I glared at Asher. “Shut up,” I hissed.
Aiden’s eyes flared. He took in my attire, the way I swayed slightly. His jaw turned hard and he turned to face Asher.
“So you think you can take advantage of a grieving girl, get her to drink too much, show too much skin, turn her into some kind of biker slut?” he accused, and I gasped at the last of his words.
I also gasped when Asher’s fist plowed through Aiden’s face, causing him to tumble to the ground.
“Holy shit,” I yelled, bending to check on Aiden, who was bleeding from the nose.
I glared at Asher. “You really had to punch him? Really? Can you keep your testosterone under control long enough not to use your fists?” I snapped at him.
Asher ignored me and stepped over Aiden. “You ever refer to Lily like that again, I’ll make sure that pretty face is messed up so much even Mummy’s best plastic surgeon won’t be able to fix you,” he promised coldly.
Aiden glared at him for a long moment, then his eyes moved to me. “Is this who you want to surround yourself with, Lily? You’re better than this. This isn’t you.”
He struggled to his feet, shrugging me off when I tried to help him. “I’ll be here when you remember who you are,” he said, giving me a long look and Asher a glare before wandering into the parking lot.
I watched him for a moment. People kept telling me what wasn’t me. I wished they’d enlighten me for a second, what was me.
I slammed the door as we got into my apartment. “What the heck was that?” I half yelled at Asher.
The bike ride had made yelling impossible. And gave me a great opportunity to get even angrier.
Bex’s eyes bulged from her position on the sofa, a spoonful of cereal halfway to her mouth.
Asher turned. “What was what?”
I scoffed. “Seriously? You’re going to act like that senseless act of violence against my friend didn’t happen?” I asked in disbelief.
“Dude, please tell me it was Aiden,” Bex put in from the sofa.
I swear I saw Asher’s mouth twitch slightly before he focused on me once more.
“I wouldn’t call him referring to you as a biker slut, senseless. He should be glad he’s not eating through a straw right now,” he clipped tightly.
“Mother fucker said what?” Bex hissed.
“It was nothing, he was upset,” I reassured her quickly.
Asher’s eyes hardened. “Talking to a woman like that, that’s never nothing. No matter how upset you are. Talking to you like that? That’s something. Something not fucking acceptable. Something never fucking acceptable,” Asher clipped. “You’ve gone through enough shit. Life’s already handed you ugly. You’re not having ugly words spat in your direction. Not when there’s not one ounce of truth in them. Not when I’m around. And I intend to be around a lot,” he promised.
I sucked in a breath. It was hard to argue with a guy when he said shit like that. And as much as I abhorred violence, a tiny piece of me agreed with Asher. Aiden was definitely out of line.
I sighed, plonking my bag down by the door. “Whatever,” I relented trying to act like his words hadn’t made my legs shaky. “I’m hungry.” I stepped forward, pointing at Asher. “Use your words next time,” I ordered.
He grinned, though there was something behind the grin. I didn’t get time to analyze this, as he tagged my hips and yanked me to his body.
“I’m thinking I wanna do something that doesn’t require any words,” he murmured against my mouth.
I was caught by surprise, and my body responded accordingly, my heart thumping and breathing heavily.
“But, I’m hungry,” I protested.
His eyes flared. “So am I … starving,” he said roughly.
I swallowed.
“Um … guys, I’m still here,” Bex called from the sofa. “Take it to the bedroom.”
Asher smiled into my mouth. “What do you say, flower?”
“Food can wait,” I whispered.
“Good answer,” he murmured.
“You’re good at that,” I whispered, slightly breathless.
He had just finished making love to me. That was after he had “eaten” me like promised. It was more than amazing.
Asher’s chest vibrated as he chuckled. “Glad you think so, flower. Though how hard you came had me thinking you were enjoying yourself.” His voice was husky.
I felt myself go slightly red at his statement. Asher seemed to sense my reaction because he pulled me from my position curled against his chest to lie half on top of him. He stroked my hair out of my face, eyes searching mine.
“You don’t need to worry about that shit with me,” he told me quietly.
“What shit?” I whispered.
His thumb ran over my cheek. “Whatever shit that runs through that beautiful mind to make you curl into yourself. Turns you quiet. Gives you that glow. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing that you get affected by shit like that,” his voice was rough, “but I don’t want you ever crawling to that place, being embarrassed of anything. Not when you’re in this bed with me. Not when you’re with me full stop,” he said firmly.