Page 143 of My Pucking Crush

We accept our trophy for this round. When I lift it, my game health fails and my body screams in pain. I can taste those ten days off in bed. With Luca.

He stands on the sidelines with the other agents, watching me, smiling.

The postgame events unfold as usual, champagne showers in the locker room and then interviews. I’m usually the center of attention, being asked about my game, but the questions for this win are very different.

Why did Jake Quinn attack you?

Are you filing a complaint with the league?

Are you pressing charges?

I have mixed feelings about Jake, but I saw his situation through Luca’s eyes. How he too married a woman out of protest. But has children he loves. There’s no doubt in my mind Luca would have hurt someone innocent to keep his son.

A child...

Does he want another one? Could he bear that? A question for another day.

When I remove my uniform, Damien Carter is the first one at my side. “Jesus, man. What happened? Did Quinn do this?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Got into a little troubleyesterday.”

“Coach Beck let you play like this?” Carter hisses, showing loyalty to me.

“He didn’t know. I hid it.” I pull Carter aside. “Are you okay?”

“Me?” He grins. “I’m great.”

“Anyone special?”

“Maybe.” He winks and helps me undress.

After, we walk to the showers completely nude, and there’s not an ounce of awkwardness between us. But I look up and Luca is standing there. In a towel.

We’re breaking all kinds of rules. I guess Duncan, the other security agent who protected me with Luca, let him into the locker room.

“Excuse me, that man belongs to me.” Luca smiles at Carter.

Damien raises his hands and saunters to the other shower stall. The idea of Luca seeinghimnaked pinches my heart, but Luca’s eyes stay on me.

My eyesgo south when he drops the towel.

“What can I do?” he purrs.

Fuck me...

It’s all I think about. It’s all I want.

“Wash my hair? I really can’t lift my arms right now.”

Luca steers me into the far stall and turns on the faucet. The hot water initially stings my sore muscles, but melts into blinding pleasure. Luca presses the shampoo dispenser and runs his hands through my hair. His bulging biceps thrill me, and those thick tattooed fingers feel like heaven against my scalp. All the pain fades away.

My body is fine-tuned. It will come around no matter what by the next round. But Luca feeds my soul and heals my heart.

“When we get home, we’re getting you a masseuse,”Luca says softly. “And a PT guy to work through these injuries. You have two rounds left.”

Those ten days until round three just got shorter.

“A masseuse?” I ask.

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