Surrendering To Four: A Reverse Harem Story

Chapter 3

ZOE

"You want me to do what?" I asked, moving away until I hit the wall behind me. My heart hammered in my chest as I stared at the four hockey players surrounding me.

Lucas took a step toward me. His gray eyes were still looking intense as he continued to speak. "We need information about the Titans. We want to know their strategies, and their weaknesses. We want to know things only an insider like you would know."

As he spoke, he stood close enough that I could feel the heat coming from his body. The scent of his cologne made my head swim.

"You know their weaknesses," Ethan added. He was leaning against the conference table. His eyes dropped to my lips before they slid lower. They made me feel somewhat naked despite the conservative blouse I was putting on. "Derek Thompson's especially."

I crossed my arms over my chest, which did nothing except draw his attention there. His slow smile told me that he had noticed my reaction.

"That's completely unethical," I said, trying to sound firm despite my racing pulse. "And I'm done with hockey players. All of you."

When James stepped closer just then, his cologne almost enveloped me completely. He was smaller than Lucas but he moved with a dancer's grace. "We can make it worth your while." His fingers brushed a strand of hair from my face, and the casual touch only sent shivers down my spine. "Think of the connections you could get. And the doors we could open for you."

His lips turned up into a practiced smile, and I found myself wondering how those full lips of his would feel like against mine.

"I don't need your help with my career," I managed to say, even though my voice came out sounding weaker than I intended.

When I hesitated, Alex, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "We know what Thompson did," he said. His amazing accent made the simple words that came out of his mouth sound like seduction. His dark eyes held mine. "He doesn't deserve you, Zoe."

For a moment, I considered it. It wasn’t just because of the potential revenge against Derek, but because of the four attractive men who were focused entirely on me. It had been a while since a man had looked at me like that. Like I was desirable and powerful. And now I had four attractive men looking at me like that.

"How do you know what happened?" I asked. I was shocked.

"The hockey world is a small one," Alex replied with a small shrug. "People talk."

The thought of my humiliation being the subject of locker room gossip tugged at something in me. I quickly grabbed my bag from the table, shaking my head continuously.

"I’m not interested. Find someone else to be your spy,” I said firmly.

I hurried past Ethan as I headed for the door. But before I could reach it, Lucas immediately moved forward with such surprising speed for his size. He wrapped his hand around my wrist. His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough to stop me.

His thumb stroked my pulse point, sending waves of heat through my body that had nothing to do with embarrassment.

"We're nothing like Thompson," he said. His face was just inches from mine now. His warm breath tingled against my skin. "Give us a chance to prove it."

For a moment, we stood frozen as the electricity pulsed between us. I could see the tiny streaks of silver in his gray eyes. I could count each one of his dark eyelashes.

"Let me go," I whispered.

He released my wrist immediately I spoke, but the heat of his touch still lingered.

"Just think about it," he said before he stepped back to give me space.

I quickly pulled the door open and hurried out. My skin was still tingling where he had touched me. I kept punching the elevator button repeatedly, as if that would make it arrive faster, even if I knew it wouldn’t.

When the doors finally opened, I practically ran inside. I was quite grateful to find it empty. I leaned against the wall as I tried to steady my breathing.

What had just happened? And why was my body reacting so strongly to men I had only just met?

"Get it together, Zoe," I muttered to myself.

My phone suddenly dinged as a notification came in just then. Then another. And another. By the time the fourth one came through, I knew exactly who they were from.

I opened my message app to find texts from all four of the men. How had they even gotten my number? It was most probably from my boss or from the contact information I had included in my presentation materials.

The first was from Lucas: Dinner tonight? Just to talk. I promise. - Lucas

The second was from a number labeled as Ethan Reed: Come by my place for drinks. No hockey talk required.

James was next: Let me take you on a proper date. I want to show you that not all athletes are jerks.

Alex's message was simpler, but somehow, it felt more intense to me: I’ll be waiting until you’re ready.

As I stared at my phone, my body responded to each invitation in ways I thought I had forgotten. Butterflies gathered in my belly as I imagined saying yes to any, or even all of them.

What would it be like to have dinner with Lucas, and have those intense gray eyes focused only on me across a candlelit table?

Or to go to Ethan's place, knowing exactly what "drinks" would lead to with those tattooed arms of his around me?

James would be the perfect gentleman on a date... until he wasn't.

And Alex... the quiet ones were always the most surprising behind closed doors.

"Stop it," I hissed at myself as I shoved my phone back into my bag. I was not going down this road again. Athletes were off-limits to me. I had sworn off them completely, and I was going to stand by that decision.

The elevator dinged as it got to the lobby. I straightened my skirt and took a deep breath, while I tried to make the flush I knew was still spreading across my cheeks go away.

The doors slid open just then, and my whole body suddenly froze.

Derek Thompson was standing in the lobby. He was talking to a man in a business suit. His familiar profile sent a mix of emotions through me. I could feel a lot of pain, some lingering attraction, and a bit of pure rage.

What was he doing here? This wasn't even his team's building.

Before I could decide on whether to hurry back into the elevator or face him, he suddenly turned. Our eyes met, and his widened in surprise before they narrowed suspiciously.

He said something to the man he was with before he left him and began to walk toward me. His confident stride was so familiar that it made my chest ache despite everything that had happened.

"Zoe," he said. The sound of his voice brought back a flood of memories I had tried to drown in wine and work. "What are you doing here?"

"Working," I replied. I was immediately proud of how steady my voice sounded. "What are you doing here?"

"I’m meeting with some sponsors," he said. His eyes roamed over my face before they dropped down to my body. When they returned to my face, they lingered on my still-flushed cheeks.

His eyes narrowed. "New boyfriend already?" he asked. There was a note of bitterness in his tone.

The accusation in his tone made anger rise inside me instantly. The audacity he had, after what he had done, to question me about my love life.

"Not that it's any of your business," I said coldly, "but my personal life is off-limits to you. Permanently."

I tried to step around him, but he quickly shifted and blocked my path. "Come on, Zoe. It's been a while after… Can't we at least talk?"

"About what?" I asked hotly. "About how I found you screwing a cheerleader in our bed? Or about how you've apparently been gossiping about it to the entire hockey community?"

He even had the grace to look embarrassed as he said, “It wasn't like that, Zoe. It was a mistake."

"A mistake is forgetting to pick up milk on the way home, Derek. What you did was a choice,” I told him firmly.

My phone buzzed again in my bag. Derek’s eyes immediately moved toward the source of the sound.

"So who is he?" he asked. "One of your new clients? Is that why you're here?"

Before I could answer, a large hand settled on my shoulder. Its warmth was instantly familiar, though I had only felt it once before.

"Is everything okay here, Zoe?" Lucas's deep voice came from beside me.

Derek's eyes narrowed and his expression immediately changed to rage as he recognized the Wolves' captain. "Stone," he said. His voice was harsh. "What are you doing with my girl?"