it's mine.This ass-" He squeezes my ass painfully hard in both hands."will always be mine.I told you, but you didn't listen.Now, I'll have to show you.You'll NEVER leave me again."

Ada stands off to our side with her jaw on the pavement.She looks like she can't believe what she's seeing.I don't know if she's surprised that her brother is actually a psychopath or if she's blown away that I'm standing here taking this shit off of him.

"You're actually insane," I say to him with as much venom as I'm capable of producing in this moment.

Adam grabs me by the hair, jerking me to him as he speaks into my ear.

"Don't forget it."

I want to say that I'm furious.I want to believe that I'll get away from this guy the first chance I get, but the truth is that I'm relieved and still so damn attracted to this man.I'm relieved that Ada isn't his girlfriend, and I'm turned on hearing him tell me in front of her that this is it.That we belong to each other and that nothing will take me away from him.

"Where are your keys?"He asks while still looking at me like he wants to pluck my eyeballs from my skull and lock them in his nightstand so I can't see my way away from him again.

"In my locker."

Adam pinches the bridge of his nose and takes in a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

"Is your locker locked?"He asks.

"No.Why?"

He shoots me a glare as though to say you're in no position to ask questions here.

"What number?"

"16."I almost ask why again, but I think better of it.

"Ace, go get her keys and take her Jeep back to my house."

Ada looks at me questioningly.She's asking me if this is okay without putting words to the question.I can't believe it.I'm stunned actually.Is she willing to go against her brother for me?I nod, letting her know that it's ok.Looking back at Adam and meeting his gaze for the first time, I see that it's pained.I mean, it's also overflowing with rage, but he's hurt too.I hurt him when I left."I'm sorry.I didn't know."

"You said you loved me last night and then this morning, the first time something hard came along, you left me without a word.You didn't even give me a chance to explain, and you did it so easily.Like none of it had mattered to you."His words are hard and drenched with anger but there's an edge of pain there as well.

"Easily?"I scoff at his words that couldn't be further from the truth.

"It took every ounce of strength I had to hold it together in there.When I got to my car, I was a mess.When I got home, Vaughn wanted to take me to...well, she wanted to murder you because she's never seen me like that.I was so miserable over you being with someone else that I couldn't breathe.I was completely and utterly devastated."

Adam grabs me, slamming his mouth onto mine and pressing our bodies together with his firm hold.His hands are everywhere.He kisses me and caresses me like he hasn't seen me in years.Then, he grabs my face and places his forehead against mine.

"I love you, Eve."

Control is a thing I no longer possess.Tears stream down my face.This is the first time that he has directly said the words and I'm filled with so much emotion.I don't know what to do with all of it.

"I loved you first, Adam."

He chuckles against my lips.

"If you believe that, you're not as smart as I thought."

---