Fighting Strong Read Online Free PDF Page B

his head and set up his own sleeping area. He dragged a stack of barrels to the busted door and jammed it shut, blocking the entrance completely. She relaxed, knowing that he was between her and the door. They could barely stand each other, but he’d never let anything get to her, she knew. She drifted off to sleep.
    Across the barn, sitting on a stack of mats, Adam watched her back rise and fall. Quickly at first, as she struggled to control her sobs, then more slowly as she calmed, and then evenly as she fell in to a deep sleep.
    When he was sure that she was out, Adam lay down facing her curled up body. She looked surprisingly small over there and he felt the desire to protect her. He closed his eyes, trying to rest, but his mind was spinning. He couldn’t stop thinking about those burns.
    The last thing he thought before dropping off was that if he ever met the person who did that to her, he’d break them in half with his bare hands.

Chapter Four
     
    “No! No… stop!”
    Adam bolted awake and was on his feet before he had fully taken in his surroundings. He looked around wildly, thinking that someone had broken in to the barn.
    Katie was twisting and turning under the blankets, fast asleep. She was moaning and crying out as she fought something in her dreams.
    A nightmare. Dammit.
    He crossed the length of the floor in two steps and crouched down next to her. Gently, he touched her shoulder.
    “Katie? You OK?”
    She felt someone touch her and she pushed the hand away. “Don’t! No!”
    “Katie… Katie, open your eyes.”
    She struggled against the dark oblivion of the dream, wanting to get away from him. Her arms flailed as she pushed against his body and a strong hand held her still.
    “Katie, calm down. Wake up, OK?”
    With a gasp of panic, her eyes flew open. When she saw a giant man leaning over her, she screamed.
    Right away, Adam let go of her. She scrambled away and crouched against the barn wall, her head down, shaking.
    Adam waited a few seconds and then he spoke. “Katie?”
    She closed her eyes.
    “Sweetheart, can you hear me?”
    “Yes.”
    He felt a surge of relief to hear her voice. “OK. I’m coming over to get you now. Don’t be scared… alright?”
    “Alright.”
    Slowly, he moved towards her, cursing his size. Adam had never wanted to be physically smaller than he was – one of the things he worked for was to be stronger and more muscled than anyone thought possible – but right now, it was a huge problem. When stuck in the middle of nowhere with a shaking and terrified woman, being the size of a building was not comforting for her, he imagined.
    Katie felt him settle right next to her and she looked at him. His eyes were gentle and concerned and she suddenly saw that he wasn’t going to hurt her. For the first time in a long time, she really believed it possible to be safe with a man.
    “Adam,” she whispered.
    “It’s me. You’re OK now.” He opened his arms to her. “Come here.”
    She moved in to his embrace and leaned against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. She was cocooned by his massive body, completely enclosed in it, protected from the outside world. She had never felt so vulnerable and so safe at the same time.
    He wasn’t at all surprised when her body started to shake and she began to cry. He held the back of her head in one huge hand, pressing her face against his warmth and strength.
    “I’ve got you, baby. It’s all over now. It’s OK.”
    Weeping and clutching his upper body, Katie closed her eyes. It wasn’t over, she knew. It wouldn’t be over until the bastard was dead – and maybe not even then.
    **
    Katie was quiet and still now. Her body wasn’t shaking anymore, her breathing had calmed. She was held tight in Adam’s arms, her face hidden in his chest. She didn’t feel ready to come out yet and face all his questions.
    But you’re going to have to tell him now. No way out of this conversation.
    Adam stroked her