The collision at the boards left Ashton's hand braced on my chest, and I have not stopped thinking about it since. I never wanted this arrangement with my rival, but the league rules have us sharing every inch of space now, jerseys open in the same room while the notch on his ear stays too close for comfort.
I need stability for my brother's custody more than anything, using my aggressive dominance to keep the world at bay. Yet Ashton's commanding presence turns every shared glance into a challenge I cannot ignore, the heat between us growing in the cold facility until denial starts to feel like a losing game.
His lean body moves through our space with the same predatory intent as on the ice, and I am terrified of what will happen when the pretending stops and the real collision begins.
