Fighting Strong by Marysol James

writhed on top of his, he held her ass, helping her to lift and lower herself faster. Her body moved on him with increasingly more frantic movements, and she closed her eyes as the pleasure grew.
    Her whole body felt like a live wire: taut and stretched and sparking with electricity. The jolts started in her clit and spread out, travelled through her body, all the way to her fingertips. They got more frequent and intense and her eyes widened as she realized what was happening.
    Oh, my God. I’m coming. I’m actually coming.
    “Adam,” she breathed. “Adam, oh, God .”
    “I’ve got you, baby. Just enjoy it… just let it happen.”
    She threw her head back and gave a loud cry of surprise and ecstasy. Adam watched her face as she came, his own arousal almost unbearable. She shook above him, sobbing and saying his name, then she fell forward, her forehead on his broad shoulder. She shuddered one last time and went still.
    He wrapped both arms around her, holding her as close and tight as he could. Her breath came out in shallow pants and he soothed her.
    “It’s OK, Katie. Just breathe, sweetheart. I’m here.”
    She held on to his upper arms, fighting to slow down her breathing. What had just happened shocked her, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. Maybe both.
    Adam let her calm down, his hands gentle on her back. When she was relaxed and limp on him, he carefully lay her down on the bed and stretched out next to her. He searched her eyes for tears or fear, but saw none: her dark eyes were warm and sparkling.
    He smiled. “That was amazing.”
    “Yeah?” She blushed a bit.
    “Oh, yeah. I could watch that all day.”
    She looked down at him. “But what about you?”
    He waved his hand. “This wasn’t about me, Katie. Tonight was always about you – just you. OK?”
    “OK,” she said softly. “Thank you. You don’t know what a – a gift you just gave me.”
    “My pleasure.” He pressed her head against his chest and kissed her. “What do you think? You think you can sleep?”
    She nodded.
    “OK, then. Get some rest… tomorrow we get up early and we go.”
    To his surprise, she did actually fall asleep quickly. Adam held her and watched her face for a while, wondering what she was dreaming about. When the nightmares came and she woke up, shaking and crying out, Adam was there to bring her back to where she was. And where she was was in bed with him, a man who cared about her, a man who wouldn’t hurt her.
    Katie fell asleep again and this time she slept deeply, sweetly, without any dreams at all. She woke up in the morning held tight in Adam’s arms, and she knew she was as ready as she would ever be to face her stepfather.

Chapter Seven
     
    Adam turned off the ignition and he and Katie sat for a minute in the hospital parking lot. She was holding his hand in both of hers. Her nails were biting in to his skin, but he didn’t mind; he barely felt it.
    “Katie,” he said quietly. “You ready?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Before we get in there… can you just tell me what to expect? Like, do you think your Mom will be OK with you being there?”
    “I have no idea.” She sighed. “I haven’t seen or spoken to her in ten years, but Ryan talks to her, so she knows all about my life. She knows I’m coming with you now.”
    “OK.”
    “I’m still angry at her, Adam. And she knows it. The last thing I told her was that I blamed her for not protecting us when we were kids. I told her that she was weak, and a terrible mother.”
    He was silent.
    Actually, I kind of think the same thing. I guess I should keep that to myself. It won’t help Katie and her Mom reconcile, if that’s what she even wants.
    “She was – a victim. I know that. I really do. But…”
    “What?”
    “I still wish she’d left him. Gotten us all out.” She shook her head. “I guess – I don’t think I’ll ever really understand why she didn’t.”
    “And what about him? Your stepfather? What’s he dying