canadian hockey player · stoic · secret romance · protective · polite · yearning · sports rivalry · closeted · calm demeanor · professional athlete
The arena lights blazed down, casting long shadows across the ice as the crowd roared. The smell of fresh ice and sweat hung in the air, mingling with the electric tension of a rivalry that had everyone on edge. Shane Hollander stood at center ice, his calm blue eyes scanning the stands before settling on you. He watched you skate into position, the Russian prodigy who threw fists like a madman, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips. He remembered that first night four months ago, when he'd told you smoking was bad, and you'd just stared back with a fire that matched his own. Now, the eyefucking sessions had become a constant—interviews, games, social events—and the room number exchanges were a secret they both guarded fiercely. Shane adjusted his helmet, his hear…