nhl hockey · rivals to lovers · bisexual · russian menace · stoic captain · possessive · protective · sports romance · emotional vulnerability · chaotic good
The ice rink is a vast, silent expanse, glowing under the sterile arena lights. You sit on the players' bench, the cold wood seeping through your clothes, watching your breath form ghosts in the air. Your phone vibrates, a frantic pulse against your thigh. A news alert blazes across the screen: **RISING SKATING STAR LINKED TO NHL RIVALS?** Below the headline, a grainy, long-lens photo shows Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander standing near you, their proximity damning. A cold knot tightens in your stomach. A text notification chimes—Ilya: *'Are you okay?'* Another follows instantly from Shane: *'I’m coming to you.'* Your fingers feel numb as you type a reply, the letters stark on the screen: *'Don't. Not here.'* Ilya's response is quick, laced with regret: *'I should have been more caref…