Page 10 of Marked By the Obsessed Biker
I close my eyes, but I know there’s no way I’m going to sleep. I’m surrounded by everything Alice. Her scent, the sound of her breathing, and the little sighs she makes. Fuck, I’m lying in bed right next to her, and it’s almost as if every dream I’ve ever had is coming true… but I can’t act on it.
She rolls to face me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“Are you going to get in trouble for being in here?”
I chuckle. “What? You think I’m going to get punished or something?”
She shrugs, and I would give anything to be able to look into her eyes right now. It’s dark in here, and I can barely make out her silhouette. She sighs softly. “In Texas, my dad would have made an example of someone who went against his orders. But Pres, he’s different, I guess. I don’t want you to get into any trouble because of me.”
I think back on my conversation with Pres earlier. “If you need me, I’m here. I don’t care what anyone says, not even the club.”
She slides her hand across the bed and puts it on my shoulder. “Thank you, Greyson. I know you sort of have to do this, but I appreciate you being here.”
I raise up on my elbow. “That’s the second time you made it sound like I have to be here. Earlier you said I was assigned to you. What do you mean by that?”
She takes her hand off my shoulder and rolls to her back. “I was there in the big club meeting about me. I heard what Pres said.”
“He never said I was assigned to you.”
She sighs softly. “Whatever. I mean he didn’t address you, but he pretty much told everyone to look out for me. I just assumed you’re the one that got the actual detail.”
I lie on my back and put my arm over my face. How do I even answer that? The truth is, as soon as I saw her, I wanted her to be mine. I’m the one that made sure everyone knew she was off limits. “I was never assigned. I just sort of took it upon myself, I guess.”
“Why?” she asks instantly.
Instead of answering her, I tell her about my conversation with Pres. “I was actually talking to Pres about this earlier.”
She seems surprised by that. “You and Pres were talking about me? What about?”
I let out a deep breath. “Well, he said he wanted you to have time to heal when you got here, and you couldn’t do that with halfthe club hitting on you. But he said I should ask you if I need to stand down.”
I don’t know why I’m telling her this. It’s like I’m telling her that if she wants to date other men, she can, knowing good and well I could never just stand aside and let it happen.
“I don’t understand,” she says.
I clench my eyes shut and then open them. “Look, I know I piss you off because of how protective I am of you and?—”
She cuts me off. “Why are you so protective of me?”
“Because,” I answer as if that’s going to placate her when I know it’s not.
She blurts out a laugh. “That’s not an answer.”
I grit my teeth. “Because when I look at you, I want to protect you. I need to protect you.” I can hear the pain in my own voice. “And I didn’t tonight. The one night you needed me and I wasn’t there.”
She rolls toward me, and this time she’s flush against my side. Her arm goes around my chest as if she’s hugging me to her. “Grey, don’t say that. You did save me. Do you know what would have happened if you didn’t show up when you did? You saved me.”
Because I can’t resist, I roll to my side, face her, wrap an arm around her, and hold her to me. “I’m sorry.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t. Quit saying that. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
I rest my chin on the top of her head. “I know I piss you off, Alice. I know that I’m bossy and protective and?—”
“Unhinged. That’s what Boss called you.”
I chuckle. “I am a little unhinged when it comes to you.”’
