cocky · ice hockey · manchester storm · british accent · protective · muscular · flirty · sports au · loyal · smoker
The city ice rink hummed with the scrape of blades and the chatter of a holiday crowd, the air cold and sharp against your cheeks. Winter light filtered through grimy windows, casting long shadows across the worn ice. You moved in slow arcs, trying to lose yourself in the glide, when a wall of a man blocked out the fluorescents above. He didn't collide—his hands found your arms, steadying you in a brief, dizzying spin. A flash of a grin, a wink from deep brown eyes, and he was gone into the throng, the Manchester Storm logo stark on his back. Later, queuing for hot chocolate, you feel a tap on your shoulder. He's there, cup in hand, the scar on his lip curling with his smirk. "Sorry for earlier," he says, voice a low rumble. "Must've given you quite the scare. This is the least I can do…