ARSON FOR THE CAPTAIN

Thelma’s POV

THE SUITE

I held my breath, one wrong move would get me caught and so even when i'd crashed into a garden of thorns in my attempt to jump over a fence, I stifled my scream.

My wolf staggered, recoiled at a corner and watched like she was so against me.

Beside, her mate just marked another even though he hasn't openly rejected us. 

Sluggishly pulling out of the thorns, my feet found themselves in front of jax's suite, the one he take girls to after games.

“You don’t get to forget me.” 

I whispered them to the empty hallway at 2:13AM, it smelt like champagne and sweat. 

The intern keycard in my hand. Still active and still pretending I belonged here.

I stopped at room 418, Jax’s room. That’s what the roster said.

Opening the door had me breathing hard, and I didn't look around, the first thing that greeted my eyes were the papers on the bed.

It was spread like a crime scene, had my plays, my film notes and contract draft I’d written for him in Melbourne two years ago.

My hand was shaking so bad I could barely hold the lighter. $1.99 from the bodega, cheap, disposable. Just like me.

“have a piece of my wrath Jax,” I spat and lit anyway.

Soon, the paper curled, black smoke started to rise. A smile painted my face.

It wasn't much but a scorch mark but then, the smell changed.

My nose perceived steam, soap and male.

And before I could process what was happening, the bathroom door opened.

I turned, slowly and dumb towards that direction.

Rhys Virek.

And my brain just… stopped.

Water dripped from his black hair down his temples, down his jaw, down the column of his throat.

His chest was bare, broad, scarred. Hard lines of muscle.

Water traced his abs. Six. Eight. I stopped counting when I hit the V that disappeared under a towel hanging so low I forgot how to breathe.

He was tall and I doubt if I'd reach his collar bone, shoulders like he’d been built to block out the world.

His wet skin gleamed and that silver eyes, glowing glanced at the fire on his bed, then me.

He was naked. Just water and muscle and that infuriating calm like he owned every inch of air in the suite.

My eyes went huge as I caught a glimpse of his large, erect cock, shamelessly.

“Ah— Oh my God—”

I spun so fast my back hit the wall. Both hands flew up to cover my eyes, but it was too late. 

The image was burned in.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’m not looking, I swear!” My voice was a mortified squeak and my face had turned red.

There was silence, no movement and I cussed beneath my breath.

How the fuck did I not notice?

I heard his voice behind me, low and even my wolf cowered.

“You’re arsoning my suite at two in the morning.” he scoffed unbelievably “And you’re shy now?”

Heat crawled up my neck and made my face burn. He was breathtaking and the kind of hot that doesn't ask permission.

In my head I was screaming: "LOOK AWAY. LOOK AWAY. LOOK AWAY." 

But my body? 

My body remembered every inch. The water on his chest. The width of his shoulders and way the towel sat on his hips like a threat.

“This isn’t— this isn’t Kane’s room, is it?” I whispered, pathetic.

What am I still doing here?

"Does this look his room?" I heard him snapped, hitting something and the next, his footsteps followed.

The sound hit me like a body check, wrong man, wrong man and wrong fire.

Before I'd feel his presence any near, I ran out.

I didn’t even make it to the exit door because two security guards were already in the hallway. Big and fast.

Their hands locked on my arms before I took a third step.

“Hands behind your back! Now!” one of them yelled gruesomely.

“No! Wait! No!” I was fighting, but it was useless.

“I’m here for Jax Kane! I’m an intern! I work for the Club! You can check! Ask him, please, just ask him!” I rephrased panicking like I'd have an actual heart attack.

"There's no appointment to see any player!" The second asserts roughly pushing me.

I'd almost defended myself when the door across the hall opened.

Jax Kane.

His hair was still wet from the shower, his chest bare under a robe.

Abd a smear of red lipstick on his jaw which got me annoyed.

Lena was right behind him, his cup jersey on her with her arms crossed, those eyes gawked at me.

Yet, relief hit me so hard I actually sobbed.

“Jax! Thank God— Jax, tell them! I’m an intern! I work for you. You know me"

I was begging, I hated it but I couldn't stop.

Jax looked at me and his face did nothing neither was there any remorse for me, except a disgusted look.

He dragged his thumb across his jaw, smearing the lipstick like it was dirt.

He dragged his thumb across his jaw, smearing the lipstick like it was dirt. 

“She doesn’t work for the Club anymore," he declared so loud that it felt a knife to my chest.

“She’s a toxic fan. Leech. She’s been following me since we left Australia.”

Everything paused, as my mouth felt too heavy to roll out a word.

“Jax… what?” I managed "you know that's not-"

Lena stepped forward, sneered down at me and cut me off.

"Seriously? Don't you get cheap slate, he chose me, so stop following around." She held his arm, narrowed her gaze at me "I know you're one of the many girls he brings home but bitch... I'm the real deal now"

There was pride in her eyes and that was what broke me the most. Jax didn't even say anything, he watched her run her mouth.

She looked at Security. “Get her off our floor before I call my dad. He owns this team.”

“Toxic fan,” one of the guards muttered as a handcuff was already kissing my wrists.

"I bet she's the notorious stalker" the second grinned. "Finally we found her, that will increase our raise" they shamelessly debated.

Hearing this made my blood shoot up as the two security personnels were ready to pin a blame on me for their selfish aim.

“No— Jax, please—” I was twisting now, desperate because the situation might worsen if I get tossed to the precinct “I got you your P-1 visa! I put in the good words to the GM! You said if you made it, you’d make me—”

“You’re under arrest for trespassing and attempted arson,” the other guard cut in.

I'd almost denied it but he brought out my lighter. "And you smelt burnt" he interjected growling.

I stopped fighting immediately as my knees gave out.

I couldn't even cry as I'd lost. But then, another door opened, like doors will keep opening.

I couldn't even bring myself to look at who it was but his scent hits me and it was so intoxicating.

Rhys.

My head whipped back, my wolf tilted hers even though she tried to remain strong.

He walked out of Room 418, still in that towel. His eyes were silver and he didn't look at Jax or Lena but me.

“Captain, we’ve got it handled,” the first Security started.

But Rhys didn't blink as though he held his breath.

“Let her go.” three words that had me lost.

“Sir, she was attempting—”

“I said let. Her. Go.” he ordered but attempted not to raise his voice. 

The cuffs was taken off and my hands fell into my laps, shaking.

Rising was difficult as everything played before me like a movie.

Jax frowned. “Virek, you don’t understand, she’s—” 

“I understand enough,” Rhys countered still not looking at him.

He stepped further.

And I saw it again. 

All of him. 

The muscle. The height. The way the towel did nothing to hide that he was all power, no softness.

Everyone seems to be holding their breath just as me because I didn't know where this was leading to.

"She came here for me.”