Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen

Landon

Listen to Something Just Like This

by The Chainsmokers

I stared at Adam’s shattered expression as regret tumbled through me, leaving my heart hurting the same time my body purred with satisfaction. The after effects of my orgasm softened my body so I clung to him at the same time I realized he was beginning to stiffen and back off; probably in shock at my answer after surrendering so fully in his arms.

The entire conversation about Max confused me. Yes, I could easily believe Max manipulated the schedule so I was forced to work with him. But hire an attacker to terrorize and assault me at my place of work? Right under Rock’s nose?

No, it was too dangerous. Too outrageous. I understood how Adam felt about Max, and figured he’d probably seen Max do a bunch of shady things throughout their friendship, but there was no way I believed it had gone that far. I didn’t like how Max climbed into my bed, but again, it wasn’t like he tried to push any sexual moves on me, or even begged to get me back.

I’m sure Adam was losing his mind knowing he wasn’t there to protect me. I loved his care and fierce possessiveness, even when I was pushing back on his reactions. Deep inside, his primitive male need was thrilling, but I couldn’t have him think it was cool to try and order me around outside the bedroom. Knowing Max had been the one to save me must have driven Adam crazy. I needed to give him the space and understanding until time passed and he realized he’d overreacted with Max.

But this plea? The dark, intense way he asked me to go with him to LA? I was literally weak all over with need to give him what he wanted. I craved to say fuck it and follow him across the country just to be close. I knew how much it cost him to be vulnerable and ask aloud, and though it tore me apart, I knew my answer had to be no.

“Adam, listen to me. I want to, but I can’t. I signed the contract for Dumped today. It’s too late.”

He began to shut down and retreat.

Instinctively, I used the strength of my body and his distraction to shove him toward the bed, pushing him hard and climbing on top of him with a feminine growl of hunger. “Don’t you dare,” I hissed, ripping down his jeans; pushing his shirt up with my frenzied fingers. “I will not allow you to pull away from me. And if this is the only way I can prove I fucking love you, then so be it.”

With my declaration ringing in the air, I ignored his shocked gaze, gripped his face, and covered his mouth with mine.

My tongue thrust between his lips and he stilled for a few seconds. Desperate, I began to grind my wet pussy against his erection, sliding the thick, hard shaft through my folds while my fingernails sunk deep into his muscled arms. With a muttered curse, he came alive, shoving my legs apart and grasping my hips. I threw my head back and moaned, and then he slammed me fully onto his straining cock.

“Fuck me,” I whispered dirtily, swiveling in slow tight circles as I pulled out. I rubbed my clit against his massive dick with shameless greed. I held his hot gaze each time I sank back down, and he reached out to twist my hard nipples, then tweak with his thumb. I took my fingers and slipped them into his wet mouth, and he sucked hard. “Own me like the dirty slut I am. Because I belong to you. Only you.”

Adam let out a primitive howl, rearing up and throwing me underneath him. Pinning my knees against my shoulders, he shoved his cock back inside and fucked me like an animal. My skin held his bruises; my pussy tightened and squeezed mercilessly; my lips chanted his name like a mantra.

We both exploded together and I held on fiercely as the convulsions of pleasure wracked my aching body. He stayed inside me, slumping against my sweat dampened skin. I stroked his hair back, automatically tracing his scars like a map I’d memorized. I didn’t regret telling him. I was tired of pretending it was lust, or a temporary affair. Adam owned my body, mind and heart. I was his and I didn’t want to fight it anymore, even if he hadn’t come to the same conclusion.

I could wait.

“Why did you sign the contract?”

His voice was quiet. I pressed a kiss to his temple, loving the way he let me comfort him and be close. I didn’t mention anything about Max or our talk. “It was the last day. I thought about coming with you. I wanted to, but if I don’t take this chance, I may always regret it. And that’s not fair to either of us.”

I prepped for an argument or to defend my decision. But he only sighed, his breath rushing over my belly, his hand stroking my wet inner thigh. “I still think it’s a big mistake but I don’t get how to tell you to make them. I need you safe from Max. I know you don’t believe me, Landon. But I’m telling the truth.”

I didn’t answer, wondering how I should handle it. “Let’s tell everyone tomorrow night. Daisy mentioned Noah was at a DJ gig. I don’t have to work—let’s put out a text to meet there. I don’t want to hide anymore.”

His grip tightened, then relaxed. “You sure you’re ready for this?”

“Yes. You’re the only one I want to be with, and I want the world to know you’re mine.” I caressed the beautiful ink down his biceps. Traced the elaborate guitar and bleeding roses hiding the childhood wounds he carried. “If you’re worried about Max, declaring we’re together will finally get him to understand it’s over.”

“Or have the opposite effect,” he said with a touch of bitterness.

“Then you’re going to have to trust I can take care of myself,” I said. “Like I’m going to trust you in LA, in strange hotel rooms and parties with girls crawling over you.”

“Once you taste a queen, every other woman tastes bitter. There’s no contest, princess.”

I melted, snuggling against him. “You gonna put that in a song, music man?”

“Maybe.” Our breath mingled in the quiet. “You mean what you said?”

“Yes. I’m not afraid to say it. I love you, Adam.”

He reached up, burying his hands in my hair, drawing me close. His mouth pressed over mine, sipping gently over my swollen lips. “I’ve only said it once before, after my mother. I swore I’d never say it again, to anyone. I didn’t think love really existed.”

His pain was almost palatable. My throat thickened with emotion. “That’s okay. I can wait.” I meant it. I knew Adam loved me, but understood the words may be hard. They were just words. Max had given me a ton of them, but his actions were hurtful. I knew I could trust Adam to care for my heart. I was jealous, though, of that one woman he’d said it to. “You must have really loved her.”

He spoke with hesitancy. “I had a stray cat once. Named her Melba. Saw some shit on the tv about melba toast and it stuck with me. At first, I ignored her, told her to go away. I was bitter after Mom, stuck with my father’s shit and feeling like there was no way out. I used to go outside and she’d purr and try to be my friend. Took me weeks to finally break down.”

I didn’t like the way the story was heading, but it was important. I kept quiet and listened.

“I began to feed her tuna. Old bread. Anything I could scrounge up. Saved some money and got cat food. She was strictly an outside cat so my father didn’t know too much. Then I found out she was pregnant. I was freaked out about it—wasn’t sure what to do. I called the animal shelter and they gave me some tips, but other than trying to catch her and bring her to the vet, there wasn’t much I could do. I set up a safe place for her in the yard. And damned if Melba didn’t have her kittens. Six of them. Black as night, like blind little bats. They were fucking adorable.”

I swallowed hard, keeping my hands on him for comfort. “What happened?” I asked softly.

“Dad found them. Knew I was hiding them and sneaking food. He went apeshit about a cat colony around our house. Beat the shit out of me and locked me up. When I got out, the kittens were gone and so was Melba. He said he drove them somewhere in the woods and let them go free. But every night, I wondered if Melba believed I betrayed her. And I loved that fucking cat.”

My heart broke into tiny pieces. The thought of this beautiful man dealing with such evil and pain was hard to process, so I just stroked his hair and pressed kisses to his temple and told him again that I loved him.

I held the space for his story. It was all I could do.