“I think so. He also knew after what he did, I was planning to leave. Either way, I was going to find somewhere else to go.”

“Why the fuck would you let him kiss you after what he did to you?”

I stare at my hands. “He didn’t ask permission. I tried to stop him at first, but then—”

“But then?” Dozer looks at me with a wounded expression.

“Then I didn’t want him to stop, and I kissed him back.”

He stares down at me with probably the harshest stare he’s ever had before. “You kissed him back. Like you kiss me back, or you kissed him back?”

Meeting his gaze, I say, “I-I kissed him back.”

The muscles in his jaw pulse.

“That spark I told you we don’t have”—I gesture from him to me—“it’s there with him. I can’t explain it and I never wanted it. Actually, I’ve tried like hell to fight it every day I’ve been here. But I can’t shut it off.”

“Fuck,” he grates out.

I tangle my fingers together, anything to avoid his probing glare. “I’m sorry. I—”

“What about all the shit he’s done?”

It’s hard enough rationalizing my choice to myself. The last thing I want is to tell Dozer my reasons, but I have to give him something. “I believe in giving people second chances. He changed after that night and he’s been trying to make up for some of the things he’s done. But I guess I’ll find out one way or the other tonight.”

“So you’re not here to be with Edge. You’re here to see if you guys can work shit out, you and Mav?”

I raise my shoulders in a tense shrug. “I would’ve been able to go through with it.”

He blows out a breath. “I wouldn’t have let you.”

Lifting my face, I take in his earnest eyes and give him a small smile. “I believe you. You know, you’ve been nothing but good to me since I got here. I owe you a lot.”

He smiles mischievously. “Go out with me.”

“Dozer.”

He shakes his head and comes closer. “If shit between you and Mav doesn’t work out, then give me one day. We can go for a ride or dinner, whatever. But we can see where it goes from there. No promises. No commitment beyond the one day. I just want a couple hours of your time away from here.”

“And if Mav and I work it out?”

His grin falters but he covers it up by shrugging it off. “Then we’ll be friends until he fucks it up.” He winks at me and pulls me to my feet.

I stare up at him. I can see that he’s not going to give up.

He chucks my chin. “I’m here if you need me or if you change your mind.”

“Thank you.” He pulls me into him and wraps his massive arms around me. For the first time, I really hug him back. Maybe because he finally knows how I feel and my actions won’t be misconstrued to be more than a friendly gesture.

“Come on. We better get back or there’s not gonna be any food left.”

After leaving Dozer’s room, I wait in the hallway as he stops to close and lock his door.

We hear a heavy thump and then another and both turn our heads looking down the hallway for the source of the sound. It continues. Again and again and it gets louder, comes faster. After the seventh or eighth bang against the wall, a manly groan follows.

Something about it has a tremor raking down my body.

Scanning down the hallway, I mentally scold myself saying, “it’s not him. It’s not coming from Mav’s room.” There are seven other rooms it could be coming from.

A shrill female voice cries, “Yes, right there! Oh, God, yes! Right. Ugh. There. Fuck . . . I’ve missed this!”

The manly grunt that trails after her words send shockwaves through me. I curl my arm around my stomach, as my feet carry me forward. The closer I get to his room the more obvious it becomes that I’m a fool and he’s a bastard. I should never have believed one goddamn word out of his mouth. Not. One. Goddamn. Word.

I place my hand on his door. Each moan, each cry, each grunt feels like a brick slamming into me. Until I feel a presence at my back. Dozer. Turning, I look at him.

“Maybe it’s not him.”

“Sure as fuck sounds like him,” he responds. But then he places on comforting hand on my shoulder. “Not the way I wanted it to happen, but I guess you have your answer, babe. I’m sorry.”

My breathing accelerates and I hadn’t realized until this moment that I was pining for Mav. Praying that he’d prove himself worthy of a second chance. That he’d live up to everything he spewed in my ear the day he left.

But God, I couldn’t have been more wrong about him.

The woman’s voice grows louder. The sex on the other side of Mav’s door reaches its arc. Mav’s growling now and against my will an image of him thrusting into whatever clubpiece he’s pulled into his room swirls into my mind. It’s probably Jade.

He yells out his release, and I see it. His head kicked back. Sweat coating his glorious body, and him emptying himself into a woman that’s not me.

God Damn him.

I try not to let it, but that knowledge crushes me. It feels as if my heart is made of thin glass and Mav just took a hammer to it, cracked it into a fragile shell that’s going to splinter and fall apart at any moment.

Thoughts of staying here, starting a life with him, and being a part of this crazy world of his, die.

It’s time to go. Like Dozer said. I have my answer.

“Pumpkin—” Dozer starts.

“Ember,” I correct him.

“What?”

“I hate that name,” I say louder this time. “My name is Ember.” Reaching forward for the doorknob, I add, “I can’t believe he’d do this after everything he said to me.”

Dozer grabs my hand. “You don’t want to see it. Trust me.”

“No. I need to see it.”

But the door opens before I can open it myself, revealing someone I didn’t expect to see.

Star. The clubpiece. The one Mav supposedly kicked out a week ago. The one I saw him fucking in his office. No wonder their cries of pleasure sounded so familiar.

She doesn’t see me standing in front of her. She’s too busy pulling her red panties up her legs and then shoving her black mini skirt down. The moment she realizes someone’s standing in front of her though, she pauses and her eyes instantly flick up to my face.

It only takes a few seconds for a taunting smirk to appear, and for her nasty attitude to show itself. She leans against the doorframe. “Ahh . . . Pumpkin, right? You’re a little too late, sweetheart.” She peaks behind her and then looks back to me. “Maybe come back later.” Her smile turns into a spiteful laugh. “He was pretty hungry for it after being gone, but he’s had his fill. I don’t think he’s gonna be wanting dessert any time soon.”

Fury coils up my body. The temptation to slap her or claw my nails down the side of her face overcomes me but I clench my fists tightly and force my hands to stay where they are.

Walk away, Em. He’s not worth it. Neither is she.

I hear him call out behind her, “Who is it?”

She straightens looks over her shoulder again. “By the shocked look on her face I’d say somebody that was hopin’ to make your night. But since I’ve already done that, I’ll send her away.”

“What the fuck are you even doin’ here?” Dozer growls and comes to stand at my side. His arm touches mine. Some of his strength flows into me.

“Mav invited me back. Said you guys were runnin’ low on unclaimed and easy pussy.”

“So here you are . . .” the snarky words simply fall out of my mouth.

Tilting her head and arching a brow, Star replies in a sharp tone, “Yep. Here I am. Not my problem if you can’t keep the men around here satisfied.”

I hear the rustle of sheets or clothing behind her. Oh, no, he’s getting out of bed! I don’t want to see him. My heart’s pounding so loud, it sounds like a gong in my ears as I spin and head down the hallway. A huge part of me wants to stay and face him. Give him a piece of my mind, and maybe deliver another punch to his perfect jaw, but what’s the point. It won’t change a thing.