Chapter 22: TWENTY-TWO | ASSHOLE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO | ASSHOLE

ASPEN

“I don't think you were disciplined enough in the room you were taken to. I think you should go back there and let them torture you. How dare you say that to my face, you asshole.”

He lifted his brow, wiping off his cheek that I slapped, like I had a virus and he didn't want it to affect him.

I was so mad at him, I could have exploded. Who did he think he was to say something as insensitive as that to me?

“And I think you need to get your shit together and realize that you came here for a mission, not to sleep with everything that wanted you to fuck them,” he hissed in reply.

Even as he spit out venom, his face was still straight, numb, and guarded. The anger that was meant to be on his face wasn't there. He was just speaking like someone in a trance, given lines to say.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me right, bitch,” he growled. “You are here on a mission to find out who killed your mate, not to mate with the next person who showed the slightest bit of interest in you. Seeing someone now, no matter who it is, just screams desperation and stupidity, and I expect you to be much wiser than that. Nothing more should be on your mind than getting the information you need and getting the hell out of here as soon as you can.”

I had no plans on dating Ryker before. Not just because I wasn't attracted to him, but also because I was still grieving Adrian's death. Hell, I had no plan to date anyone, even if Ronan decided to accept me today. I didn't need rocket science to tell me that my life was in danger and I needed to focus on my mission if I wanted to make it out alive. But now that Ronan said it, I felt a desperate need to do exactly what he didn't want me to do.

I got his point, but the way he said it deserved more than a slap from me. He hadn't even heard from me if I wanted to accept Ryker’s proposal; he just jumped to the conclusion that I was a desperate whore seeking attention.

Lest I forget that he also owes me an apology for almost killing me in the room. He should be feeling guilty and avoiding my gaze, not accusing me of things I had no plans of doing.

But now…now that he said it, I was sure as hell going to do what he said.

So, with a defiant look on my face, I looked him fiercely in the eyes. “And how is who I fuck or plan to fuck any of your business? You don't see me talking about how you and Rachel should live your lives, do you? Why don't you mind your fucking business?”

I stormed out of the room without sparing him another glance or waiting for him to respond. I could hear Rachel scolding him harshly as I walked out.

I had no plan of accepting to go on a date with Ryker before, but now, I wasn't just going to go on a date, I’d also make sure we fucked after.

I walked right to the one place I knew Ryker would be, his office. I barged into the room without knocking, and luckily, he was alone.

He was about to yell at me, his usual angry look on his face. When he saw that it was me, the harshness on his face dissolved and was replaced by a kind look.

“I've made up my mind,” I tell him, walking in and closing the door.

“I'll go on a date with you. But first—” Without thinking twice, I marched over to him, licked my lips, took hold of his shirt to draw him closer to me, and planted a kiss firmly on his lips.

He was shocked at first, and his whole body froze, but soon, he closed his eyes and followed the rhythm of my lips until we were in sync.

When I pulled away, I blew him a kiss and walked out of the room. And there he was, Ronan, standing right there, with clenched fists and a face filled with rage.

That was the first emotion I'd seen him show today, and it made me so happy. I wasn't expecting him to see the kiss. That was just me being petty and wanting to feel something, but it was such a big bonus that he saw us.

I smirked, licking my lips. “Didn't your parents teach you not to be a creepy peep?”

He was so stunned that he tried to speak but couldn't. I laughed, winking at Ryker on my way out. Poor Ryker was blushing like he just saw a woman naked for the first time.

I could hear Ronan storming towards me, so I picked up my pace. At a point, I began running until I got to the dorm. I thought I'd be safe there, but I forgot one important thing…we were roommates.

He burst through the door right after me, his face flushed and body shaking in rage. “What the hell did you just do? Are you fucking crazy?”

I was scared of what he would do to me at first, especially since I had experienced his rage firsthand, but I was far too angry at him to care. I assessed my nails nonchalantly, not giving him attention. “Yeah, I am. I was simply doing what a whore like me is expected to do.”

He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated and angry. He hit the closest wall, making a dent in it. I flinched but held my ground.

When he came over to me again, his eyes were red. He bent to my height, since he was much taller than me, and our faces were only two inches apart. “You will stay away from Ryker. I don't want to see you around him ever again. Now, go into the bathroom and wipe off every trace of that kiss with your toothbrush. Cleanse your fucking mouth.”

“No,” I whispered.

“What did you say?” He tried to intimidate me by moving impossibly closer, so close that I couldn't breathe without touching him and vice versa.

“I said no. I will not do anything you command. And I'm going to go on a date with Ryker. I'll kiss him, then make him take me to his room. I'll fuck him and teach him how to fuck me good. He's so innocent and sweet. I’ll take that away and make him a sex god, so that he can worship me well.”