Readwithri’s Reviews > The Long Game > Status Update

I miss them

Ilya smiled. “Do I need to fuck you in your trophy room again until you remember?”
Shane’s cheeks darkened. “I wish.”
“Do not forget,” Ilya said seriously, “what that team owes you.”

“I’m exhausted,” Shane said. “Let’s go to bed, okay?”
“Sure.”
But Shane didn’t move. He wrapped his strong arms around Ilya’s waist and held him, breathing slowly against Ilya’s neck. Ilya rocked them a bit, gently, from side to side, and enjoyed the quiet. He closed his eyes and focused on how good it felt to be with Shane, alone in the dark, and tried not to wish it could be the same in the dark.

Shane loved Ilya so much it physically hurt to contain it some days. He didn’t want to be a gay icon, or deal with any of the attention they would get from the hockey world—both good and bad—if they ever disclosed their relationship, but he wished he could love Ilya openly without dealing with any of that.

😭😭😭😭

“I hate that you can outrun me like that. It doesn’t make sense.”
Ilya opened one eye. “Maybe you should eat carbs.”
“I eat healthy carbs.”
“You eat nothing.”
“You smoke.”
“Almost never.”
“You had a cigarette last night.”
“How do you know?”
“I have a nose.”
Ilya booped the tip of Shane’s nose. “A cute one.”