Scoring One Night (Blue Ridge Mountain Hockey #4)

Melanie

Despite Sophia's advice two days ago about having lots of messy sex, I decided it would be best to focus on helping Aspen get back to doing what he does best: hockey.

That meant dealing with him as a physical therapist, not a friend, and definitely not a friend with benefits.

Today was his first day back since he had hurt himself last week. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. I was sweatier than a glass of iced coffee from Hard Grind on a summer day.

My heart hammered as I stepped into the therapy room. I turned my back quickly to face the door. If I were any closer to the door, I might be fired for inappropriate conduct.

Get it together, .

I turned and sucked in a breath. There he was, Aspen Rivera, standing shirtless with his muscular back to me.

I fumbled with my clipboard, nearly dropping it. Get it together, . This was just another patient. One very hot, frustratingly good-at-giving-orgasms patient who I happened to have spent an unforgettable night with.

Focus.

At the sound of me almost dropping my clipboard, he turned, flashing me a cocky grin.

"You didn’t have to remove your shirt for this session." I pointed and then stared at his chest.

Then I couldn't take my eyes off his chest. I tried, but it only made it worse. Instead of my eyes traveling up to meet his gaze, they traveled down, and down. I did manage to stop them, but not where I should be looking.

Anyplace for my gaze to be would be more preferable than where it was right now. On the bulge between his legs.

Aspen cleared his throat, causing my eyes to snap to attention.

"Right, of course," I said.

Aspen's lips curled. "I didn’t say anything."

I swallowed. This was not going according to plan. I had stayed up most of the night planning exactly what I would do today with Aspen. It involved focusing on his ankle and rarely touching him—and when I did have to touch him, it would be below the knee.

My plan was so very professional, and yet here I was, staring at his crotch.

"So, when Ryan worked here, he usually started sessions with a quick massage to warm up the muscles," Aspen continued, watching me closely.

I swallowed. "Of course. If that's your normal routine."

What did I just agree to? A message? Ugh, that was not the plan.

I made the mistake of glancing into his eyes, and what I found there didn’t help. There was something there, and it wasn’t professional at all.

Ignore the fire in those stormy eyes, .

I walked over to the counter and put down my clipboard. With my back to him, I felt more focused. Like I found the strength to lay down the rules and stick to them.

"Look, Aspen, about the message..." I stupidly turned around and everything fell apart.

He had hopped up on the table, and the way he laid there felt like he was waiting for me to get on top of him.

I quickly turned my back to him, pretending to write something down on the clipboard.

"You want me on my stomach? Get my back first?" he asked. "My right shoulder is always tight."

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a breath. When I opened them again, I realized I would have to touch him above the knee, eventually. If I wanted to last at this job, I would eventually need to give him a message where his muscles needed work.

"Yes, your shoulder first, then I am going to focus on that ankle."

I turned back and let out a breath. He had flipped onto his stomach. But my relief was short-lived as I stepped closer.

My fingers trembled as they met his warm skin. The memories flooded back in a rush—his hands in my hair, his breath hot against my neck, our bodies intertwined. I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately trying to will the images away.

My thumb pressed into his back, and Aspen groaned. The sound. How had I not accounted for noise? Hearing him react to my touch was almost as bad as touching him.

The rumble of his voice vibrated through me. We are professionals , I reminded myself. Colleagues.

So why were my nipples tightening?

The more I kneaded the tension from his body, the more tense I became. I could feel his warmth and inhaled his scent with each breath. Every nerve ending was alive, attuned to his closeness. This was a bad idea. I couldn't screw this up, no matter how strongly my body reacted to his.

I took a step back. "Okay, that's enough. Time to sit up and work on that ankle."

I didn’t wait for him to move as I went back over to the counter to control myself. I needed to focus on what needed to be done.

Grabbing the clipboard, I looked over his notes. Thankfully, the doctor ruled it a minor sprain. Hopefully, by next week, he would be back on the ice.

I had to do my job and make sure that happened. Not just for him, but for the team.

When I turned back around, I refused to look at him. My gaze was glued to the white tiles on the floor.

His bare legs hung over the edge of the table. Focus on his big toe, . There's nothing sexy about a big toe.

"My shoulder feels great. You've got some magical hands," Aspen said with a chuckle, causing me to look up at him.

Big mistake.

It was his smile that caught my eye this time. Not thick, corded muscle or the hint of a hardening cock, just a sweet, breathtaking grin.

"I like your smile." The words tumbled out before I knew what I had said.

That made his grin slowly drift away. But it was okay, because in its place were pouty lips that dared me to step closer.

Which I did.

His eyes fell to my lips, too. "I like your... everything."

But it was the way he said that last word. Everything . Like it was his last breath, and he needed me to hear it.

He leaned forward, and I knew I should step back. We were at work. This was my job. This was my dream.

But I didn’t do that. Instead, I leaned forward, too.

We were about to kiss, and all I could think about was how much I wanted to taste his lips again.

Just then, the door burst open, shattering the moment. It was Mia, cheerfully chatting about new equipment as she breezed inside. I sprang back from Aspen, mortified she had almost caught us.

I took a deep breath to steady my nerves as Mia continued chatting away, completely unaware of what she had interrupted. Aspen's eyes remained fixed on me, which caused my clit to twitch.

"So, the new massage tables should be arriving next week," Mia said brightly. "That will help streamline your sessions, ."

I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice even. "That's great. It'll be nice to have updated equipment."

I risked a glance at Aspen. His expression was unreadable, but a muscle in his jaw ticked with tension. He was just as affected as I was, despite the nonchalant air he tried to project.

"Sorry to interrupt. Just wanted to drop off a few things. Oh, and Aspen," Mia pivoted her gaze at him, "the coach wants to see you after your session with ."

I thought for sure when she turned her attention to Aspen, she was going to say she saw us almost kiss.

My shoulders sagged in relief as the door clicked shut behind her. That was so close. We were so close.

I busied myself organizing my supplies, hyperaware of Aspen's presence behind me.

"." His voice was low, tentative.

I stilled, clenching my fists to stop their trembling. "Yes?"

"About what almost happened..."

My cheeks flushed as I recalled how close we'd come to throwing everything I worked for away. Just for a kiss.

"Shouldn't have happened," I said briskly as I turned to face him. "After our session, I'm going to talk to Mia and tell her I can't work with you anymore."