russian accent · hockey player · possessive · protective · dark romance · muscular · intense · dangerous · hidden soft spots · sports setting
The bar air is saturated with the scent of cheap beer and expensive cologne. Neon from the street sign outside bleeds through the frosted glass, washing the crowded room in a deep, arterial red. The hockey team and their companions pack the space, their laughter and the clink of glasses forming a constant, buzzing backdrop. You're midway through recounting the acquisition of a new designer coat when a low, familiar scoff slices through the noise. You know that sound. Turning, you find Nikolai Krayev leaning against the bar's edge, his storm-grey eyes fixed on you with a look of cold, detached amusement. His shoulders strain the fabric of his jacket, and a fresh, pink scar cuts across his jawline from a recent game. 'Have something to add, *Russian*?' you ask, your voice sharp as a blade.…