Read Online Playing for Keeps/Body Check (Rules of the Game) by Heather Peters - Free Book Online

TEN
     
     
    Rehab was a bitch. Nick completed the last of his exercises, and cursed a blue streak to no one. He realized that he had to hurt to heal, but his shoulder was screaming for mercy, and after 100 shoulder lifts, he was smelly, sweaty, and mighty grumpy. But he wasn’t done yet. Next, the treadmill.
    Deep incline, an hour. Fuck.
    The ipod in his ear pumped out an eclectic mix of the Grateful Dead, Eminem, and Metallica to get his juices going. He'd decided not to join a gym, because Jen and Gracie had put together a great home work out room. And it would give him more time with Jenna. Even though she worked long hours at the café, he enjoyed knowing he was there every night when she came home.
    After his physical therapist left the house each day, he'd work out on his own. He performed a hundred fifty crunches, lifted weights, and then worked on his overall abs and pecs to keep in shape.
    He'd gained about ten pounds since he'd been here. Jenna's food was incredibly decadent, and Nick had given himself a pass by sampling every delectable crumb.
    After two weeks of no sex, great food and feeling the hint of healing in his shoulder, it was back to work to lose those extra pounds. He decided to step up the treadmill by running at least five miles tomorrow. That should do the trick.
    Jenna usually put in a twelve hour day at the cafe, but she had the night off tonight, and he was going to try and get her alone, and spend some quality time with her. His self imposed celibacy was starting to torture him. Nick had an almost constant erection since he'd walked into this house, and it was driving him insane. Every time Nick touched her, she smiled, usually touched his hand or face, and backed away. She had to know how he felt about her. And tonight was the night.
    He was going nuts. He needed her touch, her warmth, her body.
    Nick brought himself to the limit of his endurance and worked out till he dropped from exhaustion.
    It was the only way to ease his constant arousal every time he thought of Jenna.
     
    ***
     
    When Jenna entered the house that night, she immediately sought out Nick. Gracie was at the café, and wouldn’t be home until after one a.m.
    It was good to have a night off. Jenna slipped off her sneakers and socks, wiggled her toes, and headed toward the dining room.
    How natural it had felt in the past few weeks to have him close.
    Don’t get used to it , she reminded herself.
    But she felt good tonight, and wasn’t going to dwell on the past. She wanted his company and wasn’t going to restrict herself from talking to Nick and enjoying it.
    The tantalizing scent from the two brick oven pizzas she'd made in the café immediately filled the rooms with melted cheese, spices and tomato sauce. Placing the pies on the dining room table, she decided to take a shower, then call Nick and they'd share the pizza.
    Hurrying into her bedroom, she heard Nick coming from his room, and froze. He was wearing a towel around his waist and one around his neck.
    Now what, Jenna? Make up your mind. He's inviting you to touch him, take him.
    "Do I smell pizza?"
    "You do." She moved closer to him. "So if you're hungry, just let me…."
    He lassoed his towel around her neck and pulled her in.
    "Oh I'm hungry alright," he murmured, whispering and nibbling at her ear.
    Jenna's heart beat so loud, it was a wonder he didn’t hear it.
    He smelled of soap and shampoo, and his chest was muscular, tight, and ripped.
    His shoulder was a little red. A small scar was visible, but he didn’t look any the worse for wear.
    "What do you say we have a banquet of our own, hmm?"
    Run, Jenna, don’t do it. This will only make things harder once he goes back to California.
    Tell him….but only one word came out of her mouth.
    "Yes…"
    He backed her into her bedroom. It was late fall and already dark, lending the moon shadows to her window. Just enough light for them to see each other.
    He backed her into the bed, she felt the mattress hit