Page 31 of Goalie Secrets

Fuck that. I am done waiting.

“How’s your heater, Dr. Kapur?” I ask, abruptly ending their clinical talk. “Need me to take a look at it again?”

Her hands stiffen and her breath stalls. “It’s fine. All good,” she states choppily.

“Did you know we’re neighbors, Lionel?”

“I had no idea,” Lionel replies. “What a coincidence.”

“Isn’t it?” I agree with an exaggerated head tilt.

“You can barely tell, to be honest,” she says. “Our work schedules make it impossible to bump into each other.”

“I wouldn’t say it’simpossible,” I contest. Vanya’s eyes narrow to suspicious points. That’s the first time she’s looked straight at me, so I take it as encouragement.

“For instance, she had some trouble with her heater a few weeks ago. It was late at night so no repair services could come. Good thing I was around, huh?”

“Umm, OK.” The Mavericks trainer’s eyes shift between us.

“In fact, I promised I would come by and take care of the soot on the thermocouple. We’re done with practice today. What are you doing after work?”

“I’m going out,” she answers quickly.

“Where?” It’s my turn to sound suspicious.

“Dinner,” she says dismissively.

“Sounds like a fun date,” Lionel states like an idiot. When she doesn’t deny the comment, jealousy chokes me.

“Are you almost done here?” I manage to say.

“I was going to hook you up to the TENS machine,” Vanya answers. “But if you’re not up for it today—”

“I’m up for it,” I bark rudely. “I was asking Lionel.”

“Sure, I can be done,” he says with a shrug. “Thanks for inviting me for the consultation, Vanya. A few other guys from the team are scheduled with you this week. Maybe I’ll see you then. Catch you later, Jer.”

He shuts the door on his way out. The weight of silence lingers. Her back is stiff as a board. When she finally turns around, her face is flushed, and her chest is heaving. The fabric’s stretch over her breasts offers a hint of puckered nipples. My mouth waters.

Vanya rolls the machine by my side. Icy, competent fingers attempt to connect me to the machine. I wrap a hand around her wrist to keep her still while I sit up.

“Jeremy,” she sighs, still refusing to meet my gaze.

“Are we ever going to talk about what happened, Vanya?”

“We got carried away,” she states defiantly. “It can’t happen again.”

“It’s more than that and you know it.”

Vanya pulls her hand away and steps back. “I am your doctor. Sexual misconduct is a clear breach of medical standards of care. The entire center could be sued for medical malpractice.”

“Sued? Who the fuck said anything about suing? I’m not a victim here. We’re both adults.”

“And as an adult, I’ve made my decision. I’m sorry that I let things go so far.”

“You’resorry?” I whip bitterly. “For which part, Vanya? For riding my face, or for making me come while on my knees?”

“Jeremy!”