Page 82 of Major Penalty

I reach for my laptop, trying to pull myself back together.

“I’ve got your results right here,” I say, keeping my eyes on my screen, trying to avoid looking up at him. I don’t know how to act around him right now. Should I be all business? Or should I show him how I missed him?

“You have a contusion on the iliac crest, usually caused by a hard blow. It’s very painful, but nothing’s broken, thankfully.” I keep talking, thankful to have a topic of discussion. But there’s another topic gnawing at me. I want to kiss him, feel him again, ask him if he missed me like I missed him.

“Yeah, Mathews told me,” he says, nodding at my screen. “Before he threw me out of the building and ordered me to take two weeks off.”

I glance at his hip, still covered by his black sweatpants, immediately remembering the last time I touched it, the feel of his muscles under my hands.

“Are you still in pain?” I ask, my voice quieter now.

“Pain’s almost gone,” he admits, stretching his long leg in front of him with a small smirk. “I have you to thank for breathing down my neck about it.” He says it like a joke, but there’s a soft, appreciative edge to his voice.

“Your coach and Dr. Mathews would’ve figured it out sooner or later,” I huff out a nervous laugh. “I can’t take the credit.”

“I’m giving it to you anyway,” he says with a playful smile.

There’s so much I want to say. So much I should say. But I still don’t know him enough to be certain he won’t pull away from me.

“Do you mind if I take a look to see how it's healing?” I ask, pushing my laptop away. The way he's looking at me, that intense, dark gaze, makes it harder to breathe, let alone think straight.

Ares nods his head slowly, that little smirk still tugging at his lips.

“Please do,” he says, his voice deep and smooth.

“You’ll have to pull your pants down,” I say before I can stop myself. I almost choke on my words. My face is on fire as I force myself to meet his eyes. I’m struggling to hold it together, biting my lips to keep the heat from crawling up my throat, but he sees it.

His eyes never leave mine as his lips curl into an amused smirk.

“How are you going to look at my hip from over there, little thing?” His voice is low, amused, and just so damn confident. “Come closer.” His tone makes my entire body tingle.

I try to control my breathing, but it’s almost impossible. I take a small step toward him, almost feeling drawn in by the pull of his presence. My thighs clench together in a reflex, and it only makes things worse.

I have to crane my neck to look up at him, and the way he looks down at me has my heart racing faster.

“Tell me what to do, doc.” Ares tilts his head, his gaze never leaving mine, and I realize he’s waiting for me to be the one to make the first move.

I smile, almost too coy. So be it.

“I need to see the area,” I reply, my voice steady but a little too shaky for someone trying to play confident.

He knows exactly what he’s doing. He wants me to take the lead. Wants to watch me come undone again—and I’m already halfway there.

I step closer, my fingers grazing his chest and brushing against his abs.

“Show me,” I murmur, my lips curving into something between a smile and a challenge.

His eyes lock on mine, but the shift is undeniable. His body tenses, his jaw tightening.

I slide my hand down his chest, my fingers trailing along his abs through the fabric, watching how his breath catches. I love watching him react to me.

Ares’ gaze darkens, but this time, it’s me taking in the sight of him, not him studying me. My heart pounds as my hands trace the outline of his muscles through his T-shirt.

His pupils flare, but he doesn’t stop me. Instead, he leans in, his voice low and teasing.

“I think you’re the one who wants to look, little thing.”

“I’m not so little,” I tease, my voice too steady for the heat rushing through me. “Now, show me,” I add, tugging on his shirt.

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