23– Gabrielle

The atmosphere inside the private jet was suffocating, thick with the kind of heavy animosity that could choke a person.

It felt like Kayden’s eyes were permanently locked onto me, heavy, dark, and burning with an intensity that felt less like a stare and more like a threat.

He looked like he wanted to burn me to the ground just for breathing his air. 

Keeping my head ducked low, I scurried down the aisle and slid into a seat near the back of the cabin, hoping to make myself invisible.

I should have known better. Kayden never let anyone off that easily.

With a low, frustrated groan, he dropped into the seat beside me, his broad shoulders crowding my space and making the cabin feel even smaller.

I crossed my arms over my chest, offering him a sharp look. “You know you don’t have to sit so close to me, right?”

Kayden turned his head, his jaw clenching so hard a muscle twitched in his cheek. “So you force your way onto this trip because you want to be my girlfriend and handler, but you draw the line at me sitting beside you?”

“If you put it like that…” I let out a breath, softening my tone. “I’m just looking out for you, though. Because you clearly can’t stand me right now.”

The ghost of a smirk played at the corner of his lips before he masked it with a scowl. “Since you’re here and we’re supposed to be madly in love, we might as well put on a good show for my teammates, yes?”

“Good thinking.” I unbuckled my seatbelt with a snap. “Now, come with me to the lavatory.”

His eyes widened in genuine shock, a rare flash of humor cutting through his hostility. “I’m not fucking you in a jet with my teammates on board, Gabrielle.”

“Kayden…” I forced a slow inhale, gripping the armrests to keep myself from smacking some sense into his thick head. “No one said anything about sex. Just come with me. I need to show you something.”

Before he could begin bombarding me with his endless stream of questions, I was already unlaced from my seat and walking away, leaving him to scramble after me.

I waited inside the cramped airplane restroom, tapping my foot against the floor until the door reluctantly clicked open and Kayden squeezed his huge frame inside.

The space was so tight that his broad chest and lean body were practically pressed flush against mine. The scent of cedarwood and cold pine drifted off his skin, too intoxicating for how much I wanted to throttle him.

“Take off your shades,” I murmured, looking up.

He blinked behind the dark lenses. “What?”

“The shades, Kayden. Take them off.”

“Why?”

I let out an exhausted groan, massaging my temples. I genuinely had never met a professional athlete who asked as many questions as Kayden Alvarez.

Deciding not to indulge him, I reached up, yanked the sunglasses off his face, and tossed them onto the tiny counter. Then, I pulled a small bottle of medicated eye drops from my jacket pocket.

A breath left me in a rush when I saw the state of his face.

“Your game is tomorrow night, Kayden,” I said softly, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. “And what I can promise you is that I’ll try to ensure you’re in a better physical condition for it”

He looked away, his jaw tightening. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to.” I stepped forward, letting my voice drop to a firm whisper. “I’m here because I want to be. Don’t ever forget that, and don’t insult me by insinuating I was forced into playing this role.”

“Gabrielle—”

“There’s a clot in your left eye,” I interrupted, uncapping the bottle. “It’s not too bad, but you need to use this eye drop as many times as possible between now and tomorrow.” I gently tipped his chin up with my thumb, ensuring he couldn't look away. “I’m sure you didn’t tell your coach about what happened. If he sees you walking into the arena looking like you just went ten rounds in a back-alley brawl, it’s going to raise questions.”

Kayden’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze dropping to my lips before snapping back to my eyes. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Kayden.” My tone was softer, more vulnerable. “I’m here for you. I genuinely enjoy watching you play, and I’m looking forward to seeing your majestic moves out on the ice. And… oh, I’ll do your makeup tomorrow.”

His brows shot toward his hairline. “My makeup?”

“Like I said, you’re not stepping onto that rink looking like a bruised-up street fighter. Not on my watch.”

For a long moment, the tension vanished from his features. “Thank you, Gabrielle,” he murmured, his voice losing its rough edge. “I’ll be sure to compensate you handsomely for all your hard work.”

The warmth in my chest instantly iced over. I pulled my hand back as if I’d been burned. “I don’t need your money.”

“And I don’t care.” His jaw set taut. “But I won’t take favors from someone who’s ashamed to be associated with me.”

I had a hundred retorts sitting on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed them down. I knew that what he’d just thrown back at me wasn't just a casual jab; it was a wound.

What I had said to him was too deep. He couldn’t simply mull over and forget it,

So, biting my tongue, I brushed past him, slipped out of the lavatory, and gave him the space he clearly needed.

. . .

The team bus rumbled to a halt outside the hotel, the air rushing in as soon as the doors hissed open. 

I didn’t wait for the players to pile out before rushing out of the bus.

I was tired.

And I needed to get away from the suffocating tension between me and Kayden.

I marched up, ahead of the team, to the front desk, desperate to grab my room key, lock myself away, and hide from Kayden’s suffocating presence.

“Reservation for Gabrielle Rose, please,” I told the receptionist, slapping my ID onto the counter with a strained smile.

The woman tapped away at her keyboard, her smile polite. “Ah, yes, Ms. Rose. We have your check-in right here. You are all set.”

She slid a single, sleek gold-embossed keycard across the counter.

My stomach plummeted. I frowned, staring down at the key with furrowed brows. “Pardon me, I think there’s been a mistake. I requested two separate room keys. One for myself, and one for Mr. Alvarez's account.”

The receptionist blinked, her smile faltering into confusion as she double-checked her screen. “Independent rooms? Oh, no. There is no mistake on our end. Management was explicitly informed to put you both in the top-floor Executive Penthouse.”

My blood ran cold in my veins. “The penthouse?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she nodded. “It features a single king-sized suite.”

Before I could even drag enough oxygen into my lungs to launch into a full-blown panic, a familiar warmth settled behind me.

I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. The gravity of him filled the space.

Kayden stepped up beside me, reaching past my shoulder and sliding the room key off the counter before I could grab it. His deep voice brushed against the shell of my ear, sending a shiver racing down my spine.

“Thank you,” Kayden murmured to the receptionist, his gaze dropping down to lock onto my wide eyes. A slow, dangerous, and devastatingly handsome smirk curved his lips.

He leaned in, his breath warm against my neck. 

“Don't worry, handler. I promise to keep my distance. After all... I wouldn’t want my shame rubbing off on you.”