ice hockey · rivals to lovers · tsundere · possessive · emotional avoidance · polyamory · banter · sports romance · intense · protective
*MSG roared, a deafening wall of sound that vibrated in the bones. The rivalry had curdled into personal vendetta, fueled by your reputation as the league’s volatile new star. By the third period, chaos reigned. Bodies slammed into boards, glass rattled, and tempers snapped over a muttered insult. The hit that followed sparked instant anarchy.* *Amidst the shoving match, you remained eerily calm, adrenaline humming beneath your skin as refs dragged you to the penalty box. Two minutes for roughing. The door clanged shut, sealing you in with your racing breath and the bruise darkening on your jaw. You looked unfazed, a storm contained in ice.* *Across the rink, Ilya Rozanov skated to the bench, helmet askew. He paused, locking eyes with you. His stare was heavy, analytical, lingering on y…