Chapter 46: Not a Gentle Request
Rhys
Miller cracked one eye open and let out a weak, pained huff of a laugh. "I heard the exchange of words... the Doc is really good at... talking. My brain is currently doing a lap around my skull, so I had to find a place to rest. I’ve had enough of that Doc."
He winced as the plane began to move, his hand reaching up to gingerly touch the bandage on his forehead. "Seriously, Rhys. Stop the angry pouting. You look like they stole your candy."
I leaned my head back against the leather, closing my eyes, but all I could see was Leo’s arm around Kayden. "He’s doing it on purpose, Miller. That small blonde boy is trying to get under my skin."
"It’s working," Miller whispered, his eyes sliding shut again as the engines roared for takeoff "You’re a mess."
"Of course, thanks to that fuck-ass doctor," I groaned, shutting my eyes as the plane roared and the floor tilted as we climbed into the sky.
I fluttered my eyes open and looked at Miller, wondering what he and Leo had actually done last night to give him that cut.
Out of curiosity, I asked, "What the hell did you even do with him last night? How do you go from ’distracting the Doc’ to coming back with your head split open?"
Miller let out a long, shaky breath, a dazed smirk playing on his lips even as he winced from the motion of the takeoff. "The conversation... it was interesting," he whispered, his eyes still closed. "Turns out, I actually loved the company of the doctor."
He chuckled and opened his eyes, then leaned closer to me and whispered, "We ended up kissing. That’s how I got the cut."
My heart nearly stopped. I gasped, my eyes bulging at what I had just heard. "You kissed—"
I almost screamed it out, but Miller was faster. Despite his concussion, he lunged forward and slammed his palm over my mouth, stifling the sound.
He let out a pained groan, his face contorting as the sudden movement clearly sent a spike of agony through his skull.
"Shut up!" he groaned, his hand trembling against my face. "Why don’t you just scream it through the intercom for the whole team, Rhys?" He scoffed, pulled his hand away slowly, and slumped back into his seat, squeezing his eyes shut again.
"I can’t believe you," I muttered. "You actually kissed someone as nerdy and batshit crazy as Leo? Miller, he’s a literal menace."
"Oh, shut up. You fucked Kayden, who is your teammate. Don’t judge me."
"I am not. That doctor is just crazy and annoying." I ran a hand through my curls, my mind reeling with a thousand thoughts.
If Miller was busy swapping spit with the doctor, why was Leo currently acting like he was Kayden’s personal bodyguard?
"Do you think something is going on with them?" I asked. "Between Kayden and Leo?"
Miller tilted his head slightly. "Maybe, maybe not. It’s their business, Rhys. Why should I care?"
Because you were with him last night, I wanted to say, but instead, I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling of the cabin. "I had a long talk with him, Miller. I actually opened up to him last night... told him things I don’t tell just anyone. And now? Watching them up there... I don’t even know if I made a massive mistake."
For a moment, the sarcasm left Miller’s face. He opened one eye and looked at me with a smile. "You opened up?" he asked and then gasped. "Honestly, I’m proud of you, man. That means you truly care about Kayden. You’re actually human after all."
I didn’t have time to feel touched by the compliment before the smirk returned to Miller’s pale face. "Look," Miller whispered, his voice regaining that devious edge. "If you really want Leo out of that seat—if you want him away from your man..."
"He is not my man," I argued.
"Whatever," Miller rolled his eyes. "I’m willing to help you out. I can be very... distracting when I want to be."
I looked at him with a little hope. "Really?"
"For a price," Miller added quickly. He winced as he shifted in his seat. "Give me your Bugatti for a month. The one from the newest collection."
I let out a frustrated groan, my head falling back against the headrest. "Are you serious? Miller, that’s the newest collection! It hasn’t even hit the streets properly yet."
Miller just shrugged. "Then stay back here and pout while the Doc whispers in Kayden’s ear and maybe even kisses him. Your choice, Cap. The car... or the guy."
I let out another frustrated groan, my heart twisting as I looked back toward the front of the plane where Leo was still far too close to Kayden. "Oh, fuck you," I muttered.
"Life isn’t fair," Miller responded, tapping my back.
"Fine," I hissed, almost shouting. "Fine! I agree. Just get him away from Kayden."
Miller’s smirk widened into a full-blown, delirious grin. "Pleasure doing business with you."
"So what are you going to—" I didn’t get to finish as Miller let out a sudden, strangled gasp that sounded way too realistic for comfort. His head lolled to the side as his eyes rolled back.
That was the craziest shit I had ever seen.
"Doc!" Miller shouted. I thought his screams would gain attention from the other teammates, but they were all still sleeping. "Everything’s spinning—I think I’m going under!"
I looked toward their seat and expected Leo to ignore it, but he stood up and rushed toward us. "What is wrong with you?"
The moment Leo reached us, Miller’s hand shot out and he wrapped it tightly around Leo’s waist. "Stay... stay right here," Miller groaned, pulling Leo down toward him. "Don’t leave... I’m seeing double. Are there two of you? That’s a nightmare..." He groaned in pain and then shot me a wink.
I took it as a cue, rushed out of my seat, and headed toward Kayden.
Kayden’s eyes widened when they met mine. He sat Starlight on the empty seat Leo had occupied and gave me a questioning look.
Before he could speak or say anything, I leaned in closer to him and whispered, "I need to see you in the lavatory in two minutes."
Kayden tried to speak, but I cut him off.
"If you don’t come," I added, my gaze dropping to his lips before locking back onto his eyes, "I’m going to come back here, pull you out of this seat, and kiss the hell out of you right in front of the Doc, the Coach, and every sleeping person on this flight. I don’t care, Kayden. I will kiss you senselessly."
Kayden’s eyes widened and he gulped as his eyes met mine. I smirked, then turned and walked toward the back of the plane, my heart pounding hard against my chest.
I stepped into the cramped lavatory and locked the door, staring at my reflection in the mirror as I waited for the sound of the latch turning from the outside.
Would he come? Or did he see through my fake threats?
I started counting down with my fingers as I waited, my back pressed to the wall, my heartbeat ticking louder with every second.
I didn’t even get to twenty before the door swung open and Kayden stepped in.
"What the hell is—"
I didn’t let him finish. I reached out, my fingers digging into his waist as I jerked him forward, slamming his back against the cold plastic door of the lavatory. The air left his lungs in a sharp gasp, but before he could inhale again, I crashed my mouth against his.
It was not a gentle kiss; it was violent in the way only bottled-up emotion could be.
My tongue slid against his, and Kayden opened his mouth, granting permission. My eyes met his as I panted against his mouth. "I missed kissing you," I muttered, and then captured his lips again before he could say anything.
Then, I placed a hand on his shoulder, releasing a bit of my pheromones to erase the scent of Leo from him, even though he was scentless.