Page 10

Ruben

I awoke just before dawn with a neck ache and the press of another body wedged against me in a room I didn’t recognize. “Good morning,” Max mumbled next to me. He was sleep rumpled, his hair all over the place, but still just as cute as he’d been last night.

“How’s the knee?” I asked and was happy to see his leg was still on the pillow I’d placed under it and the latest ice pack was in place. He stretched it before bending it and looking at me.

“Better. I guess you were right,” he said.

“I guess I was. Hey, Max, about last night—” I’d never been one to shy away from tough conversations, but I wasn’t sure where we were going with this, and I didn’t want either of us to make a choice that would cost one of us his career.

“Ruben, it’s okay. If we’re meant to hook up it’ll happen,” he said, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes, and I hoped he really did understand.

“It’s not—”

He gripped the hair at the back of my head and kissed me. His tongue swirled with mine and he groaned. A noise I didn’t think I would ever get enough of and could never forget. “I know it’s not ideal that you’re the team doctor,” he said as soon as he pulled his lips away from mine. “But I want to try. I don’t want to just fuck. I mean I want to fuck, but—”

Now it was me who gripped his hair and pulled him in for another kiss. “We can try.” I shouldn’t have said it, but every part of me forced the words out of my mouth.

“I’d really like that,” he whispered.

“I want to fuck too,” I said, making him laugh. “But I’d also like to wait until you’re healed.”

“That’s probably a good idea. It feels great now, but I’m not sure how it’ll be after tonight’s game,” he said, and bent it again to test it.

“I’ll wrap it tonight and pad it more on that side. If you get hit again tonight at least you’ll have a little protection.”

“That would be great. I don’t want to take any chances. The fact I got to play one game was amazing, but now it looks like I’ll play tonight and possibly tomorrow.”

“Vanel might be okay to play by tomorrow, but definitely not tonight. So do your best. I know Coach was impressed with you last night.”

“Just Coach?” He smirked.

“Well, I thought you played spectacularly, but I might be a little biased.” I stepped closer to him and kissed him again. I thought I could probably kiss him forever and it would never be enough, but neither of us had time for that today.

“Are you sure you need to leave?” he asked and looked at me from under his lashes.

“I’m sure. You need to rest while you can, and I need to go to the arena.”

“When can I see you again?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure it happens.” I squeezed his arm and stood to leave. “Leave your leg unwrapped and ice it until you go to practice. Then like I said, I’ll wrap it for you before you go on the ice.”

“Doc?” I turned to look at him again and could see the uncertainty in his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked and stepped close enough to touch him.

“Think you could stay a little longer?” The sun was barely up, and I didn’t have to be at the arena for hours. But I knew the more time I spent with him, the harder it would be to leave. But still, I nodded yes to him.

“A little while,” I said, and the two of us settled back on his bed. I put my arm around him, and he snuggled back onto my chest where he’d been all night, and as my eyes slowly slid shut, I didn’t have it in me to worry about anything beyond this moment.

When I woke again the sun was fully up and shining through the bedroom window. Max was still asleep, and I took a moment to look at him. His nose was perfectly straight, and I wondered how he’d managed to protect it while playing goalie. His cheeks were tinged pink that I originally thought was blush, but I realized it was just his natural coloring. He was so hot. More muscular than anyone I’d ever been with before but also gentle and graceful, and definitely not afraid to take what he wanted.

“I could get used to waking up next to you,” he mumbled into my chest. I rubbed his back and held back the words agreeing with him, because if I was being honest, I’d be more than happy to wake up with him in my arms every morning.

“I should probably get going. I really need to get ready for tonight’s game,” I said before moving to the edge of the bed.

“Yeah, I should probably get up too.” He sat on the edge of the bed and stretched his arms above his head before doing a full body shiver and standing, still dressed in only his boxers. “What?” he asked when he noticed I was staring at him.

“Your body it’s—” He looked down and brushed at his chest in confusion before I climbed across the bed to stand in front of him. “Beautiful.” I leaned in and kissed him, neither of us concerned with the fact we hadn’t brushed our teeth yet and both of us still caught in the pull of attraction from last night.

“Doc, what happens after the game?” he murmured.

“What do you mean?”

“With us,” he said, once again showing me, he was not afraid to face anything.

“What do you want to happen?” I asked like the coward I was, too afraid to say what I really wanted.

“I’d love to go out with you next weekend. Maybe dinner?”

Now it was me who felt the heat of blush. “I’d like that,” I whispered.

“We only have one game and it’s nearby, so we won’t be out of town.”

“So, I guess it’s a date,” I said, and couldn’t stop myself from smiling.

“It’s a date, and possibly more,” he said before kissing me again.