Page 11 of Penalty for Boarding

“I guess I just didn't want you to think I was a wimp. I mean, I'm supposed to be this big, tough hockey player, and here I am, nearly taken out by a few stretches.”

“Pilates is far from being ‘a few stretches’. Those exercises work all of those tiny supporting muscles that your normaltraining often neglects. Honestly, I’d be shocked if youweren’tsore.”

“You don't get it,” I sigh. “This isn't just about being sore. It's about getting old. My body's starting to betray me, Olivia. It's tellin’ me I can't keep up this pace anymore.”

“Thirty-seven is hardly old,” she says, her voice soft as she steps closer to me and places a hand on my arm.

“It is in professional hockey. I’m practically ancient.”

She lets out a heavy breath and looks me square in the eyes. “So what you want to do? Roll over and quit? Or keep showing those guys you’re just as great as you always were, that you still have years left in you?”

I smile at her attempt to lift me up. She’s obviously way better at her job than I am at the moment, because I have to admit, this is kinda working.

“Years? Who are we talking about here, doc? Me, or you?” I ask, my tone laced with playful teasing.

She rolls her eyes, her smile barely concealed. “You, of course. You’re the one facing the existential crisis, not me.”

“Existential crisis? I’m just facing my own mortality, that’s all.”

“Because you’re so ancient?” she retorts, her voice light and teasing as she steps in front of me and runs her hand over the front of my shirt. “I’m of the opinion that time has been incredibly kind to you. You’ve gotten hotter, andhotterwith age.”

I lean in, feeling her warmth against me. “Really?” I ask, my voice husky. “You think I’m hot?”

“Absolutely,” she whispers, her breath hot against my lips. “I’ve been watching you play your entire career, and you’re definitely…scorching hot.”

“Well, in that case.” I run my fingers over her soft skin, savoring the feeling of her under my touch. “Maybe I shouldkeep playing for another ten years or so. Wouldn’t want to go backward in your eyes.”

She laughs, a soft, seductive sound that pools warm in my groin. “With me on your side, you could play for however long you want,” she says. “I’ve got all the tricks for keeping the body primed for excellence. You’ll just have to listen to me.”

“Oh, I’m listenin’, doc. I’d like to see these tricks up close,” I murmur, lowering my head to hers and brushing our lips together.

“You have no idea how much I want to show you,” she breathes, wasting no time in closing the distance between us and taking my lower lip between hers and sucking gently.

I have zero patience and quickly grab the back of her head, tugging her hair and deepening the kiss. Olivia responds eagerly, her tongue sliding against mine as her hands roam over my chest and shoulders. The pain in my muscles fades to the background as desire takes over, every nerve ending alive with the sensation of Olivia pressed against me. I groan into her mouth, my hands sliding down to her hips to pull her closer. If I had the strength right now, I’d lift her onto this counter and have my way with her, but I settle for pushing her back against the cool granite, my body pinning hers in a way that feels just the right amount of possessive.

Olivia breaks the kiss, her breath coming in short pants as I unbutton that cardigan of hers and push it off her shoulders, my fingertips trailing down her skin as I slide it down her arms. She looks up at me with hooded eyes. “You know, I could…help you with those sore muscles.”

I raise an eyebrow as I place her cardigan on the counter. “Oh yeah? And how exactly would you do that, doc?”

Olivia trails her fingers down my chest. “Well, as a sports medicine specialist, I happen to be quite skilled in therapeutic massage. Especially when it comes to helping athletes recover.”She lifts up on her toes, lowers her voice as she whispers in my ear, “And I promise you, I’m very thorough.”

A slow grin spreads across my face as I consider her offer. “A massage from Dr. Angelo herself? How could I possibly refuse?”

OLIVIA

The sight oftheCalvin Barrett grinning at me over his shoulder as he leads me toward his bedroom is enough to make me want to change the goal of this massage to an internal one for myself. I’m so turned on by this man, and the heated way he’s looking at me isn’t helping.

“How do you want to do this?” he asks when we’re standing at the foot of his bed and any professional thoughts I might have had have evaporated into dust. All I can think about is that I’m about to put my hands all over his naked body. Yum.

I clear my throat and force my eyes up to his. “I need you to get undressed and lie face down on the bed.” My voice comes out all breathy, but I try to inject some more calm as I gesture toward his ensuite and add, “I assume I'll find some lotion or oil in there.”

Calvin grins at me, his eyes dark and playful. “You will. But you know, doc, if you just wanted to get me naked and go through my medicine cabinets, all you had to do was ask. I'd have happily obliged.”

I roll my eyes, trying to hide the smile that's tugging at my lips as I lean into his ensuite and grab the towel that’s hangingon the rack. “This isn't that kind of massage, Calvin. Cover your bits.”

He snatches the towel out of the air as soon as I toss it to him.

“Yes, ma'am,” he says with a wink, his fingers already reaching for the hem of his shirt. I quickly turn and head into the bathroom, not trusting myself to watch him undress without pouncing on him.

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