Chapter 1. Unexpected encounter

The locker room was buzzing with noise as players stormed in straight from practice. Their hockey sticks clatter against benches while other gadgets hit the floor carelessly. Steam was already curling out from the shower areas as curses and laughter echoed off the tiled walls.

“Coach Finn talks too damn much,” Nath groaned while yanking his jersey over his head. “We’re literally gonna miss Professor Hale’s lecture if we don't make it snappy.”

“Tell that to Captain Noa and Leon,” another teammate laughed. “Those two nearly started another war on the rink.”

The atmosphere remained rowdy, but beneath it lingered the tension Coach Finn had warned them about all week. Rivalries were ruining team chemistry, especially the one between Noa and Leon.

Noa entered the locker room last, and his shoulders were damp with sweat. His light blond hair stuck slightly to his forehead while his expression screamed irritation.

Every shower stall was occupied as water splashed. Guys shouted over each other as steam fogged the mirrors.

“Damn it,” Noa muttered, glaring at the filled stalls. “Seriously?”

“Use the dripping one, Captain!” Nath yelled from behind one curtain laughing.

Noa barked a laugh. “Fuck you, Nath.”

“No, Cap. I can’t fuck you. You’re not my babe.”

The entire locker room erupted with laughter.

Noa shook his head in disbelief before dragging a towel around his neck. Then walked towards the last shower stall.

That particular shower stall was rarely used by the teammates because the water pressure sucked. Since they were in a hurry, Noa had no choice.

He pulled the thick curtain aside and stepped inside, then paused.

To his surprise, Leon stood beneath the running water with soap covering half his face. Wet dark hair slicked back while streams of water rolled down the hard lines of his chest and abs. His back flexed as he scrubbed at his shoulder, completely unaware someone had stepped in.

For a second, Noa forgot how to breathe. His gaze slid lower before he could stop himself.

Broad shoulders, lean waist, and strong thighs. Wet skin glistening under the dim locker room light.

“Damn,” Noa whispered under his breath. “He’s breathtaking, just like Diamond.”

Leon still hadn’t noticed him.

Noa swallowed hard and forced himself to move. He closed the curtain and headed toward the other shower heads.

The first one didn’t work. The second sputtered and died. The third made a choking noise before giving up completely.

“Shit,” Noa cursed, smacking the knob. “Isn’t it fucking time they fix these showers?”

Leon froze instantly.

That voice was his enemy's. Why the fuck is he in this abandoned shower stall?

His shoulders stiffened beneath the water.

Noa turned the shower beside him and finally, a weak stream poured out.

“Oh at last one works,” Noa muttered.

He went under the shower, but he wasn’t focusing on the water anymore. His eyes kept drifting back to Leon.

Leon’s heart thudded in his chest as he rinsed the soap slowly from his face. Water slid down his jaw and neck while his lashes lifted.

Noa was staring at him openly and shamelessly. His gaze dragged lower again, way too low. A dangerous smirk slowly pulled at his lips.

Why the hell does his dick look so perfect? He thought.

Leon opened his eyes fully and caught him staring directly.

Then their eyes locked.

Heat slammed violently into the cramped stall.

Leon’s jaw tightened instantly.

“What the heck? Have some shame.” he hissed under his breath. “Stop staring at my dick like that.”

He turned sharply backing him, muscles tense beneath the water.

Noa chuckled slowly, completely unashamed.

“You can’t blame me, even your ass looked cute,” he said grinning. Then stepped closer beneath the weak spray of his own shower. “Your dick is kinda cute.”

Leon turned and shot him a deadly glare over his shoulder.

Noa grinned even wider at his expression. “Almost as cute as my babe’s and the glare…it makes your eyes look even sexier.”

Noa winked at him.

Leon’s heart pounded more. He immediately turned his face away, jaw clenched hard enough to ache. Heat crawled up his neck, both from anger and something far worse which he refused to think about.

“You’re going insane,” he muttered sharply.

“Yeah,” Noa answered easily. You're driving me insane with your anger. I don't even know what the heck I did wrong. Driving me insane with those piercing blue eyes. I wonder…” He moved closer again.

“Did you just come here to hate me or could it be something else?

The weak stream from the faulty shower barely touched them now as Noa leaned in, his damp skin nearly brushing Leon’s.

Leon suddenly felt the warmth of his breath against his shoulder. His entire body locked. For one dangerous second, he forgot how to move.

“You're silent.”

Then reality slammed back into Leon.

Leon jerked around quickly and stepped backward, glaring harder at him. “What the heck is wrong with you?” he whispered harshly, keeping his voice low enough so the other teammates outside wouldn’t hear. “Get a grip on yourself. You’re nothing special.”

Noa only smiled. “I think I’m special and thanks,” he said casually as he claimed Leon’s shower. “This shower’s way better.”

Leon stared at him in disbelief. “Wh... You piece of shit.”

He shoved forward angrily, intending to push Noa away from the spot.

Unfortunately, Noa had clearly expected it. So he dodged at the last second. Leon lost his footing instantly against the slippery tiles.

“Shit,” escaped him in surprise, but before he could crash down, Noa's strong arms grabbed him quickly.

One hand caught his waist while the other locked around his arm. He dragged him upright, straight into his body.

Both of them froze.

Leon’s chest pressed tightly against Noa’s. Their wet skin slid slightly from the impact, heat burning between them despite the cold water pouring down. Noa’s grip tightened instinctively around his waist to steady him. Leon could feel every solid line of muscle against him. It was way too close.

The air suddenly felt suffocating.

Leon’s breath hitched quietly and Noa noticed it.

The teasing smirk slowly faded from Noa’s lips as something darker settled into his gaze. Something intense enough to make Leon’s pulse stumble violently in his chest.

Water dripped down Noa’s face, trailing past his lips. He stared at Leon like he had forgotten every joke he planned to make.

Leon swallowed hard as Noa’s Adam's apple bobbed.

Neither of them moved.

Outside the curtain, laughter and shouting continued from the locker room. Inside the abandoned shower stall, everything felt terrifyingly silent.

Noa’s fingers flexed slightly against Leon’s waist.

Leon sucked in a sharp breath instantly.

That tiny sound seemed to snap something inside Noa. His gaze dropped briefly to Leon’s lips before dragging back up slowly.

“Careful,” Noa murmured, voice suddenly rougher than before. “If you keep looking at me like that…”

Leon’s heart slammed harder.

“I’m not looking at you anyway," he shot back quickly, though the words lacked their usual bite. He tried to pull away.

Noa held on tighter. His eyes darkened with amusement.

“Liar, even your body just confirmed it.”

Leon frowned. “What?”

Noa’s grip loosened slightly around his waist, but his eyes never left Leon’s face.

“Yeah, Leon,” he said quietly, voice low enough to disappear beneath the sound of the showers outside. “Your dick just throbbed against mine.”

Leon shoved himself out of Noa’s arms so fast that water splashed against the tiled wall.

“What the heck are you saying?” he snapped in a harsh whisper, turning sharply away from him.

The anger in his voice sounded strained and unsteady.

Noa noticed immediately. A slow smirk tugged at his lips. He leaned back against the wall beneath the weak stream of water.

“So you did feel it. Your heart is pounding as mine.”

Leon’s chest rose sharply.

“You’re fucking delusional.”

“Am?”