Page 140 of Over the Line

Sighing, I leaned against the kitchen island and kneaded the back of my neck. “I’m… sore.”

“Something tells me ‘sore’ is an understatement.” He stepped closer and put his hand on my waist, but he didn’t make any move to kiss me or anything. “Are you okay?”

For the past almost-twenty-four hours, I’d been fending off that question, insisting I was fine to medical staff, coaches, and teammates alike.

Face to face with Garrett, I was poised to make that same insistence again, but I just… couldn’t do it. Because I was tired of lying? Because I was just tired? I didn’t even know. What I did know was that looking into Garrett’s eyes, there was nothing I could do but tell the truth.

“In terms of being injured? Yeah, I’m fine. It’s… nothing’s broken or torn or…” I waved my hand, the gesture heavy as moving my arm tugged at that one extra bitchy muscle. “In terms of pain, I’m…” I rubbed my eyes and sighed. “Not really, no.” As soon as the words were out, I deflated. “I’m sorry. I know you came here so we could⁠—”

“Liam.” He carefully tipped up my chin and looked in my eyes. “Yes, obviously I want to get naked and fuck until we both need to go on injured reserve. But not while you’re in pain.”

My shoulders sank as much as the stiff muscles would allow. “But we’ve been wanting…”

“I know.” He cupped the back of my neck and pressed the softest, sweetest kiss to my lips. “I’m just glad to be back in the same space as you. The sex—we’ll get there.”

I stared into his eyes, silently begging him to mean that.

His smile made my knees weak. “Baby, I’m pushing fifty.” He drew the pad of his thumb along my cheekbone. “I may not be a pro athlete, but I promise there will be nights when I’m the one whose mind is willing but body is weak.”

I swallowed. “Yeah?”

“Mmhmm. It’s okay.” His brow pinched. “What do you need?”

The words “both of us, naked and pain-free” were on the tip of my tongue, but I knew what he was really asking: what did I need that he could give me right then?

I chewed my lip. “Honestly?”

Garrett nodded, the earnestness in his expression making the guilt burn even hotter.

I tried to roll my sore shoulders, which made me wince. “What I really need is to get in the hot tub and just soak until things don’t hurt anymore.”

“Okay.” He gave another nod. “Then let’s do that.”

I grimaced. “It, um… It won’t be anything exciting. When I need it for”—I gestured at myself—“I turn the temperature way up. So nothing below the belt is going to work, you know?”

To my surprise, he smiled and kissed me softly. “As long as it makes you feel better, it’s fine by me.”

“Yeah?”

“Of course.” He watched me, and then horror filled his expression. “Do you really think I’d want you to knuckle through pain so we can fool around?” Shaking his head, he whispered, “This isn’t hockey, Liam. No one’s expecting you to play through pain.”

I chewed my lip.

Sighing, he gently reeled me in and let me lean against him, which felt amazing. So did the way he stroked my hair as he whispered, “We’ll get back to that. I’m not worried about it.” He kissed my forehead. “I’m just happy to be back in the same space as you.”

I closed my eyes. “Even when I’m a mess?”

His laugh was a soft breath into my hair. “Yes. Even when you’re a mess.” Gently drawing back, he looked in my eyes. “Come on. Let’s get in the hot tub and see if it helps.”

I nodded a little, as much as my sore neck allowed, but I didn’t move. I gnawed the inside of my cheek.

He tilted his head. “What?”

“I, um…” I took a breath and looked in his eyes. “I can also, uh… I can take something. It won’t fuck me up or anything, but it might make me tired.”

His lips parted, renewed horror filling his expression. “You… You have something you can take? That’ll help?”

“Yeah. Muscle relaxers and Percocet. From, uh, when I…” I gestured at the shoulder I’d separated earlier in the season.