Uncaged Obsessions (Uncaged Duet #2)

50. Adam

CHAPTER 50

ADAM

“ I thought we talked about going off half cocked.” I shake my head at the two other men sitting across the island from me while we eat breakfast.

“And I told you, I’m never half cocked,” Caine retorts.

“Yeah, I think you kind of did exactly that,” Max says, cupping her mug of coffee close to her chest.

“Did you guys at least wear masks or anything?” I ask them, and the look on their faces tells me they didn’t. “I don’t think Danner will help you guys get out of this one.”

“We won’t need her,” Drew insists. I just shake my head again at them.

They were so proud to tell us what happened last night when we all got up this morning. I know Max and I both feel the same way about their little adventure. There’s been a lingering worry ever since Max has been back about what was going to happen and I feel like it was just starting to get better with Max’s parents getting arrested for it.

Now, we’re going to have to worry about if Doogie is going to do anything or if he’ll listen to them and actually leave town like he should.

“If your not-plan ends up working, then I won’t lie. That was pretty sexy of you guys.” Max smirks.

“Don’t encourage them,” I grumble.

“Please encourage us, little one.” Drew yanks her into his side with an arm wrapped around her waist.

“Okay, well, who’s coming to the gym today? Unless you end up arrested, that is.” I give both men a glare.

“Since I’m working, I will,” Drew says, pulling Max tighter against him when she tries to walk away, and giggles at the movement.

“I am. Alexander wants to spar with me,” Caine adds.

“Take it easy on him,” I insist.

Caine mumbles something I can’t quite hear, but I think it’s something about being too bossy.

“Daddy’s on a roll today, what demand do you have for me,” Max sasses.

“I’ll have plenty for you later, baby girl.”

She doesn’t suppress the shiver that runs through her body and Drew nuzzles into her neck, which only makes her squeak a small moan. I know that if we all get started, we won’t end up leaving the house.

“Let’s go, we have limited time before you two are carted off to prison,” I half joke.

“I know you’re new to joking, but that’s not funny,” Max scolds.

“Aw.” I pull her out of Drew’s grip and into me, speaking against her ear. “You can come up with a punishment for me later.”

Her eyes light up when she looks at me, but then they narrow. “That’s another joke.”

“Now you’re catching on. I’ll be the one doling out punishments.” I wink. “I’m heading to the gym. Feel free to join me, any of you.”

I know they will, which is why I have no problem walking out to get on my bike and driving the short distance to Uncaged. All while thinking of exactly what I can do to our girl later.

After classes are done for the day, Caine and Drew are both working out. I think they may be competing a bit especially because Max walked in here about thirty minutes ago since she got to go home early from work apparently.

She was toying with them, teasing so bad I thought they were going to fuck her while I was still teaching the last class of the day. That is until she followed me into my office, and I watch the way both guys stop what they’re doing to stare at her ass.

Max closes the door behind her when we’re both in my office. “What’re you doing, baby girl?”

She shrugs, her back resting on the now closed door.

“You trying to fuck with them?” I can’t help but ask.

She shrugs again. “Maybe a little. They deserve it for what they decided to do without us.”

“They deserve more than getting to stare at your ass as you walk in here,” I tell her and she smirks.

She sways her hips, walking toward me, and climbing onto my lap. I welcome her attention, loving the way it feels to just have her alone, even for a moment.

That’s when I remember the folder in my desk drawer that’s been bothering me for so long, and with Max here with me, I get an idea. Keeping an arm wrapped around her, I lean forward toward the drawer, opening it and pulling out the simple folder, dropping it onto my desk in front of us.

“What’s that?” Max asks, turning in my lap slightly to look at me. “Don’t tell me that’s some in depth report on me or something.”

I breathe out a small laugh. “No, it’s not on you, baby girl. It’s info I asked Danner to get for me…on my birth parents.”

She sucks in a small gasp, and I can see the worry written on her face. “What does it say?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t looked at it.”

“How long have you had it?”

“Awhile.”

“Do you want to look at it?”

I grip her thigh, running my hand along her soft leggings, enjoying the feel of them and her as I try to stay grounded. “I haven’t been sure. But I think I should.”

“You can if you want to, but it won’t change anything either way,” she says, and I know she’s trying to comfort me. I appreciate it more than I could ever explain.

“I know, I just feel like I should know once and for all. I think it’ll help if you stay right here.” I clamp my hand down on her leg, though I don’t think she’s planning to go anywhere.

Max nods. “I’m here for you. I’m always here for you.”

I can’t help myself, reaching up, I grab the back of her neck tangling my fingers in her hair there and pulling her mouth down to mine. “Fuck, I love you,” I groan.

She kisses me back; I push my tongue into her mouth to caress hers and she melts against me. When I part our lips she sighs, “I love you.”

Before I can talk myself out of it, I reach forward and open the folder, pulling it toward the both of us so I can reach it a bit easier. I make sure to keep Max on me, not that I think she’s going anywhere, but I need to feel her sitting on my lap as I read.

There aren’t any pictures, which I half expected to see. I’m somewhat disappointed, since I have no memories of either of my parents and I thought that maybe I would see what they look like. But I don’t.

My eyes dart all over the page, unsure where to look first. I’m looking around so much, I’m not able to read anything. It’s all jumbled together before my eyes finally settle on one of the top lines. It’s information on my birth mom, her name being the giveaway. Talia Hayes. Her last name was the one thing I have known.

I try not to show any reaction to seeing her name. Instead, I try and remain focused on the rest of the page. My eyes catch on the dates just a little lower, and the way my stomach drops is my only reaction.

I was fifteen when she died and had no idea. She was only thirty-one.

I don’t know how to feel about it, about any of this. So, I keep reading until I see cause of death. I don’t know what I was expecting, but seeing the words drug overdose makes complete sense. I knew she had a problem, that’s why I was never in her care, but part of me hoped maybe she got sober and regretted never getting to know me.

Knowing now she was only sixteen when she had me and died before I even reached that age hits a weird spot in my heart. It’s not exactly pain, but I’m not entirely numb either.

Conflicted, I flip to another page to see any information about the man I truly know nothing about. I see his name at the top of a page, Lukas Woods. The dates on the page catch me off guard. Math was never my strong suit, but this is pretty obvious and my blood boils.

He was ten years older than her, twenty-six with a sixteen year old. What a piece of shit. On top of that, he got to live into his sixties while her life was stolen so much younger by the battle to addiction she lost. It pisses me off even more, and if the bastard wasn’t dead I would kill him.

“Hey.” Max’s soft voice and gentle hand on my cheek pulls me from the blinding rage taking over my body. I flinch at her touch, and she tries to recoil, but I grab her wrist, keeping her hand on me. I like it there. Grounding me.

I tighten my hold on her, still not saying anything, just feeling her.

I don’t even know if I want to see how he died, because if it wasn’t some violent way that made sure he suffered, I won’t be happy. I need to believe my own version of his ending to make myself feel better, even if it’s just barely.

“Hey,” Max says again, a little louder this time and I move my eyes up to meet hers this time. The concern evident in her voice as I look at her. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, not sure how to answer. All I can say is, “She was sixteen. He was ten years older than her.”

That’s when it really hits me, how similar I am to him. The woman on my lap is seventeen years younger than me. I’m sick just like him. It doesn’t matter that we’re both adults and that I would have never touched her, or anyone else, underage. I’m no better than him.

“Stop,” she commands. “You’re not like him.”

I wonder for a minute if I said that out loud, but I know it’s just Max being able to read me so easily. Understanding me better than anyone else ever has.

“I’m disgusting just like him.” Shaking my head, I try to move her off my lap because I don’t know why she’s here. Why she would want to be with me. She has two men that are age appropriate for her and here I am, the son of a sick man who turned out just like him.

Max latches onto me tightly, not removing herself from my lap. “Knock it off. You’re nothing like him. Would you be with me if I was seventeen right now?”

“Of course not.” I grimace at the thought.

“What about any other girl underage?”

“Never.”

“Then don’t compare yourself to him. You’re not the same. We’re both consenting adults. The four of us are consenting adults,” she insists.

“You could have so much more. You have them, you don’t need me.”

“Adam, stop.” She grabs my face in between both of her hands now, forcing me to look at her. “I love you, none of this is wrong, I struggled for a while because it’s unconventional, but none of that had to do with your age. You didn’t groom me. You didn’t force me. Understand?”

I swallow roughly, struggling to agree with her, but when she leans forward, her lips grazing mine. “I love you, and I’ve never loved anyone before the three of you. That can’t be forced, trust me.”

I close the distance between us, falling into her. Getting lost in her. Which is exactly what I want right now. It’s what I need to erase the information I just found out. She’s right, it doesn’t change anything. Both of them are dead, so there’s nothing I can do about it now.

Grabbing the back of her head roughly, I yank her hair there hard enough she gasps, and it pulls our mouths apart, though she tries to seek mine out, I don’t let her, just pull harder when she tries. Whimpering when I don’t let her.

“Remember that day in the forest, baby girl?” I growl.

She sucks in her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to nod against my grip in her hair.

“I think we should have a repeat, but I don’t feel like waiting to get you out there.”

She gasps when I pull harder, arching her neck back even more.

“I’m going to let you go, and you’re going to run. Just remember what happens when we catch you.” She thrusts her hips slightly against me, already seeking friction. “Such a naughty girl, already wanting to be filled.”

“ Yes,” she moans.

“But only if you run. Make us work for it, baby girl, or you won’t get what you’re wanting.”

I let go of her, and she struggles to stay balanced as she drops off my lap when I stand up. She backs away from me toward the door, and I prowl toward her.

“Run,” I say darkly, and she doesn’t wait any longer, turning quickly to run out of the office into the open gym. I know Caine and Drew will know this game we’re playing. We all have a weakness for her when she runs.