The Ice Next Door

Chapter 5

HADLEY

I don't know why, but I'm half expecting to see Sebastian still inside my bedroom when I get out of the shower, so I purposely re-enter wearing only a towel. But he's not there and my heart drops a little bit. I still can't get over the fact that he was here in the first place, like actually inside my bedroom.

As if needing a reminder other than my memory, I walk over and pick up my cellphone from my bed where the picture he snapped of himself is still on the screen.

God, that boy is hot. And this picture is mine. He took it just for me.

And he's taking me to school too. Is this real life? A dream come true?

But I shouldn't make him wait too long.

I shed my towel and quickly get dressed, slipping into a long black skirt with buckles and slits down each leg and pair it with a flowy shimmery gold sweater, before stopping at my door for some boots. They're not much help in the cold weather or the snow forecasted today, but they're cute. Besides, I haven't walked through snow in years. Not since the last time I skated on the frozen pond years ago.

A buzz from my phone pulls me away from my mirror as I'm styling my light red hair. Before I go check it, I clip half of my hair up with a beautiful bejeweled barrette, making sure to frame my face with thin, curly strands and then head over to my bed.

It's a text from Sebastian. And the contact photo is the one he took of his abs.

When did he put his number into my phone?

SEBASTIAN: I'M OUTSIDE. COME ON DOWN, LITTLE STALKER.

ME: I'M ON MY WAY. NICE CONTACT PHOTO.

SEBASTIAN: I DID THAT BEFORE I LEFT YOUR BEDROOM. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE I DID SOMETHING ELSE TOO.

Stopping, I take a moment to survey my room. What else could he have done? My room is full of things he could have gotten into, so many pieces of jewelry he could rummage through, so many pictures he could have seen. Or...

My heart stops.

The embarrassing journal I keep underneath my mattress that's filled with pictures and clippings of Sebastian and his hockey accomplishments.

Or the even more damning one containing very salacious writing.

I want to check the journals. I need to make sure they're still right where I left them. But another text comes through.

SEBASTIAN: I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT MUCH LONGER, HADLEY. GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE NOW.

That settles it then. Grabbing my backpack and tossing one strap over my shoulder, I race down the stairs, stop to put on my jacket, then I leave my house.

Sebastian's white wrangler jeep is parked there waiting for me and he gives me a wave from the driver's seat.

"Hello, again." He smiles, watching as I climb inside his vehicle. Pegging the skirt on my legs, he adds, "How was your shower? Was it hot...or cold this morning?"

I give him a pointed look and fasten my seat belt. "It was a normal shower. Nothing out of the ordinary. "

School is only a twenty minute drive, so we don't have long to talk on the way, but that doesn't stop Sebastian from doing his best to tease me.

"Oh, so a cold one then?" He snickers and shakes his head, readjusting his hand on the steering wheel to pull the vehicle away from the curb.

"Why would it be cold?"

"Because you watch me take off every morning and I bet it makes you all hot and bothered." He c***s his head to grin at me, making my belly flip. Damn him.

I giggle at that. While he's a gorgeous walking wet dream, it takes more than just a glance to get this motor running. Okay, it doesn't. But he doesn't need to know that. "You think I'm affected by you with just a look?" I do my best to put on a blank facade, mustering up a bored sigh.

"I know you are, little stalker. Don't try to play modest with me." He says, confidence radiating off from the smile on his face with arrogant pride. "Have you ever touched yourself in the shower to thoughts of me running off into the woods? Maybe use the wand to clean...the dirty, dirty part below your waist?" He c***s a brow.

I have. More times than I can count. But I get to keep that to myself—because we pull into the school parking lot outside the cafeteria before I'm forced to answer. Realizing this, I suck air between my teeth to rub it in, "Oooooh, looks like we're here. Sorry." I quickly unbuckle and hop out of the jeep, then sling my backpack over one shoulder.

He laughs and does the same, catching me before I walk away. "Not so fast, stalker. We should meet up at lunch so we can write up a contract. Ya know, go over the rules and stipulations of our arrangement." He grabs my hand and stops me from leaving.

"Why would we need a contract?" I ask with a nervous chuckle. The deal between us is as simple as it gets. I help him pass Science and he f***s me in return. Where is there any room for Grey there? It's pretty straightforward.

"You should always have a contract when dealing in matters such as these. So what do you say? Meet me in the library at lunch?" He pops a questioning brow, his amber-tinted eyes shining in the sunlight.

I still don't understand why he wants to meet up to discuss the deal further, but I agree anyway. "Sure. I'll meet you there, Sebastian."

"Good. Have a good first half of classes. I'll be seeing you." He finally lets go of my hand and sends me off with a mocking salute.

And then he's gone before I can wish the same to him. Swallowed up by a fast moving swarm of students that flood to the doors of the gym.

Now how am I supposed to focus on the first three subjects of the day when I'll be seeing him again later?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEBASTIAN

When the second lunch bell rings through the school, I'm already waiting for Hadley in the back of the library, in the natural history section where no one visits unless projects in English call for the old books stashed here, sitting at a table and listening to the quieted conversations happening a few rows away from me.

There are sets of footsteps that draw near, but none of them approach the section I'm in.

Maybe I should text her and let her know where I am.

Just as I pull out my phone to do just that, Hadley finally turns the corner and gives me a weary look as she makes her way over to the table. "You didn't tell me where you would be." She huffs as she takes the seat across from me.

"But you found me at last." I smile, then notice her notebook. "I take it we'll be using your notebook for the contract?"

"I didn't know if you'd come prepared, and I always do, so." She shrugs. "Shall we get started?" She sets the notebook down and flips to a blank page.

"Come over here first." I pull out the chair next to me and pat it.

Her eyebrows knit together as she thinks, looking at me like I migght have ulterior motives. "Umm. Okay."

Once she's settled in beside me, she begins to write The contract on the top of the page in pretty penmanship.

I chuckle. What a boring name. "The contract?" I sigh.

"What else should I call it?" She tilts her head.

"Something clever...how about The Pucking Hockey Stick Contract." I chuckle, taking the pen from her to write the new name myself, scribbling in the new words above her old ones.

"The pucking hockey stick contract?" She reads, looking confused and unenthusiastic.

"Yeah. That is what you want, isn't it, my hockey stick?" I nudge her with my elbow, thinking back on something Devin said. I didn't find it funny before, but seeing the smile appear on Hadley's face makes me second guess Devin's humor.

"You did not just say that." She shakes her head and laughs.

"I did. And what a nice hockey stick it is, Hadley." I wiggle my eyebrows playfully, noticing that dimple in her cheek again. And the infectious allure of her laughter.

"Okay, okay, you wanted us to meet so you obviously have something you want to add to the contract. What is it?" The smile fades from her face as she gets down to business, writing up the professional part of the document.

I read everything she writes, offering up my middle name when she stops for it— even though she probably already knows it. "Owen." I also learn that hers is Eleanor.

Hadley Eleanor Berry. It's nice. A big, beautiful mouthful.

Just like she is.

Soon, a well written contract forms and reads:

This contract is entered into by and between Sebastian Owen Tate, and Hadley Eleanor Berry. The term of this agreement shall begin on November, 21st 2024 and shall continue through the termination date of ?

The specific terms of this contract are as follows:

1. Sebastian Owen Tate passes Science class with Hadley Eleanor Berry's help. In return, Sebastian Owen Tate agrees to share a night with Hadley Eleanor Berry—to do whatever she requests of him. No questions asked.

"That's a good start, I think. What else?" She flips the pen around and taps the end against the paper while she waits for my answer.

I shrug. I have something in mind, but I'll let her go first. "What do you want to add to it, little stalker?"

"I don't know." She sighs.

It tells me there's something on her mind. Something she doesn't want to say outloud, and certaintly not to me.

"Sure you do. It can be anything at all. What stipulations do you want to enforce here? What things do you want me to abide by?" I put her on the spot, glancing down at her leg where her skirt doesn't cover. My hand would fit around it like a cuff.

She purses her lips like something has clicked in her head and then starts to write again.

2: Sebastian Owen Tate cannot touch another girl and must remain celibate during the remainder of the contract.

My mouth falls open and I let out a small gasp of surprise. For the playboy of the school, she's just wounded me where it hurts most. I don't f**k around nowhere near as much as the rest of the guys on the team, but that doesn't mean that I don't want the freedom and option to. I go to parties every weekend. I participate in parties every weekend. How am I supposed to stop? My c**k aches to express objection. How does that saying go... being told you can't have something only works to make you want it more.

"Now when you say touch—"

"I mean no touching anyone. Not just s****l things, either. No kissing, no hugging, not so much as a high five between you and another girl." She cuts me off with a shake of her head.

Why does that need to be a rule? Does she want me to suffer with blue balls? Is she hoping that I cave and offer to have s*x with her before she fulfills her end of the bargain? Or does she want to make me as desperate as humanly possible so that the world explodes as I do when I finally f**k her? Well, that is pretty much guaranteed at this point. I haven't gotten my d**k wet in weeks.

We can even use her naughty little "Ice King" Playlist for the occasion.

Seeing that I'm fighting demons beside her, she continues, "That's the deal, Sebastian, take it or leave it." She finds my gaze and tilts her head like she knows she's got me right where she wants me.

It's annoying, all haughty and bold, but f**k if my spine doesn't burn at the piercing green in her eyes.

But two can play that game. "I'll agree to that, little stalker. I won't lay a goddamn finger on any girl...but I want to make a rule of my own." I snatch the pen away again and jot down my additions.

3: Hadley Eleanor Berry cannot pleasure herself unless Sebastian Owen Tate gives her permission or is there to watch.

Her gasp of shock is louder than mine. "You can't do that!"

"I just did."

"That's different than what I requested of you. I said you couldn't touch anyone else, I didn't say you couldn't touch yourself." She argues, a flare of frustration in her cheeks in pink. It's hot, I can't lie.

My deep laugh stretches between us. "You started to play this game first. And I don't lose. Check my record, darling. Better yet, check the scoreboard during the next game."

"Is this you inviting me?" She asks, her brow quirking up in interest.

I guess it is. "Will you be there?"

"Do you want me to be?" She holds out.

I'll let her have this one. "Sure." I shrug. "How else are you supposed to realize that I don't lose any game that I play."

She nods and returns to the contract. "Now we sign our names at the bottom."

So we do.

The contract is set.

No turning back now.

"That's it. That's the contract and all of the rules regarding it." She says, a sigh of relief on her lips.

"I guess so. The only thing left to do is to seal it with a kiss." I suggest. It's the same suggestion I made when I propositioned her with the deal in the first place, so it seems fitting here after entering into the agreement on a more serious term. Besides, that last kiss was a tease. A little snippet of what's to come.

"Right." She responds apprehensively, giving her bottom lip a little bite as I slowly lean in and stare at her mouth. A sudden impulse to bite that lip myself takes hold, but I let it pass even as my stomach clenches.

I expect impatience to draw her lips to mine any second, or at the least meet me halfway. But she doesn't. She waits for me to make the first move. Breathlessly awaiting the moment our mouths touch again.

So I kiss her. I don't stretch the moment out. I press my lips firmly against hers and I hold them there, waiting for her to react or try to push it deeper. But she doesn't do that either. She gives me a quick peck and pulls away with a smile, that rosy blush cascading down her neck and spreading across her chest.

"That's it?" I whisper, a little disappointed that she doesn't appear to be as eager as she was before, reaching out to grasp her chair, "Don't I owe you a real kiss, stalker?" I give it a sharp jerk and she gasps sharply as it scrapes across the floor and brings her closer to me, "What do you consider a real kiss, anyway? You never told me. Is it a kiss where I stick my tongue into your mouth? Is it a kiss where I cup your face–" Her honey eyes fall into me as I slide my hand up to caress her cheek, my thumb running over her plump bottom lip, "A kiss where I bite on this? Suck?"

Another gasp rockets out between her parted lips, her gaze fluttering and swimming all at once as her chest rises and falls faster with her accelerated heart rate. But she doesn't speak. She nods her head as if that's the only thing she can get her brain to do.

"Is that what you want, Hadley? Do you want my tongue in your pretty mouth?" I murmur lower so that it's a vibration between us, caressing her bottom lip once more and feeling the wave of lust in my gut.

Her eyelids flutter closed at the thought. Another nod of her head. And f**k if my d**k doesn't twitch at the little hopeful sound of delight that slips out of her.

I'd like to kiss her. I'd like to grab her face and f*****g desecrate her mouth with my lips and tongue and eat up every one of her sexy little sounds.

Maybe I will.

Leaning in again, my hand snakes around her neck and I start to bring her closer, my lips just a breath away, so close that I can feel her warmth on my mouth. Her eyes close, a sigh leaves her—

"Just what is going on back here?!" The librarian catches us just before our mouths meet again in a kiss that could burn the whole school down. Hadley quickly pulls away as I groan out frustration and let my hand slowly fall away from her.

"Contrary to what you students seem to think, this table wasn't put back here so you can play tonsil hockey with each other. Now, run along Mr. Tate before I call your coach down here so he can see just what his star player has been up to." The librarian adds, posting her hands on her hips to give us her lecture. Normally I wouldn't give a s**t about being caught like this with a girl, but I'm already treading on very f*****g thin ice with my coach and a little situation like this could land me in ice water.

And I don't want that.

"I'm sorry. We're going." Hadley stands up and starts to gather her things.

Ignoring the librarian, I dart after her. "Wait. Let me have the contract. I'll make a copy next period. "

"Okay." She nods, finding her notebook and handing it over. "You can give it back on the way home."

"You don't need it?"

"I don't use that one for classes. It's more for miscellaneous stuff." She says, and it's hard not to focus on the tint of pink still on her cheeks from the moment we shared. Or how much I want to create another one.

A bell sounds out through the school. We've got five minutes to make it to our next class. It means I have to let her go. I don't want her to be late. And God knows I can't be.

"See you after school, stalker." I bid her adieu and then go about my way, wondering if I'll be thinking about kissing her again for the rest of the day like I think I will.