Page 103 of Opening Strain

“I agree.” She scoots away, pulling the blanket totally off my body. I don’t bother to hide my morning wood. After all, she’s the cause.

“No pressure, but I need to get ready to head out. Will you be joining me?”

Her naked shoulders square. “What you said yesterday makes sense. Now is actually a good time for me to get away and work on your PT, since my two clinics basically run themselves and the third one is only in development. Angie and King can scope out a fourth location for me.”

My heart races. “So you’ll come?”

She holds up her hand. “Whoa. I’m not ready to commit, just pointing out the facts.”

“All of which urge you to join me on tour.”

“I still need to talk with my employees about it. Especially Court. Courtney. She might be willing to shoulder more duties if I’m away. Not to mention having a big discussion with Ma. Nothing’s a done deal, but I’m more inclined than not to join you. Your doctor did prescribe PT while you’re on tour.”

“He did. He seemed impressed with you, by the way. He appreciated your initial diagnosis, which you did without any machines,might I note.” I run a finger down her bare arm. “What did he say to you when he pulled you out of the office yesterday?”

She waves her opposite palm, not disturbing my fingers. “Nothing exciting. Mainly medical stuff, prognosis, exercises, that sort of thing. He seemed impressed you’re not taking the meds.” I shake my head, and she continues, “I get it. Thank you for your dedication to the exercises and for powering through them without artificial assistance.”

I’m done talking about the doctor. Who said I can’t have sex for another thirteen days. All I want is Jenna’s agreement to be with me on tour. Well, and to sample more of her delicious wares.

“When will you have your final decision?” I leave in a few hours and want her at my side.

“Probably a couple of days.”

Thud. “I’ll be gone by then.”

“There are such things as airplanes. I can meet up with UC wherever you are.” She pauses. “Assuming that’s my decision.”

Days. I don’t want to wait so long for her to be back in my arms. “What if I can’t wait that long?”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” She taps my shoulder. “Promise me you’ll keep up your exercises, no matter what.”

“You know I will if you’re riding my ass to get them done.”

“Bennett.”

I don’t wait. I close the remaining distance between us and we kiss like never before. She hasn’t agreed yet, but I know she’s going to come with me. We’ll tour the world together—I’ll rock stadiums, and she’ll rock my world. Once she fixes this muscle pull, which protests its awkward position. I separate from her and adjust my leg. Her eagle eyes land on me.

“Hurts?”

“Slightly.” I wait a beat. “Maybe a three.”

She stands, wrapping the blanket around her like a toga. “Let’s do a set of exercises before you have to get on the helicopter, Rock Star. We’ll take a shower after, and you’ll be ready to leave.”

I let her nickname for me pass. Rather, I zero in on the magic word. “We’lltake a shower?”

“Separately.”

“We’llsee about that.”

Together, we go into the gym and she oversees my PT regimen. Because I already was in my shorts and nothing else, I do the exercises half naked. Jenna, although again in her scrubs from last night, doesn’t seem to mind.

I lie on the weight bench while she gets another ice pack. These exercises are challenging, but they’re making things better. Can’t wait until PT is over and I get to have Jenna all to myself for my own wicked reasons. Until then, I’ll take her however I can get her.

She returns and the damn ice is put on my thigh. “While you let this sit, I’m going to take a shower.”

As she’s walking away, I grasp her fingertips and tug. She willingly returns to my side. “A kiss.”

Without protest, she gives me a sweet kiss. I let her leave, savoring how her lips covered mine. This was the first time she initiated a lengthy kiss, even if I did demand it. Progress.

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