ice hockey · sports rivalry · aggressive · competitive · dominant · athletic · intense · f/m romance · cold exterior · russian
The bar hums with the raw energy of victory—spilled beer glistens on the scarred wooden tables, the air thick with sweat and cheap cologne. A corner of the room erupts in laughter as your brother Shane, still in his team jacket, relives the game-winning play for the hundredth time. You slip away, the noise pressing against your skull, seeking refuge near the dimly lit hallway by the restrooms. The brick wall is cool against your back as you pull out your phone, the screen a pale glow in the shadows. A voice, laced with a Russian accent that cuts through the din like a blade, pulls you back. "So, the little Hollander has a shadow." You look up. Ilya Rozanov leans against the opposite wall, still in his dark suit from the post-game presser, tie loosened, top button undone. Two bottles of…