STILL ON THE DEAL

Thelma’s POV

He grabbed my jaw gently, brushing it with his thumb as he let out a smirk.

“You’re the reason I was standing on that ice watching Jax lift it.”

And when he'd bent slightly again, his forearm rested on his knee.

That towel shifted and I looked up fast.

“But hate doesn’t win,” he exhaled“Leverage does.”

I grab the arm rest, my eyes hovering around the room as nothing of what he said was registered in my head.

“You need a visa. You have 42 days before Immigration throws you out.”

His arms were on my trembling thighs, his fingers drew circles on them.

“I need a strategist the League can’t ban. And I need the press off my back.”

“So we use each other.”

It was so cold, so logical, so Rhys and I bite my lips to stop a moan.

“Fake dating,” he declared with a sided smile “That’s the legal loophole. League can’t touch a ‘girlfriend’ sitting in my box. Can’t call it tampering if you’re dating the Captain.”

“You get 90 days. I get my season back.”

He pulled something from the drawer beside him.  

It was a paper and a pen.

He set them on the chair arm next to me.

“Sign it,” he ordered “Mate-of-Athlete Guardian Filing. 90 days. Public relationship clause. No sex. No real bond. Just paper.”

My hands squivered. "And if I say no?"

He didn’t lie just placed a smug face.

“Then Security comes back in. You go to the precinct. You get deported in 48 hours."

“And Jax keeps his story. Toxic fan. Leech. Stalker.”

Then he raised his brows, staring at me like a tiny piece which he had to sort. 

“Or you say yes.” 

I bite my lips nervous and my eyes shook their sockets.

“You come to my box. You sit beside me. You smile for cameras while you break him from the inside.”

He made sense, I could get back at Jax for what he did. For a moment, I broke out of my frightened composure.

"Imagine it, Thelma" he lowered his voice to sound convincing enough.

“Jax sees you in my jersey. Sees me not dropping my shoulder. Sees you making ME win.”

"And do you think that will move him? I mean he doesn't like me" I tamed having a feeling I might loose.

Rhyns paced like a leopard and stood behind me, his hands gripped my shoulders, not hard but more like a calming mechanism.

“He called you a leech in front of everyone.” he whispered, his lips next to my ear tickles and I curl my toes.

“Let’s make him watch you become the reason I take his head off next season.”

My chest hurt, because it was cruel, because it was cruel and it was perfect.

It was the only way out.

I turned slowly, his face was bent slightly over mine and my eyes lustfully stared at his chest.

"No sex" I swallowed like I never meant to say that. "No touching, no real_"

"No" he agreed taking his hands off and then cleared his throat. “Paper only. My wolf doesn’t get to touch you.”

The way he said wolf made my skin prickle and my wolf crashed her head.

He wasn't ours, she knew better off not to be hopeful.

My eyes followed him as he moved to a table I'd just noticed was by the window.

He took the bottle water on it and tossed to me.

"Last thing" he pointed without turning.

_“Last thing,”_ he said without turning. “Jax chose Lena in the public"

"So?" I mouthed just to be aware I was visible at least and not just observant.

"You let me choose you too in public"

He looked back at me. Over his shoulder. Those eyes looked wanting.

“Sign it, Thelma and let's ruin him together"

He was waiting for an answer while my hand twirl the pen I held.

No,” I snapped breathing hard. Rhys lifted a brow like I made the worst decision ever.

"No?”

He repeated piqued. How could I be his girlfriend, he's actually off limit, all his toxic fans would be out there pulling my hair as I wasn't even his standard.

And the fact that I couldn't stop seeing his towel. That didn't end there, dating doesn't stop my deportation.

"No!" I  forced out, pushing the paper back an inch. My fingers were numb. “I’m not signing this if I’m walking back into that hallway and getting deported in 90 days anyway.” I confessed as panic crown me.

42 days. That number was branded on my brain. 

If this was a lie, I was so done.

“You’re not," he swiftly buttress, letting out a growl.

“How do you know?” The words came out desperately but I needed him to get something. “Immigration doesn’t care who you’re dating, Captain. They care about papers." 

I felt ashamed, pathetic but I could seize this opportunity even if it was with an enemy.

"Then we give them papers.” he replied as though he made the law himself.

“Add a clause," I blurted before my wolf could stop me.

He pulled his brows together, not annoyed but just bemused like I was finally speaking his language.

“Go on.”

I stood up, my legs wobbled like I'd been hit but I had to look up at him, always up.

"I get paid"

He scoffed and then use his palm to rub his face before it connects to his jaw.

"Done" he heaved. "Just name the price"

Money wasn't a problem for him.

I stretched my palm forward, an indication I wasn't done talking.

“Two. I keep my own room. I’m not sleeping in your bed, Virek.”

“You can’t,” he said casually and my body quivered.

“What?”

Fear and cold consumed me.

He’s going to make me share a bed. I knew it.