Page 123 of Can't Always Get What You Want

I shake my head sagely. “We’ll have to administer a very thorough,veryhands-on treatment.”

His eyes flare with mock panic. “Is it…invasive?”

“Extremely,” I say, biting my lip. “Side effects may include heavy breathing, loss of clothing—and moaning.”

Lots and lots of moaning…

“This keeps getting worse and worse,” he whispers. “What’s the recovery time?”

“Unknown.” I run my fingers lightly down his chest, dragging my nails over his pec muscles. “Depends on patient compliance, which you already warned is terrible.”

“But…but...I’m a good listener!”

I quirk a brow. “Are you?”

“Yup.” He nods. “Especially when naked.”

“Perfect,” I say, grabbing the waistband of his sweatpants. “Because I’m about to check your reflexes.”

He blinks. “Is that code word for naked?”

“It is now.”

He grins but lets me push the waistband lower. “Wait—shouldn’t you take my blood pressure first?”

I drag my nails down the lines of his abdomen, smirking. “Oh, babe. I already am.”

He makes a strangled sound, which I take as medical confirmation to proceed.

“I’m going to need you to rate your pain on a scale from one to ten,” I say with a stern expression.

“Zero,” he says immediately. “I feel incredible.”

I cock my head. “Not even atinyache?”

“Well—my heart hurts a little.”

I pause. “What?”

Is he being serious or are we still in character? Is his heart ache a good thing or a bad thing?

Luca is smiling but his eyes aren’t playing around anymore.

“You know…” his voice trails off. “From all the pining I did for you knowing I couldn’t date you.”

Pining for me.Oh my God.

Mavis tingles.

He lifts one brow. “Yearsof sexual tension. Sleepless nights. Unfulfilled longing. You know—the usual symptoms. I’m more than just some guy who knows how to handle a puck.”

I chew on the inside of my cheek, unsure what to do with my hands or what to say. We went from teasing to be serious in a matter of seconds.

“You are.” I press my palm against his cheek. “And I love that about you.”

Luca clears his throat like he’s trying to pull the moment back from the brink of actual feelings—which is hilarious, because the feelings are already here, setting up camp and roasting marshmallows.

“Well,” he breaks the silence. “As my doctor, I feel like I should mention my shirt suddenly feels super restrictive.”

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