New Orleans

21. I'm Going To Break You

His indifference to me in this moment was frightening. Even as he played the villain to our barely functioning relationship there had always been lingering emotions he failed to hide- even in his hatred I had seen love.

Mirroring his advances, I retreated- my chest rising and falling with both exhaustion and white hot rage. I reached for my shoulder, soothing the area he was assaulting. Slapping his arm away as he reached for me again. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Reece-have you lost it?!" I barked, struggling to maintain distance from the large man.

His palms met my shoulders, sending me hurdling back several meters. Hitting the floor with a violent thud, I glared up at him. Ripping up several blades of grass, I scrambled to my feet. "Hit me." Speaking through gritted teeth, he lowered his face to mine. "Pathetic."

His heated breath, whipped at my flesh. Fisting my hands I ground my molars together. "No." I challenged. Reeling in disbelief as he continued to antagonise me.

"Hit me!" Shouting into my face, he gripped my arms tightly. I was dwarfed by his intimidating build. "Fight back- hit me." He growled, releasing me with a harsh jolt.

Staggering before regaining my footing, I squared my shoulders. "Stop." I warned, my heart now steady.

Pushing me again, he advanced. "Hit me! Come on! Fucking hit me!" He screamed earning the attention of the security surveying the area.

My temper flared as he reached for me again. Knocking his arms away, I slammed my palms into his chest- forcing the solid mass of muscle back. I clenched my hands into fists as my body twisted in one fluid movement. My elbow spiked high in the air before my fist darted through the distance between us, aimed directly at his perfect jaw line- that in my opinion needed to be knocked out of line a few inches. "I said, stop."

His right palm caught my fisted hand with a loud slap- his upper body flinching back enough to save that pretty jawline from the blow. His strong fingers tightened around my fist, my skin burning from the heat he was radiating. Resenting the man more than I ever had, I glared at him - my chest heaving furiously. Who the fuck did he think he was.

Lowering my fisted hand, he kept his deep green irises trained on mine- ablaze with rage. Releasing his grip, he turned away. Returning to the boxing pads, he swiped them off the ground before slipping them back on impassive to what had just happened. Resuming his earlier stance he lifted his padded hands once more. "Left." He called. Watching in disbelief, I slid my foot back- lifting my fisted hands into form again.

Clapping the pads together once, he repeated himself more authoritatively. "Left." This time twisting my body from the waist up towards the left I brought my left elbow back. Turning front on I brought my left fist to slam into his left pad covered palm. "Harder." He instructed as I brought my fist back- not missing a beat- and slammed it back against his palm. "Faster, Annabelle." He barked the order and my skin prickled with defiance.

With every command that left his mouth, I felt myself grow more and more enraged- violent even. "Right, left, left." Switching hands easily, I met his every combination effortlessly. "Right, right, left." His persistence forced my mind to focus on his words, pushing everything- but rage- to the back of my mind. The implication of my subservience made my blood boil, mocking me for all the times men in my life had sought to control me. In the name of duty, protection and love they had all treated me as though I were a ragdoll- easily manipulated to their will.

How wrong they are. My subconscious smirked as though hinting to a fate I would soon arrive at. "Right, left, right!" My biceps were burning and my arms aching. Each impact sent a rush of pain shooting through my upper body. "Harder, Annabelle!" Reece's voice only grew more disrespectful, "right, left, right!" Panting I pulled my right arm back, my body twisting and the muscles in my thighs contracting with each punch. "Faster!" He ordered, twisting my upper body rapidly, I released the next few blows within a few short seconds of one another.