Brutal Boxer by Naomi Porter

15

Boxer

It was a little after six in the morning, so not many people were up. I was because of my long nap yesterday. I’d woken up an hour ago and couldn’t lie in bed any longer, consumed by guilt over how I treated Aspen yesterday. So I got up and, for whatever reason, came down to the basement where the dorms were.

The sound of someone coughing and gagging halted my steps down the stairs. I dialed into it. It didn’t sound like a man. It could be a kitten, but something told me it was Aspen, as I remembered how much she’d drank last night. I should turn around and go back upstairs. Coming down to the dorms was a bad idea.

But my feet wouldn’t move as I listened. My fucking guilty heart wouldn’t let me retreat. I needed to see her, maybe help her after I was a dick to her. Tensely, I continued my journey to investigate.

What I found brought about a cocktail of emotions inside me. Confusion and sympathy as Aspen clung to the rim of the toilet.

Then desire.

Followed by hate.

I held back a groan of frustration because, dammit, I felt terrible for her. I really did.

On the flip side of sympathy, lust accelerated my heart rate.

Aspen on her knees was a sight to behold in light-pink lace panties and matching camisole. Her blonde hair was pulled over her shoulder, revealing the side of her plump breast. Her supple flesh poked out of the thin fabric as if begging to escape its confinement.

I stood frozen at the threshold of the community bathroom. She was in an open stall six feet away. Why in the hell was she nearly naked?

Aspen was delicious and tempting. Christ, there was nothing left to the imagination as I ogled her like a desperate pervert. My cock twitched with excitement, proof I was a fucking weak-ass man when it came to her.

I couldn’t get past her lack of clothes as my eyes traveled over the firm, round curvature of her ass. I wanted to sink my teeth into each butt cheek. I held back a groan, licking my lips like a goddamned animal.

If she wasn’t barfing, I might lose all control. Take her right here on the tile floor, praying the mysteries of the earth would be on my side, and she’d willingly… No, desperately accept my advances.

A flood of unchaste, erotic scenes played in my head. Ones I’d sell my soul to the Devil to experience with Aspen. I imagined her legs spread open, my face buried between them, feasting on her; her screams of pleasure encouraging me further as her nails scratched my scalp.

My cock turned hard as granite, waking me from the enjoyable and dirty musings I wished were reality.

Not much more than a minute had passed as I gawked at the woman who unknowingly owned my heart. She’d never know how much power she had over me.

Shockingly, Aspen hadn’t realized I was here.

She reached for the toilet paper, ripping off a section to dry her eyes and wipe her mouth. Slowly her gaze flitted my way and up my towering length. I stepped out of the shadows and startled her to her feet.

“Ah!”

“Relax.” I raised my hands. “It’s just me. You okay?” Raking my eyes over her, I noticed the small triangular piece of lace didn’t cover much of her pussy as she faced me.

“Oh my God! What… Why… Why’re you watching me?” she stuttered, her perfect mouth gaping. I missed her lips so much.

My eyes locked on her hardened nipples under the thin fabric. “I heard someone barfing their guts up. Wanted to make sure no one was dying in here.”

Aspen glanced down at herself. “You are so rude,” she whisper-shouted, totally appalled. Her top had twisted, showing off half the side of her breast. She yanked it back into place, her face turning a sexy shade of red. Notwithstanding her obvious embarrassment, she held her ground confidently, not covering herself up.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I stared at her with a devilish grin. Her petite frame had all the right curves in all the right places. She was stunning, from her legs up to her long hair and those emerald green eyes glaring back at me.

Fuck me, I was a goner.

“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.

No woman would ever bend me to her will.

Especially not Aspen.

She wasn’t my weakness anymore. Just because I thought of her often, they weren’t happy memories. I’d be a pussy if I let that shit go so easily.

Nope, not happening.

Storm hit the mallet to quiet everyone. Spirits were high this morning as we devoured caramel rolls and breakfast pizzas. After weeks of limiting my diet in preparation for the New Year’s Day event, I savored each bite of the high-carb foods.

“Ciro will be calling soon.” Prez cut his eyes to me, then to Wolf. “All packed if you need to take off right away?”

Wolf and I grunted.

“Good. Since I have no doubt Campbell will enter our territory, I want him taken alive if one of you catches him. Boxer will take care of him in the dungeon.”

I issued Storm a short nod. Fuck yeah, I would. My switchblade Ricky and I would love to slice that motherfucker open from his dick to his neck. It wasn’t about retribution for me, not really. He hadn’t done me wrong, or so I told myself. I just needed to let my brutality out on the prick after hurting a woman the way he had. I couldn’t let that shit go.

Aspen’s face flashed behind my eyes. I shook it away quickly.

“Grizz, you’re up,” Storm told him.

The flatscreen on the wall came to life. An image of a man appeared, dressed in an expensive suit.

Storm cleared his throat. “That dashing, smug dude is Casso Campbell. Drug kingpin of the Pacific Northwest.”

I stared, rolling my hands into fists under the table. Fuck, he looked like a celebrity. Probably had his own stylist to keep him looking like a million bucks.

Aspen’s ex-boyfriend. This was the man who got to fuck my woman. Kiss her, touch her. He put his baby in her.

I growled, seething with rage, remembering the bruises on her throat, the bite mark on her shoulder, and scars on her wrists. I heaved in air, on the verge of losing my shit.

“Stay cool, brother,” Lynx hissed. “We’ll make the fucker pay.”

Storm’s cell phone rang. He put it on speaker. “What do you got?”

“Good morning to you too, Storm,” Ciro laughed.

I didn’t like him.

Prez grunted, clearly unamused. He was in my camp. Dealing with the Remottis wasn’t something any of us wanted. Now our hand was forced.

Ciro sighed. “Okay, I’ll get on with it. My people have confirmed he took Tony to Texas. He has six other men with him. They’ve been searching the area for Aspen.”

I blew out a relieved breath. Only eight goons to worry about.

“Why so few?” Storm asked.

“I imagine he wants to ensure she doesn’t get hurt. He knows Tony betrayed him by helping her escape. I assume he’ll keep his circle even smaller after this betrayal.”

Storm cracked a smile. “Huh, that works to our benefit.”

“It certainly does,” Ciro agreed. “However, there is another new development. An announcement went up on the dark web and is making its way through the criminal underworld in major cities like a rampant virus.”

Shit. I held my breath, knowing this couldn’t be good.

“He’s offered an obscene reward,” Ciro continued, “in exchange for Aspen or her whereabouts. Her face is everywhere.”

“Fuck,” I hissed.

“Grizz, look into it,” Storm told our computer wiz.

“Already on it.” He hunched down in front of his monitor, eyes scanning rapidly.

“Keep her hidden,” Ciro’s voice held a warning tone. “Make sure all your people can be trusted. If Casso gets confirmation of where Aspen is, he’ll unleash holy hell on the lot of you.”

“Despite what you may think, we’re not a bunch of brainless, hog-riding idiots,” Storm bit back. “Loyalty runs deep in our club.”

“Oh, I know. That’s why we asked you to take out Cass. Speaking of which. Our offer still stands. Kill him and the money is yours.”

Damn, the asshole spoke as if one hundred million was peanuts to him.

Storm’s narrowed gaze swept around the table, making eye contact with each one of us. We nodded in agreement.

“The club would be happy to take your money for ending Campbell’s life.”