<h4>Chapter 235: Are you crazy?</h4>


    "Yes, Adam Collins. I’ll help you raise Adir. If that’s what you decide. If that’s what you need. I was ready to do that when you thought he was yours and I am willing now."


    Adam stared at her, momentarily thrown off bnce. He had expected, questions or at least a little trying to shrug it off. Something to dy whatever they were talking about. But she just agreed—like it was simple. Like it wasn’t the mostplicated, frighteningmitment they could ever make.


    Mnie leaned into him again as she ced her head on his shoulder. "I like you too much, remember? That includes the difficult parts of you. And theplicated choices."


    Adamughed under his breath, not because it was funny, but because she made it sound so easy. "You really mean it."


    "I don’t say things I don’t mean," she said. "Besides, I like Adir too."


    Adam tilted his head, a slow grin forming. "You like Adir, huh? That kid’s already trying to steal my spotlight. I don’t think I like it."


    Mnie smiled and rolled her eyes. "He barely talked to me okay. He’s just clingy and likes to hug."


    Adam stared at her and then gave her a scowl," Exactly. This is even more worrisome. He is luring you in with calcted charm. And how many times has he already hugged you? He’s met you thrice and already hugged you the same number of times! And if he lives with us, he will hug you even more.


    She raised an eyebrow. "He’s four, Adam."


    "And yet, somehow, still a threat." Adam insisted and Mnieughed, "That is beneath you, Adam Collins... the third time we met... you almost kissed me... would have if I had not pushed you away."


    Adam grinned at that. And leaned forward slowly," Did I? How did I almost kiss you? At most I hugged you and invaded your space..."


    Mnie gave him a look. "You don’t remember leaning in all dramatic after saving me from slipping on the stairs? It was before Spencer returned"


    Adam tilted his head like he was genuinely considering it and didn’t remember it. "Vaguely. But I think I was trying to see if you had a concussion."


    "Oh please, a concussion without a fall?," she scoffed, poking his chest. "You were holding me like I was about to swoon in your arms."


    "Maybe I thought you would indeed faint. After all, I am too good looking. It was a risky move." He smirked. "And look—it worked. You’ve been obsessed with me ever since, haven’t you?"


    Mnieughed and shook her head. "Obsessed is a stretch. Mildly charmed, maybe. Curious, for sure."


    Adam leaned in and lowered his voice just a bit. "You kissed me first, didn’t you?"


    She raised both brows. "No, I absolutely did not."


    "You hesitated."


    "I was surprised."


    "You lingered."


    "I was processing."


    "You looked at my mouth."


    "It was the lip ring that kept distracting me all the time," she said, swatting his arm, trying not to smile.


    "Mm-hmm." Adam grinned, his hand moving yfully at her waist. "So if I leaned in now... you’d be prepared?"


    Mnie narrowed her eyes at him yfully. "No. Because you’re annoying. And smug. And you think you’re cuter than a four-year-old who gives out hugs."


    Adam smirked. "You admitted he’s clingy. I’m just... consistent."


    "You’re impossible," she said with an exasperated shake of her head.


    "And you’re still here," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.


    She didn’t move away. "Yes, I am."


    He held her gaze for a beat, as they rubbed their nose against each other.


    "Good," Adam said quietly. "Because I’m not going anywhere either."


    Mnie smiled, then tugged gently on the cor of his shirt. "Shut up and kiss me this time."


    And he did—no hesitation, no almosts.


    "See?" he murmured. " As their lips parted slowly. No almost this time."


    Mnie gave a softugh as her fingers brushed the edge of his jaw. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you had a fear of follow-through."


    Adam kissed her again before she could tease him more and he deepened the kiss this time, his hand sliding from her neck into her hair, gripping it gently as he tilted her head to taste more of her. Mnie responded immediately, her body arching into his, her fingers tugging at the buttons of his shirt with urgency that betrayed how long this had been building.


    She got two open before her patience snapped, and she simply pulled the fabric aside, her palms ttening against the bare skin of his chest. He was warm—solid beneath her touch—and she pressed her mouth to the line of his throat, feeling the subtle hitch in his breath.


    Adam’s hands wandered beneath the hem of her top again, this time sliding up her back, tracing the curve of her spine as she moved in hisp. Her thighs tightened around him, anchoring herself in ce as his mouth found her shoulder, then moved slowly across her corbone, kissing, tasting.


    He pulled the shirt over her head, careful, like unwrapping something he wasn’t sure he was allowed to have. Mnie met his gaze as it dropped, as his hands skimmed her sides, reverent, possessive. He kissed her again, softer now, slower, like he had all the time in the world.


    She pressed herself against him, chest to chest, her breath warm against his neck as she nipped at his skin, her hands roaming over his shoulders, waist, the small of his back, memorizing him with touch alone. He groaned softly against her mouth when her hips shifted again, a deliberate roll that made his grip on her tighten.


    "Are you always going to want me Melon? Always like this?"


    Mnie looked into his eyes and somehow felt that the questions was important to him, so she answered honestly," Yes. Always. Like this or maybe even more."


    Adam smiled then and rolled over, pulling her beneath him.