Free Rainfall by Melissa Delport Page B

get back here, but I wanted you with me. When I couldn’t get hold of you and you wouldn’t speak to me, I realised something terrible must have happened. When Frank confirmed it, I was sick to my stomach.”
    “Frank confirmed it?” I ask, wondering what he could possibly mean. He nods and the ghost of a smile plays on his lips.
    “I went over there looking for you. Frank hit me.” I gasp in astonishment, my hand flying to my mouth. “Yeah,” Adam continues, “he slugged me, right in the eye. I had a shiner for two weeks. He called me a two-timing sack of shit and promised that if I went anywhere near you again he would rip it off.” 
    “It?” I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief.
    “That’s what he said,” Adam chuckles, shrugging his broad shoulders. After a moment he becomes solemn again. “I deserved it,” he adds sadly. “I can’t believe he did that, that you had to find me like that.” He sounds so distraught and for the first time I see it from his perspective. His body is ultimately a vessel for whatever the others want to get up to when they are in control, and in Kyle’s case, this is sex with random strangers. I cringe inwardly. Poor Adam .  
    “Stop worrying about it.” I bury my hands in his black curls and lose myself for a moment in his sapphire blue eyes. “It wasn’t you. You would never do that. I know that now.” I run my hands down his neck and rest them on his shoulders before continuing, “We will get through this. Together,” I say and I mean it.
    He holds me at arm’s length for a minute before crushing me back to his chest, his strong arms encircling me and his nose buried in my hair. 
    “Paige,” he speaks my name like it is a talisman and I close my eyes. 
    Yes, it is worth it, I think. As hard as this day has been, as hard as this journey will be, it is worth it. I love this man with every fibre of my being; he is my other half. Without him I feel I am living a half-life. Being with Adam is like doing something that scares me every single day, it is exhilarating, exciting and heartbreaking all at the same time. I need Adam; I do not want to live without him.
    I run my fingers through his hair and then infinitely slowly and hesitantly, he lowers his mouth to meet mine. As our lips touch, I feel a familiar jolt deep in my belly and my body instinctively curves toward him. 
    “Paige,” he whispers, rubbing his nose against mine, his eyes closed. 
    “ Shhh,” I murmur, tilting my head up and kissing him slowly, sensuously, revelling in the fact that he is here with me; that we are finally together, even if only for a moment. In fact now more than ever I realise how important it is to not take a single second for granted.    
    Adam groans, a deep-seated need and I take a few steps back, unbuttoning my jeans and dropping them in a heap at my feet. I raise my eyebrow and bite my lip, hoping that this is okay.  I have a desperate need to be with Adam again, to reassure myself that we have not lost our physical bond – that Kyle has not come between us.
    Adam regards me for only a few seconds before his restraint snaps and, taking three quick steps forward, he grabs me around the waist and pulls me toward him, a primal growl escaping him. I grin as I bite his shoulder playfully and he slaps my butt before hoisting me over his shoulder and carrying me into the bedroom.

Chapter 9
     
     
     
    “It’s nice to see you back, Adam,” Doctor Sheldon greets us warmly when we return hours later. 
    “Doctor Sheldon,” I begin, but he interrupts.
    “Carl, please,” he insists and I nod.
    “Carl,” I acquiesce. “What do we do now? Where do we start? How do we integrate the alters so that Adam can get his life back?” 
    “Whoa!” The doctor raises his hands, “Slow down, Paige. I understand that you're impatient and want results but this is a delicate situation. We need to prepare ourselves – this is not going to resolve itself overnight, no matter