"What did you do to your leg?" I demanded.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Too late. Tell me what happened."
"Really, Coach. It's fine."
"Then you won't mind if I take a look." I dropped to my knees on his left side and ran my hand down the back of his calf. "Is it a burning or a snapping pain?"
"Neither. Shooting."
"Worse when it bears forward weight?"
"Forward weight sends the shooting pain up my shin, not my calf."
"Turn your knee in, please." He complied. "Worse? Better? No change?"
"Better."
Damn, he had muscular calves. Perfectly sculpted and veiny. But who had that type of muscle definition by their shin bone?
"Rowan?"
Awesome. I'd just felt him up. Actually, it was pretty freakin' awesome because I'd never had my hands on this part of his body before. I pushed on the outside of his calf from his ankle, slowly up to his knee. "Have you added more cardio this week?"
"No."
"Running on a different surface? Asphalt, concrete or turf instead of treadmill?"
"Nope."
"New shoes?" When he didn't respond, I looked up at him.
"Yeah, I got new shoes. But they're the exact same brand I've been wearing. Same style, same size, same laces, same everything."
"Except they're new. With different soles. Could be a little harder. Or softer. Wider. Narrower. Without measuring, I'd say the flare by the heel is narrower than your previous pair. You're running on the outside of your foot to try to compensate. It's putting pressure on the tibialis anterior."
He crossed his arms over his chest. "If it's the shoes, then why aren't I having any issues with the right foot?"
"Because you've been favoring your right side for a year and a half since your injury. You automatically compensate for it."
"So, Coach, what's your recommendation?"
I blinked at him. "To talk to your trainers about it."
"That's it? You're a trainer."
"I'm not your trainer. Big difference. A massage would help."
"You offering?" he said huskily. "Because if you're on your knees I can think of another part of me that's in worse need of a rubdown."
My heart just . . . caught fire.
Or maybe that was my panties.
"What is it about you that has me all tied up in knots?" Jensen reached down and pulled the tie out of my hair. "You break all three of my rules." Then he slid his hand down to cup my jaw. "And for as much shit as I gave you about being a rule follower? I am too. I've never broken any of them before. Never wanted to. Until I met you." He let his hand fall to his side. "Sweetheart, get up. I've only got so much control."
I had a front-row seat to seeing how being on my knees affected him. I scrambled to my feet and took a few steps back. "I'll just go get ready."
Jensen bestowed a thorough sweep of those molten blue eyes over me. "Get ready for what?"
"Our dinner date."
"It can wait. Where's Calder?"
"Staying overnight at a friend's."
"Did you plan that?"
"Yes. After our plans fell through Friday night, I decided to make some contingency plans. Not just for one night. For the long term." I kept my eyes on his. "Spending time alone with you . . . I'm making it a priority. This isn't a onetime thing for me."
He tipped his head back to the ceiling and said, "Thank you, Jesus." Then he pinned me with his laser-sharp gaze. "Now what?"
Despite my worries that my sexual inexperience would frustrate or disappoint him, I seized the moment. "Now . . . you put your bold talk into action."
Twenty
JENSEN
Rowan conveyed exactly what I needed to hear.
Not just the promise of hot sex, but proof that she'd dealt with her doubts about us.
What a goddamned relief.
She sauntered closer with a sensuous sway of her hips.
Once we were toe to toe, I flattened my palm on the base of her throat and gently curled my fingers around her neck, feeling her pulse jump beneath my stroking thumb.
She glanced down at my hand, and then those mesmerizing hazel eyes met mine with complete trust.
Without a word, I reached behind me and opened the door.
As soon as we were locked in my apartment, I had my mouth on her. My hands on her. Greedy to touch and taste every part of her.
Rowan kissed me, her passion equally all-consuming.
"Bedroom," I growled after I broke the kiss.
"Couch."