Penetrate: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (Alpha Athletes) Read Free Page A

suddenly become so aware of every second of this match? Why the hell was I a fucking sentimental Olympian?
    The taller of the two Italians jumped forward, giving the ball a soft tap over the net. The rain was in my eyes, but I could see the ball was going to land inside the line if I didn’t get there and knock it back to Scott. It was the only chance we had to stop the point.
    I lunged forward, throwing my weight toward the ball, aiming my fists underneath its surface. But the sand was clumped together from the rain and I felt the twinge in my knee as I propelled my body through the air. I hit the ball as I threw myself out of bounds on Italy’s side.
    “Fuck,” I growled, pulling my knee to my chest. I rolled on my side, coating myself in wet sand. The pain was searing. I knew immediately something was wrong. My knee wasn’t supposed to feel like this.
    “Don’t move.”
    I looked up, expecting to see Eric or Scott hovering over me with concern, but neither one of them looked like they had walked off the pages of a swimsuit magazine.
    She had long blond hair that clung to her forehead in damp tendrils and green eyes that were busy studying my knee.
    “Stay still. Let me try something,” she instructed calmly. “Does it hurt if I do this?”
    She pressed her thumb along the inner ridge of my leg and I bit the inside of my lip to keep from howling out loud. I didn’t want this beautiful girl to know I was about to start crying.
    “Yeah.” I nodded.
    The game had stopped and by now the rest of the teams had moved to the side court to see what had happened. The thunder boomed overhead and I swore I saw a crackle of lightning, but I wasn’t sure any of this was real. Who in the hell was this girl?
    “Shit, Pierce.” Eric stooped to the sand. “You ok?”
    “Yeah. I’m good.” I tried to retrieve my leg, but part of me didn’t want to. I liked the long delicate fingers exploring my skin. When had we added her to our team?
    “No, he’s not.” She pressed her lips together. “I think he has a tear, but I’m not completely sure.”
    “You shouldn’t examine him.” Eric glared at her.
    I looked at both of them. What was going on? There was an icy stare between them. And then I saw her logo. She was with Team Italy. What the fuck?
    This time I was sure I saw another streak of lighting over the arena seats. Everyone jumped with the clap of thunder.
    The official blew his whistle and jumped from his seated perch by the net.
    “Match! Out! Out!”
    Eric ran over to talk to him. Apparently there was some kind of dispute about what to do during lightning situations.
    The girl began to rise to her feet.
    “Wait.” I grabbed her wrist. “What do you think it is?”
    She knelt next to me. “Your coach doesn’t want me to talk to you.”
    “I don’t really give a shit. I want to know what you think.”
    She bit her lower lip and inhaled. “Well, on the spot without a full exam, I would say you may have done something to your meniscus. But I don’t know your injury history, and I don’t know your body.”
    My eyes flared. There was a way to remedy that. I could make this easy for her.
    There was panic all around us. Fans were scrambling to get off the aluminum bleachers and the rain was like something out of a hurricane.
    “Bella?” The two Italians stood next to the bench waiting for her.
    If I was going to get my full physical exam, I needed to act quickly.
    “I’m Pierce.” I smiled. “I didn’t get your name.”
    “It’s Sierra.” She stood, then helped me to my feet, watching my knee the entire time.
    “If a guy wanted an Italian point of view on his meniscus where would he go to get that done?”
    “You can’t be serious. You heard Eric. I work for Team Italy.”
    “You seem pretty American to me.”
    By now I had stood to my full height. I towered over her.
    “I am American, but I don’t work for your team. I don’t think I can help you. I know you have a trainer.” She was busy