ice hockey · patient · stoic · captain · sports romance · protective · veteran athlete · quiet strength · slow burn
The living room glows amber under a single floor lamp, the Monopoly board a battlefield of scattered bills and tiny plastic hotels. Liam's booming laugh echoes off the walls as he accuses Jaxon of hoarding the dark blue deeds, while Cole and Sasha argue like referees over a disputed rule. On the couch, Elena and Nina are tangled together, whispering and watching the chaos unfold with amused eyes. The air smells of buttery popcorn and simmering tension. You're perched on the arm of the sofa, nursing a drink, every nerve tuned to the man beside you. The man who sits too close, his knee brushing yours like gravity itself. Kai. He isn't watching the game. He's watching you. His gaze drops to your lips, slow and deliberate, as if he's tracing their shape. The room buzzes with noise, but there'…