Page 84 of Yearn

Noah rolled his eyes. “Adam’s not a whore like you, Max,” he retorted.

“Don’t have to be a whore to take advantage of being in a band,” Max said easily.

I slammed back my shot and forced a grin. “No one here needs to worry about who I’m fucking. Be right back—gotta take a piss.”

I headed to the back and out the side door where everyone was smoking. Holy shit, this was too much. I turned and asked to bum a cigarette from the guys to my right, and they handed me a Marlboro. I took the light and dragged the smoke into my lungs, trying to steady myself. Landon was still keeping Max in her life, on a tight leash. She wanted both of us at her beck and call so she could decide which worked out best. Why else would she confide in Max about getting cast? Why wouldn’t she have reached out to me? And why had she decided to forgive him so damn easily?

Because Max could do no wrong. He wasn’t scarred or broken or fucked up. He got what he wanted, when he wanted, no matter what he did.

Life wasn’t fair. I’d never expected it. But I guess I’d hoped for higher expectations from Landon.

I smoked and calmed down. At least, I knew the game she was playing and I’d be prepared.

For my rules. Like I’d originally promised myself.

I made my way inside and immediately ran into Landon.

“Can we talk?”

I stared at her with hard eyes. Damn her for making my heart lurch in my chest. For making my dick hard and my soul long for something I’d never have. Dressed in a shimmery short skirt and barely there camisole, her body was a mouthwatering treat every guy in this club wished he could taste. Her stacked heels made her legs stretch forever, muscled calves and curved thighs on display. Lips painted in a dark pink, blue eyes filled with pleading, she crashed through all my walls and brought me to my knees.

I strengthened my resolve and spoke coldly. “Didn’t think we had anything left to talk about, princess. Unless you want to fuck?”

She jerked back, blinking. “Don’t be like that. I know I didn’t call but you didn’t either.” I refused to speak, holding her gaze. “Adam, please. We need to settle some things.”

I arched a brow. “Sure. Wanna talk in front of the group? I’m sure they won’t wonder what we’ve possibly got to say to one another. Oh, hey, I have an idea. Let’s bring Max into the discussion. Since he’s such a good friend.”

She let out a breath and practically stamped her foot with obvious irritation. “I am not back with Max and have no interest in him romantically,” she hissed. “Stop being an asshole. You need to listen to me.”

“Maybe I’ve listened to your lies enough. We’re good. See ya.”

I started to walk past her but she gave a feminine growl and grabbed my arm, pulling hard. The moment her fingers touched my skin, my body woke up with a roar, and suddenly, I was crazed to taste her; make her beg; force her to see I was the one and that she had always been meant for me. “I won’t let you walk away from this!” she said furiously, jumping in front of me. “You’re going to talk to me whether you like it or not.”

Chapter Forty-One

Adam

Listen to No Shame

by 5 Seconds of Summer

Her heated whisper rose to my ears and broke my resolve. I grabbed her hand and dragged her forward, refusing to slow my rapid stride. She tried to keep up as I weaved in and out of the crowds, down the hallway past the restrooms, and flung open the unmarked door that was the janitor’s closet. Shoving her inside, I closed the door and yanked her against me, my hands circling her hips. The bang of a mop or broom crashing to the floor barely registered. My heels brushed the edge of a bucket.

“You want to talk and make things all nice and polite with us?” I sneered. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

The dark swallowed us up. The pounding of the music throbbed faintly in the background. Slowly, my sight adjusteduntil I could make out the outline of her face, full of feminine temper and a wanting she could never hide from me. “I hate the way you treat me,” she ground out. “If you were worried or had questions about Max, why didn’t you text or call me like a normal person?”

“Because it’s none of my damned business. I knew you’d go back to him anyway. I know exactly what our night together was about.”

“You’re wrong.” Her voice deepened and tempted, wrapped up with a sweet note of pleading. She leaned into me instead of fighting, and I tilted her chin up so I could peer into her eyes as she spoke. “Max begged to move forward so we can all still hang out in the group. We’re broken up and never getting back together. But the friendship we all have is too important to both of us—so we compromised. We’re being civil for the good of the group.”

“Is that why you told Max about getting the reality show and not me?”

She fell silent and I knew I was right. She was hiding her real feelings. She liked being with Max and what he brought her. I’d always be a dirty secret under the sheets. A beat up, scarred musician with a broken past and a lust for the dark. She belonged in the light, with a golden boy like Max.

I knew this truth but hated it. I knew, but wanted her to suffer like me.

“I’m sorry. I was going to talk to tonight, but you were acting like such a dick and ignoring me. Max happened to be there right after I got the phone call. That’s the only reason he knows.”