The Queen and Her Protector

Chapter 2

Charlie stormed into the house with a temper so ferocious she thought she may have broken the door when she had slammed it. Having Adam home these last few days of what was left of her high school days was so maddening.

It had not been the pleasant time she was expecting. Charlie could honestly choke the living daylights out of him. The nerve of that man, to show up at school and embarrass her as if she were a child. To treat her like some naïve little girl who knew nothing of boys or high school life.

Adam had been three years ahead of Charlie in school but she never felt like she was really on her own. When Adam had gone for basic training at the Navy Charlie had finally been given the chance to be alone, on her own and she had thrived at it. She was finally able to explore more things like find her own friends, experiment with boys or least try to, well that’s what she was trying to do with Will.

Adam had come to her school, found Charlie and William sitting on the kissing bench near the trees by the field. William had his arm around Charlie, pulling her closer. Their lips were about to touch and Adam had hit William just before he had tried to kiss Charlie. She had been waiting a whole three years for that moment, imagining it as well and Adam had destroyed it in two seconds.

After punching William he began berating him on taking advantage of Charlie who had no experience, it had been the most embarrassing day of her life. She had run away, not knowing what to say to Will.

Fury hadn’t even begun to cover the emotion she was feeling now as she stomped her way to her room, she’d hurt him real good if he showed his face near here.

Serena heard the door slam and took a wild guess that Adam had gone to Charlie’s school, after she had warned Adam to stay clear. The slam was too soft to be Adam so Serena assumed it was Charlie.

She concluded that whichever round it was now between Adam and Charlie it was likely starting here at home. Serena went to Charlie’s room and knocked on her door, she hoped Charlie would be open to having a calm conversation about what happened.

“Sweety pie is everything okay?”

There was no answer so Serena knocked again.

“Charlie dear?”

The door opened and Serena saw Charlie about to speak then she saw the anger on Charlie’s face, it did not take a psychic to know her son was right behind her.

“Mom can you give us a moment?”

Serena turned to face Adam, she pointed lightly at his chest.

“Take your temper down a few notches Adam.”

Adam nodded as he watched as Serena walked away from them then he walked towards Charlie.

“You will not see William any longer, I swear Charlie on my life if I see you with him I’ll…”

Charlie laughed as loud and as cynically as she could manage. Was he really going to march in here all macho like, stand there so arrogantly and give her that indignant speech and feel so justified with his actions?

Charlie looked straight at Adam, giving him a defiant look, waving her arms everywhere, annunciating most of her words.

“You’ll what? Honestly Adam what is worse than telling the whole damn school how innocent I am? What possible torture will follow next? Will you tell them how tragically awkward I am?”

Charlie covered her mouth with her hands, mocking him.

To say Adam was seething was a pure understatement; he was beyond outraged at her. She had no bloody idea what Will had in mind, she was not going to be part of some sick school ritual for others entertainment. Also there was a slight possibility that she could have killed William and not even know. He wasn’t supposed to be mad at her but he was and that just annoyed him more.

He hadn’t meant to humiliate her, all he could think of was her and that was it, nothing and/or no one mattered just Charlie.

“I said I was sorry for that! Besides William was using you and you were too stupid to see it. Those girls were waiting for their chance to humiliate you.”

“Why bother with those girls and William when I have YOU!!!!! I understand your big brother act but my goodness you didn’t have to take it that far.”

Charlie walked out the room, pretty much over this menial conversation. He had basically called her stupid, naïve and innocent without so much as saying it aloud.

Adam had disregarded her and just did what he thought was necessary and damn any consequences. Adam followed her out the room.

“He took it too far when decided to use you.”

Charlie paused at the stairs, turning to look at him.

“You are such a moron Adam, I wanted him to!”

Charlie stormed out the house and into the yard. She needed to cool off before she seriously hurt him. She probably wouldn’t be able to pull off Tai Chi exercises peacefully so she decided on boxing, heaven help that punching bag.

Adam couldn’t believe what he had heard, she couldn’t be serious. Will was an asshole of a human being and she wanted him. What beseeching madness was this?

Adam made his way down the stairs where he had been standing like an i***t and went to look for Charlie, she was livid so she was definitely not doing something peaceful, it was something that would cause a little damage.

To hell with her cooling off, giving space and all that bullshit. He was not going to have any of it. With the hectic fight they had it was for certain some sport that would have Charlie unleash her feelings. Adam reached the back door when Serena stopped him, giving him a seething look which he tried to ignore.

Serena had a bad feeling about this fight between them. Charlie and Adam had arguments before but Serena felt like this one would be what she had feared when Neil had divulged the truth about Charlie to Serena.

She grabbed his arm so hard her nails dug into his skin.

Adam looked at his mom in shock before snatching his arm away. Adam frowned at his mom, not once had she ever been violent so this was new to him.

“Mom.”

Serena gave her most pleading look to Adam, praying that he would get the message because she could not say anything about Charlie to Adam. Serena had to call Neil and speak to him.

“I apologize Adam but you cannot go after Charlie right now. I can’t explain but you can’t do this.”

“Mom its okay, Charlie and I will manage.”

Adam walked outside; he found Charlie a few minutes later putting all her energy on annihilating the punching bag. Punch after punch he watched her punish and kick the bag.

He watched her go at it for a bit, she was absolutely livid and it made him angry all over again.

As soon as Adam left the house Serena called Neil to come home and explained what was happening. Neil promised he’d be home as soon as possible.

Neil raced to his car and headed home, no way was he losing his son like this.

Charlie’s anger reminded Adam that she wanted Will and it really irked him, it made him down right see red.

Charlie suddenly felt like she wasn’t alone.

“If you’re looking to get into me again about William Adam you can f**k right off.”

Adam raised his eyebrow with extreme interest at Charlie; it was beneath her to curse especially something so profanity laden. Charlie decided to take her frustration out on the person who had caused it in the first place. She took off her gloves and made her way towards Adam.

Adam moved closer to her as well and ducked just in time to miss what would have knocked him down senseless. Adam put the tip of his tongue on his teeth, clearly she was ready to battle and he was in the mood to indulge her.

Someone had to teach Charlie Willis a damn good lesson so she could get the message properly.

“Come at me…”

Adam hadn’t finished his sentence when Charlie struck the first blow to his abdomen. Adam instinctively held the part of his body where she hit him. Adam barely had time to recover and duck before Charlie released another devastating move by swinging her leg to kick his chin.

Adam wiped his bloody lip with his hand, now she was definitely asking for it.

Adam waited for Charlie to kick him again; when she did he grabbed her leg, pulled Charlie towards him and threw her amongst the bay hales.

Charlie fell on one of the hay bales, she wanted to kick his damn arrogant ass for dismissing her like a child.

Adam watched her struggle to get up from the hay and laughed at her which in turn only upset Charlie more.

Charlie ran towards Adam and tried to punch him which he dodged easily; Adam tried grabbing Charlie by her t-shirt only to have her slip out of it. Charlie used that moment to bend down and swipe Adams legs with her leg, knocking him down onto the hay.

Adam rolled onto his stomach so he could get up and Charlie gave him the opportunity to do so, Charlie grabbed Adam’s hand and twisted it so that his arm was behind his back.

Adam ran towards the wall and as soon as he got close he turned so that Charlie’s body hit the wall. With Charlie’s back facing the wall, she looked up and grabbed Adam’s neck, pressing her thumb on his throat. He tried to release Charlie’s hold on him while also trying to dodge her kicking attempts with his elbows.

When Charlie tried to kick Adam again he grabbed her leg and pushed it down. Adam took advantage of her stunned expression and shoved her forward, away from him.

Charlie launched herself onto a crate and into the air to give her punch more power. Adam took Charlie and threw her back onto the hay; he got on top of her and held her down. Charlie gave Adam a head butt; Adam lost control of himself forcing him to release her. She tried punching him again but Adam caught her fist in his hand, using that to twist her so that her back was facing him. Adam watched as she struggled to get herself free of his hold. Charlie elbowed Adam in the face with her free hand, forcing Adam to release her once again. Charlie took this chance to punch Adam, she watched as he fell down beside her.

Charlie stood on top of him, kneeling down to deliver the final blow to cement her victory when Adam stopped her by tripping her, turning her over and holding her arms.

“Stop Charlie!”

Charlie breathed a little too heavily; the fight had taken its toll on her, emotionally, mentally and physically. With all those manoeuvres; they had both given their best in that fight. Adam watched the tears fall down from her eyes; it made him hurt thinking that he had been the cause of it.

Charlie placed her hands on Adams’ shoulders, she watched as Adam touched her face, making her look at Adam weirdly. He kissed her tears ever so gently and it touched her so deeply.

Neil got home, running through the house shouting Adam and Charlie’s names. Serena heard Neil from the kitchen and went outside to meet him.

“They are in the barn I think, please hurry.”

Neil took out a small black gadget and made his way to the barn. As he got there he threw the gadget at the bubble that was beginning to form around Adam and Charlie but the gadget didn’t work like it was meant to. He was too late from saving his son; Neil couldn’t stand to see his son lose his life so he removed himself from the barn.

It was the biggest sacrifice he had to make in his life and it really hurt Neil to walk away. Neil could only hope and pray that Charlie didn’t kill him and that she loved Adam, it was the only way his life would be spared.

Adam felt things change between them, it felt different having her this close. Charlie simply watched as he put his thumb on her bottom lip and slide it delicately from one side to the other.

Adam brought her face closer, ignoring the sweet little moan Charlie gave when he placed his mouth onto hers, heat sizzling through every fibre of her body. Adam and Charlie took in the moment to savour the taste of each other, it was so scorching.

Charlie pushed her hands up his extremely well built chest, her fingers lingering playfully near his mouth.

When Charlie’s leg brushed against Adam’s thigh she felt Adam dig his fingers on her waist tightly, making her yelp with pleasure. Adam took her to a place where she was on a soft, light cloud but you could also feel the sun rays heat.

One moment she was floating and the next it was so heated, like they couldn’t get enough of each other.

Both of them hadn’t heard Neil trying to stop them or notice the clear bubble with purple and blue colours surrounding them, electricity moved in a circular motion around the bubble which kept getting bigger and bigger.

Adam delved deeper into the kiss and he felt Charlie reciprocate his feelings. This was definitely the best sign for Adam and it made him giddy with joy.

Charlie placed her hand on Adam’s face and opened her eyes. She shook Adam to show him what she was seeing. She touched the circle and watched it bounce back as her finger left it.

“Adam what it this?”

Adam breathed in heavily, he knew exactly what this meant but he couldn’t tell her as yet. Adam had known the risk he was taking when he kissed her but she didn’t and if she knew she’d strangle him. He cupped her face, caressed it gently then held her hands, kissing it.

“Do as I say, relax your mind. Can you do that?”

“I can try but I’m freaking out here Adam.”

Adam pulled her up so they were both standing, Adam’s dad had taught them both with the exercise they had done, that in tai chi for every moment, there’s a purpose.

“Try and contain your anxiety, breathe in and exhale, we’re going to try the snake creeps down move.”

She nodded in agreement, they moved in unison from a standing position into a deep hamstring lunge as gracefully as possible. Once there, they tested their balance with their arms. Moving them around on different planes and at different speeds and trying to hold it. They moved on to stand with their feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Adam looked to see Charlie relax her shoulders and let her arms hang by her sides.

They raised their hands in front of their bodies with their fingers pointing down. Inhaling, they brought their arms toward the centre of their bodies and raised their hands over their heads. When Adam checked on her again he saw that Charlie was beginning panic once more.

Charlie continued practicing the exercise but it just wasn’t working so Adam had no choice but to pull out a syringe and inject it into Charlie’s arm. He watched her go limp in his arms, holding her real close.

He took it from work, it was a sedative that would knock her out flat and she wouldn’t remember much. Charlie still had a lot to learn about herself but now was not the time. Charlie now had a power which had been activated when Adam kissed her.

Adam knew that he loved her, he had known it from the moment he met her. He knew waiting for her would be pure agony and it was but he had done it.

Adam was hoping that she had some sort of love for him, it was pure luck that she actually had feelings for him otherwise she could have killed him back there with that kiss they had shared.

He knew that if he had been wrong he would have lost his life, if he had not been the true love of Charlie, her power would have literally consumed him and he would have burst and died.

That’s why when he heard about her liking William, he panicked and argued with her so heavily. He didn’t fear for William’s life as much as he did Charlie liking William.

It drove him crazy accepting that she was maybe meant for someone else and not him, hell it drove him to have the biggest argument with her he ever had.

Adam picked up Charlie from the ground and started walking towards the entrance of the barn.