Chapter 06
1371 Words
RILEY’s pov;
“What do you mean no?” I whipped my head up in surprise. Why did he look mad?
“You have allergies. I can clearly see you battling for your life right now,” he pointed to my face and I frowned.
I hated how sweet he still sounded. Hated how the muscles in his chest flexed as he placed a hand on his waist stubbornly.
He took advantage of my pause and snatched the spread from my hands and walked paste me.
My body betrayed me. Eyes closed as his scent wafted through my nose just as his back turned to me and my eyes went wide.
“What happened to you?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
He dropped to his knees on the makeshift bed. “You might actually care.”
I wanted to smack him over the head but he obviously needed treatment before going back to the rinks.
“Why didn’t you get treatment?” I queried and moved towards him just as he plopped down on the makeshift bed.
He covered his eyes with one arm. “I don’t need your pity, Riley.”
The feeling was going stronger by the minute but I controlled my annoyance.
“What if you’re infected? Some of those can spread.” I stood by his bed. “Its my job and plus I’m worried about my own health,”
The minute the words left my mouth, I regretted it.
A bitter smirk tugged at his mouth as he stared at me. “Right. Now you want to about your job? Now, you want to talk to me?” He stood up abruptly and I moved back.
The air had gone up a few degrees. Heat had spread all over my neck and chest knowing he was so close to me. I could barely keep eye contact.
“And what is that supposed to mean, Kael?” I snapped but he grabbed his crocs.
“Fine. Stay healthy in here, Miss Hygiene.” Sarcasm poured out of his tone.
Guilt and anger ate at me but I didn’t care.
“I didn’t chase you out.”
He stepped close, closer than I thought was possible. Warm breath brushing my lips.
My legs had no where left to go, the heel of my legs were hitting the ends of my bed. My hands itched to touch him. To pull him close.
My chest was tight as we locked eye contact. My throat dry when his eyes turned molten and somewhat hungry.
“Oh, trust me,” he growled, voice low and rough, “everything you say and do screams that I should leave.”
Then his gaze dropped to my mouth. The air crackled. For one charged second I thought he would close the distance, shove me back onto the bed and take everything I was once screaming for.
My pulse thundered in my ears. Heat pooled low in my belly.
Then he jerked back like he’d been burned, eyes molten gold. He grabbed the door handle so hard it snapped in his grip.
“f**k!”
The door slammed behind him.
I collapsed against the headboard, breathing hard, skin still tingling where he hadn’t even touched me.
Pathetic.
As if remote controlled, I lept to my feet and went out the door too, grabbing a first aid kit on my way.
I shouldn’t be doing this—“Go back,” my head screamed as I slipped out of the room anyway, scanning every shadow for rogue wolves.
The arena doors were unlocked and I pushed inside.
The familiar rink chill raised goosebumps on my arms. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead. The sharp scent of ice and sweat wrapped around me like home.
Shhhk. Shhhk. Blades carving ice. Sticks cracking pucks. Shouts echoing.
I paused. s**t.
What was I expecting anyway? A rom-com where we made love on the ice?
My eyes narrowed on the players mid-drill. They were fast, brutal and coordinated. My eyes caught a flag in the corner and I scoffed.
Never thought our rivals, Eastwood would be proud assholes either.
My eyes found Kael instantly. Number 9. VOSS across his shoulders. Stick in both hands, posture screaming future alpha even at rest.
For one stupid second, it felt normal. Like I still belonged here.
Then someone on the ice spotted me through the glass.
“Yo! Isn’t that Kael’s charity case?”
“Didn’t know Blackwood dumped girls that fast,” another called, leaning on the boards with a grin.
My feet stopped.
Kael was by the penalty box. He saw me. He didn’t move.
I walked straight to the glass anyway, heart hammering but voice steady. “You guys done?”
Laughter erupted.
My jaw ticked.
“If you spent more time practicing your sloppy moves instead of petty gossip, you would have become champions eons ago. It’s no wonder you always come second place,” I hissed.
One of the bigger players hopped the boards and grabbed my arm, grip bruising.
“Come say that to my face, little wolf.” Pain flared in my shoulder. The first-aid kit I’d brought clattered to the floor.
Before I could react, Kael’s voice cut through the noise like a blade.
“Let. Her. Go.”
The air dropped some degrees. When did Kael reach this side of the rink?
The player dropped my arm instantly. Kael crossed the distance in two strides, alpha aura rolling off him in waves. He positioned himself between me and the others, eyes burning.
“Touch her again,” he snarled, “and I can promise that holding your stick would be least of your concerns,”
The guy swallowed hard, eyes flickered to me before scoffed.
“Come on,” e orders his team and the whole line skated off
Kael picked up my kit, then grabbed my arm — gentler this time — and pulled me toward the exit.
What gave him the right?! Making me look weak. Like he really dumped me and moved on that fast. Like he pitied me!
“Don’t touch me,” I hissed, yanking free the second we were clear.
“Should I leave you to the rogues then?” His voice was tight.
“I didn’t ask for a knight.” I snapped “You had no right to do that,” and he stiffened.
“They were going to tear you apart,” he stated and the anger in me flared.
“And so what?! I would have stood my own and looked like a pitied halfling just because your conscience wouldn’t let you sleep well at night!” I shouted and his hands tightened just before he backed me against the wall near our room, one hand slamming the door beside my head.
His chest heaved. Mine matched it. His gaze dropped to my mouth again, dark and hungry. Something inside of me screamed. Heat flooded my body. For one electric second I thought he’d finally snap — kiss me, claim me, do something.
My lips parted.
He leaned in —
The moment shattered when a knock sounded down the hall and the door swung open.
We both froze.
A Blackwood rep appeared with a tall, blond guy in a new team jacket behind him.
I don’t know how we were able to disengage from ourselves but I could tell the rep wasn’t buying it. The silence in the room was loud until Kael cleared his throat.
The newcomer’s easy smile hit me like a spotlight. Handsome didn’t even cover it.
“So sorry about the mix-up, Miss McCroft,” the rep said. “System error. Mr. Voss will room with Mr. Lucien on the third floor. You’ll be on the fifth. Separate rooms.”
Relief and disappointment warred in my chest.
“Fine,” I said dryly, grabbing my bag.
Lucien’s smile widened as he looked between us. “Mind if I tag along? Seems your friend is worried.”
“We aren’t friends,” I corrected, already heading for the elevator.
I didn’t look back at Kael. I couldn’t.
But I felt his stare burning into my back the entire way.
- Writer
