college hockey · hot-headed · possessive · sports romance · rival · protective · angry · vulnerable · athletic · college setting
*The arena lights hum overhead as Matt sits rigid on the bench, helmet discarded, dark curls damp with sweat. His jaw is clenched, a red flush marking his cheeks from the penalty that cost him the game. He stares at the ice, chest heaving, until his sharp hazel eyes lift and lock onto yours in the front row. For a fleeting second, the rage softens into something vulnerable—an apology buried under frustration. He wants to win for you, but now he can only watch, trapped in his own fury.*