Page 44

CHAPTER 43

CAINE

N ever in my life did I think I would be okay sharing my woman. Especially not when I’m as obsessed as I am with Max. But I hate that I didn’t mind it. The way she looked so helpless against all three of us is everything I didn’t know I wanted. I didn’t know I needed.

We helped her clean up, but she insisted that she shower alone. Only because she claimed we wouldn’t be able to keep our hands off her again.

She’s right.

She ended up falling asleep almost immediately. Now the three of us are in Max’s living room and kitchen while she sleeps. I want to join her, but I also want these two to leave. I may accept sharing her, but I still want her to myself at times.

Most of the time.

“You guys can go home, you know,” I end up announcing, which is only met with glares.

“So can you,” Drew retorts.

“Do you guys think she’s going to stick around or go back to her fancy old life?” Adam asks out of the blue.

“Why the fuck would she do that?” I snap defensively.

“Because she came from a bunch of money and has a family.” Adam stops himself at the mention of family, just like he always does. He doesn’t talk about his history much, but I know that he grew up in the system and has never known his real family.

“Just because they’re family doesn’t mean she wants to be around them,” I defend. I would know that better than anyone.

Well, Drew too, considering his only family was his dad and he fucking hates him. So, he remains silent, sitting with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together.

“What if she does? This could just be some temporary life for her, you know?” Adam says seriously.

I shake my head. “It’s not.”

“Maybe she will, and then we’ll have an excuse to kick the ass of whoever she was engaged to.” Drew’s tone is sinister, and I know he would love nothing more. I wouldn’t mind it either.

“If she chooses to go back to anyone, that’s her choice and we have to respect it,” Adam says sternly. I roll my eyes at his parental tone. He thinks he can be in charge of everything and it’s fucking annoying.

“Yeah.” I push up on my thighs as I stand up. “You can respect whatever the fuck you want, but if she thinks she can leave, I’ll find her and remind her that she’s not getting rid of me.”

“If you go, I go,” Drew agrees.

I want to argue, but then I remember that I have to share her like she wants, so I have to agree. But I know she won’t go back. There’s just something about her that tells me the reason she’s here is the same reason she won’t leave.

“I’m going to bed, then,” I announce.

“Here?” Drew questions.

“Yeah. With Max. In her bed.”

“The fuck you are.” He stands up and I really don’t want to wake her up by fighting with him right now.

“Whatever.” I continue to walk toward Max’s room, and I feel Drew following, so I turn to glare at him. “What’re you doing?”

“Joining. I need to sleep, too.”

“We aren’t all fitting in her bed.” I look at Adam who’s still on the couch.

“I guess we’re going to try.”

“I’m sleeping out here,” Adam calls out, and right now he’s my only friend.

“I don’t even want to know you’re there,” I tell Drew as we make our way into Max’s room as quietly as possible.

I reach behind my neck and pull off my shirt, then push off my pants so I’m only in my boxers before I climb into bed next to Max. I pull her body into mine before Drew has the chance to. I don’t usually cuddle, but I’m a selfish bastard and I want to feel her pressed against me while I sleep.

Drew grumbles something, but it’s quiet enough I can’t really hear him, and Max doesn’t stir. I’m proud of that and I’m pretty sure I’ll fall asleep with a self-satisfied smirk on my face.

I wake up to a thumping sound and then a quiet but frustrated, “shit.” The weight that was in my arms is now gone, and that has me shooting my eyes open to see Max holding her foot at the end of her bed that she clearly just kicked.

“What’re you doing, killer?” I sit up, not giving a fuck if Drew wakes up.

“Trying to sneak away from the human heaters that took over my bed.” She grimaces, letting go of her foot.

“And where were you going to go?”

“The couch.”

“Adam’s out there.”

She groans. “Don’t you all have your own houses?”

I nod.

“Then why don’t you stay there?”

“Because you’re here.”

“For the love of?—”

“Come back to bed, killer.” She shakes her head. “It wasn’t a request.”

She folds her arms across her chest. I accept her silent challenge, getting out of bed, and grabbing her around the waist before she has a chance to get away from me. I pull her back into bed and Drew grumbles something before wrapping an arm around her and trying to pull her into him.

With a smile, she goes willingly to him, and I lean down to speak directly into her ear, “We’ll see whose face is between your legs when you get up.”

“We’ll see who’s dick I’m riding when you get up,” she retorts, giving me her back, and I slap my hand on her ass.

“Get some more sleep, you’re going to need it.”

I’m deadlifting, working on getting my strength up. Even though Adam insists that I need to train my technique more than strength, but I don’t give a shit. I train what I want to train. When I see Max come in, I keep my eyes on her as I lift once more. When she looks over at me, I drop the weights, finishing my set and flick the latch on my weightlifting belt, catching it in my hand as it falls. I don’t miss the way her mouth drops just slightly before turning away.

I let out a silent chuckle, grabbing my hand wraps and walking over to where she’s stretching. Stepping up behind her, I take the wrap I have in a half loop and bring it around the front of her neck, under her chin and pulling up so she’s forced to look at me.

“Ignoring me today?” I ask.

“Seems like every time I try to, you don’t let me.”

I lean down, tightening the wrap around her neck a little as I get closer. “And I never will.”

“Caine,” Adam’s voice across the gym ruins my moment with Max and I scowl.

“Daddy’s calling,” she teases with a smirk, but gasps as I tighten the wrap even more for a second before loosening it and taking it with me to see what Adam wants.

I start wrapping my hands as I approach, waiting to see what he’s going to give me shit for today.

“We’re going to Vegas,” he says instantly.

“Why?” I don’t really want to go there just to fuck around. I don’t drink or party and Vegas sounds like a crowded nightmare.

“You got into a fight, a big one. Some UFC guys are gonna be there, and it may be the shot you need to really get noticed. Especially if you win.”

“When I win,” I correct. “When is it?”

“Next weekend, we leave on Friday.”

I glance over at Max, nodding my head in her direction. “She’s coming.”

“You sure about that?”

“She’s coming,” I repeat sternly. I want her to be there, I want her to watch my fight.

I also don’t want her here alone with Drew again, forcing me to watch on the cameras. He can come too for all I care; I just know I don’t want to be left out of the fun again.

Adam gives me a look that tells me he doesn’t think it’s a good idea. I know he won’t argue, because while he may not admit it, I know he wants her to be there, too.

“We’re upping your training until then. This isn’t an amateur fight.”

“And I’m not an amateur fighter.”

He nods. “Prove it.”

I wrap my hands, looking back at Max, who’s pretending like she didn’t just watch our entire interaction. Just for fun, I take my shirt off with my eyes locked on her before heading to warm up on the bag.

She tries and fails to look unaffected by me. She can pretend all she wants, but I know my killer likes the games we play. And I’ll drag her kicking and screaming to Vegas with me if I have to.