Page 130 of Alphas Like Us

Interlacing my other hand with his, I say, “There is no handbook, wolf scout. You’re not docked stars because we decided to fuck now and talk about boring shit later. We do what feels right, when it feels right. That’sit.”

I need him to understand that this was my choicetoo.

He looks into me. “What if it’s different for me because of her?” Guilt obliterates his features, even blaming his mom. “I didn’t mean it likethat.”

“I know. And you’re not a sex addict,” I tell him.You’re not like yourmom.

He shuts his eyes, taking a smoother breath. “I just fucked you in a bathroom.” He opens his eyes to the shake of myhead.

“This might hurt you to know, but I don’t give a shit right now—I have fucked other men in bathrooms,” I say bluntly. “I’ve had sex on beaches, sports fields, bleachers, other places outside, and it was fun. Like what just happened was fun and healthy, and it’s all been done before by plenty of people. You’re not the first person to enjoy public sex,Maximoff.”

He thinks hard, and he lets go of my hand. He rakes his fingers through his hair. “I’ve never questioned it like this before. Notonce.”

Inod.

He breathes. “I can’t drive. I can’t swim. I can’t throw myself into work. And I love sex, but for the first time, I’m terrified that I could take it too far and I wouldn’t evennotice.”

“I’d notice.” I brush his cheekbones with my thumb. “You trustme?”

His eyes toughen, not soften. “Ofcourse.”

“If I see that you’re changing to a point where it looks bad, I’m going to tell you. We’re together. We fuck each other. Your doubts are always my concerns, and I’m here for you anytime, everytime.”

Maximoff inhales. “I must’ve missed that page in the BoyfriendManual.”

I look up at the ceiling in short thought, then back to him. “If manuals for this shit existed, we’d be on a much different edition bynow.”

“The Son of a Sex AddictManual.”

I let out a short laugh. “I was definitely thinking of a word that’s stronger than ‘boyfriend’, but sure, we can go with Son of a SexAddict.”

The bulb burns out of a gold light fixture above us. Cutting into our banter, and then Maximoff tells me, “I need you to know that I don’t regret fucking youhere.”

“Good.” I nod.ThankGod.

“And I don’t want you to have sex with me and think in the back of your head that I’m anaddict—”

“Man, that’s the last thing I’ll be thinking about while we’re fucking.” I zip up my leather jacket, and this time, his eyes are only on my eyes. “I’ll be enjoying myself. Like always. Hopefully you willtoo.”

22

MAXIMOFF HALE

Nights are the worst.

I stare up at the rafters, my mattress hard beneath my back. I can’t turn onto my side. Can’t curl up into a ball or shift for a better position. With my injury, I suffer on my back every damn night. If the pain ramps up, it usually takes me an hour to driftoff.

Tonight, it’sdifferent.

Legs aren’t intertwined with mine. My head doesn’t careen onto someone else’s shoulder. I don’t feel the presence of another body. It’s just me and my thoughts, and I can’t say it’s been an enjoyableexperience.

Farrow is at the hospital, working a long shift, and I won’t see him until the afternoon. The clock glows an annoying3:02 a.m.,reminding me that I’ve been trying to fall asleep for three excruciatinghours.

I’m not used to being in bed alone, and I crave for those days on the FanCon tour bus where I could easily crawl into Farrow’sbunk.

Threeyears.

That’s how long Farrow’s residency will last. Three years where I’ll have nights where he’s not around. And goddamn, I miss him. Talking to him. Having him annoy me until I’m a smilingidiot.