Page 40 of Tough Score

"You can tell me anything you want."

"I know. You can tell me anything you want, too."

I lick my lips and then give a polite smile, which he accepts and then turns his eyes back up to the ceiling.

But the truth is, I can't tell him anything I want. Not if I want to avoid him seeing me as a virus to his long-desired career.

Hockey is what kept him sane all those years. The moment the sponsors start backing out and teams don't want to take a chance with him on the roster because of his girlfriend's father, he'll resent me, and I'll resent myself.

"Thank you for sharing that with me," I say softly. "I understand now. We'll find other ways to manage your pain, I promise."

Reeve turns his head to look at me, a small smile on his lips despite the sadness in his eyes. "You said earlier that there are other options?"

Remembering my earlier conversation with Paula, I debate how many of the options I should give him. "Yes, there are some alternative methods we could try. Things like acupuncture, meditation, aromatherapy..."

I trail off, debating whether to mention the last option Paula suggested. Reeve raises an eyebrow, noticing my hesitation.

"There's more?" he says.

I feel my cheeks warm slightly. "Well, um, there's also...sex."

His eyes widen in surprise. "Sex?"

"Yeah," I say, trying to keep my voice casual. "Some studies have shown that orgasms can help with pain management. The endorphin release acts as a natural painkiller."

Reeve is quiet for a moment, and I worry I've made things awkward. But then a small smirk tugs at his lips.

"So you're saying doctor's orders are for me to have more orgasms?" he teases. "I like that option... how do we explore it?" His eyes twinkle with amusement.

"Do you actually think that sex would work?" he asks.

"I'm not sure, but I have to admit that I'm curious."

"Just come out with it, Doc. Are you asking me to be your sexy little science experiment?"

I turn my body toward him, laying on my side to face him, my hands curling up under the pillow below my head.

"There's nothing little about you, Reeve."

"Good point. So true." He grins back at me.

His hand slips between my waist and the mattress as he hooks his arm around my back, pulling me flush against his side. My hand settles on his chest, and my leg instinctively curls over the top of his uninjured knee, maybe because being close to him comes more naturally than I'm willing to admit.

"So, we'll call it a science experiment. A one-time thing to test out the theory."

"Is that code for "no-strings-attached"? Because we both know that an experiment takes more than one time to test thoroughly, and I hypothesize that one time won't be enough." Reeve's hand slips further down my lower back until his fingertips skim teasingly at the skin above my pajama bottoms. "I'm very thorough when it comes to my research."

He pulls me closer--A shiver rolls through me as his eyes dip down to my lips.

"It shouldn't be too hard to prove. All you have to do is tell me if you're still in pain after you come inside me."

Reeve's eyes go hooded with desire instantly.

"Jesus, Keely," he says, his eyes dilating just before his lips crash against mine--the taste of need so sweet on his tongue as he gains access to my mouth--his hand dips beneath my waistband, squeezing my ass cheek and pulling me tighter against his thigh.

I moan at the feeling of pressure against my needy clit.

My body begins to grind against his leg like the desperate, sex-deprived woman that I am. A deep growl rumbles through his chest--his hand encouraging me to grind faster, harder. "That's it. Just like that."