“Are you okay?” I asked again, this time in a genuine tone because, yeah, I couldn’t be a total asshole.
Her annoyed features softened and I noticed marks on her neck. I curled my hands into fists, stalking toward her as rage exploded in me.
She backed up, placing her hand on her stomach. “Wha… what are you doing?” Her beautiful eyes went wide, as if terrified of me.
She shouldn’t fear me. The worry on her pretty face damn near killed me on the spot. She was supposed to be mine.
I towered over her, shoulders spanning two of her. “You don’t need to be afraid.” I lifted her chin with my finger and tilted my head for a better look. Bruises marred the delicate skin on her throat. I searched for the bite mark.
“Zach—”
“Shh, just let me see what that animal did to you.”
Her breathing deepened as she pointed to her shoulder. “Here.”
A growl bubbled in my throat as I stared at the bruise in the shape of an oval. Bits of her skin was broken from the motherfucker’s teeth. “I’ll kill him.” I dragged my hand down her arm. “Why are you practically naked?”
Her glossy eyes flashed up to mine, her cheeks flushed. “I threw up on my clothes.” She pointed to a pile I hadn’t noticed on the floor. “I think my stomach is empty now.” Goose flesh covered her arms.
“Here, take my shirt.” I went to remove it but she stopped me.
“No. But thanks.”
Fuck, she wanted no piece of me. Not my help or a stupid shirt. What had I done to make her hate me so much?
“So, too much booze?”
She nodded. “That and vertigo.”
“Vertigo?” I asked, surprise in my voice. It was weird not knowing every little thing about her. When we were together, we knew each other better than ourselves.
“It started after Casso wouldn’t let me leave him.” She paused, her features relaxing. I could sense her guard lowering. Maybe she wanted to try to be amicable instead of treating each other as an enemy.
I wasn’t sure if I could do the same.
“Damn, that’s rough.” I stepped back as my chest burned with longing. Aspen would never be mine. That reminder made me angry all over again.
“Why are you really here, Zach?” Her voice was soft and unassuming. So damn sweet.
Christ, it broke a piece of me all over again to know she didn’t want me.
I gritted my teeth, feeling like a dipshit. Lost for words, anger flashed inside me like a raging fire.
“Isn’t your room upstairs?” Fuck, she was calling me out. I didn’t even remember why I’d ventured down here.
“Was going to wake up Ire to hit the gym,” I lied.
“Oh.” Disappointment marred her perfect features. The far-off look in her eyes squeezed my goddamned chest. I remembered her doing that when processing a situation. “Then you should go.” She slipped past me and collected her clothes.
My gaze lowered to her ass, my cock straining against my jeans—pushing and begging to be free.
Aspen glanced over her shoulder, catching me watching her. She shook her head, rinsed her mouth out, and left.
Why did she seem disheartened?
Did she expect me to fall on my knees in reverence? Fuck no, that wouldn’t happen. Not after I had called dozens of times and wrote just as many letters begging to know what I’d done wrong.
Hell no. I wouldn’t stoop so low. I was a fucking outlaw now—a motherfucking biker.