Smell Of Him

Darcy

Even though I was a good distance away from where he sat, I could still smell that cedar from him. The way it got into my brain and messed with it got on my nerves.

I blinked rapidly. I needed to focus on Lee instead of looking at this damn bastard who kept carving the initials of my name on the desk with his fingers. ‘D’

“He’s the new captain now. I hope you two get along well.” Lee confirmed, scribbling his name on the team list—his name at the top of the list.

My throat went dry. I couldn’t explain the shock.

“Grayson couldn’t even swing a twig the last time I remembered. You fucking kept him on the bench yourself and now you’re making him captain?” I let the anger sit bitter in my throat.

Grayson scoffed beside me. “You know me too well, Darcy.”

“I don’t. I just remembered how your legs shook on ice.”

“I’m glad you remembered. I’ll give you something else to remember.”

Grayson’s voice was calm, eyes fixed on the name he was still carving on the desk. But that smug smirk didn’t leave his lips.

“What does that mean?” My eyes narrowed at him, throat bobbing as I took sight of his earrings. They were carrying my name. Spelt in bold letters. Goosebumps ran down my skin.

“If you keep staring like that, I won’t promise what I’ll do to you.” He spoke again, this time his fingers were no longer on the desk. They were twitching.

Heat climbed up my face. I looked away sharply.

“You wish. I’d rather watch worms under the rain.”

“You love that. Think of something else.” He smiled, finally meeting my eye.

“You—”

“Shut up, both of you. I didn’t call you two here to argue.” Coach slammed his fist on the table.

“You did without meaning to.” I lifted my chin, rolling my eyes at the coach till it hurt.

Lee glared at me.

“I’m not fine with this. Just let me prove myself.” I added, kicking my feet out.

“You don’t have a valid opinion, Williams.”

“Tell me, are you going to fight the board?” Coach’s nose flared with frustration.

“There’s no board, Coach. You’re gonna pretend he didn’t buy his way back? Be serious for a freaking second. I’m not a child. Neither is this some hide and seek game.”

“Mind how you speak. I won’t take it easy on you next time.” Lee was done taking shit from me and I knew it.

My fingers clenched on my thighs. Talking can’t win in this case.

I can’t let Grayson keep smiling like that. It made my stomach turn.

I stayed quiet for a second, trying to keep the anger from spilling out again.

“How else can I prove this to you? I’m gonna fight for this back.” I stood, the chair falling off behind me.

Grayson’s shoulders shook with laughter. Mock laughter.

He could laugh. His parents had money, and I was the broke kid he could basically walk on.

The silence got too uncomfortable, like I’d just spoken gibberish.

My shoulders went down.

“Then let’s do a scrimmage. Both of you will play, then we’ll finalize who remains captain.” Coach said thoughtfully.

This was what I’d been waiting for. Finally. A chance to prove myself. I smirked for the first time since I got into the office.

“Come at me, Calloway.”

***

The locker room felt too tight. The guys had left with Grayson’s order. “Get the hell out of here” sent them all flying out like legless cockroaches.

My teeth grazed my lips, tasting copper. I couldn’t even tell them out when I was captain.

Hurt my feelings.

I found myself staring at Grayson’s body while he changed into his jersey, my own jersey fisted in my fingers. The way his abs flexed when he raised them, the way his lashes stayed low throughout… and the cruel curve of his lips...

It Got on my nerves.

“Drop your eyes, Williams.” He didn’t need to turn to notice me staring.

“I was just thinking how you’d cope with the cold.” I spun defensively before he looked at me.

“You care about me?”

He did that double raised brows again.

“Maybe. I’m not that wicked to leave you out in the cold. The ice isn't for your kind.” I glared, eyes hurting.

I felt my body clenching as he took slow, precise steps to me.

His fingers crawled up my neck, slow and almost painful. My knees buckled when he touched my throat.

I shouldn’t be reacting, but cold sweat dripped down my spine more than I wanted it to.

“Grayson.” I gritted.

“Shut up.” He cut me off with a sharp ice tone.

For the first time I’d actually shut up.

“When I talk, you obey. Just like that. Good boy.” His hands glided up to my chin.

Wetness glazed my eyes. The sting was too painful. I almost looked away.

“You're been childish.” My fingers toyed with the hem of my jersey.

“You thought I’d love to play with you? I could tell Lee to drop your name off without a second thought. Thank me I didn’t do that. If I win, you’re giving yourself to me. Darcy, you belong to me.” His eyes ran down my body like I was a meal.

A shiver ran down my spine. My lips parted but no words formed.

I stayed still for a moment, trying to remember how to breathe.

Grayson wasn’t human. And I hated it. Hated that he thinks I’m beneath him.

“Three years in Milan had fucked your brain up?” I glared hard, looking up at him. I was not even up to his height. What a shame.

“No. I’ll fuck you up.” He smirked that smirk I’d always known him with.

“It’s just a matter of this game and you’ll be mine.” He spanked my ass hard enough for me to wake up from any dream. “You sure can play?”

“Fuck.”

The sting travelled all the way to my skull. The pain from last night was still fresh and the memory came back like life. He’d practically targeted the middle of my…

I couldn't process the reason he'd slapped me there even though we were as good as strangers.

The knowing smirk that grazed his lips made me think about the stranger Grey eyes. Devilish smirk. They looked almost similar. Too familiar. How could two different people have the same idea of annoying me.

“You psycho. Who said you could touch me.” I seethed with clenched teeth.

“I just staked my claim. No need to be feisty, wifey.” He let the word roll out of his lips, unfiltered, unbothered.

“Say that again.” I twisted his jersey collar in my palm, pushing him to the wall. “You think you can come here and say nonsense? Tell me, is this one of your revenge plans because I dumped you?” I raised my voice a little higher than I should.

Grayson’s demeanor shifted, like I’d snapped something in him. He trudged forward despite me holding him down. My legs moved back on their own.

“You think this is revenge? You might be dead if I’d wanted revenge.” He pulled my hands to touch his bare collarbone. “You’ll know what I want when I win.” His lips curved upward.

“How can you be so sure, bastard?” I pushed him. He didn’t let go of my jersey. My ankle caught his boots and we fell hard. I landed heavily on his chest.

For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. His crotch was thick against my thighs I could literally feel it breathing against my ass and I just stayed on him, wide-eyed, lips inches away from his curved ones.

“So… what do we call this?” His smile stretched.

“Williams. Calloway. Get your acts together and leave this place in a minute.” Lee’s bulky body blocked the light from the door.

I scrambled to my feet, heart hammering loudly in my chest. I could see it through my jersey.

Gray got up lazily, dusting fake dust from his body. His lazy lashes landed on me, then on the coach.

“We’ll be there. A second.” He dusted his jersey like nothing had happened.

Well, nothing happened. But my pulse didn’t listen.

Grayson left the door after Coach Lee. He didn’t look back, but my eyes stayed glued to the door even after he left and silence engulfed me.

I stood there for a few seconds, just breathing, before my phone buzzed again. I didn’t hesitate to reach it. The screen blurred when the guy from last night texted again.

*Still hoarding my bracelet? It’s worth more than your life. Something goes wrong, and I fuck you before I fuck you up.*

I read the message twice before it deleted itself again. My hands tightened around the phone.

I wouldn’t win this game. I already knew that before the match started. And even if I did, Grayson would never let me go. He didn’t just come back. He came back for me—to watch me beg. And this stranger doesn’t seem to want to let me go either.

My knees gave out.