Title: Alternate Realities: Chapter Nine, Breakfast
Rating: R/NC-17
Warning: violence, language, sexual nudity



He stayed in her apartment, his arms around her, until she drifted asleep. Even then he hesitated about leaving, worried that if she woke without him she would panic. But then again he had every intention of returning to her apartment before she woke up. With some struggle, he managed to guide her from the couch to her bed, laying her there as gently as he could. Covering her with a light blanket, Adam smoothed her hair from her face, stepping over the cats as he made his way out of her room.

Finding his keys, he tried to keep his rage in check. The more she had spoken of theboy whom she had been dating for only a few months, the angrier he got. It had been very hard for him to hold back a million spiteful things. Instead he restrained himself, listen to how at first her boyfriend had seemed perfect, afterall all the other single women teachers and some of the not-so-single teachers had wanted to date him, but slowly he was becoming careless and disrespectful. He cringed when she finally admitted to him the details of their sex life, how it was always when he wanted it, how he wanted it. Had he not been so angered at her admission, Adam would have attempted to convince her that sex could be, could be pleasureable. But now wasn't really the most appropriate time. Instead he listened to her words, offered soothing words when appropriate, and basically just provided a shoulder to cry on. Eventually she relaxed and fell asleep in his arms, allowing Adam to decide that he needed to get out and do something to keep from exploding.

Slipping her keys of the hook next to the door so that he could let himself back in, Adam left her apartment, heading down to his car. Slipping into the rather green SUV, he fished out his cell phone. Without any regard to the fact the sun was barely starting to rise, he dialled Jesse's number. After a couple of rings, a gruff voice croaked a hello.

"Sorry to wake you, Jess," he claimed, not entirely meaning it. "Let's say the girl of your dreams is in a relationship with a jerk who makes all men look bad. What would you do?"

"Is this about the girl we played for yesterday?"

"Yeah. Her boyfriend is an assh—"

"She's off limits, man. You know the rule. Don't steal another dude's woman. Even if he's an ass."

"But she—"

"I don't care. We made a pack before we got all the money and shit that we wouldn't ever steal another dude's woman. Don't go back on it now, Adam."

He sighed, "Fine, whatever. I'm still going back to her apartment."

"Just don't be stupid, man. Don't be stupid."



Stretching, Jane's eyes fluttered open. One of the cats instantly began to purr as he cuddled against her. Smiling she rubbed the cat briefly. Until she suddenly realized she was in bed and hadn't been there when she fell asleep. In fact she had fallen asleep in Adam's arms, something that seemed so very safe and yet so very wrong. It was actually more alarming that she was in her bed than in his arms, the more she thought of it. Where did that put him?

The answer to that question wafted into the room. The scent of cinnamon and bacon instantly made her stomach growl. He was cooking her breakfast? For real? Throwing off the light blanket that he had apparently plucked off the nearby chair where it was normally draped, Jane swung her legs out of the bed. The cats jumped off her bed, following her out of the bedroom. Stopping for a moment, her brown eyes glanced into the kitchen, finding Adam standing over her stove, a crackling pan in front of him. A smile lightly touched her lips. No one had ever cooked her breakfast before.

His eyes rose from his cooking and he frowned, "Now how am I going to bring you breakfast in bed if you're not in bed?"

"Seriously?"

"It's not gourmet. I had to work with what I had," Adam smiled crookedly. "But it should be good."

"I'm sure it's lovely," she slowly slid onto the barstool across the counter from the stovetop. "You didn't have to stay, Adam."

"And let your breakfast burn? I don't think so," he winked at her, leaning down to check whatever was in the oven. "Besides you didn't really want to wake up to an empty apartment this morning, did you?"

Staring at him for a moment, she tried to figure him out. How the hell did he seem to know just exactly what she needed? And when was he going to turn against her like Jayden apparently was? Shaking her head of those thoughts, she smiled at him as he pushed a cup of coffee towards her. Without even thinking, she lifted it to her lips and sipped it. As the acrid liquid touched her tongue, Jane smiled into the cup. It was perfect. Just enough sweet added to it, no cream. Ho did he know these things?

"So I was thinking after breakfast we could go on a walk. Maybe Ruynon Canyon?" he suggested, before disappearing again to remove whatever from the oven.

Her eyes dropped to the treat he removed from the hot oven: cinnamon rolls. The man clearly had read her mind, her soul, or perhaps her diary. Jane had a soft spot for the gooey pastries.

"I," she began to turn down the offer but quickly changed her mind, her eyes meeting his, "think that would be nice."

"Good," he smiled, turning and opening cabienets until he found dishes.

Watching as Adam dished her up bacon, eggs, and a large cinnamon roll, Jane flushed, averting her eyes. She had never had anyone do anything like this before. Even a fool would know that Jayden certainly never cooked for her, though he did often bring takeout when he came to visit.

"Jane?" Adam's voices interrupted her thoughts, the plate held out to her. "You okay?"

She smiled at him, her cheeks still flushing slightly as she accepted the plate, "Yes. Thank you."

After dishing up himself a plate, Adam double-checked to make sure everything was turned off before he rounded the island and sat in the barstool next to Jane. He stole a few glances at her. He could tell by her demeanor that she was trying to figure out how to best process his behavior. Part of him was saddened that no one had taken any care of the beautiful flower next to him before, but a greater part of him was jubilant that he was the first to do so. It certainly would make romancing her that much easier. But he wasn't supposed to be thinking about that. He was not supposed to be stealing another man's woman.

Fuck, the promise. He was going to steal her away.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked conversationally, unfortunately a moment after she took a bite of his cinnamon roll.

Chewing as quickly as she could, though she really wanted to savor the taste, Jane nodded, "Surprisingly so. Did you sleep at all?"

"Nah," he responded before sipping his coffee. "But it's all right. I'm used to not sleeping."

"Are you sure? We don't have to go on the walk," she instantly replied.

"I'm fine, Jane. Really," he paused. "Would it bother you if I called you by your given name?"

Her eyes snapped to his, "I... I..."

"It's all right to say no. I understand if you prefer Ja—"

"No," she interrupted. "Say it for me first?"

"Kylia," Adam said steadily.

Closing her eyes, she let her name, a name she hadn't allowed anyone to call her in years, roll around in her mind. The more it did, the more she realized she liked the way it sounded coming from him. Maybe it was the soft musical quality of his voice. Or maybe it was the way he treated her that made all the difference. But when he said her name, she knew it was the only thing she wanted him to call her.

Jane nodded, "Yes."

"Great," he grinned, noticing her eyes were still closed.

Wanting so very much to lean over and kiss her, Adam resisted for a moment. But when she still remained sitting there with her eyes closed, breathing softly, his resistance jumped out of the window. Quickly leaning forward, his lips brushed over hers, a spark instantly stirring his soul. She didn't pull back like he expected she would. In fact her mouth softened ever so slightly under his. Not wanting to push any more, he slowly pulled back.

Shock filled him when she followed him, her lips finding his again. They kissed again, just as softly and sweetly as before, only Adam was still not sure about it. But when she pulled away, he had already chased away all his doubts and caressed her cheek softly. Her eyes fluttered open and for a moment Adam was afraid that in doing so she would realize what had just happened and hurry away from him. Instead the clearest golden brown eyes he had ever seen stared into his, all her reservations gone. It was the like she was finally showing herself completely to him and Adam wasn't sure exactly how to react.

"So did you make these cinnamon rolls from scratch?" she asked casually, turning back to her breakfast.

"I did," he replied instantly. "There's lots of things I would like to cook for you."

Jane looked at him sideways, "Well there will be plenty of time for that in the future."

He was very certain of that. Very certain indeed.