* * * *
A week had passed since her dinner with Adrian. Since then they had gone out to coffee and lunch. Brea wished she could say going out with him that first night had been a mistake, that her instincts had been correct, but it would be a lie. Adrian might seem frightening in the cage, but with her he was sweet, gentle, and considerate. It might have only been a week and they might have only been out a few times, but she couldn’t remember another time when she had felt so comfortable with someone.
Adrian’s massive presence didn’t hinder the fact that he was a gentle giant with her. She had realized that after their first dinner. Lying on her bed, she stared at the stained ceiling and felt her lips tingle in remembrance of their kiss. Her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, running over her bottom lip, the lip that he had sucked on gently.
Their lunch today had been simple, but it had been so much more for her. His light banter, the way he teased her had made her feel at ease. It had been so long since she had felt the emotion that it scared and confused her all in the same breath. They had sat at the little bistro on the corner of Sandwell. The air had been slightly chilly, but the sun had been high and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. He had been wearing a pair of faded jeans and a plain tee. One would think attire so simple couldn’t possibly make a man look hotter than hell, but boy would they be wrong. She still hadn’t told Adrian where she lived, but he hadn’t pushed her on the issue. His understanding went a long way toward making her trust in him grow. It was still early in their…whatever the hell they were. There was no rush for anything. Well, that actually wasn’t true. She still planned on getting the hell away once she saved enough money, but now that she was spending all this time with Adrian, there was a slight ache in her chest at the thought of leaving. Her life was now one of jumping back and forth to different towns, trying to elude Cameron if he ever found her. She feared staying in one place for too long would lead to her ultimate demise. She couldn’t dwell on it though because nothing and no one would change her mind.
Her cell dinged an incoming text and she smiled because she knew exactly who it was. Only one person would text her, had texted her since she started living in this town.
I can’t stop smiling because all I can think about is you.
If Brea was the type of girl to swoon and giggle she would have right then and there after reading his text. Maybe she was letting her heart and emotions get in the way, but ever since seeing him that first time she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him. He had already far surpassed her expectations of how she had always wanted a man to treat her, but the one question that kept rearing its ugly-ass head was if all of this was too good to be true.
If Adrian was too good to be true.
* * * *
Adrian watched as his opponent fell to the blood-covered mat. His knuckles were swollen and split open, but the pain couldn’t mask the euphoria he was currently feeling. He tracked Brea’s movements in the crowd with his eyes and something inside of him was slowly growing, warming. Just watching this girl had his blood pumping a little faster. The more time he spent with her the more he was finding it harder to keep his distance physically. They kissed constantly, but it was getting harder and harder. Pun intended. He found himself going home and jerking off nightly. Even though he wanted her under him, wanted to have his cock buried between her thighs, he was letting her take control. She hadn’t opened up about her past or anything personal for that matter, but Adrian wasn’t worried about it. For once, since Addie, Adrian was finally letting himself feel something besides anger and hatred. Just a look upon Brea’s sweet face pushed all thoughts of his past away. He knew he would have to tell Brea everything eventually, and the more he spent time with her the harder it was not telling her the truth about who he really was.
Brea glanced up at him and their eyes locked. It never failed. Just that one look and he wanted to jump over the damn cage and wrap her in his arms. Hell, he was acting like a fucking caveman. The chemistry between them was explosive.
“Dayum, man. You are one fucking animal in the cage.” Coots slapped him on the back and Adrian tensed. He didn’t know Coots well enough to be chummy. A thick envelope was thrust at him and he took it and ducked into the side room to get cleaned up. He had just finished his last fight for the night. He wanted to take her to the coast and walk on the beach with her. When he asked her a week ago he had seen the leeriness written all over her face, but to his utter surprise she had agreed to go, even suggested they stay the night so they could walk on the beach when the sun rose.