36. Adam
CHAPTER 36
ADAM
W e all go our separate ways after leaving Max’s house. I wanted to talk to Drew since we really didn’t get to after everything happened. Even though we all stayed at Max’s while she slept, we didn’t say much to each other. Mostly because Caine was there, and I don’t know where any of us stand now.
I get why Caine didn’t want to share.
I get why Drew does.
And here I am, somewhere in the middle. But one thing has me drawing up short. I wish I had seen Drew and Max together. The way that I want her between us.
But first, we all need to talk about things. We need to figure this out because the point of last night was to get Max to choose, and I’m not sure that’s going to be possible. Even if she chooses, I don’t think any of us are going to give her up.
I turn on the lights and see Athena slithering around her enclosure. I pick her up and let her have some freedom after being cooped up since yesterday. She slides up my hand and up onto my arm, settling around my shoulders.
“Sorry, girl, I had some stuff to do last night,” I tell her, heading into my kitchen to make a protein shake as she settles onto me a bit more. Being wound around my neck is her favorite place to be.
I’ll be honest, the weight of her is comforting around my shoulders. She has the ability to take my stress away and helps me relax. It doesn’t matter that people would think I’m crazy talking to my snake, she’s the biggest constant in my life and I know that she understands what I’m telling her. She understands what I need.
“That girl, the new one, Max,” I tell her, feeling good to say things out loud when I don’t have anyone else to tell. “She’s amazing. I’ve never met someone like her before. I get why Caine is obsessed with her. Shit, now I understand why she has him and Drew wrapped around her finger.”
I shake my head, thinking about how she’s turned all our worlds upside down and I don’t think she even knows it. Probably because we’ve done the same to her. I want to know more about her. I want to experience her again, but I want her to know it’s me from the start.
“I think you should meet her at some point,” I say, taking a big sip from my shake. And when Athena starts to wrap herself around my neck like a scarf in the way she does, an idea clicks. A way for me to get more from Max. I know some of what she likes and how dark her desires go, but I know how to give her more.
I could expand her horizons in so many ways and give her things she’s never imagined before. Even if that means sharing her, because I think I would give her anything she wanted.
I’m the first one at the gym, which isn’t unusual, but what is unusual is that Drew and Caine aren’t far behind me. I can’t help but think that it has to do with knowing Max is going to be showing up here. None of us want anyone to be alone with her. We’re going to end up smothering her and I can’t find it in me to even care.
Caine doesn’t say anything, immediately starting his workout, which isn’t a surprise. Drew ends up walking over to me at the front desk, and I just glance up, waiting to see if he’ll talk to me.
“Hey,” he finally speaks and that’s when I give him my full attention and nod my head at him in greeting.
“I think we all need to talk about this shit,” he says exactly what I’ve been thinking.
“I’m not going to back off, just so you know.” I want to make it clear, to both of them, that this isn't ending today.
“Neither am I,” he agrees.
“We know he’s not.” I gesture toward Caine who’s lifting probably more than he should be as a warmup.
“What about what Max wants?” he asks with a smirk.
“You think she’s going to choose?” I wonder.
Drew looks at Caine, then back to me. I can’t deny the heat in his eyes that used to be there when we were hooking up, is back. I also can’t deny that I’ve missed it. It’s the same look he’d have with my dick in his mouth, looking up at me. Or right before we would fuck.
“Do you want her to?” he asks, pulling me from my memories of us.
“Do you?” I fire back.
He stands up straighter, not breaking our gaze. “No, I don’t.”
I’m not surprised by his response, but hearing it out loud does make me feel better about whatever is going to happen. Maybe the two of us will be able to convince Caine that he doesn’t get to have her all to himself.
“Caine,” I snap, getting his attention, because I don’t want to put this off any longer. The three of us need to be on the same page before Max gets here.
He drops the weights with a loud thud. “What?”
I nod my head to the side, signaling him to come over to where we are. He gets up from the machine, grumbling to himself. I'm going to ignore that for now.
“Where do we all stand with Max?” I ask seriously, and Caine just scoffs.
“Same place we stood before. She’s mine, and you two need to back off. You’ve had your fun, but it’s over now.” He shrugs.
“We’re past that shit, she wants all of us, and wasn’t that the deal? That we let her choose?” Drew argues.
“Since when did she say that?”
“Uh, yesterday, she didn’t need to say it. It’s pretty fucking obvious.”
They continue to bicker, and I stop it with a strong, “Enough.”
They both look at me, and I don’t let the fighting continue before speaking again. “Did either of you know she was engaged?” Neither of them say anything, but the surprised look on their faces is my answer.
“Yeah, didn’t think so. I looked her up, she’s from a really wealthy family in Texas, supposed to marry some douche in January, but clearly didn’t. Now she’s here with us and she clearly wants all of us. Caine, you need to get over your possessive bullshit and see that. We all can give her what she wants. What I think it is she needs. ”
He looks horrified at the thought, immediately shaking his head. “No, I don’t share. And there’s no fucking way I’m sharing with the two of you.”
“Either you share, or you’ll constantly be competing with us. Which would you prefer?” Drew challenges.
“No more competitions. No more bullshit arguments and fights. We are going to be adults about this,” I explain.
“Oh, I forgot you were in charge, dad,” Caine retorts.
“Not your fucking dad, but yeah. I’ll be in charge if you’re going to be an immature dick about this.”
The front door of the gym opens, and we all swing our heads over to see Max walking in. She stops dead in her tracks when she notices all of us looking at her.
“I feel like I just interrupted something,” she says skeptically.
“Not at all, we were just talking about you.” Caine walks over to her, draping his arm across her shoulders, which she shrugs off with a glare.
“That’s not helping,” she tells him.
“We were talking about how we don’t want you to choose. We want all of us to have a chance with you,” I say, cutting to the chase. Like I said before, I’m done with these games that they’ve been playing with her, and she should know it.
Her head swings between all of us before shaking it in disbelief. “You’re wanting me to, what, date all of you? After yesterday? ”
“We don’t need to put a label on it. But yeah, we all want you,” Drew chimes in.
“I—” She pauses with her mouth wide open. It makes me want to shove her onto her knees and feel that mouth wrap around my dick. “I don’t know what’s happening right now.”
I step closer to her, and she doesn’t back away, not even when I gently cup her cheeks, sliding my fingers into her hair and forcing her to look up at me. “Give us a chance,” I request quietly.
“Adam, you don’t understand. This isn’t normal, I can’t?—”
“Who gives a fuck what’s normal? Did you like yesterday? Do you want more like it? Do you want more? ”
Her mouth snaps shut, and she swallows roughly.
“You don’t have to answer now, just don’t kick us out the next time we want a taste of you.” I wink, stepping back from her and she sways on her feet slightly at the loss of my touch.
“Now, let’s get to work. You’re at the gym, it’s time to train,” I announce, hoping it’ll be enough of a distraction.
I don’t miss the looks I get from everyone, trepidation rolling off them in waves. Except Caine, he just looks pissed, but I think he always looks like that. Good thing he gets to take out some of that aggression during training—we have a lot to do today.