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Concussion Protocol

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A sweet and spicy short story by Rebecca Rathe

He's a ten, but he's my ex-boyfriend's straight teammate and my patient.

Rugby Player & Nurse
Ex Boyfriend's Friend
Bi Awakening

69 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2025

106 people are currently reading
548 people want to read

About the author

Rebecca Rathe

28 books1,070 followers
Deliciously dirty, delightfully neurotic, ratchet mess of a daydreamer.

See www.rebeccarathe.com for a full list of books, social media, and trigger warnings.

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5 stars
559 (38%)
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541 (36%)
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301 (20%)
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55 (3%)
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12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
Profile Image for BelleLovesRomance.
349 reviews272 followers
August 12, 2025
⭐️ 5/5 — "Straight" rugby player meets sunshiney nurse... two boners later, he's not so straight anymore. 🤭
🌶 3/5 — Hot enough to blush and intimate enough to sigh dreamily. Perfect blend of filthy and tender. 💘

This little gem is the perfect palate cleanser—fast, flirty, and filthy in just the right ratio. It's like a shot of espresso with whipped cream... smooth going down but still makes your heart race. Even though it's a blink-and-you're-done read, the author still serves up delicious tension, banter, and chemistry that feels earned. 💖✨️

📖 The Premise 📖

Jon, a "straight" rugby player with a fresh concussion, ends up in the care of Shane, the ER nurse who just so happens to be his teammate's ex. Thanks to the pain meds, Jon can’t stop calling Shane pretty… and then pops a boner while getting dressed. 🍆

Straight? Yeah, sure, bro. Let’s see how long that lasts. 😏👀

🏈💊 The MCs 🏈💊

Shane — The ultimate caretaker with a heart of gold and a bit of sass, wrapped up in bubbly, radiant energy. He’s sweet, patient, and nurturing in a way that makes everyone around him feel safe—but also quick with a playful jab to keep you on your toes. Basically? He’s sunshine with a medical license. 🌞🩺

Jon — A rugby player with a biteable peach and abs for days, plus a heart that’s as big as his tree-trunk thighs. He’s a walking green flag—gentle giant energy with just enough blushy-boy charm to keep you hooked. Watching his bi-awakening unfold is addictive—one minute he’s “straight,” the next he’s happily wrapped around Shane and rethinking everything. 🍑💚

🌳 The Delicious Pining and the Adorable Fumbling by Jon the Green Flag Gentle Giant 🌳

Quote:
"I guess you'll just have to stick around and take care of me some more. Like I said, I do meet all your criteria.” I flex my thighs and waggle my eyebrows for good measure.
-
💭 This man flirts like he’s testing the water with one toe—then immediately dives headfirst into the deep end without realizing it. Shane thinks that Jon is joking while I’m over here screaming HE’S NOT!!! 😫

Quote:
"I want to tell him no, that I need him to stay and take care of me some more… Because he intrigues me and makes me feel warm and gooey inside. And hard on the outside."
-
💭 Peak pining. Peak honesty. Peak "boy, you are so down bad and you don’t even know it yet." The warm and gooey inside, hard on the outside line? Tattoo it on my soul. 🤌🏻

💘 The Ultimate I'm Gay For You Scene 💘

Quote:
Shane: "Have you ever been with a man, or fooled around with another guy?"
Jon: "Never wanted to before," I say, my voice raspy with nerves. God, I sound pathetic. "Not until I saw you."
-
💭 And there it is, babes—the exact moment Jon’s straight card spontaneously combusted. You can practically hear the bi panic and horny devotion in his voice. If that’s not the most honest, heart-thudding confession you'll ever read—I don’t know what is. 🤷🏻‍♀️

🌶 The Spice 🌶

A solid medium heat—steamy enough to get your pulse racing, but still in service to the romance. There’s chemistry, there’s heat, and there’s enough “holy shit” moments to make you grin at your e-reader like a weirdo. 😏

It's not just explicit—it's intimate. The sex is not just sex, it's heat wrapped in tenderness, and I ate it up like it was my last meal. 😋❤️‍🔥

🏁 The Ending 🏁

Full-circle perfection. Big win on the field, even bigger win in the bedroom, and an "I love you" + moving-in proposal that made me want to squeal and throw rice. 💞🏡🌾

It's soft, satisfying, and just the right amount of swoon. It’s got the perfect “awww” factor without being too saccharine, and the final scene ties everything up in a warm, fuzzy bow. 🥹🎀

Quote:
“I want you to move in with me. I want to wake up every morning with you next to me. I want to be there for you every time you stumble home after long hours and hard shifts, so I can run you a bath or make you something to eat. I want to take care of you.”
“That’s my job.”
“You deserve to have someone take care of you the way you take care of everyone else. I want everything with you, Shane. Because…I-I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“So you’ll move in with me?”
“Yeah, I will.”
-
💭 Shane and Jon are the walking embodiment of a green flag dipped in cinnamon roll batter and then grilled to perfection. 💚✨️ I will come back for them! 🙂‍↕️

📝 TLDR 📝

🏉 Sweet, soft, big-hearted, gentle giant MMC with a bi-awakening.
🩺 Sunshiney, sassy, ultimate caretaker MMC with radiant, positive energy.
💋 Medium spice—just enough steam to fog up the glasses, but still focused on the romance.
📏 Short, satisfying, and perfect for a palate cleanser read.
💖 Chemistry, banter, and swoon all in one.
❤️‍🔥 Filled with ”I don't want you to leave, but I don't know how to ask you to stay” moments.

Like the sound of all that? Then go pick this one up. NOW! 🫵🏻

P.S. My only complaint? I need this to be a full-length book because I'm greedy and I want so much more of Shane and Jon's story together. Gimme all the pining, the banter, the kisses, the everything. 😫
Rebecca? Pretty please? With a cherry on top? 🍒🥹

-
Quotes:

"Eric is a douchebag."
"I'm acutely aware, thanks."
"I always wondered what you saw in him."
"Yeah, well, I have a weakness for assholes with thick thighs and thicker brains."
“I have the same problem with blondes with big tits.”
-
I close the door behind him, regretting everything the moment he's gone. All of a sudden, my apartment feels too big, too empty, too cold. I don't know Shane very well, but something about him makes everything…better. And after spending a night with him, even if it's a night I can barely remember, everything feels that much emptier without him.
-
He drove me home after working overtime, hauled my heavy ass up the stairs in the rain, took care of my sloppy ass after I made it weird, and then cleaned up after me.
Who does that?
-
“Ready?”
I shake my head no, because just the husky tone of his voice has my balls drawing up. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m about to embarrass myself.
“It’s okay to come, Jon. I want it. Feed it to me.”
Fuck.
-
“I want to make you feel as good as you made me. I want to make it so good for you, baby.”
-
“Is this okay? You’ll tell me if I do something wrong?”
“There’s nothing you could do that wouldn’t feel good, Jon. You’re doing so good. I’m so close. If you don’t want me to come in your mouth, you should probably stop.”
“I want it. I want to drink you down like you did me. I want to taste you.”
-
“Shit, I’m sorry. That was too much. I didn’t mean—we don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I almost came on the spot just thinking about it. I want you. It. To do—it. Fuck. Yeah. I want to.”
-
I’m inside him.
Inside Shane.
My cock is buried in another man’s ass, and it’s easily the best place it’s ever been. I never want to leave.
-
“Jon! What are you doing here!?”
“Do I need a reason to come visit my boyfriend at work?”
“Um, when your boyfriend happens to work in an emergency room and you show up bleeding profusely, yes!”
“I miss you,” he says softly. And I melt, because everything this giant oaf does makes me melt.
-

⚠️ Detailed spoiler below ⛔️

RC and MCs:
🏈💊 MM, strict top/bottom
🏈💊 Jon Wilton and Shane Abbernathy (their age weren't specified)
🏈💊 Jon: Rugby player
🏈💊 Shane: ER nurse
🏈💊 John: Top, straight to bi, blue eyes, short cropped hair, tan skin, muscular
🏈💊 Shane: Bottom, gay, dark green eyes, lean and well-defined body

Genre and tropes:
🏈💊 MM contemporary romance
🏈💊 Short story
🏈💊 Sports romance elements
🏈💊 Rugby player x ER nurse
🏈💊 Hurt/comfort (nurse caring for injured athlete)
🏈💊 Ex-boyfriend’s friend romance
🏈💊 Patient/caregiver relationship
🏈💊 Insta-lust/insta-attraction
🏈💊 Bi awakening
🏈💊 Gay for you
🏈💊 First times
🏈💊 Size difference
🏈💊 Gentle giant
🏈💊 Fast-paced
🏈💊 Pet names: Baby

Safety info:
🏈💊 Angst: Low
🏈💊 OW/OM drama: Yes, Eric (Shane's ex) was being a douchebag, but nothing romantic happened after they broke up.
🏈💊 Cheating/sharing: No
🏈💊 Third act breakup: No
🏈💊 Ending: HFN
🏈💊 Epilogue: No
🏈💊 POV: Dual, 1st person
🏈💊 Series structure: Standalone

Spice and kinks:
Blowjob, fingering, rimming, finger fucking, condom, anal sex

CW/TW:
Concussion/injury recovery, mental health and emotional vulnerability, explicit sexual content
Profile Image for Pauline.
400 reviews187 followers
August 26, 2025
Idk man, serious head injury and vomiting does NOT go hand in hand with sexual tension and boners lol

BUT after the initial head injury stuff, this got SO CUTE and SO HOT!! Loved the multiple epilogues that gave us a glimpse into their HEA.

I want this as a full length novel, there’s so much potential here but as it stands, it’s still a lovely little palate cleanser ❤️‍🔥

3,5⭐️
Profile Image for kaye taz.
479 reviews359 followers
April 20, 2025
4 ⭐️
spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5
format: ebook

the perfect palate cleanser. jon was a big ole softie and shane was the sexy nurse who took care of him during his head injury.

this was like 60 pages and i devoured it in less than an hour. it was sweet and spicy and gave all the best vibes. rebecca rathe does not miss, esp when it comes to her obsessed men.
Profile Image for Mug.
515 reviews123 followers
February 23, 2025
i’ve actually never been more bored !
Profile Image for alex :).
222 reviews30 followers
May 23, 2025
this was short and sweet! i really liked ron and shane as a couple, but my only complaint is the time jumps at the end. i wouldn’t have minded a full length novel of these two, so i think that goes to show why i was annoyed when it wrapped up quickly. i was ready to keep going with their story lol.
Profile Image for Whitney.
285 reviews315 followers
February 12, 2025
Shane + Jon 🖤
Nurse and Rugby player | First times | Gay for you

....

"Have you ever been with a man, or fooled around with another guy?"
"Never wanted to before. Not until I saw you."

"Fuuuuuck, you're so pretty here, baby. I want to taste all of you."

"I want to be fucked into the mattress by this big, gentle giant."

"Oh yeah, I'm totally keeping him."

....

Tropes:
Rugby Player
Ex's teammate
Nurse
First time with a guy
Gay for you
Rimming
Size difference
🍆 size difference
Short story
Profile Image for Megan [At The Cottage].
1,020 reviews405 followers
February 24, 2025
MM Romance
Nurse/Rugby Player
3 Stars ⭐️

I seem to enjoy this author’s short stories more than her full length books lately. This was apparently in an anthology last year according to her newsletter. For a short story, this was hot and exactly what I was looking for. The only thing is…I always have to suspend belief when reading this author’s books and this time it was because rugby guy had a major concussion the day before they were fucking around but for a little smutty erotica story, I enjoyed it. I could have lived without all the mushy, rushed stuff at the end though.
Profile Image for Justin.
82 reviews22 followers
August 2, 2025
I was left wanting a full book about Shane + Jon!

I love a big cuddly goof with thick thighs.
Profile Image for Audi♡.
762 reviews76 followers
October 16, 2025
"My cock is buried in another man's ass, and its easily the best place its ever been. I never want to leave"
"....oh yeah, I'm totally keeping him"

Smiled like a fool the whole dang time. This was adorable! I could've read 100 more pages of their cute-ass underwear dates.
Profile Image for nick.
108 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2025
all of rebecca’s release dates are marked in my calendar🤍🫶🏻 her books never fail me
Profile Image for ⋆。°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°。⋆.
1,178 reviews231 followers
April 28, 2025
3.75 ⭐, but rounding it up, because rugby

I never round up the short ones, but I'll make an exception here, because it's a good one.

A hot, sexy novella, the main characters immediately familiar to me, I'm invested in their happy ending and interested in more.

🔵 Nurse/rugby player
🟣 Both in their 20's
🟢 Gay/bi-awakening
🟡 I like the cover
🌶️ Descriptive sex, some rimming, oral, penetrative; t/b

Jon is a rugby player who already liked Shane back when Shane was dating one of his asshole teammates, so that part definitely could be explored some more, throw some pining in there and make it a full-blown, intense bi-awakening and I'm sold.

Jon gets a concussion at a game and Shane's taking care of him in the hospital and then going home with him.

I liked that they had sex immediately, I usually don't like it when couples go through obligatory stages for days or weeks until they reach penetrative sex, especially when the guy is curious and the other main character puts a break on it, but this one was pretty real, they were hot together, I loved it.

I'm completely familiar with Shane's love of rugby guys with thick... thighs, so yeah,




Follow the TikTok account @gainlinesfitness for anyone interested, they post yummy stuff😉


Jon and Shane's story maybe calls for a full-length book? I'd love to read it.
Profile Image for Misty.
259 reviews19 followers
July 5, 2025
I absolutely adored this.
So sweet and sexy.
Super short read, but the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.
Profile Image for Toni.
476 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2025
KU Read
69 Pages
MM Romance
Patient x Nurse
Rugby Player
Bi-Awakening
Ex's Teammate
Spicy & Sweet

The first book of October '25 and it brought the feel-good factor with being fun, short, spicy and definitely sweet. Just what I needed cos I was being indecisive on what to read and cute Novellas like this keep me out of reading slumps.
Shane is an ER nurse and treats Jon for a concussion and even gives him a ride home, but protocol means he should not be left unattended. Realising he has no roommate, he crashes at Jon's place (they know each other cos hes on the same team as his ex) but plans on leaving the next morning. Jon, however, has liked Shane for a while a seizes the opportunity to convince him to stay... maybe forever?
I thought the pair were really cute together, it was just a happy little story with a sweet HEA and I recommend it to anyone looking for a dopamine hit in one sitting!
Profile Image for Monikat.
1,635 reviews40 followers
March 5, 2025
All the happy stars!!
✨✨✨✨✨🪄✨✨✨✨✨

A super quick , super cute, super sexy read. I was smiling the whole time. These two MC's happiness was so contagious. I loved every minute of this short story. Good things, small packages and all that.

*Favorites
Profile Image for Brat.
250 reviews
February 10, 2025
short story
nurse/patient
x boyfriend's "straight" teammate
rugby yes please
instant attraction
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for klinta.
284 reviews16 followers
December 27, 2025
i fear these normal mm novellas simply don’t hit no more after the discovery of becca vale because bros (literally) before hoes (fiction only i swear)
Profile Image for Jess.bookrecs.
618 reviews56 followers
March 9, 2025
Yeah Rebecca Rathe should stick to writing short books. The way that I am obsessed with this is probably unhealthy for how short it was.
Profile Image for haletostilinski.
1,520 reviews650 followers
February 19, 2025
Now that's how you write a short story effectively.

Unlike the other short this author did, I loved this one. Shane and Jon had instant chemistry, they were cute right off the bat and you could see why they'd have feelings for each other right away, and why they'd fall for each other so fast and give into lust so quickly. These were both two sweet men who treated each other wonderfully.

For 69 pages, this did so much in just that short amount of time. Honestly I loved these two so much that I wouldn't minded a full length novel. But also they worked perfectly in this short story as well too.

Jon is Shane's asshole, cheating exes rugby teammate and when he gets a concussion and Shane is asked to help get him dressed before he's discharged, they meet properly other than being around each other for the 6 months or so Shane dated Eric, his asshole ex who cheated on him (probably the whole time they were going out.) Jon is a sweet, gentle giant who always felt that Shane deserved better than his asshole teammate.

He also always thought he was straight until he saw Shane, and Jon feels more with Shane than any woman he's ever been with too. They're it for each other, and have hot AF sex too ;)

Perfect short, this kept way more in line with what I'm used to with this author.

Can't wait for more! 😍
Profile Image for Christina Sturgill.
1,483 reviews97 followers
February 6, 2025
Rating: 5/5 🌟
Spice: 3.5/5 🌶️
Characters: Jon and Shane

Rugby Player & Nurse
Ex Boyfriend's Friend
Bi Awakening

I don't often love novella's enough to give them 5 stars, but I can't help it with this one. I loved these two so much. It's short, sweet, and spicy. I loved how hesitant they both were at first. Boys with that almost shy unsure side get me every single time. My only complaint it that I wish this had been a full-length novel because I truly did not get enough of these two.
Profile Image for _mykee_b.
140 reviews5 followers
February 6, 2025
She did it again!

Another great fun novella by Rebecca! Just •super• cute! 🤩

These are just as good as her full length stories & I look forward to each new release!
Profile Image for Alexis.
828 reviews23 followers
February 9, 2025
Super short and cute! I love when a novella makes me want more of the characters and this definitely made me want more!
Profile Image for Ash.
399 reviews26 followers
February 25, 2025
Short and spicy.
Also, adorable.
Profile Image for Jess Shades.
176 reviews74 followers
August 9, 2025
Not gonna lie… I wish this was a full-length novel because I ate it up!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews

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