You make all of us a little crazy.

You make all of us a little crazy.
Amara’s POV

I could still feel Ryder’s lips on mine. Still feel the heat of his hands gripping my waist, the possessiveness in his touch.

I should have pushed him away. Should have told him this was too much, too fast.

But I didn’t.

Because the truth was, I wanted him. Just like I wanted Jaxon. Just like I wanted Caden.

And that terrified me.

I barely had time to process what had happened before the sound of the balcony door opening made me jump.

Caden stood in the doorway, his golden eyes flicking between me and Ryder.

Tension thickened the air instantly.

Ryder didn’t move from where he stood close to me, his body still caging mine against the railing. Instead, he smirked, wiping his thumb across his bottom lip like he was taunting him.

Caden’s jaw ticked.

I swallowed hard. “Caden, I—”

His voice was calm—too calm. “So, is this how it is?” His gaze flicked to Ryder. “You get tired of waiting, so you steal what isn’t yours?”

Ryder laughed, low and dark. “Steal?” He tilted his head. “I don’t think Amara was objecting, were you, sweetheart?”

I froze.

Caden’s eyes snapped back to me, searching my face. He knew me—knew how to read every expression, every hesitation.

And when I didn’t immediately deny it—

Something shifted in him.

He stepped forward, his presence commanding, his gaze locking with mine. “Amara,” he said softly, his voice laced with something dangerous, “come here.”

Ryder stiffened beside me.

But my feet moved on their own.

I stepped toward Caden, and the second I was within reach, his hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me against his chest.

I gasped, my hands instinctively landing on his shirt.

Caden’s fingers tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him. His golden eyes burned into mine, his jaw tight. “Do you want him?”

I swallowed. “Caden, I—”

His grip tightened. “Yes or no, Amara.”

Ryder scoffed. “She already answered me, Caden.”

Caden’s eyes darkened. “Stay out of this.”

Ryder chuckled. “Not a chance.”

Caden ignored him, keeping his focus only on me. His fingers brushed over my jaw, his touch softer now, gentler. “I need to hear you say it.”

My breath caught.

The way he was looking at me—like I was the only thing that mattered in the world—it broke me.

“…I want you too,” I whispered.

Caden exhaled sharply.

Then his lips were on mine.

Unlike Ryder’s kiss, this wasn’t about possession or jealousy. This was something deeper, something slow and unshakable.

Caden kissed me like he’d been waiting for this moment. Like he needed it.

And the worst part?

I needed it too.

The tension between Ryder and Caden was suffocating.

I could feel the weight of Caden’s gaze on me, the unspoken questions burning behind his golden eyes. But Ryder wasn’t backing down either—he stood beside me, radiating smug confidence, like he knew exactly what he had done.

I was caught between them, my pulse still erratic from Ryder’s kiss, my body still thrumming with the aftershocks of wanting him.

But when Caden finally spoke, his voice was quiet. Controlled.

“…Is this how it’s going to be?”

I swallowed, shifting slightly, but Ryder’s fingers brushed against my wrist—a silent reminder that he wasn’t going anywhere.

Caden’s eyes darkened at the movement, but his expression remained unreadable.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I admitted.

Caden stepped closer, his presence washing over me like a storm on the verge of breaking. “Say the truth,” he murmured.

My breath caught.

Ryder let out a soft chuckle. “She did tell the truth. You just don’t like hearing it.”

Caden ignored him, reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was featherlight, almost hesitant. Almost.

But when his fingers lingered against my cheek, I knew.

This wasn’t hesitation.

This was control.

And the moment I leaned into his touch—just the smallest movement—something in him snapped.

His grip tightened, his forehead pressing against mine as his other hand settled on my hip. “Amara,” he breathed, his voice rough. “Tell me you feel this too.”

I closed my eyes, my heart pounding. “I do.”

His fingers dug into my hip for a second before he exhaled sharply. “Then don’t run from me.”

I opened my eyes, finding his gaze locked onto mine—raw, intense, unchanging.

“I wasn’t running,” I whispered.

Caden’s lips curved slightly, but there was something dangerous in his expression.

“Good.”

Then, before I could even take my next breath, his mouth was on mine.

Unlike Ryder’s teasing possessiveness, Caden’s kiss was deep, deliberate—like he was showing me exactly how long he’d been waiting for this.

His fingers threaded into my hair, angling my face so he could take more, taste more.

I gasped against him, gripping the front of his shirt as his hands slid down my back, pulling me impossibly closer.

I felt him everywhere.

The heat. The hunger. The promise.

I was his.

And when he finally pulled away, his forehead still resting against mine, his breath mingling with mine, I knew—

I barely had time to breathe before Caden’s fingers brushed over my jaw, his touch lingering, his golden eyes still dark with something undeniable.

“I should’ve done that a long time ago,” he murmured.

My heart stuttered.

Everything about him—the way he held me, the way he kissed me—was different from Ryder’s fiery possessiveness or Jaxon’s teasing dominance. Caden was steady, unshakable, like he had already made up his mind.

And I was at the center of it.

My hands were still fisted in his shirt, my lips still tingling, my entire body wired from the intensity of the moment.

But before I could even process what had just happened, a slow clap echoed from behind us.

Ryder.

“Wow,” he drawled, his signature smirk firmly in place. “Didn’t think you had it in you, Caden.”

Caden stiffened, his grip on me tightening slightly before he exhaled, turning to face Ryder with an unreadable expression.

“Jealous?” Caden asked, his voice calm.

Ryder just grinned. “Not even a little.” His gaze flicked to me, sharp and knowing. “I already got my turn, remember?”

Heat flooded my face.

Caden’s jaw ticked.

Ryder only laughed, stepping closer and slinging an arm around my shoulders like he owned me. “Relax, man. It’s not a competition.”

Caden’s gaze hardened. “It never was.”

Something shifted in the air, an unspoken tension crackling between them, and I knew—this wasn’t over.

Not even close.

But before either of them could say another word, the balcony door slammed open.

Jaxon leaned against the frame, arms crossed, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

“Well, well, well,” he mused. “Looks like I missed quite the show.”

I let out a breathless, frustrated groan. “You all are impossible.”

Jaxon chuckled, pushing off the do
orframe and striding toward us. His fingers found my chin, tilting my face up as his smirk widened.

“Can’t help it, princess,” he murmured. “You make all of us a little crazy.”

Caden tensed beside me. Ryder’s smirk only deepened.

And me?

I was doomed.