Unhinged

Prologue.

" I still want to be with you, to be a part of your life, Anna, " I never thought I'd see this version of him ever before in my life. This vulnerable version, the cracks on the surface of his usual toughened exterior starting to reveal itself to me.

Thanksgiving dinners tended to adopt a more chaotic atmosphere, with the constant screaming matches and contemptuous attitude from both of us but not this time round. This time, he was different and so was I.

" Even though it's wrong?" I questioned in a more quietened tone, my face forlorn.

We'd been standing outside the front porch, the evening wind grazing the exposed skin on my arms with its icy kiss, causing me to shiver slightly. I opted to hug myself as a way of generating some heat. He, however, had his coat still on, his hands snugged with the gloves I'd bought for him last Christmas.

My heart swelled at the sight. I didn't think he'd wear them but he did. Maybe this was another one of his tricks to get me to feel sorry for him. To take him back despite the implications of it all.

" I've thought about it and I don't see anything wrong with me wanting to be with you, " He replied after long seconds of silence.

" How can you not see what's wrong with this? " I asked in an incredulous tone. " People are going to start asking questions. There's going to be whispers and pointing and.... what makes you think I'd be comfortable with that? "

" I-"

" What about Alison, and Connor and Elisha? " I cut him off before he could say a word in edgewise. " What about mom and dad? "

" They'll understand, " He almost sounded confident in his response. Almost, but his face betrayed him.

" How sure are you that they'd be understanding of this? " I didn't mean to sound harsh but the pressure of this particular conversation was too much for me.

" I.... we can make them understand -"

A derisive laugh escaped my lips at that ludicrous suggestion. We? I wasn't sure if he meant it as a joke but it did succeed in making the situation slightly humorous.

" Things have happened between us, Anna. It's too late to deny that which is obvious, " He gave a stern look, taking a dangerous step towards me. I didn't move, just stood as if rooted to the spot like a statue.

Looking up at his tall frame, whatever he was alluding to started to sink in, seeping into the contours of my brain before centering on my heart. The closer he got to me, the harder my heart begun to beat. It felt like a hammer against my chest. My knees were weak and so was I. He was right, I couldn't deny that I was falling for him. Had fallen for him since that fateful night when he showed up to my room after noticing the tears in my eyes, the aftermath of a terrible breakup with my boyfriend. Couldn't stop myself from climbing on to his lap as I buried my face in the crook of his neck as I wept bitterly.

Couldn't stop myself from leaning in to plant a very forbidden kiss on those plump lips of his. How he froze at the contact of my lips against his soft ones but eventually gave in to his desire as he kissed me back, first in a slow gentle dance before graduating into a more passionate kiss. Hands all over each other in a chaotic mess, limbs tangled like ivy tendrils.

All the pent up s****l tension and frustration poured into that one kiss was enough to have me surrendering to him. We'd crossed a line that neither one of us should have. There was no going back to our usual relationship. Not after that kiss.

" Don't let that one simple kiss determine your life decision, Adam, " My voice trembled despite my confident aura, staring deep into those chocolate swirl irises that he boasted. Allowing myself to get lost in them would be a dangerous game, given the consequences of our previous actions.

" One kiss? " He scoffed. " Acting as if I haven't seen you naked -"

" It was not my intent to let you see me naked, " I countered , glaring fiercely at him for bringing that incident up.

" Really? That's what you're going with, Anna? " My name still sounded electrifying coming from his lips. When he'd moaned it during the kiss we shared.....

" I don't know what you want from me, Adam. But it's time you let me go. Let us go, " His looked wounded by my words. " People frown at this sort of thing. Society doesn't tolerate such relationships, okay? "