Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Landon

Listen to Love Remains the Same

by Gavin Rossdale

H e gripped my upper arms and steered me into the dark corner, hidden from the bar. “What are you doing?” I hissed.

“Refusing to play your game anymore.”

I gasped in outrage. “I think you’re the one playing games! Do you get off on cornering women outside of rest rooms, asshole?”

“I get off on women who don’t hide behind bullshit. It was fine when we kept our distance. Pretended we despised each other. But you crossed the line now, sucking me in, and I’m not about to go back.”

Panic coursed through me. What was he doing? Everything between us had no name or label. It hid in the dark of forgetfulness so I could freely love Max and stay safe. At this moment, I hated him for blowing it all up. My temper exploded. “Who do you think you are? We shared a story about our shitty childhoods and that makes you believe you have rights to more? Get over yourself, Adam. I’m not one of your groupies and I’m in love with your best friend!”

I pushed him away but he didn’t budge. A mocking laugh escaped those sensual lips. “Back to lies, huh? You don’t love Max—he just fits into your perfect idea of what you want your life to look like. Max can’t give you what you really need.”

Steam practically rose from my pores. I poked at his hard chest. “Oh, is that right? You have no idea what Max gives me and how much I love it. You’d have no clue how to give a woman more than a few orgasms and move on because you share nothing.”

“I knew exactly what you needed the moment you walked into the bar and chose Max instead of me. You want safe. But what you need is someone to fuck you like you always dreamed.” His animal scent rose up to my nostrils, making me drunk along with his words. He slowly tore me apart with each word nailed at me. “You need a man you can’t control, who won’t beg forgiveness. You need a man who can give you more than one neat little orgasm. You need a man who will tear you apart piece by piece, and consume you alive.”

Shock unfurled along with an electric heat sizzling under my skin. “You’re disgusting.”

I was shaking with outrage, and something else. Something that horrified me even more than his words.

He leaned in, his hot breath rushing over my lips. “That’s right, princess. Keep pretending you don’t like it.”

“I don’t!”

He made a tsking noise. “Liar. Poor Max doesn’t know what you really want. What’s the matter? You’re not brave enough to beg him to treat you like the little whore you are?”

My body exploded into flames at his words. My breath released from my lungs with a whoosh, and my pussy was immediately wet and achy. My nipples stabbed against my halter top. And that son of a bitch saw it all, his gaze raking over my body with a smug male grin that made me want to tear his eyes out. “You’re sick,” I whispered, my voice trembling with rage.

The air sizzled with sexual tension. The shadows darkened and closed around us. His dark eyes bore into mine, then dropped to my lips.

“And so are you. Because you want to be fucked in all the ways you dreamed. You want to be treated like a plaything instead of a princess. You want someone to rough you up, make you come, make you scream, and not ask for permission. Ain’t that right?”

I was going to come and he hadn’t even touched me.

Lust and hate tangled inside and combusted. My heart frantically beat in my chest.

His snarl told me he now knew my secrets and wouldn’t forget it.

I had to get out of here before I did something we both could never take back.

“Touch me and I’ll tell Max. Now get out of my way.”

He wasn’t afraid of my threats, which thrilled me. He slammed both hands against the wall, trapping my head between them. Slowly and deliberately, he spoke right against my ear. “If I did touch you; if I slid my fingers into your hot little pussy, you’d be dripping wet for me, right princess?”

I shook like I was in a fever. I tried to bring my hands up to push him away, to deny all of it, but he was already pulling away, a low dirty laugh escaping his carved lips.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.”

Then he left me there in the pub, pressed against a dirty wall, knees weak.

Yearning for what he offered.

Adam

I’d fucked up.

I walked in an angry rhythm, through the empty sidewalks, and fumbled for a cigarette. My hands shook as I lit it and tried to get my clawing hunger under control. There were no more places to hide anymore. I’d told her the truth; ripped aside her blinders; and betrayed my best friend.

What a night.

Cursing under my breath, I shook my head hard. If only I hadn’t caught a glimpse of her broken soul. The one that longed and bled and hungered for everything I did. The one who had to break free from her crappy past and re-make herself into someone who refused to fail. Maybe that’s what I’d seen in her from the beginning. Another half of me. And I’d followed the scent to the bitter end, leading to a dark hall in a pub with her trapped against the wall.

My mind flashed on the memory of her face. Lust dilating her pupils; breath strangled in her lungs. Her entire body convulsed for me. I almost lost my shit, feeling like an animal, craving to slide my fingers into her dripping pussy and confirm she wanted everything I promised. Sure, I’d suspected what she was hiding underneath all those dumb blonde remarks and vapid behavior. But tonight, I’d confirmed my worst fears, and nothing would ever be the same.

I’d give anything to have Landon in my bed. Even if I blew up everything around me to get her there.

I walked and smoked and thought. No matter what I was ready for, Landon was the one who had to make the next move. She could blow it all up and take a chance with me. She could pretend tonight never happened and try her best to put Pandora’s box back together. She could be honest and confess to Max I’d come on to her. The options were endless and I wasn’t in control.

The thought actually calmed me. There was no need for me to make any decisions until Landon did. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tip the scales and tell her about Max and the video. I wanted her completely committed to this fucked up road no matter what she believed about Max. It was another issue I had with women. I wanted to own them, body and mind and soul. A night of sex was perfect to scratch my itch, especially with women who weren’t afraid of my need to control. But the woman I eventually fell for?

I’d known I was fucked up. Accepted it years ago, when I wondered if my father had given me such darkness and I’d never be able to have a normal relationship. Now, I didn’t care what anyone termed normal. It was what I wanted and needed and I refused to apologize. There were others like me.

Landon was one of them. She just wasn’t ready to face the truth of who she was.

I knew I could set her free. Could release her body and mind from the prison she’d put herself in with Max. But she had to ask me for it.

My breathing calmed. I stamped out my cigarette. I’d wait and see.

I let myself into my place—a basic hole in the wall in the Meatpacking district over a Thai takeout restaurant. It was a one room studio, and the air was always filled with spice. I didn’t care though. It was cheap and I didn’t have a roommate. It was a space I could sleep, screw, and work on my music. I was saving for something bigger.

I stripped and stepped into the shower. The pressure was decent and the temperature hot, so I soaped up, closed my eyes, and pulled the memory of Landon’s face when she stared back at me, horror and arousal and hunger swirling in her beautiful blue eyes. I imagined her pink lips opening over my cock, taking me fully, sucking hard as her sweet tongue licked over me.

Grabbing my cock, I fisted my hand and worked myself, fantasizing Landon in my bed, her luscious naked body bare for my gaze, legs spread wide, wet pussy open for anything I wanted to do or give or take. I’d torture her, forcing her orgasm to the edge and holding her there. I’d tease her clit and shove inside her tight cunt, pinning her down as I took her with savage strokes, until she begged me for release.

My hand moved faster. I threw my head back and came hard as I imagined her screaming my name.

Her name spilled from my own lips. I collapsed against the wet tiles, breathing hard, sated.

I toweled off, and threw myself on the mattress, naked. My phone buzzed. Curiosity peaked so I answered.

“Gabby? What’s up?”

“Did you catch up with her?”

I paused. Was she playing games like Landon accused? Over the past week, we’d talked and hung out and I enjoyed her company. She seemed like a straight shooter, and I admired her ambition. I also thought she was getting a bad rap from the girls. Sure, she flirted with Max, but I knew how he worked and it was guaranteed he flirted right back. I also knew how savage Landon could get when her territory was poached. It pissed me off, but I also understood possessiveness. If she was mine, I would destroy any guy who touched her. But I also wouldn’t give her reason to doubt I was hers, body and soul. It had to work both ways.

“Who?”

Gabriella laughed. “Really, we’re going to pretend? Landon. I saw both of your faces when you looked at each other. Gotta admit, I was knocked on my ass. Didn’t see that surprise coming.”

I wasn’t about to admit anything. I didn’t trust her one hundred percent. “Landon is with Max.”

“For now. Come on, Adam, I’m on your side. I don’t like her, but if you want her, something decent must be there. Maybe if I broke through her barrier, she’d be just as loyal to me, which isn’t a bad trait. The bigger question is if Landon’s ready to leave Max. I’m not sure she’s brave enough.”

The words pierced with truth. I thought about having someone to confide in about my fucked-up feelings, but I’d been burned before. Trust was earned, slowly. Not given in an impulsive action because I needed a confidante.

“Sorry, Gabby, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Nothing’s going on with us. But if you’re trying to steal Max for yourself, you may have a fight on your hands with Landon.”

A snort came over the line. “Who says I want Max? Maybe I’m feeling things out with everyone.”

Curiosity peaked. “Why do you want in with this crowd so bad? I’m not sure we’re worth the effort. You must have a ton of other friends who want to hang with you.”

“I do. But there’s something about all of you that draws me. Not sure what it is yet, but I’ll find out. In the meantime, I won’t push. You’ll trust me eventually.”

I kept silent. My instincts said she was telling the truth, but I’d wait and see. “Thanks for coming out to see me tonight.”

“You killed it. Check out my video—I taped you live and you’re a huge hit. You may want to look at your TikTok. Bet you have a bunch of new follows.”

I hated social media but it was a necessary evil. I had a YouTube and TikTok account but it was like a monster needing constant feeding. I don’t know how Landon and Gabby did it. “Appreciate it.”

“No prob. Talk later.”

I hung up, then scrolled to my apps. Watching myself sing live was a strange thing, but the likes kept pouring in with comments. It’s what I needed to get more exposure. I didn’t want to pimp myself out as a singer, but if people liked the actual songs, I may get a break with a contact wanting to work with me.

With thoughts of my career and Landon tangling in my brain, I finally fell into a restless sleep.

In the morning, sunshine flooded though my sad, small window, somehow giving me hope. Maybe it would all work out. Maybe Landon and I were meant to be together. Maybe some music producer would see my show and contact me. Maybe everything I wanted would finally happen.

I made some toast, grabbed a banana, and sat at the table with my coffee. When Max called, I needed to drag in a calming breath before I answered the Facetime.

“What’s up?” I asked casually.

“Did you think I wouldn’t find out, asshole?”

I closed my eyes and wondered why I’d even bothered to hope. I should have learned my lesson.

Because Max kept talking, and my world blew up.