I think you were already crazy.

I think you were already crazy.
Amara’s POV 

Ryder’s kiss was hungry, raw with emotions he had been holding back for far too long. His hands gripped my waist, fingers digging in just enough to remind me that he hated sharing.

And honestly? In this moment, I didn’t care about anything but him.

I slid my hands up his chest, feeling the rapid thump of his heart beneath my palms. He groaned against my lips, pressing me back against the cool brick wall behind the school.

“Damn it, Amara,” he murmured between kisses, his forehead resting against mine. “You make me crazy.”

I was breathless. “I think you were already crazy.”

He let out a rough chuckle, his thumb brushing over my lower lip. “Maybe.” His voice dropped lower. “But only when it comes to you.”

I bit my lip, and his gaze darkened.

Ryder didn’t waste time—his lips were back on mine, his hands sliding down to my hips, pulling me closer, until there was nothing between us but heat and frustration.

He kissed me like he owned me. Like he had been starving for this.

And maybe… maybe I had, too.

But before things could go any further, a sharp voice cut through the haze.

“Ahem.”

I froze, my stomach dropping.

Jaxon leaned against a nearby pillar, arms crossed, an infuriating smirk on his lips. “Well, well. Someone finally decided to claim his territory.”

Ryder’s grip on me tightened, and I swore I felt a low growl rumble in his chest.

I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temples. “Jaxon—”

He strolled over, tilting his head. “No need to explain, princess.” His golden eyes gleamed mischievously. “Just letting you know that Caden’s looking for you.”

I exhaled, stepping back from Ryder, but not before he ran his hands down my arms, reluctant to let me go.

Jaxon chuckled. “Relax, lover boy. She’ll come back to you.” Then his smirk turned sharp. “Unless Caden decides to steal his time first.”

Ryder glared at him, and I could feel the tension rising again.

I groaned. “You guys are impossible.”

Jaxon winked. “And you love it.”

I didn’t dignify that with an answer. Instead, I brushed past them both, my heart still racing from the way Ryder had kissed me.

Because deep down, I knew one thing—

This was far from over.

By the time I found Caden, my heart was still pounding from what had just happened with Ryder. And Jaxon, as usual, had only made things worse.

Caden was leaning against the hood of his car, waiting for me outside the school. The second his eyes landed on me, his expression softened—but I could see it. The slight tension in his jaw. The way his fingers curled against the metal like he was holding himself back.

He had seen everything.

I stopped in front of him, crossing my arms. “You’re mad.”

Caden let out a slow breath, his golden eyes burning as they searched mine. “No,” he said after a moment. “I’m just… trying not to be.”

His honesty caught me off guard. “Caden—”

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to tug me against him. Not rough. Not demanding. Just enough to make me feel the heat of his body. His voice was quiet, controlled. “I know I can’t ask you to choose between us. But, Amara…” He lifted a hand, tracing his thumb along my jaw, his touch almost reverent. “Watching you kiss him killed me.”

My breath caught. “I—”

“I don’t want to fight with them,” he murmured, his forehead pressing lightly against mine. “I don’t want you to feel trapped between us.” His fingers brushed my waist, setting fire to my skin. “But tell me… when you kissed him, were you thinking about me?”

My heart stuttered.

His eyes searched mine, his lips barely inches away.

And just like that, I knew.

It wasn’t just Ryder. Or Jaxon.

Caden had always been there, waiting, watching, holding himself back.

I reached up, threading my fingers through his hair. “Yes,” I whispered. “I did.”

A sharp breath left him, and then—

Caden crashed his lips to mine.

His kiss was desperate in a way I hadn’t felt before. Like he had been starving for me. Like he had waited too damn long.

And maybe… I had, too.

Caden’s kiss was nothing like Ryder’s.

Ryder had kissed me with raw hunger, with a possessive edge that left no room for hesitation.

But Caden?

Caden kissed me like he owned every unspoken thought in my head. Like he had been holding himself back for so long, and now that he had me—he wasn’t going to let go.

His fingers threaded through my hair as he pulled me even closer, his other hand gripping my waist, anchoring me to him. I felt the quiet restraint in his touch, the tension in his muscles as he tried not to lose control.

And maybe that’s what made it even harder to resist him.

I pressed into him, my hands sliding over his shoulders. He groaned against my lips, deepening the kiss, tilting my head just so until he had me exactly where he wanted.

It wasn’t just a kiss.

It was a claim.

It was everything he hadn’t said, everything he had held back.

When we finally broke apart, I was breathless, my fingers still curled into his shirt. Caden’s golden eyes burned into mine, his thumb brushing over my swollen lips.

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

I swallowed hard, my heart still racing. “Yeah,” I admitted. “You should’ve.”

A slow, knowing smirk touched his lips. “Then I guess I’ll just have to make up for lost time.”

Before I could respond, I heard someone clear their throat.

Jaxon.

Of course it was Jaxon.

He leaned against the car with that signature smirk, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. “Wow. First Ryder, now Caden?” He let out a low whistle. “And here I was thinking I’d get my own moment with you today.”

Caden let out a warning growl, but Jaxon only laughed. “Relax, lover boy,” he teased. “I’m just here to remind you both that we do have places to be.”

I groaned, burying my face in Caden’s chest. “You’re impossible.”

Jaxon winked. “And you love it.”

Caden let out a slow exhale, his hand still resting possessively on my hip. “This isn’t over, Amara.” His voice was dark, promising.

And as I met his gaze, still feeling the ghost of his lips on mine, I knew he was right.

This was only the beginning.