Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, #2)

by Rachel Reid

Rozanov stopped talking, but he managed to find an even more effective way of getting under Hollander’s skin: he winked.

Part of him wanted to lie back and close his eyes and let himself believe that it was anyone other than Ilya Rozanov making him feel so good. But most of him wanted to see exactly who it was.

“You are very beautiful,” Rozanov said suddenly.

“I have ruined you,” Rozanov said when they broke apart. “No one else will do.”

For the rest of his life, Shane Hollander would have to live with the fact that he had ended his NHL draft day by getting himself off to thoughts of Ilya Rozanov.

“Very pretty,” Rozanov teased him. “Like a doll.” “You’re painted up too.” Rozanov leaned on the top of the boards and grinned. “Yes, but I’m not pretty.”

Ilya told himself the twisted feeling in his stomach was just jealousy, but he was terrified that it was something much, much worse.

Ilya wondered what Hollander was doing right now. He wondered if there were any cute girls at the hotel bar. Was Hollander in his own room, lying on his bed? Was he wondering what Ilya was doing?

Oh my baby Ilya has it bad

He loved shit-talking him because his eyes would get all squashed up in anger and his pink lips would curl into an adorable little attempt at a snarl. Like an angry kitten.

Ilya kissed his dumb mouth and swallowed his stupid little sighs and felt his annoying fingers in his hair. He pulled back so he could look at his horrible face with its ridiculous freckles. Fuck.

And Shane left. He realized, when he was back in his room, that they hadn’t even kissed. He also realized, with horror, that he regretted that.

Shane could pretend (or pretend he was pretending) that Rozanov was someone else that way.

“I like girls.” “Yeah, no shit.” “But I also like you.” “Well, lucky me,” Shane grumbled.

“Yeah. It was better.” He cleared his throat. “The thing is... I kind of prefer to be the hole. Than the peg.”

“and on top of everything, I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you and I don’t know what to do about it.”

😭😭😭😭

“I am not alone,” Ilya said. “You are here now, yes?” Shane’s hand flew to his chest to make sure his heart was still beating; he could have sworn it had just melted into a gooey puddle.

then there he was, filling the screen of Ilya’s iPad. He was wearing a hoodie and...glasses?

“I’m fucked,” he murmured in Russian. “I am so fucking in love and it’s horrible.”

Shane kissed the tips of two fingers and reached out and touched them to the screen. And Ilya’s heart fucking stopped.

“We’re not alone,” Shane slurred. “Ilya. They can see us.”

He thought of Ilya. He wished he could text him. He wished he could tell him he wiggled his toes.

Ilya cheated and murmured, “I would stay here forever if I could” in Russian.

Ilya couldn’t believe what he had been reduced to. He was...infatuated. It was disgusting.

Shane looked so happy. Somehow, Ilya made him happy. Ilya wanted to always make him happy.

“I want to sleep in your bed, Shane Hollander,” Ilya murmured.

“Years,” Ilya sighed. “Years I have wanted to have you in your real bed.”

“Mine.” Ilya’s breath tickled Shane’s skin when he spoke the single word. “Yours,” Shane said dreamily. “All of this. For two weeks. Is mine.” Forever, Shane wanted to say. Forever if you ask.

All of these beautiful women and I am always wishing they were him.”

“I love you.” Shane froze. And then Ilya froze. “Holy shit,” Shane whispered. It wasn’t how he had meant to respond. “I...” Ilya’s eyes were so wide and so scared. “I love you too,” Shane said.

“I have been with lots of women. That was not...fake. But...” He looked at Shane, and Shane held his breath. “I have only been in love with one person.”

“Since their rookie season,” Shane heard his mother say. “I can’t believe it.” “Looking at them now, I kind of can,” his father said.

but Ilya felt that, if he hadn’t quite been already, he would be welcomed into Shane’s family, and that was no small thing. In fact, to Ilya, who had barely been welcome in his own family, it was huge.

“And I will say, ‘Shane Hollander, will you please marry me so I can become Canadian citizen faster?’” Shane burst out laughing, and shoved him. “You’re such an asshole.”

but I’m playing the long game here. So, yeah. Whatever it takes, I’m in.”

HE’S PLAYING THE LONG GAME!!! Oh my heart

Ilya hadn’t been kidding about wanting to marry him. And not for citizenship, of course. He wanted to be Shane’s husband, and to live together, and maybe even raise children together.

“Always, moy lyubovnik.”

The truth was that Ilya had probably been as terrified as Shane, back then. He’d just been better at hiding it.