OFF LIMITS
CHAPTER TWO: THE PITCH OF TENSION
LEAH:
Daniel dropped me off after what was supposed to be just another quiet dinner night. But Kingsley's reappearance had thrown the night into chaos neither of us saw coming.
"Let me drop Kurt first," Daniel said gently, his hand resting briefly on my knee before pulling back. "Kingsley insisted he follow us home—for your safety, he said."
My chest tightened. Of course, he did. The same man who'd shattered me now wanted to play bodyguard?
Kurt sat in the backseat, unusually quiet. He offered me a small wave as I got out.
"I'll see you tomorrow, L," he said.
I nodded, managing a smile. "Goodnight."
As Daniel drove off with Kurt, the silence around me felt louder than ever. I leaned against my apartment door, trying to hold myself together. I was with Daniel now. Solid, dependable Daniel. I had no business feeling like the ground beneath me had just split open again.
But Kingsley had that effect—storming into the calm like he never left.
—
The next morning, I woke to a text from Kurt.
KURT:
Don't forget, football match today. 5pm at the park. You're still coming, right?
I replied quickly.
ME:
Sure. Wouldn't miss it.
What Kurt didn't mention—and probably didn't know—was how Kingsley would be there too.
Because while Daniel had asked me to come support him and watch him play, Kurt had casually invited Kingsley to the same game. No one else knew there was a war quietly simmering underneath.
Especially not Daniel.
—
The field was already busy when I arrived. Soccer balls flew through the air, and groups of guys were warming up. I spotted Daniel on the far side—jersey clinging to him, smile wide as he saw me.
He jogged over, slightly sweaty, breathless. "You made it."
"Of course. Go score some goals and show off," I teased, nudging him.
"You know I will. And every goal's for you," he winked, brushing a kiss to my cheek before running off.
I turned to find a place to sit, and froze.
Kingsley was standing a few feet away, his arms folded, expression unreadable. He hadn't changed—still dressed in black, still commanding attention without trying.
"You're here," he said simply.
"Looks like you are too."
Kurt appeared beside him, tossing popcorn into his mouth like he didn't notice the tension thick enough to slice through.
"Didn't know I was creating a battlefield," he muttered, then sat on the bleachers like this was the world's most dramatic episode of Survivor.
—
The game started.
Daniel was fast—agile and confident. The first time he scored, he ran toward the sidelines, pointed at me, then jogged over and hugged me tightly from behind.
I smiled, though I could feel a certain pair of eyes burning into us from across the field.
Kingsley hadn't moved an inch. But his jaw tightened. His eyes followed Daniel's every step. And when Daniel came back to me the third time, sweeping me off my feet in a cheer, Kingsley stood.
He didn't say anything. He didn't need to.
The silent flare in his gaze said everything.
—
During halftime, Kurt stood between us like a mediator trying to prevent war.
"Great game, huh?" he said, looking between me and Kingsley. "Daniel's on fire."
"He's showboating," Kingsley muttered, voice low and sharp.
I raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"
His eyes met mine. "Not of his game."
That shut me up. My heart stuttered. Kingsley stepped closer, and suddenly, the sounds of the field faded.
"You think I don't see it?" he said quietly. "The way you shrink when he touches you. Like it's a comfort you're forcing yourself to feel."
"I'm trying to move on," I hissed.
His stare hardened. "By pretending you're already over me?"
A whistle blew. Second half.
Daniel was waving from the field.
I turned away. "I don't have to pretend."
But I wasn't sure who I was lying to anymore—him or myself.
—
As the match ended and the crowd dispersed, Daniel wrapped his arm around me, smiling wide from the win. Kingsley stood on the opposite side of the field, alone, but still watching.
That unspoken heat between us had returned.
But now it was more dangerous. Because Daniel was in the middle of it—and I was the one being pulled in both directions.
And Kingsley… wasn't planning to back down.
Daniel was riding high on adrenaline. "Let's go back to my place," he said, tossing his jersey into his bag. "Drinks, music, whatever—we need to celebrate that win."
Kurt was already hyped. "I'm in! Kingsley?"
Kingsley hesitated. His gaze flicked to me. "Sure."
I wasn't sure if I should go. But Daniel had already grabbed my hand. "Come on, babe. It'll be fun."
His house was loud with music and laughter not long after. Drinks poured, the guys joked around, and for a moment, I tried to relax.
Daniel disappeared into the kitchen, yelling something about getting more chips. Kurt followed, probably to raid the fridge.
That left me… with Kingsley.
He stood near the balcony door again. Always the quiet one. Always watching.
I turned away, trying not to meet his eyes.
"You shouldn't let him touch you like that," he said lowly, the words slicing through the noise.
I froze. "Excuse me?"
Kingsley stepped closer, his voice still soft, but the tension in it was electric. "He parades you like a prize. Doesn't mean he knows how to keep one."
I spun around, heart racing. "You don't get to talk about keeping anyone. You left."
Just then, the door burst open—Kurt and Daniel walked in, laughing loudly—until they saw us.
Standing too close.
Too tense.
Too charged.
Daniel's smile faltered.
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.
I stepped back quickly. "Nothing. We were just… talking."
Kingsley didn't move. Didn't flinch. Just kept his eyes on Daniel.
Then, Daniel laughed. Just once.
But it didn't reach his eyes.
And I knew—
The storm was coming.