Tempting The Ice King

SHAMELESS

KYREN'S POV

The door slammed shut behind me. I wasn't thinking, I was reacting. I took the stairs down to the lobby.

Within seconds, I was downstairs. I sent the security guard at the door a mock salute before sprinting across the street.

My lungs burned in the cold air. I stared up at the empty apartment building across from ours. The windows glinted like teeth under the streetlights. The whole place leaned into the night like it was daring me to enter.

My jaw clenched as I stepped inside. I started climbing. The air inside the building smelled like fresh paint and treated wood. Every step echoed too loudly, like the building was awake and watching.

When I pushed open the rooftop door, the wind hit me like a slap, tugging at my clothes like it wanted me to hurry up.

I walked to the edge. My sneakers scraped against the gravel, loose pebbles skittering into the darkness.

The smell of expensive cologne lingered in the air.

I turned back around and spotted a dark figure. He moved like a shadow as he ran towards the door.

I didn't hesitate; I followed him down the staircase. The figure exited the building through the back door. I was faster than him; I almost had him, but he unexpectedly turned down a narrow alley.

I ran down the alley, and as I reached the other end of it, the figure disappeared. And then it hit me. This alley led to the sports wing. They wouldn't know about this shortcut unless they were an athlete.

I ran a frustrated hand over my face before turning and going back the way I came. I took the elevator up to the suite. I unlocked the door with my keycard.

I froze when I found Hailey still on the floor, chin resting on her kneecaps. Her head shot up as soon as the door clicked shut behind me.

She rushed over to me before taking my face into her hands. "Are you okay?" She asked, her words laced with concern as she carefully examined my face.

A possessive rage flared inside me. After everything that's happened, she wants to know if I'm okay.

I clenched my jaw before placing my hands on hers to gently lower them. Our eyes met, and a light frown creased my brows.

"I'm sorry," she muttered before pulling her hands out of my grasp. She took a step back from me before running a hand through her hair. "Did you find anything?" She finally asked.

"He was still there when I got to the rooftop. I lost him near the sports wing." I blankly stated.

"The sports wing? Do you think he's an athlete, whoever is doing this?" She asked, panic rising in her voice.

"I thought you said it was the girls playing a joke on you," I said, and her face went pale. "How long has this been going on?"

A moment of silence passed between us before she finally spoke. "Not long. Last week at the party, he followed me home for the first time."

"No messages or threats before that?" I curiously questioned, and she simply shook her head in response.

I didn't reassure or comfort her. I just picked her up before putting her in bed. "I'll be in the living room if you need me."

I left her room without another word. I grabbed a pillow from my room before making myself comfortable on the living room couch.

I didn't sleep. I had to protect her. She had a stalker, and I intended to find him.

As soon as the sun was out, I pushed myself off the couch. I took a shower and got dressed in a grey hoodie and a matching pair of sweatpants.

I exited the bathroom and knocked on Hailey's door. "Rise and shine, Princess. Get ready, I'm giving you a ride to campus."

I entered my bedroom and grabbed my phone off my nightstand. The screen lit up with a message from my mom. I clicked on the call button and listened to the phone ringing, waiting for her to pick up.

"Ky?" She finally answered the call. "Did you eat the lasagna I made for you?" She asked in a bubbly tone.

"I ate it for dinner last night," I replied, a light smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.

"So, how's your new roommate? Josh told me it was a girl." She curiously whispered into the phone.

"When did you run into Josh?"

"Oh, he came into the mayor's office yesterday. That's when he told me about your new roommate." She excitedly explained. "Is she hot? I heard she's a cheerleader."

"She's a pain in my ass. Alright, Mom, I'll call you tonight." I muttered.

"Let me know when you're free. I want to come over for dinner and meet that hot roommate of yours." She uttered, and I rolled my eyes before ending the call.

I made my way into the kitchen and made myself a protein shake. Hailey came out of her room, bag slung over her shoulder.

"I'm ready," she muttered before running a hand through her hair.

I slowly ran my eyes over her cheerleading uniform. The thought of someone else seeing her like this made my blood boil. I clenched my jaw before leaving the house. I held the door open for and she brushed past me before making her way into the elevator.

She's going to pretend that nothing happened between us last night. The elevator doors closed behind us, and a smirk crept onto my face.

I reached out and slammed my palm against the emergency stop button. Hailey jumped in shock as the elevator came to an abrupt stop between floors.

"Kyren, what are you doing?" She asked as I stepped into her space. I didn't answer, I just boxed her in with my arms.

The scent of her, vanilla and that flowery soap she used, filled the small space inside the elevator until it was the only thing I could breathe.

"Listen to me, Princess," I rasped, my voice coming out dangerously low. "I'm only going to say this once. You don't breathe without my permission. You don't take a single step on this campus unless I'm the one leading you."

She tried to look away, but I caught her chin, forcing her to meet my gaze. My free hand dropped to the hemline of her skirt.

I slowly slid my fingers under the fabric of her skirt. My hand raked up her thigh, and her breathing hitched.

"And if I see you looking at the rookie, or any other guy, with anything but disgust, I'll make sure they never get the chance to look back at you," I threatened, my grip on her thigh tightening just enough to leave a mark.

"You can't control me, Kyren," she breathed, shamelessly arching toward me.

The defiance in her eyes was the final straw. I didn't want her to talk anymore. I wanted her to know who she belonged to.

I crashed my mouth against hers in a kiss that tasted of fury and a hunger I had been trying to drown in ice all week.

I bit her lip, and a needy whimper escaped her throat.

She was supposed to be a distraction. But as I pressed her into the wall, feeling her heart hammering against mine, I realized I'd never let another man touch her.

"You're mine, Hailey," I growled into her mouth, my thumb swiping over her bruised lip. "Don't ever forget it."

I hit the button, and the elevator groaned back into motion as if I hadn't just set my own world on fire.