Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Adam

Listen to Chemical

by Post Malone

“ I believe you, Landon.”

Her body collapsed in relief. Blue eyes flickered with gratitude. “Good.”

“Go over everything that happened at Red, from start to finish.” She did, and pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. “I think there’s something bigger going on here.”

She frowned. “What?”

“I’ll tell you in a bit. First, I want to know if you gave Max any indication who you were seeing and what his reaction was.”

She stared at me for a while, as if trying to decide if she should push for an answer or not. “He was fine. I told him I was seeing someone, and he made a joke about it, and that was it. Are you going to tell me now what Max said at breakfast? He told you what happened at Red?”

I nodded. “He called all of us to meet him and said you got attacked. Told us he went home with you and ended up in your bed, making you breakfast, getting cozy. Like the old days. Then he declared he wanted to find the person you were seeing and kill him.”

Landon gasped. “What? Wait—this doesn’t make any sense. Are you saying he’s pretending not to care about me dating someone else?”

“Yep. He’s still in love with you, Landon. Max wants you back. He’s playing the long game, thinking if he masters the good friend role, eventually he’ll find a way back in. Getting you that shift at Red was deliberate.”

A frown furrowed her brow. “What does my shift at Red have anything to do with it?”

I gave her a hard stare. “Max set you up. I’m almost positive he hired a guy to attack you just so he could jump in and play the hero.”

I waited for her shock and rage. I prepared myself to calm her down so we could work on a plan together. But the joke was on me.

Landon’s eyes widened and she began to laugh. My jaw almost unhinged. “Adam! That’s crazy! I know Max is an asshole and a cheater, but a criminal? No way would he do something like that. I think you’re overreaching.”

Ice trickled down my spine. I hated the way she dismissed my suspicions. Didn’t she know I wasn’t one to throw declarations out on impulse? Didn’t she know Max was one of the biggest liars I’d ever met? I tried to keep my tone chill. “Yeah, he would. He’s already hinted that he had some big set up to draw you close to him. He was bragging about a secret plan to the guys, but wouldn’t tell us anything concrete. When he was talking about what happened at breakfast, I noticed Coop didn’t seem surprised. It was like he knew and wasn’t concerned.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Coop is always distracted—he probably wasn’t listening. And as for the plan? Yeah, I agree it’s an asshole thing if he tried to be alone with me. But I’m sure Max’s master plan was working together at Red in the sex club. Not conspiring to get someone to attack me!”

I clenched my jaw. She didn’t believe me. She actually thought Max would never do it, which told me even with the cheating and lying, Landon refused to accept he’d cross the line that way. Her reaction pissed me off, but even worse?

It scared me. Because what else was Max capable of? Had he drugged her wine so he could easily crawl into bed with her? Had he touched her when Landon was at her most vulnerable?

“I can’t believe this shit,” I muttered, shaking my head. “I’m trying to tell you the truth, Landon. I don’t trust him anymore—he wants you bad enough to actually harm you. You have to listen to me—you need to gain some distance. He’s literally stalking you now to see who you’re with.”

Concern flickered over her face, but it wasn’t for Max. She reached out and touched my arm. “Adam, you’re going overboard with these conspiracy theories. Let it go. Max will eventually move on. He’s not a crazy stalker or psycho—he just has a giant male ego and can’t stand the idea that I broke up with him. It’s not good to hate him that much. Let it go,” she repeated.

My temper exploded, even though I tried hard to be calm. “I’m not going to let you get hurt when you belong to me! And if you’re not going to look out for yourself because you have your head up your ass, at least try to believe me and help me keep you safe!”

She squinted and anger steamed from her pores. “Don’t talk to me like that!” she snapped back, throwing her head up. “I keep myself safe, and I don’t need some overprotective caveman telling me what and what not to believe. Got it?”

“Max set you up!”

“No, he didn’t. He overstepped by climbing into my bed, which made you insane with jealousy. And I don’t blame you, but I’m telling you, Adam, he’s not a monster. Let this go and we’ll move on.”

There was no moving on, because Max would keep upping his game. There was only one alternative left.

“Want me to let it go? Fine. Then do one thing for me. I’m asking you to give me something, Landon. Something important.”

Her beautiful blue eyes softened. This time, she moved toward me without anger, wrapping her arms tight around my shoulders and resting against me. I held her tight, soothed by her embrace. The scent of her hair and skin rose to my nostrils and I let out a sigh of relief. “Anything. What do you need from me?”

My dick immediately hardened. I played out a few scenarios in my head, mostly of her gagged while I licked her sweet pussy and forced her to multiple orgasms. My hands roamed her curves and the little moan she made in the back of her throat made me insane for more. Even though I’d sworn not to use sex to sway her decision, I hungered for her to submit. She was stunning when she came; giving herself so completely I wanted to howl and beat my chest like the caveman she accused me of being. I shoved my hands down the back of her jeans, cupping her bare ass and squeezing. She wriggled, parting her legs, and I took the invitation to play.

Dipping my fingers into her cunt, I found her already swollen and wet, desperate for me, just the way I liked it. I bit gently along the curve of her neck where she was sensitive, and in seconds, she was melting and moaning for more, grabbing at me and pushing me toward the bed.

I laughed low and refused to move. Instead, I ripped down her jeans so they tangled around her ankles and kept her in check. “Will you give me what I need from you, my sweet little slut?” I whispered, tapping her clit, sliding my thumb gently back and forth, giving her just enough to torment but not enough pressure to go over the edge.

“Oh, God.” She rocked her hips back and forth. “Yes, anything you want. Please.”

I ripped her thong and the band snapped against her hip. She jolted in my arms, but I’d already thrust my fingers into her tight, dripping channel, fucking her deep, rubbing with steady motions. My name erupted from her lips the same time her orgasm ripped through her, and I took her mouth in a violent kiss, swallowing every sweet, needy moan like fuel.

She was magnificent and I knew I couldn’t leave without her.

Landon wasn’t safe with Max. He’d stake out his claim and do anything he wanted. I couldn’t play endless clubs in a strange city without having her by my side, in my bed. It would be a time for us to grow and get away from this group that I loved but who may destroy us. From the moment she told me about the reality show, I sensed it would be a big mistake—not only for her career, but her very soul—thrusting her into a spotlight that would rip her apart. She was so much bigger than all that.

LA would be an opportunity for her to explore her creativity; to meet new people and gain connections. We’d return to New York so much stronger. I needed to convince her.

The moment I felt her convulsions slow, I bit her bottom lip, eased away, and gazed into her drunken eyes.

“Come with me to LA, princess. Let’s do this thing full out. Let’s be together.”

I watched as my question pierced the sexual fog. Her answer sprang from her lips, even as Landon shuddered from the tail end of her orgasm, my fingers still buried inside her.

“I can’t.”