"A lover? Maybe. Something tender, anyway. But tender like a bruise." Rio will do anything to carve her path into the football world. Alexia must reignite her passion for the very sport that once tore her apart. Their meeting will create ripples... and waves.

To the world, Leah Williamson is the calm, unshakable leader of Arsenal and England - but behind closed doors, she craves a different kind of escape. That's how she and Rachel end up tangled in sheets, again and again, in a wordless agreement that feelings aren't part of the deal. Rachel doesn't know much about Leah beyond the bruising kisses and the 3 a.m. exits - and for a while, that's enough. But the more nights they spend together, the harder it is to ignore the unspoken pull between them. When Rachel finally breaks the rules and starts asking questions, Leah retreats, guarded and unwilling to let anyone past her walls. What begins as a simple arrangement turns into something far more complicated: a battle between desire and fear, vulnerability and control. As secrets surface and boundaries blur, Rachel must decide if she can be patient with Leah's silence... or if loving someone who won't let her in will break her heart.