Riggs (Arizona Vengeance 11)

I slam into her one last time, keep my hand between her legs, and with the other pull her up by her throat so she’s standing straight against me as I come. I keep dipping and flexing my hips, working my way deeper and deeper into her as I unload, and it’s the best fucking orgasm I’ve ever had.

Twisting me up and turning me inside out, not sure I’ll ever reach that pinnacle again, I’m sure as fuck going to try with this woman.

CHAPTER 15

Riggs

It’s amazing what a difference six weeks can make. While I’ve seen Baden here and there, the last time he and I sat at a table and shared beers was six weeks ago when we were in New York for a game. He was most comfortable in the wheelchair despite being able to walk with crutches and braces. Crowds made him too unsteady, and it wasn’t safe.

But now I stand from the restaurant table where I’d been waiting for him and can’t help but grin as he follows a hostess toward me.

No wheelchair. Only a pair of forearm crutches for extra balance and slimmed-down braces on each leg. He’s confident as he maneuvers, sometimes needing to change his body’s position and sidestep tight spaces between tables, but not once does he look off-balance. He doesn’t even look like it’s much of an effort.

I suspect the wheelchair might be in storage at this point.

Baden reaches the table, and the hostess smiles before departing. I hold back the urge to walk around the table and pull out his chair for him. I know it’s going to take maneuvering for him to do it, but I also know he’d punch me if I tried to help.

“What’s up, man?” I say to fill the silence as he focuses on sitting down. “Looks like you’re about ready to run a marathon.”

Baden snorts in amusement, and I take my seat. He removes one of the forearm crutches and balances himself as he pulls out the chair with his free hand. He turns in a shuffling, three-step movement and lowers into the chair while using the crutches to support his weight and prevent a complete flop. It’s graceful the way he moves.

Leaning slightly to the right, he’s able to slip both crutches into the empty chair between us. He puts his hands to the bottom of his seat and using mostly his torso and upper body strength, he scoots himself in.

“Fuck, that’s a lot of work,” he huffs once he’s settled. “Who knew just sitting on your ass could take that much effort?”

“You made it look easy,” I assure him.

A waitress arrives, and we request ice water while we peruse the menu. No beers today as I have a workout in a few hours, and well… Baden’s always working out to get stronger.

He’d invited me out to lunch because he’s trying to take opportunities to maneuver around the city on his own and build his confidence to do so. While his legs are indeed now communicating with his brain, they’re not at peak performance, and he’s still using a handicapped van that operates via hand controls. I know he’ll give that up one day when he has full use of his legs without the braces, but it’s a tremendous accomplishment that he drove himself here to this restaurant and walked himself through that door. He did so with his head held high, oblivious to the people staring at him. Baden is a well-recognized figure around Phoenix for not only being a member of the Cup championship team, but his injury last summer made the national news.

For the next half hour, we shoot the hockey shit. We talk about last night’s game against the Carolina Cold Fury, losing 4–2. They’re our quintessential archrivals. We beat them last year for the Cup, taking away their chances for a three-peat performance, having won the championship the prior two years. They’re at the top of their division, and we’re at the top of ours. We could be gearing up for a rematch.

Except… we played like shit last night, which is the topic of our somber discussion.

When Baden and I have fully broken down the crappy performance and what needs to improve for next game, as well as finished off our food—a turkey club for me and a huge hamburger for him—I ask him a personal question. It’s part of my efforts to be more involved in my teammates’ lives and jumping in on personal stuff is the best way to speed that along.

“Your progress has been amazing,” I say, a compliment I’ve already handed him once today. “What do the doctors and rehab folks think about where your recovery is going?”

Baden drums his fingers on the table and gives me a mirthless smile. “You mean, do they think I’ll get back on the ice again?”