Chapter 22: He is Literally Everywhere
Kayden
"You smell so goddamn nice for an alpha." Rhys’s voice became an echoing loop in my head after I returned to my seat.
I hated how my pulse jumped at the memory and I hated that he called me a seducer when I was the one fighting for my life to stay hidden.
Staying away from him was going to be hard because we were on the same freaking team and he was the team captain.
"Ugh," I groaned, not daring to look at him even though I knew his eyes were on mine.
When the plane finally touched down and everyone rushed out, I was the first one off the plane, practically sprinting down the tunnel and toward the team bus.
But I was wrong because I wasn’t the first after all. Rhys was already there, leaning back in a seat toward the middle. One leg was crossed over the other, looking like he owned the entire vehicle. His eyes met with mine and he smirked at me, then tapped the empty seat right next to him with two fingers without saying a word.
Don’t look. Just keep walking.
𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
I ignored the invitation, trying to act as if he wasn’t there. Then I walked right past him, feeling the air shift as I moved through his pine scent and dominant alpha power. Luckily for me, I found a seat three rows from him and sat down.
I pulled my hoodie up, hiding my face from him, and jammed my earphones into my ears, cranking the volume until the heavy bass drowned out the sound of my pounding heart. Then I looked at the window, pretending the reflection of Rhys wasn’t there.
I could feel his intense stare even though I wasn’t looking at him. I knew him. He was probably fuming after I had publicly rejected his seat.
Resisting him in a cramped airplane and failing was one thing, but sitting shoulder to shoulder with him for a thirty-minute drive would be crazier and my secret might be out even before we reached the hotel.
"Stay away from him," Leo’s words resounded in my head.
That was exactly what I was doing and I prayed, hoping that the Coach didn’t assign us to the same room. Miller or Jaxson should be with him, but just not me.
The teammates soon joined and filled up the bus and once the coach and the managers joined, the driver started the journey, pulling away from the terminal.
I heaved a deep sigh then yawned and closed my eyes for a moment, and just then I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.
My eyes widened, thinking we had reached. I blinked, pulling one earphone out as Jaxson Vane leaned across the aisle, pointing out the window. He was usually high energy, but he was practically beaming with joy as he tapped on the glass. "You guys are everywhere, man." He pointed outside the window.
I followed his finger and my heart skipped a beat when I saw it. Towering over the highway was a massive, glowing digital billboard for Voltrex, the brand that just recently signed Rhys and me. It was a teaser ad of us. It didn’t have the products yet, but just our faces. On the left was me, looking intense and focused, while on the right was Rhys.
The designer had placed us so close together on the banner that our shoulders seemed to overlap. Rhys’s expression was just like his classic persona—the Ice Prince—and he was impossibly handsome.
Underneath, the text flashed in bold golden letters: THE NEW FACES OF POWER.
"The newest ambassadors," Jaxson whistled, shaking his head. "You two are becoming bigger stars now. I am starting to get jealous."
I forced a small, tight smile though it felt like my face might crack. "It’s just marketing, Jax."
"Marketing? Bro, that’s a huge deal," he said and pointed towards where Rhys was seated. "You both are a great pair and it’s cool to see that you are now the face of the biggest brand in the country."
I nodded vaguely and turned back to the window, pulling my hoodie lower. Seeing our faces up there together felt like a big trap for me. I mean, the ambassadorship was great, but now that Rhys and I had something and I was on the verge of crumbing anytime I sees him, I didn’t seem to like it anymore.
And there was no escape from him no matter what. Everywhere I looked, Rhys was there. On ice, in the locker room, in my dreams. I closed my eyes and tried to think about something else, but I could still see him.
When we reached the hotel and came out of the bus, I made sure to stand a few meters away from him. Then the coach began to address us and it was time to assign rooms. I silently prayed yet again that I didn’t end up with him.
"Listen up," the coach shouted. "So on the way here, I already assigned who and who will be in the same room," he announced and started calling out names.
I patiently waited for him to call my name and pair me with someone. I wouldn’t even mind being in the same room as Luca Rossi; anyone was fine aside from Rhys.
"Calder and Vale will be sharing a room together," the coach suddenly said and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
I didn’t want to share a room with Rhys. He was dangerous to me; he was a walking sex demon and wouldn’t let me be. I knew that telling the coach would only raise suspicions and everyone on the team would think we were at odds, so I said nothing and just went with it.
"Rest for an hour everyone, we will be having a meeting in the lobby to go over the power play adjustments. Don’t be late!"
"Yes coach," we all responded.
"Look like you are stuck with me again, Softie," I heard Rhys’s voice sound beside me.
I jumped in fear but didn’t look at him. When the hell did he come? I thought. I ignored him and walked away, heading towards the coach and taking the key card from him. Once I got it, I headed towards the elevator.
Miller was already in the elevator when I reached and just as the doors were about to close, Rhys’s foot stuck in between and his annoying face appeared. He smiled, and instead of standing somewhere else, he stood right beside me almost covering me with his huge frame.
For goodness’ sake, the elevator was big enough for lots of people and only three of us were riding it, so why the hell was he by my side?
I let out a groan and looked towards the other side.
The elevator ride was agonizing with Rhys there. Miller was busy scrolling through his phone and Rhys was moving like a predator.
He pretended to drop something on the floor, but that was all a lie. As he stood up, I felt his fingers grab the back of my thigh, right up to the curve of my ass. My eyes widened when he suddenly grabbed it and squeezed.
My breath hitched and a sharp, dying gasp escaped from my throat as he slowly trailed a single finger upward, tracing the seam of my pants, and then entered into my ass.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my face flushing a deep red. My heart pounded hard against my ribs; I was sure Miller could hear it. I wanted to shove Rhys away, to yell at him, but I couldn’t move. I was paralyzed by the sheer audacity of it and the way my body had reacted to his touch.
"You okay, Kayden?" Miller asked, finally looking up from his phone. He frowned, noticing my rigid posture and the way I was gritting my teeth. "Your stomach bothering you again? You look like you are in pain."
"Yes," I choked out. "It’s... just, you know, the stomach thing."
Miller nodded. "Make sure you rest well and you are in perfect condition for tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Rhys chuckled lightly beside me, probably enjoying my suffering, but he still didn’t let go. If anything, he leaned in closer, his chest pressing against my back, hiding his wandering hand even better.
"I told him he needs to lie on his stomach to feel better," Rhys said smoothly to Miller, but I noticed the sarcasm in his tone.
Lie on his stomach to feel better? It was probably his way of saying he wanted to be on top of me again.
"I will," Rhys continued, slowly saying his words as his fingers circled my ass, digging into me. "I will make sure he takes something for it once we are in the room."
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.
"Alright. See you both in an hour," Miller said, waving as he stepped out toward his own room.
The second Miller was out of the door, I bolted, ripping myself away from Rhys and rushing down the hallway searching for Room 704. Immediately I found it, I swiped the card with trembling hands and rushed inside, but Rhys was right behind me. He grabbed my hand and pushed me against the door.
"Now where the hell do you think you are running to?" he chuckled darkly. "Let’s finish what we started on the plane. But first... how is your stomach?"