Page 19 of Dirty Ruck (Ruck Boys #5)

Chapter Nineteen

Chelsea

I ignored the looks as I stepped down carefully into the warm water. I was used to men staring at me like that. Admiring my body. Often when wearing a lot less than a swimsuit.

As long as they continued to behave professionally, it didn't bother me to have them look. Besides, I knew none of them would try anything anyway. Even if I wasn't involved with so many of the men on the team, there were other staff here, including Doctor Skinner.

"Mr Ramsey has kindly agreed to let you sit in on his session," Skinner was saying. "He's been working on easing minor knee discomfort and the levels of anxiety that come with playing sports at a professional level."

I reached the bottom of the shallow pool and bobbed over to Ramsey.

"Thanks for letting me watch," I said softly.

He leaned in and whispered. "Always happy to get wet with you."

I smiled and whispered back, "Don't be inappropriate with a member of the medical team."

"Nothing inappropriate. You're my girlfriend." He straightened up as Skinner looked at both of us, eyes narrowed.

"As I was saying,” Skinner continued, “you're all familiar with the traditional types of aqua therapy. Using the water as resistance while taking the pressure off muscles. The benefits on players’ mental health is something I know we're all passionate about."

He looked around those gathered, as though daring them to disagree with him. Of course, no one did. Nor would they.

Instead, we agreed, vocalising with a murmur that passed through the handful of people gathered.

Skinner nodded to me and bobbed to the other side of Ramsey. "We're going to put out our arms and Mr Ramsey will lie back, letting us support him in the water." He nodded to both of us.

I held out my arms, mimicking him, while Ramsey relaxed, floating on his back.

"This is nice," Ramsey said.

"Close your eyes," Skinner said.

Ramsey did as he was asked.

At the same time, a shiver passed through me.

It would be all too easy for Skinner to press a hand down on Ramsey's face, pushing him under the water.

If the people gathered around us were working for Skinner and King, they might make no move to stop him.

They might even help, because I sure as hell had no intention of standing here and letting him kill one of my boyfriends.

"Is there a problem, Doctor Miller?" Skinner asked.

My eyes snapped to him. "Of course not. I was thinking how nice it would be to have nets to lie on in the water. Something that would support weight, and allow the players to do this if there aren't others present."

I wasn’t thinking that, but I gave myself a pat on the back for coming up with it on the fly.

"I like that idea," Ramsey said before Skinner could respond. "This is good too." He kept his eyes closed the whole time.

"Indeed," Skinner said. "However, that is not the point of this therapy. Doctor Miller, kneel down in the water and place your arm under his neck. Take hold of his opposite arm, as you might if bathing a baby."

I knelt and did as he asked, while he stepped back from us. I was supporting Ramsey now, while the rest of his body floated gently.

"Good, now swivel your upper body and arm in the water, taking him slowly in a semicircle around you," Skinner directed.

Careful to keep my grip, I did as he asked, moving Ramsey slowly all the way to my left, then back all the way to my right.

"This is nice," Ramsey said. The sides of his mouth twitched upward.

"Shhh, relax," Skinner told him. "Let the motion be the only thing in your mind."

The sides of Ramsey's mouth twitched again, but he pressed his lips together and relaxed a little more on my arm.

"Good, now remove your hand from his arm and support him only with yours," Skinner directed.

I glanced at him for a moment, but did as he instructed. I wasn't able to move Ramsey as much, and I had to go slower, but I guided him with a small amount of touch while still keeping his head out of the water.

Thankfully it was him I was doing this with. I suspected Jay wouldn't like it, and the others would resist giving up control. Except for Dallas. He'd be all for it. Frost too, if he could stop making jokes and laughing.

"Now, don't stop your movements," Skinner said. "Place one hand on his shoulder and let the opposite rest under one knee."

Without losing rhythm, I followed his instructions, supporting Ramsey's leg while his other dropped deeper under the water.

I didn't know about his mental health, but this was doing wonders for mine. The movement was almost hypnotic and the water deliciously warm.

Was there room at our new house to add a pool like this? We could all take turns practising the Watsu method on each other. Not to mention all the other aqua therapy methods people had developed. We might even develop some of our own.

"Very good," Skinner said. "Now place your arm under both his knees. Then bring them up slowly towards his face and down again."

I felt like I was holding a large, muscular baby, but Ramsey was so relaxed by now, he gave me no resistance. Still, a few of these would be good exercise for me.

"Combine the rotation with this accordion technique," Skinner said. "Start slowly, it may take time to coordinate the movements."

He wasn't wrong there. I had to focus on folding and unfolding Ramsey before I could go back to swishing him slowly back and forth. I hadn't realised aqua therapy took quite so much concentration. We might both fall asleep after this.

"Don't lose your rhythm," Skinner said. "Get your accordion movements more accurate, rather than the rotation. You don't need to rush. This isn't the dance floor."

I managed a smile while forcing myself to concentrate harder. This was definitely going to take some practice, but I could definitely see the benefit of it. This would be a fabulous way to de-stress.

We continued like that for a few minutes before Doctor Skinner stepped in to take over and demonstrate some more complicated techniques.

I watched carefully, following his movements like I was still supporting someone.

Fortunately for everyone, he made no attempt to drown Ramsey or anyone else.

After about twenty minutes, he nudged Ramsey's legs down toward the bottom of the pool and stepped away from him.

"I trust you feel less tense than when you entered the water?"

"If I was any more relaxed, I'd fall asleep." Ramsey knelt in the water and rolled his shoulders. "Not gonna lie, I thought that was weird to start with. But it was good. I'd do it again. Thanks."

"It looks like I need to do some more studying so I can be certified to do that myself," I said.

I didn't mind one bit; I loved learning. And the obvious boost to Skinner's ego was clear to see. This time, we didn't have to fake being on his side. I'd love to learn more of this and all the other techniques. A person couldn't know too much.

"I'm happy to give you recommendations," Skinner said. "Aquatic therapy is the future."

Why did he have to be on the wrong side? I could learn a ton from him, and I'd be happy to do it. And work closely with him, to include more and more players in this program. That would be so much nicer than thinking he wanted to kill us, or knowing there may come a day where we'd have to kill him.

Right now, that seemed like both a million miles away and a waste.

"I'll do more," Ramsey said. "I'll tell the other guys too. Storm might loosen up after a session like that."

That was hopeful, but I was willing to try. We could even work up to Storm and Atlas supporting each other's weight in the water. That would be the ultimate test of trust.

"The whole team would benefit," Skinner said. "You may go." He nodded to both of us before moving away as a couple of other players stepped into the pool to run laps down the lane on one side.

Ramsey's eyebrows twitched up at the curt dismissal, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he placed his hand on my lower back and led me to the steps and out of the pool.

"That was nice." He lowered his hand, but the look on his face suggested if we weren't surrounded by people, he'd peel the swimsuit off me and fuck me here and now. The front of his board shorts was tented slightly, his erection getting the better of him for a few moments.

"Yeah, it was," I agreed. I stepped over to pick up my towel and wrap it around myself. "It's nice to forget about things for a while. Just enjoy the water and all that. They could do with piping some music in here though."

He grinned. "Some loud rock would be just right."

I snorted. "I was thinking something along the lines of classical music or ballads, not rock, but whatever floats your…body."

"I really would fall asleep then." He snatched up his own towel and dried his face. "I need something loud to keep me awake."

"There is that, I suppose. Storm or Atlas would probably prefer something loud too."

I couldn't quite imagine either of them floating to the sounds of Mozart or Beethoven. On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt either of them to try. They might decide they liked it.

"I better go and get changed and get back to the infirmary," I said. "I have a few appointments this afternoon."

"I'm going to hit the gym," Ramsey said.

I frowned at him. "Haven't you worked out already?" He did a workout at home before coming here for training, then did another workout in the pool before the relaxation therapy session. Now he wanted to exercise again? I was starting to worry about the extent he was overdoing it.

"I still have energy to burn off," he said, but his eyes were averted.

"Ramsey—" I started.

"I'm okay," he said before I could get very far. "I just like to work out, okay?"

One hand holding my towel closed, I held up the other in a conciliatory gesture. "All right. Just don't overdo it, or you risk injuring yourself." I knew he knew that, but he had me concerned and I had to say something.

"I won't," he assured me. He lowered his voice and added, "I love you."

"I love you too." I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and a smile before he hurried off to do another round of exercise. I didn't know how he had the energy after relaxing for as long as he had. I'd be ready for a nap.

I watched Otis Skinner work for a while longer before slipping out of the pool area.

The moment the cooler air hit my skin, I was snapped back to alert. Like it or not, Skinner was the enemy and I had to be careful. Especially when two people were shot in my proximity.

I'd do whatever I could to prevent a third.