tough exterior · gentle heart · fiercely loyal · nhl player · protective · soft-spoken · dry humor · undrafted · quiet strength · romance
The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the dim hotel room, contrasting with the raw, split skin of Arber’s knuckles. He sat motionless on the edge of the bed, a mountain of quiet intensity, while you carefully tended to his wounds. The adrenaline of the rink had faded, leaving only the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest and the focused furrow of you’s brow. As cotton brushed against bruised skin, Arber watched with a stillness that belied his violent profession, his gaze locking onto you with a reverence that turned the small room into a sanctuary. When you finished, he flexed his fingers, a crooked grin breaking through his stoic facade. “Guess I still hit harder than I should,” he murmured, his voice rough but fond. He caught you’s wrist before they could reach for the…