The Ice Next Door

Chapter 3

HADLEY

I'm following Sebastian Tate through the woods after school, doing my best to keep a fair distance between us so he doesn't notice. But a misplaced step snaps a decaying branch beneath my feet and perks his head up. Thinking fast, I dart behind a nearby tree.

A blanket of silence falls over the forest, other than a few chirps and squeaks from birds and insects as he studies the atmosphere around him, standing still like he's laser-focused on the sounds in the air.

I hold my breath and try to still my heart. And I think I'm safe, so I start to move again...until he calls out.

“Come out here.” Sebastian’s deep booming voice halts my steps and makes the birds take flight on a stump beside me.“I know you’re behind that tree.”

Shit.

I knew I’d be found out one of these days. But I didn’t think it would be today. Especially because it’s raining and grey and he had his earbuds in to mask snapping sticks.

What made him turn around anyway? Maybe he sensed someone was following him. Maybe he doesn’t know it's me.

“Do you want me to force you to move?” His voice is there again in the shape of a threat. And my heart bottoms out.

Fuck. f**k. s**t.

Time to weigh my options.

I could try running—but Sebastian is the star Center of the Hockey team and is used to chasing down a puck. He’d catch me without challenge, without exerting energy. He doesn't need to be on ice to be the fastest guy at school.

I could try throwing a rock in another direction and hope it creates a diversion long enough for me to get away—but I doubt he’d fall for an obvious trick like that.

I could keep ignoring him and just play dead like you’re supposed to do if being hunted by a bear and hope that he moves on.

Yeah, I know, I cringed as I thought that.

Or I could just woman up and find out what he wants—because it’s certainly not me. He’s never even muttered one word to me in the past four years I’ve known him. There’s no way he knows it’s me.

With my mind made up, I gulp air and carefully slip out from behind the thick trunk of the tree, fully prepared to face the music—but once I see Sebastian Tate standing there in all his glory, an expectant look on his pretty face and his arms crossed over his muscly chest, I panic.

I react without thinking, shooting off in the opposite direction, my legs burning to propel me across the uneven terrain and dirt.

As expected, he catches up to me almost instantly, lassoing a thick arm around my torso to deposit me against another tree. Fear makes me back up and he uses it to his advantage, clasping my wrists together in one hand with ease and pinning me to the mossy trunk.

“I didn’t think you’d run from me.” He says, sardonically, like he’s talking to himself out loud, his gorgeous gold eyes doing their best to daze me stiff.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, my chest heaving as my breathing skyrockets to dangerous levels.

His response is an amused chuckle that emanates from his belly, “Please...I know all about you, Hadley Berry. I know all about your crush. You’re obsessed with me.”

He did know it was me after all.

I suppose I haven’t been very sneaky about my so-called crush on him, so I’m not surprised that he knows. But still, I can’t admit it. Hearing it out loud makes me seem pathetic. Crazy. A taaad bit unhinged. And maybe I am. But I don’t want him to think that.

“I’m not.” I shake my head and argue.

“No?” He c***s his head, “So you don’t watch my Hockey practices? You don’t watch me take off for my morning runs? You don’t pass by the gym when you know that I’m in there...” His gaze turns personal as he interrogates me, “You don’t want to kiss me?

Like clockwork, my tongue slips between my lips to rat me out, wetting my bottom one at the mention of a kiss—and damnit—that wasn’t subtle. At all.

“That’s what I thought. ” He snickers because his point has been proven.

I’m kind of shocked. I didn’t even think he knew who I was before today. Sure, he's seen me outside of the gym before, but he's never said anything to me, or acknowledged me much either. “Okay, so you know how I feel about you. Can I go now?”

“And just how do you feel about me?” He wonders curiously, searching my face.

Ohhh no. I’m not saying another damn word.

He knows how I feel. He’s only looking to torture me now.

“I don’t feel anything about you.” I roll my eyes.

“So, you’re not in love with me?” His chiseled face is serious, all the while he bites back a laugh.

A manic giggle slips out before I can stop it. That’s ridiculous, “I am definitely not in love with you.”

“That’s right. You’re just obsessed with me.” He smirks wider, and it feels like a blast has hit my legs.

Goddamn him!

“Will you stop saying that?” I stamp my foot and complain. It’s embarrassing to be reminded of the stupid little crush I have, especially when it only seems to amuse him.

He chuckles again, seemingly enjoying himself, “Relax, would you? It works out better this way.”

“What does?”

“Getting what I want from you.” He adds.

What could he possibly want from me?

I try to hold back my shock. But I fail. Miserably. “What do I have that you need?”

“I have a proposition for you, little stalker.” He finally lets go of my wrists and steps back to give me some space now that he’s certain he has my attention. I miss the heat of his palm almost instantly.

Rubbing my wrists, I narrow my eyes and ignore the nickname, “What proposition?”

He lifts a finger and taps me on the nose, in a condescending way, “I’ll give you what you want if you give me what I want.”

Did I hear that right?

“And just what do I want?” I scoff and act clueless as heat burns my cheeks.

“Are you that much of a glutton for punishment?” He raises a curious brow. Apparently, I am. I don’t budge, so he continues, “You want to have s*x with me. The whole school knows it.” He says unapologetically, deep, and raspy, leaving no room for objection.

There’s no use in denying it or trying to lie. So I don’t. Besides, it's not like I’m the only girl who gets all hot and bothered by him. I’m one of four hundred or so. But I refrain from making a sound of guilt and pretend I’m not fazed. “And what do you want?”

“I want to pass Science and be able to stay on the team, which means that I need a lab partner.” He explains, “The smartest lab partner. That's where you come in.”

It takes my poor brain a while to catch up as I try to talk my way through it all, “So let me get this straight... if I help you—”

“I’ll f**k you.” He cuts me off with a shrug, leaving the dirty promise hanging in the woodsy air around us. His eyes glow like suns to entice me, coax me to falter.

Holy.

Shit.

This can’t be real. I’m still sleeping. I never woke up for school. I never left my house. I’m still snoring away in my bed.

There is no way that Sebastian Tate—the f*****g star of all of my dreams and fantasies—is standing before me offering to take me to his bed.

“So what do you say, little stalker?” His dark voice is there to break up the fog clouding my thoughts.

“I... uh—” All words fail me, and I stutter and fumble over my words. I don’t know what to say—and that never happens to me. I’m usually quick with the quips, a fast thinker, and an insulter on my toes.

I know what I want to say...but my mouth won’t work. The word won’t leave my tongue. My brain won’t function to send the signals down the nerves.

“Hell...I’ll even sweeten the pot for you,” He murmurs, interrupting once more, his hand reaching up to brush my cheek as a way to shock me back to reality. I flinch with a gasp at the contact as his warm masculine scent wafts up and holds me hostage, urging my knees to buckle. “I’ll kiss you right now if you agree to help me.”

I’ll kiss you right now.

Oh. God.

My unfortunate brain short circuits. Again. Help him with what? What was he asking me again? My gaze drops to his mouth. That perfect, strong mouth. I want it on me. I need him to kiss me. I want it so bad that I’ll beg if he wants me to.

“So, what’s it gonna be?” He pops a brow and drifts his face teasingly closer as a way to jumpstart my system. He’s so close that I can feel his warm breath on my lips, ghosting a kiss over my mouth. “Will you be my Lab partner and help me pass Science so that I can remain on the team?”

The burn of anticipation flares on my cheeks as my eyelids flutter closed. I’ve fantasized about Sebastian Tate for years. Longed to be this close to him. To touch him. To have his face so close to mine. To taste his breath. His mouth.

I’ll do anything he wants me to. I will agree to whatever he wants. I’ll accept any deal he presents. Sam will have no problem finding someone else to partner up with. He'd understand. Encourage me, even.

“Yes,” I mutter, nodding my head like a fool because that’s all I can make my body do. Seriously, I must look like such a dunce to him.

“Yes, what?” He raises his voice an octave, waiting for further confirmation as he brushes my cheek again.

“I’ll...I’ll be your lab partner. I’ll help you pass your class.” I nod once more, way too enthusiastically.

A victorious smirk curves his glorious mouth as his dazzling golden gaze plunges deep into my green eyes, halting my breath for a second, “Then I suppose all that’s left to do now is seal the deal with a kiss...Isn’t that right, stalker?” He lowers his mouth to my ear and devastates me with a whisper that I feel against my skin.

Yes.

Kiss me...please.

Butterflies take flight inside my belly and make me dizzy. Fire races up my spine and explodes to every limb.

Oh.

My.

God.

I’m going to kiss Sebastian Tate.

Is this real life?

If it’s not and I’m sleeping somewhere in a coma then nobody better wake me up!

“Yes,” I mumble and flick my eyes to his, feeling myself sway forward.

He chuckles, low and throaty, and my thighs ache as his hand travels down to my throat. I gasp at the new touch as his long fingers tap across my skin just above the collar of my shirt.

“Are you ready for me?” He mutters, purposely husky to further push me over the edge. The guy likes to make me nervous. Enjoys watching me squirm.

My response is a desperate plea, “Uh-huh,” and just when I think the agonizing anticipation is going to send me up in flames, he finally brings his firm lips down against mine.

All at once, planets collide behind my eyes. Stars burn brighter and then burst. Lightning strikes somewhere around the world as this boy kisses me.

A moan I can’t control leaks out as my greedy hands dart out to grab onto him, my fingers biting into the cotton of his shirt and the hard muscle at his sides as I try to push the kiss deeper. I want to feel his tongue. I need to taste him. Need him to taste me.

He allows me to touch him, and his strong lips press against mine with more pressure, but he doesn’t part his mouth to let me in... and then he pulls away altogether, removing my hands from his body. Leaving me breathless, antsy and falling.

“You are an eager one aren’t you, my little stalker.” He teases, swiping his thumb across my bottom lip.

My eyes blaze with lust. Yes. I’m eager. For him. Only for him.

Still drowning beneath the hazy scarlet fog of desire, I open my mouth and bite the tip of his thumb, earning a surprised sigh from his lips.

Is it me or do his eyes look darker?

“And you’re a goddamn tease.” I snap.

He likes my verbal jabs, though, and one-ups me quickly, “Hadley, help me pass my class and I won’t be teasing you, darling.”

Darling?

Does this guy want to make sure I can’t walk?

“What’s the matter? Do you want my tongue?” He places his hands against the tree above my head to box me in, and my eyes move to the tensing muscles in his arms below the sleeves of his shirt. The guy is seriously built like a teenage wet dream, “Is that what’s got your panties into a bunch?”

My pupils dilate as he slides the tip of his tongue across his top lip. A lump of lust lodges in my throat. My cheeks tingle with need. My body trembles for stimulation, and I mentally beg my hips not to buck towards him. It all affects my voice, so much that I don’t recognize it. “I... I want a real kiss.”

“What will you do for it?” His eyes smoke over with the question. It’s obvious he’s testing me, seeing where my boundaries are.

Well, I’m about to stun him speechless— because I will do whatever the hell he wants me to do just for a kiss. A real kiss. And I don’t give a s**t if that makes me weak or desperate...or whatever. I’ve wanted him too long to care about anything else.

“Anything.” I don’t waver.

Clicking his tongue, he backs away, “Will you get on your knees in the mud for me?”

I don’t say anything. I take a bold step forward and lock my stare on him as I lower to my knees to the mushy dirt and wet grass, popping a snarky brow in challenge as I sink into the earth.

I haven’t shocked him. I’ve impressed him. Stepping in front of my face, his hips at eye level, he glares down at me and grasps my hair with one hand, and I gasp...

But just when I think he’s going to bring my face into the hard bulge evident at his crotch...he withdraws his hand and backs off.

“That’s for another time, Hadley.” He shakes his head, his tone a deeper octave as if he’s just as turned on as I am.

I’m silent as I stand back up and attempt to brush off some debris from my jeans, even though I know the green and brown stains are there to stay. I won’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. “Then, since we’re all done here, I have to go clean myself off. But this has been fun.” I smart back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Stalker.” He dismisses, his jaw clenching like he wants to say something more.

Stalker. Ugh. I wish he would see me as more than that.

Turning my back on him, I begin to walk away, fighting with the nerves and muscles in my legs the whole way. I swear to god if I collapse where he can see me, I’ll... “Can’t wait.”

“I bet you can’t.” He calls after me, and I can hear the smile in his voice. A proud snicker follows, reverberating against the woods around us to mock me some more as I put more distance between us and head out of there.