What the fuck just happened, Adam wondered as he laid gasping on the floor. Her foot pressing on his neck not making the task to draw air into his lungs any easier. Thankfully, she was barefoot and not wearing one of those stiletto heels of hers, otherwise he'd have the equivalent of a dagger sitting on his jugular. What little relief he garnered from that, didn't change the fact one minute he'd been standing and the next...she had tossed him like a ragdoll. Usually he rather enjoyed her ability to keep him unbalanced, but this was a little too literal even for his taste.

"Fuck me," he muttered under his breath. Groaning, he closed his eyes briefly before gazing up into her fiery, grey defiant ones which gave no sign of showing leniency.

Undoubtedly, if she wanted, she could snap his arm in two. The constant twinge of pain was all the proof he needed. To say he was shocked, was an understatement. He was goddamn flabbergasted at the turn of events. But, in retrospect, he had personally witnessed her break a man's nose and proceed to hold him and everyone near her off with a broken beer bottle. It would only be logical she possessed some hidden skills when it came to self-defense, but damn...it didn't help mend his bruised male ego and his trainer would be laughing his ass off right about now if he could see him in his current predicament.

Perhaps he might have misjudged her capabilities to defend herself in his over eagerness to see for her safety. A fact he would do well to remember in the future, but she also had some learning of her own to do. He narrowed his gaze at her. Lesson one would be to make her see he was not her nemesis and lesson two...he didn't give up easily.

"You've more than proved your point," he said quietly. "You can release me."

For a moment, she blinked down at him. Then, with a small nod of her head, she eased up her foot and freed his arm. But before she could completely remove her foot, he snatched it and pulled it up and out while his unconstrained arm knocked her standing foot out from under her. His quick moves caused her to topple backwards with a yelp and she landed with a thud on the mats next to him. Releasing her foot, he quickly rolled over on top of her and pinned her hands above her head.

"Rule number one in self-defense...never drop your guard," he murmured darkly, capturing her surprised lips in a searing kiss. A slight whimper of surrender eased out of her before she opened her lips fully and kissed him back with an equal angry fervor. He was helpless to stop himself as his tongue invaded her mouth.

Adam groaned, his hands moving from hers to fist her ponytail. Whatever point he had planned to prove, evaporated as soon as she began to respond. She was practically naked beneath him and he wanted nothing more than to rip what little clothing she wore and stake his claim. He eased one of his hands down the curve of her waist, while the other started to wrench up her sports bra. In his haste to get her undressed, he didn't notice her lips had stopped moving until it was too late and she cold-cocked him in the jaw with her elbow.

Cussing in pain, he was rolled over and found himself straddled by a once again triumphant Abigail.

"Rule number one in self-defense...never drop your guard," she mocked, her lips drawing into a tight smile.

"Touché, baby," he muttered, bringing a hand up to rub his throbbing chin. Damn, she had one hell of a punch. Something he really needed to start remembering and quickly.

"Do you surrender?"

Her words brought his regard to her. The rebellious sparkle of her eyes was far better than the lost shadowed filled stare he'd seen this morning and had been witnessing off and on for the past few days. She misunderstood his intentions earlier...clearly, but her over the top reaction to what he had said at least gave him a clue to what she'd been thinking. The last thing he wanted was for her feel trapped and helpless. That was not the outcome he intended and a small sliver of guilt for having made her feel that way, wormed its way into his conscience.

Adam was accustomed to getting his way and winning. Pulling out every weapon in his arsenal and welding his power is what he did to get people to succumb to his desires, but those tactics were not going to work against Abigail. She would rebel and fight him to the very end. And toss his ass on the floor to prove her point, he thought drily.

When it came to this woman, he was incapable to refuse her whatever she wanted or needed. Except when it came to this. Her safety he would not bend on. If it caused her to hate him, so be it. As long as she was safe, that is all that mattered. There would be no surrendering on his side and he feared there would be none on hers as well.

He met her victorious stare dead on. "No."

"Damn you, Steele." She scrambled off him and started to gather her things. Stuffing a water bottle and some towels into a gym bag with aggressive jabs of her hands.

"Stop!" he barked, getting back up on his feet and walking over to her. "What do you want from me, Abigail?" Reaching out, he roughly turned her to face him. "You want me to just fucking let you go? To let you do whatever you want without a care at all?" He shook his head. "Don't ask that of me, baby because I can't do it and I won't."

Her eyes lifted to his face...so incredibly beautiful and stubborn. Her hair was drawn back, but a few tendrils had escaped to curl and frame her flushed face. Her little chin was jutted out in agitation, her full lips pulled into a tight line under a pert nose. But what always left him breathless, were those remarkable eyes of hers that could see right through him. Smokey grey, surrounded by lush lashes the color of her hair, they were grave but staggeringly beautiful in their strength. Adam had to admit, he was in love. So in love he could barely function. She consumed every thought he possessed and the idea of letting her go out alone when she was in danger, terrified him to his very core.

"There will be no surrendering, Abigail," he said firmly, drawing her resisting body closer and tucking one of the stray wisps of her hair behind her ear.

"For how long Adam?" she asked, her voice so low he only just caught the question.

"How long?" He raised a curious brow. "For however long it takes for the maniac to get caught."

She let out an annoyed breath and stepped out of his arms. "And what happens after Dean? How long before you get bored and find something new to entertain yourself with after the excitement of playing hero wears off?"

"Is that what you think? That this is all some kind of game?" Now it was his turn for his lips to tighten into a thin line as frustration and anger filled him. "Don't be ridiculous, Abigail. This is more than some passing fancy. Surely you must know that," his voice sharp and taunt.

"I...I don't know what to think anymore." Lifting her hands, she rubbed her temples. "This is a lot to take in. You are a lot to take in, Adam." She lowered her lashes, refusing to look at him. "I don't want to lose me in the process."

"What are you saying?" Adam's mouth went dry, his nerves feeling as if an ice pick was chipping away at them.

"I think we need some distance, so I can figure out things."

Her voice may have sounded strong and confident, but the way her hands shook and her refusal to meet his gaze, practically drew him a storyboard of the raging emotions rattling around inside her. She was doing what she had been doing for far too long and what he refused to let her do any longer. Running.

"Where would you go?" He asked the question because he wanted her to believe he was at least considering her suggestion, but...there was no way he was ever going to let her go. Not now, not ever. Not if he could help it.

She shrugged a shoulder. "I can take Trever up on his offer and move in with him for a few days until...until things calm down. Jo Jo and I can eventually get a place of our own." She still refused to look at him, choosing to address her nonsense to her feet.

"Are you trying to tell me goodbye, Abigail?" he asked calmly.

Her eyes jerked to his, wide and unsure and it gave him a fraction of hope. There were feelings there. Ones she may not be willing admit to, but they were there lingering behind the walls she used to keep people at bay.

"I...," she paused, swallowing hard. "I think it's for the best."

"That's unacceptable."

"Be realistic, Adam. No matter what happens with Dean, it will lead to one thing and one thing only. He will either destroy you or I will." She raised her hand as if to touch him, but then thought better of it and dropped it back to her side. "I don't fit into your world and I don't want to try or pretend to. We are from totally different worlds. Nothing about the two of us being together makes sense. Eventually, you will get tired of trying to fit me into your mold and this will end. You and I both know it."

"I know no such thing." Stepping closer to her, he slipped his hand under her jaw and tilted her head up further. "And yes, it is true...nothing about us made sense since the first time I laid eyes on you...and yet...it makes perfect sense in every meaning of the word." Lifting his other hand, Adam framed her face. "If you tell me you no longer want to be with me, Abigail...if you have no feelings for me whatsoever, I can accept that." His eyes searched her features. "I won't lie and tell you I'll like it or it won't hurt like hell, but I will accept it and respect your decision. But...if you tell me you can't be with me because of your stepfather or because of this misguided idea you have that I am looking for someone to fit in a prerequisite box, then I refuse to accept that. Anything can be overcome if a person wants it badly enough and trust me baby, I want you. Nothing will stand in my way. Not even you."

She opened her mouth to argue, but he lifted his finger and laid it over her lips. "I won't let you run, Abigail. You've been running for too long. You can try and push me away, but I will always come back until you convince me otherwise. So far, you have not succeeded in convincing me in anything other than this is more of your self-defense mechanisms in action. A way to protect yourself. When things get too tough or scary, you bolt. What I want you to learn, is if you are going to run...you need to run to me."

"I'm not running," she snapped, though her gaze slid away from his.

"Aren't you?" He cocked a brow at her and he caressed his thumb over her bottom lip. A grin twitched at his mouth at her shiver. "I think that's exactly what you're doing. Pushing me out of the way so you can make a run for it."

"What I am doing is trying to keep you from taking over my life and turning me into someone I'm not." Turning her head, she pulled away from him and wrapped her arms around her torso. "I've had enough of that to last me a life time."

"I'm not your stepfather," Adam growled. "I am not trying to change you. How many times do I have to say it?"

Her eyes grew wide. "You are nothing like him. I...I didn't mean to compare you to him," she stuttered.

"Then what is it? What do I have to do to make you trust me? Name it and it will be done."

She blinked at him, opened her mouth and then snapped it closed. "It's not that simple, Adam," she finally said. She turned to walk away, but not before he caught the tears spilling down her cheek.

"Dammit, then I will make it simple." Reaching out, he grabbed her wrist and drew her up against his body. Putting her hands on his chest, she tried to shove away from his grasp, but Adam only tightened his grip.

"Nobody is asking you to have all the answers, Abigail. God knows I don't. We are both in unfamiliar territory. We may not have all the solutions, but we will get there. And you are right, I am a lot to take in. I am intense, demanding and set in my ways. I can be downright barbaric when it comes to getting what I want. That's how I am and just like you...I can't pretend to be anyone else. But you have to know that I would never do anything to change who you are. I love you, because you are you."

"You love me?" Her words came out in a husky whisper. Her lovely mouth falling open in surprise.

"I do." Adam thought he should probably say more...expand on his words in some way, but for once...he was at a loss as to what to say. He'd never uttered those three small words before. Words he had once thought of as insignificant and meaningless, now harbored his world. His heart thudded in his chest as he waited for some kind of response.

"How...why...," she stuttered and finally stopped struggling. "You can't be."

Lowering his head, Adam placed his mouth on her cheek and gently kissed it. The taste of her salty skin finding its way to his tongue.

"We've come too far now for nothing less than pure honesty, Abigail. I'm not telling you to gain your favor, but simply stating the truth. I never thought I'd feel this way about anyone. I always saw love as a weakness. I hated the mere concept of it for most of my life. It was inconceivable to me to become vulnerable to this consuming burn I feel for you. I hate how you make me feel, but I know I would die without it." He took a deep breath, his eyes locking with hers. The piece of his heart he was handing to her would be the deepest wound he would ever suffer if she refused it. "You've broken me. The thought of you leaving...of never seeing you again...of you ending up somewhere I can't follow, drives me to my knees. I would offer you anything...give you everything...if you let me. All I want in return is for you to not give up on us...to have faith in me...please don't go."

Time seemed to crawl agonizingly slow as he waited. Each second ticking by another sharp blow to his confidence as his world began feeling as if it was going to crumble around him.

Reaching up a hand, she pressed it to his cheek and her eyes swam with more unshed tears. Letting his head fall into her touch, he closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I don't want to go anywhere," she whispered.

It wasn't a declaration of love, but dammit...he'd take it. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he hauled her up his body. Lifting her off her feet, he devoured her mouth with his as he moved them briskly to the wall and leaned her against it.

His movements were wild...frantic. His teeth biting her soft lips until she opened and he dove into her mouth, teasing her tongue with his. With his knee, he quickly splayed her legs wide, trapping her body. Shooting his hand down between her thighs, he roughly touched her. The hot, wet feel of her pussy through her yoga pants showing him she was as needy as him. Tunneling his hands into her hair, he twisted her head to the side and slanted his mouth over hers, licking into her. She returned each and every kiss with a raw passion that matched his. Her hands tangled into his hair, pulling at it sharply. Pain and ecstasy rolling into one emotion.

Tearing his mouth away from hers, he pressed his cock hard between her legs. "I have to be inside you. Right now, baby."

"Yes," she moaned, her head rolling to the side as he worked his mouth down the column of her throat causing her to strain against him as she tried to get closer.

Pressing her tight against the wall, Adam yanked the sports bra over her head. Her hands, once freed, immediately going to his shirt and ripping it open as he tossed it to the side. With impatient shrug, he helped her tear it from his body and threw it on the floor. The feel of her naked breasts pressing into his chest made him all the harder and more desperate to sink deep into warmth.

"This isn't going to be as sweet as it should be," he murmured as he jerked her away from the wall and together they fell in a tangle of arms and limbs onto the mats. "But I promise I will make it up to you...later."

"I don't care, Adam. I want you to take me. Fuck me hard until I can't breathe." Her words were a guttural plea as she unzipped his pants. Her fingers and hands just as frenzied as his.

Slipping his palms down her sides, he grabbed her yoga pants and panties and stripped them off her body in one quick jerk. When he returned above her and parted her legs wide, her hands fell inside his slacks and cupped his cock, stroking him in one long, solid movement. Tossing his head back, Adam let out a harsh hiss. Her touch his complete undoing.

Reaching into the back of his pants, he pulled out a condom and impatiently rolled it on. With shaky hands, he angled her hips allowing the head of his cock to bump against the heat of her drenched pussy.

"You are always wet for me, baby," he growled before slamming into her deeply, claiming what was his.

"Adam!" Her scream echoed around the gym. A combination of pain and pleasure as her pussy stretched tightly around him, trying to accommodate his size filling her.

Abigail splayed her hands out on the mats as her legs wrapped around his waist, squeezing and locking him to her. Feeling her clench around him, he started pumping with long, fierce strokes as her hands squeaked against the mats trying to keep herself in place underneath him.

"Say my name again..." he hissed into her ear as he pounded into her over and over and over.

"Yes!" she cried, he head arching as her hips tried to keep pace with his relentless thrusting.

"My name, Abigail..."Adam leaned down and bit her lip, pulling it between his teeth until she gasped. "Say my name." He needed to hear her say it. More than he needed his next breath. He wanted her to know he owned her as much as she owned him.

Her moans were becoming louder and louder. Her pussy gripping his cock tighter as her hands flew up and her nails started clawing his back. He could feel her impending orgasm quivering along the sides of his cock and he stopped in mid-thrust.

"Say my damn name, Abigail," he whispered harshly into her ear. Sweat pouring down his face and landing in wet splotches on the mat as Adam hovered above her.

Grey eyes slammed into his and her grip tightened on his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin until he was sure she was drawing blood.

"Adam..."

The sound of his name gasping from her lips was the most erotic sound he had ever heard. Clamping his hands under her ass, he slid into her as he stared down at her hitting the spot he knew would ignite her climax. Their gazes locked and then she splintered apart with pleasure, breaking the connection. As she moaned her release, her pussy squeezing him, he continued to move in an out at a rapid pace. His hips slapping against hers until he could feel himself pitching over the edge and he went flying. His orgasm pistoling out of him in hard sharp bursts until there as nothing left for him to give.

He collapsed on top of her, burying his face into her damp neck. His sweat slickened belly rubbing against hers as her legs fell open from being clasped around him.

"You belong to me, Abigail. No other," he breathed. "Just as I belong to you and no other. There will be no one else for either of us."

"I know," she answered softly, her hands running through his hair and across his shoulders, drawing him closer.

Turning, their mouths found each other. The passion building and ebbing as each of them accepted their own surrender.

Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed this latest installment of Bending Steele and if you liked it, you will consider giving it a vote. I love hearing from you and comments are always appreciated. If you don't see any updates here, feel free to check out my other stories, When Roses Collide, Steal You Away and FANGED.

The next scheduled update for this book is August 18th.

As always, thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

K