Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Chelsea
I should absolutely not have been surprised by any of it.
Okay, I wasn’t too surprised by how quickly Frost and Storm threw their hats into the proverbial ring. I wasn’t even surprised Dallas went along without a fight. I certainly shouldn’t have been surprised when Daze started giving the names of members of the team. Of course some of them would have been recruited already.
The guys were more shocked than I was, but it didn’t last for long. Like everything else, they took the ball and ran with it.
It wasn’t discussed, but I was sure they all knew if they rejected anything they heard, they risked not walking out of there alive. That was why Daze, Gianni and Mina were so forthcoming. If the guys tried to betray them, they’d have them killed. It was that simple. Until they proved themselves, they’d be watched closely. By me and by members of the team.
Specifically, Atlas Underwood, whose gaze was on them when I stepped into the locker room.
I made my way over to him, moving through the throng of half naked men, while try not to trip over footy boots that lay on the floor.
I peered over his shoulder. “Do you have a minute?”
“I was wondering when you’d come and find me.” He didn’t take his eyes off Storm, Frost and Dallas. The three of them sat in the corner, talking in low voices. “I understand we have some mutual acquaintances.”
“That’s my understanding too,” I agreed. “Did you know?”
He turned his head slightly. “I suspected. There’s a resemblance to your brother, plus you have the same surname.”
“Miller is a common name,” I pointed out. “Any resemblance might be a coincidence.”
“It isn’t,” he said. Now he turned to look at me. “Your eyes are almost exactly the same colour. Your hair too.”
“How long have you suspected?” I asked.
He shrugged. “As soon as I heard your name. Miller might be common, but Dusk Bay is a small place. It was a reasonable assumption.”
“So that date?—”
He took a couple of steps forward, forcing me to step back until I was pressed against one of the lockers. He was close enough to breathe in my exhalation.
“That was real. Nothing to do with who you’re related to. I wanted to get to know you. I still do.” His firm chest was pressed against mine, hard muscle robbing me of breath and making it harder to think.
“I know you feel the same way. Is your heart racing as fast as mine?” He raised two fingers and pressed them against the pulse point in my neck. “Faster.” In a whisper he added, “How wet are you?”
Before I could answer, he stepped back. Out of reach of Storm, who was about to lunge at him.
“What do you think you’re fucking doing?” Storm growled.
Frost and Dallas were right behind him, both looking cautious.
“What does it fucking look like?” Atlas sneered.
“It looks like you’re trying to make the moves on my woman,” Storm snarled.
Atlas started to clap slowly, sarcastically. “You might not be as dumb as you look.” He ducked when Storm took a swing at him. The fullback’s fist narrowly missed hitting me right in the face.
I let out a squeak and ducked.
“What the fuck, Storm?” Frost grabbed his arm before he could swing again. “You could have hit her.”
Storm shook him off and dropped his hands to his sides. “I wasn’t aiming for you.” He looked furious with himself.
After a moment, I straightened up. “I knew you weren’t. Maybe you could not aim at each other either.”
“I saw the way he was touching you.” Storm scowled at Atlas.
“She wasn’t objecting.” Atlas smirked. “Could it be that she wants me?”
“I know she fucking does,” Storm snapped. “What I don’t know is why.” His gaze cut to me, questioning.
“I like Atlas,” I said. “I like all of you. Would it hurt you to get along?”
“It wouldn’t hurt me,” Dallas said.
“Me either,” Frost agreed.
Storm glared at them both like they were betraying him in some way.
“Why don’t you all just compare cock size?” Jay called out from where he stood in front of his locker.
“Because Storm knows he’ll lose,” Atlas called back.
“Fuck off,” Storm growled. He sucked in a harsh breath and let it out through his nose. “You two spend a lot of time thinking about my cock.”
“I know I do,” Frost said, clearly trying to defuse the situation.
“Me too,” I agreed. “I spend a lot of time thinking about all of the cocks.”
“All of them?” Atlas looked smug.
I shrugged. “I like cock.” I wasn’t ashamed of it. I had no intention of ever being ashamed.
“You’ll love mine,” Atlas said. “I know what to do with it.”
Dallas and Frost both grabbed Storm before he could lunge at Atlas again.
“Someone needs to wipe that look off the prick’s face.” Storm struggled against them.
Frost let go of Storm’s arm, ducked under and grabbed a fist full of Atlas’ shirt.
I thought he was going to punch the other player, but instead he smashed his mouth against his.
Atlas froze for a second or two, then he kissed Frost back. Only for a handful of seconds before he pulled away, gaping.
He glanced over to Jay who stood staring, uncomprehending. That expression quickly turned to anger before Jay grabbed up his duffel bag and stomped out of the locker room.
“Jay!” Atlas pushed away from Frost and ran after him until they both disappeared out the door.
“He doesn’t look so smug now,” Storm remarked.
I rubbed my temples and closed my eyes for a few moments. “I thought you were going to try to get along with each other.”
“I was,” Frost said. He looked like he couldn’t believe what he’d done. At the same time, he clearly didn’t regret it. “I thought that was better than punching the shit out of him.”
“I think he preferred it,” I said.
At least in the moment. Before he saw the hurt on Jay’s face. That confirmed what I already suspected. Did it go both ways though? Jay clearly cared about Atlas as more than a friend, but I wasn’t sure how Atlas felt.
If I could, I’d pin him down and figure a few things out. Or let him pin me down.
Either worked for me. The way he had me pressed against the locker, his warm fingers on my neck, I was so ready for more. I wouldn’t have stopped him if he’d fucked me then and there. If it wasn’t for Storm, and the potential of raising eyebrows with the team, he might have.
“I know I did,” Frost said. “He’s a good kisser.”
Storm growled.
Frost gave him a sideways hug and pressed his lips to the fullback’s cheek. “Not as good as you.”
“Better not be,” Storm said.
Dallas was staring at them both. “Why do you always have to make trouble? You in particular, Storm. Did you see Chelsea objecting to Atlas touching her? Do you think she’s not capable of pushing him away if that’s what she wants? Because she is. But you have to stomp over there and make a big fucking deal out of it.”
“It is a big fucking deal,” Storm said. “He was touching her.”
“Because. She. Wanted. Him. To.” Dallas glared at him. “She’s made her thoughts on the subject clear. Have some fucking respect.”
Storm leaned back, stared at him, then at me. “I wasn’t trying to—” He shook his head. “You know how this works. No one touches her without my permission. No one. I haven’t given that to Atlas yet. He’s going to have to fucking earn it the way you both did. Otherwise, he can stay the hell away from her.” His jaw was set, just like his mind. He wasn’t budging a hair on this.
“She gives him her permission,” Dallas argued.
“I don’t care.” Storm’s jaw worked as his irritation grew. “He needs my permission too. This woman is fucking mine. I decide who touches her. End of story.” He made a slashing gesture through the air with his hand.
Dallas opened his mouth to say more, but I placed a hand on his bicep. “It’s okay. Let’s not have any more conflict.”
I didn’t need Storm’s permission to decide who touched me and who didn’t, but it would be easier if they were all in agreement. This fighting, it was getting none of them anywhere. Instead, it was putting a wedge between them. One that didn’t need to be there.
Dallas screwed his eyes shut, and nodded. “Fine, I’ll back off. For you. But he needs to back the fuck off too.” He sighed out his nose before turning and walking back to his locker.
I watched him leave. If they were going to fight like this, we were going to have problems. Lots of them. This wasn’t how I wanted bruises to happen.
“Chelsea—” Frost started.
I opened my eyes when he cupped my cheek with his hand. “I’m okay,” I said.
“Are you?” he pressed. “I know you like all of us, and this fighting is a pain in the ass. You’re not going to walk away from us, are you?” He elbowed Storm back when the fullback stepped forward, trying to protest.
“I don’t want to,” I said. “But if this starts to affect the performance of the team, then…”
I couldn’t, in good conscience, let the Smashers or their fans suffer because of me. I’d sooner walk away from all of them than have them lose because they were divided over me.
Doing it would break my heart into a million tiny pieces. In the time I’d known them, I’d become very attached to all of them. I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
“It won’t,” Storm insisted.
“I’d sooner give up the team than give you up.” Frost’s tone matched the soft look in his eyes. “You’re more important to me than footy. You both are.” He glanced back at Storm.
“I don’t want you to give up anything,” I said. “I know we can all work together, if we try.”
“I’m trying,” Frost said. He turned his face to give the fullback an accusing glance.
“I’ll try if Atlas respects my boundaries.” Storm wasn’t giving up any ground. “I don’t want some random guy thinking he can touch her.”
“Atlas isn’t some random guy,” Frost argued. “He’s our teammate. You agreed to give him a chance, you need to do that.”
“Or else what?” Storm’s jaw worked harder than ever. “Are you going to run off with him? I haven’t forgotten he fucking touched you too.” His face was pink with frustration. All the way up to the tips of his ears. Any other time, it would have been adorable. Right then, he was a firecracker waiting for an open flame.
“ I touched him ,” Frost reminded him. “I’m not going to run off with anyone except you two, but if you keep pushing people away, you might find yourself alone.” He turned his back on Storm.
Storm glared at him for a few moments, before stomping away to his locker.
“I’m sorry. He can be intense. I think, deep down he’s scared of losing us,” Frost whispered.
“I don’t think it’s that deep down,” I said.
I remembered what Storm told me about his family. He lost people he cared about before. He was terrified it would happen again. That fear manifested itself in anger. Getting angry with the wrong people in Dusk Bay could get you killed. We’d have to find a way to make him feel secure before the shit hit the fan.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
Swallowed hard.
“I need to go.”