Semua Bab Owned on the Ice M/M Romance: Bab 81 - Bab 90

Sterling stared at the ring on his finger. Platinum, slim, a yellow diamond in the center, bright, warm, and of the highest quality. It was so perfectly Noah. Stunning and full of energy. Unruly sunshine wrapped in cool beauty.He tugged on the hoodie and sweatpants Noah had lent him, the fabric too soft, too casual, making him look like someone half his age. As he left Noah’s room, he caught a smirk from the rookie.“You look like you’re about to fail your freshman midterms,” Noah teased.Sterling rolled his eyes, flipped him off for effect, and headed up to his own room to change.In his suite, Sterling changed into a crisp black dress shirt and charcoal slacks. As he fastened the buttons, he caught his reflection in the mirror. The diamond on his hand caught the light, a subtle flash like a silent promise. He hadn’t worn jewelry in years. Not since the injury. Not since he stopped being someone the league cared about. But this ring wasn’t about the league. It was about Noah. About

Noah wanted to adopt. Wanted to be a parent.Sterling had practically sprung into action. Within minutes, he was coordinating with his lawyer to gather every favorable report and reference Noah might need, already drafting a letter of recommendation he could sign and have notarized. His connections could smooth the process, maybe even expedite it. It didn’t matter if Noah had asked or not. Sterling wanted to help. Needed to help. He wanted this for him... for them. Even if he didn’t fully know what that meant yet.It was too soon to say it out loud, but the idea had rooted itself deep in his chest: maybe Noah saw a future with more in it. With family. With permanence.A buzz from his phone on the desk jolted him. Sterling reached for it quickly.Noah: Still at brunchh. Everyone’s being slow af lol. Think I’ll be back laterr ’m fine.Sterli

Sterling had intended to keep breakfast simple. Eggs, coffee, something with carbs to keep Noah upright after the night they just had.He was halfway through scrambling the eggs when Noah walked into the kitchen completely, unapologetically naked.Sterling nearly dropped the spatula and swore under his breath as his wrist grazed the hot pan. "Jesus—Noah."Noah grinned, unbothered, and strolled over to the fruit bowl like he wasn’t baring everything. "Morning."Sterling turned off the burner before he truly injured himself. "Why aren’t you dressed?""I am," Noah said cheerfully, popping a grape into his mouth. "This is my birthday suit. And I’m staying in it all day."Sterling gave him a look. "No, you’re not. We’ve got places to go later.""So?""So I’m not dealing with the fallout of the world seeing your cock."Noah leaned across the counter, unabashed. "Sounds like a you problem."Sterling just shook his head, biting back a laugh as he tried to refocus on the eggs. "Put on some clo

A couple of weeks later, the world felt heavier and lighter all at once.The Stormriders were well into the playoffs, clawing their way through each brutal round, and for once, it felt like the fire in their lungs might carry them all the way.Tonight, they'd beaten the Reapers. Finally.It hadn’t been clean. Or easy. Or pretty. But it was a win, and it was theirs.Noah had taken hits hard enough to rattle his bones, one stick across the ribs, a crunch into the glass that had left his shoulder aching, and a slash across the back of his thigh that had barely been called. But he’d played like hell. And when the buzzer sounded, he’d skated off the ice with a grin that split his face wide and wild.Now, he was soaking in the rooftop hot tub of a lavish hotel suite Sterling had booked in secret.The steam curled around his face, sweat and chlorine and exhaustion blending into something peaceful. His body throbbed in time with his pulse, but every bruise felt like a medal.The water lapped

Noah had been dodging the Hearthlight visit for almost two weeks.He’d passed their background check. Sterling had made sure of that, subtly, of course. Lawyers, contacts, letters of glowing recommendation from every coach Noah had ever worked with. It was all wrapped up with a neat little bow.And Sterling had been nudging him since the second he found out Noah had even thought about adoption. A thought Noah had tried to downplay. Tried to wave off with a laugh and a shrug and a, "It was just a second, don’t get dramatic."But Sterling, being Sterling, had latched onto it like Noah had whispered a marriage proposal mid-orgasm.So Noah finally agreed to stop by. Just to say he'd done it. To clear it off the list.He was fairly confident that actually adopting a baby would shatter the very bliss he and Sterling had spent the past few months building. They were finally in sync. He could touch Sterling in public. Sterling was quietly destroying Anneliese. And they weren’t constantly snea