Page 74 of Coach's Temptation

"Try to lift your arm straight out to the side," I instruct, focusing on the task at hand.

Blake exhales slowly and does as I say, his biceps flexing as he tries to lift his arm laterally. He doesn’t even get halfway before he's drawing breath sharply through his teeth.

Hunter goes still behind me, the storm in his eyes ready to break loose.

“Shit,” Blake mutters, dropping his arm back to his lap. “Okay. That one sucked.”

Hunter’s boots scrape against the tile as he moves closer, his voice low, rough as gravel. “Try again.”

I close my eyes for half a second before forcing myself to stay calm. Hunter's on the edge. I can feel it.

“Hunter.”

“I said-" His voice rises loudly, his eyes hard on Blake's. "Try. Again.”

His voice leaves zero room for argument.

Shit.

Blake glances to me, then to Hunter before he sighs and tries again.

This time, he forces his arm higher. The muscles in his shoulder jump and tremble, but he grits his teeth through it. His fingers barely reach his chin before his whole body seizes up, and he hisses with pain.

Goddamn it.

"Stop." I force myself between them, my voice sharper than Hunter's a few seconds ago. "That's enough! He'll do more damage—"

Hunter doesn't even look at me, instead, he sidesteps me and waves his hand at Blake like he's some kind of fucking magician.

"Once more, Blake."

"NO!" I push Hunter's chest, forcing him away from the treatment table. "I said stop! You're going to make it worse!"

But Hunter's already gesturing for Blake to continue, completely dismissing my presence. Blake's arm trembles as he lifts it again, and I've never wanted to strangle someone more in my life than I do Hunter right now.

Fucking asshole. Fucking asshole!!!

I step directly into Hunter’s space, cutting off his view of Blake. My pulse is hammering, heat flooding my veins.

“When I say that's enough, Coach, that means that’s enough. Don't you dare undermine me in my own field of work.”

His jaw flexes as he drops his gaze to mine, eyes sharp, hard as steel.

I can’t believe it’s the same man who I just kissed moments ago as we laughed in the kitchen, rolling around on the ground and smearing frosting on each others faces. This is the samefucking man who held me under the stars, whispering things that made my heart ache.Made me believe for the first time that I might actually stand a chance at getting my own fairytale.

But right now?

That mans gone.

He's not hearing me. Notseeingme. He's only seeing hockey. The series. The potential victory tomorrow night. The history that’s inches from his grasp.

Blake exhales sharply behind me, rolling his shoulder with a wince. “Nat, I think I can play.”

Hunter’s eyes stay locked on mine, not blinking and speaking through me to his captain. “Yeah? You think so, Maddox?”

My lip twitches through a snarl aimed right at the man staring back at me.

“Jesus Christ, are you kidding me?”

---