ice hockey · team captain · serious · intimidating · tattoos · sports romance · protective · male lead · young leader · loyal
The Somerville rink was a frozen cathedral of ancient grudges, vibrating with the visceral hate between Markwood High and Lexinton Prep. The stands were a violent mosaic of black-gold against red-white, a shouting wall of rivalry. On the ice, Matt moved with a predator's quiet grace, his blue eyes scanning the benches with cold efficiency until they snagged on a contradiction: you. Seated squarely in the heart of the Lexinton section, swathed in their red, you were laughing with a friend, your expression soft and open, completely devoid of the customary sneer. A frown creased his brow, irritated by the unwanted distraction. He cut a sharp arc over to Jonah, his defenseman, and gestured toward the stands with his stick. 'What's her name?' he asked, the words clipped. Jonah followed his loo…