Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Chelsea

“Eating.” I bit into my cupcake without giving Storm more than a passing glance. It was a good cupcake, perfectly moist.

Storm glared at Frost. “I asked you a question. What the fuck are you doing with her?”

“Also eating,” Frost said easily. Only his eyes betrayed a hint of unease. “You're welcome to join us if you want, right Chelsea?”

“The more the merrier,” I agreed.

Storm seemed like he'd sooner swallow his own tongue than sit and have a casual conversation over a sandwich. In spite of that, he grabbed the back of the chair beside us and dragged it out from under the table so the feet squeaked on the floor. He flopped down onto it and pulled it in closer.

“You know who she is?” he demanded, eyes narrowed at Frost, face slightly red.

“I do. I'm not quite sure you do,” Frost said. “She's a doctor. She's doing?—”

“I know exactly what she's doing here,” Storm interrupted. “She wants to work here. If that's the case, she needs to avoid making waves.” His gaze swivelled to me.

“I'm not the one getting all worked up,” I pointed out. “You shouldn't do that either, it's bad for your blood pressure. You wouldn't want me to tell Coach you're not fit to play.”

I kept my tone light, but there was no way in the world he'd miss the threat. It was as obvious as a football between the eyes.

Storm's jaw worked back and forth. “Don't fucking threaten me,” he snarled.

“Then don't be a prick,” I said. “I can eat lunch with whomever I want. So can Mr Frost here. He's been very hospitable.” I didn't add 'unlike you,' it hung in the air for everyone to feel.

Storm's jaw worked harder. “I made myself clear the other night. Do you need a reminder?”

“No, but I think you need a reality check,” I said. “You don't?—”

He grabbed my wrist in his tight grip, fingers pressing into my flesh. “I don't need a fucking reality check.” He pulled me over closer to him so he could whisper in my ear. “I fucking own you. I. Fucking. Own. You. That's a fact. I decide who you eat lunch with.”

“I think you should back off,” Frost said coldly. “Chelsea gets to decide who she spends time with. If she doesn't want to spend time with you, she won't.”

Storm released my wrist and sat with his forearms on the table. “It seems you both need an education.” He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath through his nose. “Do you want him?” He looked over at me, eyes dark as thunderclouds. Darker.

Every muscle in my body was tense, matching his. Both of us were like bombs about to explode. I didn't want to draw too much attention to the conversation. Conflicts like this would get me kicked out before I even finished my placement. Something I suspected we were all acutely aware of, but no one more than me.

“We barely know each other,” I said finally.

“You don't have to know someone to want to fuck them,” Storm said. “Do you really think Frost here needs to know your likes and dislikes before he sticks his cock in you? He doesn't give a shit, do you Frosty?”

“I want to know her likes and dislikes,” Frost said. After a moment, he admitted, “But I was interested before we exchanged a word.”

“Exactly.” Storm nodded. He looked back at me. “Do you want to fuck him?”

“I wouldn't be opposed to the idea,” I said. I wanted to fuck Storm too, even while he was being a massive asshole. Burning with fury, he was hot enough to make my blood boil.

“What are your plans?” Storm directed the question to Frost.

“Dinner on Monday night,” Frost said, after a long, anxious pause. “Unless Chelsea changed her mind.”

“I didn't,” I said. “We're definitely on for Monday.” Whether Storm liked it or not.

Frost nodded and did his best not to flinch when Storm glared at him.

“Where?” Storm demanded.

“We haven't decided yet,” I said. “Can you recommend somewhere nice?” I smiled sweetly.

Storm narrowed his eyes at me. “When you figure it out, tell me.”

“Why should we?” I absently rubbed at my wrist where he grabbed me. Bruises were starting to form already. Other women would be horrified, but I was aroused. He'd left his mark on me. Physically and, to some extent, emotionally. Part of me was enjoying getting him worked up and irritated. Angry. Pushing his buttons could be dangerous, but I couldn't seem to resist.

“Because I fucking told you to,” he snapped. “I want to know where my woman goes, who she sees and who she fucks.”

“Your woman?” Frost asked. “Since when?”

“Since I said so,” Storm said. “Since you were off fucking some other woman, remember?”

Frost slid his gaze away from both of us. “It was just… Before I got to know Chelsea.”

“Everyone has a history,” I said. “I'm willing to bet Storm does. He's not the friend who knocked up your mother, is he?”

Frost bit back a smile. “I don't think you could call us best friends, no. I wouldn't be surprised if he's fucked my mother though. They both get around.”

Storm looked like he was about ready to break Frost's nose, but he didn't deny the other player's words. Maybe he had slept with his mother and maybe he hadn't. That was none of my business. The past was the past. For all I knew, I'd slept with both of their fathers.

“Wait a sec.” Frost's brow creased in a deep V. “What do you mean you want to know who Chelsea fucks?” Frost said, putting the conversation back to me. “Didn't you just imply she was yours?”

“I didn't imply anything,” Storm said. “I stated a fact. Let me state another. She can go out with other men and screw their brains out, but I want to know about it.”

“Are you expecting me to pay you so I can sleep with her?” Frost asked.

Storm lunged over the top of the table and grabbed a fistful of Frost's shirt before I could blink.

“I'm not a fucking pimp,” he snarled. “If you pay to fuck her, that money goes to her. If she lets you fuck her for free, consider yourself lucky. Consider yourself lucky that I would let you fuck her, too.”

Frost placed a hand on Storm's arm and pushed him away. “So you're saying she's yours, but you'll let me borrow her?”

Storm released the front of his shirt and sank back down in his chair. “That's precisely what I'm saying. Like if you borrowed my car, I'd want to know where you took it.”

“Thank you for comparing me to your car,” I said sarcastically.

He actually rolled his eyes. “My car is valuable. One of my prized possessions.” The look he gave me suggested he believed I was the other one.

I couldn't decide if he was hot as hell, or out of his mind. Possibly both. If I had any sense at all, I'd get up and walk away right now. Maybe I could get a placement with the Opal Springs Ghosts soccer team. Or the Sydney Devils rugby team. Somewhere far from Dusk Bay, and Storm Keller.

“This is so fucked up it's hot,” Frost remarked. He adjusted himself again. “What if I decide she's mine too?”

I got the impression he wanted to ask what would happen if he also belonged to Storm.

Great, now I had the mental image of the big fullback bending him over the table in front of me, sliding his cock in and out of the prop's ass. That fantasy was almost hot enough to make me combust on the spot.

The look Storm gave Frost suggested he hadn't considered the possibility. He gave the matter some thought. Instead of telling Frost to fuck off, like I expected him to, he said, “I might be willing to share. A woman like her deserves to be taken care of. To be satisfied.”

I didn't disagree with his words, but he was starting to sound like a Neanderthal. At any moment, he'd grab me by my hair and drag me off to his cave.

As far as I was aware, Neanderthal didn't actually live in caves, but he might. Honestly, he probably lived in the penthouse in Powell Tower, with a view over the ocean. The kind of place that was decorated with black marble, black leather and maybe a special room for the whips and chains.

“Can you not talk about me like I'm not here?" I said. “What if I decide to tell both of you to get lost?”

They both turned to me and gave me the same look. It wouldn't matter if I did, they'd made up their minds.

Storm shrugged. “You can try. You're not getting rid of us. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you get that permanent…position here. So will Frosty.”

Frost nodded vigourously. “Definitely. You deserve it. I know how hard you must have worked to become a doctor in the first place. Studying and working must have been exhausting.”

“It was,” I said carefully. “But I don't need either of you to do anything on my behalf. I got this far by working hard. I can get all the way by continuing to work hard.”

The last thing I needed was for anyone to suggest I was only hired because they pulled strings for me. I didn't need to be thinking that myself either. Up until now, I was the only one who could take any credit for my achievements. I didn't want that to change now.

“Of course you can.” Storm reached over and started to run the tip of one of his fingers over the back of my wrist, sending tingles all the way through me. “But some of the guys are going to give you a hard time. We'll make sure they don't make trouble for you. If they do, I'll punch their fucking lights out. Then you can focus on what's important.”

“I don't need you to punch anyone's lights out,” I said, ending on a sigh. “You focus on your job and let me focus on mine. I don't want to see you in the infirmary with a broken hand, covered in someone else's blood.”

Okay, maybe I did a little bit, but not because of me. If he was bloodied, with broken bones, it better be because he played harder than he ever had in his life. Because he smashed his opponents out there on the rugby field. Because he left his mark on them.

His fingers circled my wrist, his thumb rubbing over the bruises which were still darkening on my skin. His eyes darkened with them, his arousal obvious. He was turned on by them.

I had a feeling he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd left them everywhere on my body. Heaven help me, I'd let him do it too. I wanted him to cause me pain. I knew exactly where my limits were, and I knew he'd push me all the way to them. Maybe even beyond. I wanted that so much my pussy throbbed. My panties were absolutely ruined by now. I'd need to start bringing a spare pair or two to work if these were the conversations we were going to have.

“We'll text you when we've decided where we’re eating.” Evidently Frost was down for whatever Storm had in mind. Did he want to leave bruises on me too? His gaze dropped to my wrist, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking. I sensed he wanted to leave his mark on me, but in a different way. Something much darker than his sweet face hinted at. Maybe even something terrifying.

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt it was too late for me to walk away, even if I wanted to. I probably should have, but I didn't.

I was in this as deep as they were, no matter the cost.