TEMPTING THE ICE KING

My eyes stayed on Kyren as he entered a dimly lit room down the hallway.

The door locked with a soft click, and my heart started hammering against my ribs. He placed me on the ground before possessively gripping a fist full of my ass.

"You're in my world now. And in my world, I take what I want." He rasped, his lips brushing against mine. His minty breath fanned against my cheeks. And the smell of sandalwood mixed with shower gel drove me to the brink of insanity.

He was standing too close.

"I have an assignment that's due tomorrow. I have to go." I lied through my teeth.

One of his hands slowly slid over my ribcage and over the sensitive peaks of my breasts, forming under the thin material of my uniform. His thumb found a sensitive spot on my neck, and my breathing hitched. "Consider this your last warning, Princess. If you don't, I'm going to leave marks on you that no cheerleader uniform can hide."

His head dipped as he placed an erotic kiss on my neck that sent a shiver down my spine. Heat coiled low in my belly as he gave my ass one last squeeze.

"Do you understand?" He asked, his teeth grazing my neck.

"Yes. I understand." I breathed out, and his hands dropped to his sides. A triumphant smirk rested on his face as his silver orbs slowly ran over my frightened form.

He unlocked the door and wordlessly stepped outside. I landed a trembling hand on my chest. I grabbed my phone from my back pocket, and my eyes widened at the time.

I promised my dad I'd be home at 10 P.M.

I texted Jia, saying I was leaving early. She replied with a kissy face, and I slid my phone back inside my back pocket before leaving the frat house.

Once the doors shut behind me, the cold air bit into my skin. I ran a slow hand through my hair before threading forward. I made my way to my dad's place on campus, but something felt off.

I felt watched. Like someone was following me home. I nervously looked over my shoulder and found a thin man wearing a black hoodie standing behind me.

He waved at me, and all the blood drained from my body. I started running towards my dad's apartment, which was right around the corner. I looked over my shoulder again and found the man running toward me at full force.

I grabbed my phone and rushed to call my dad's number but he wasn't picking up. "Come on, Dad."

I ran past the security post and punched in the key code at the door, as the sound of HIS footsteps became louder. The door opened with a soft click, and I slipped inside. I slumped onto the ground, clutching my knees to my chest.

Who the hell was that? Who on earth would follow me all the way to my house in the middle of the night? I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Hailey? Is that you, Sweetheart?" My dad asked from inside the living room, his voice thick with sleep.

I dried the last of my tears before getting up from where I was sitting, crouched down. I fixed my clothes in an attempt to look normal again.

My dad found me in the middle of the hallway, and before he could say anything, I tightly wrapped my arms around him.

"You're freezing, Sweetheart." He muttered before placing a kiss on top of my head. "I fell asleep on the couch. Did something happen?"

I slowly pulled back before shaking my head in response. "I'm fine. Congratulations on the big win tonight." I smiled up at him.

"Thank you." He muttered with a smile on his face. "You were kicking ass out there too tonight." He said before giving me a high five.

"I guess being awesome runs in the family." I joked, and my dad just smiled at me.

"Next time, have a friend drop you off. I thought we talked about this, Hailey Jade." He started, a light frown creasing his brows.

"I'm fine, Dad. I just had a weird day." I lied, and his jaw clenched. I think he knew that I was lying, but he let it slide this time.

"Get some sleep. Aren't you moving into your new place tomorrow?"

"I am. Goodnight, Dad." I muttered before making my way inside my bedroom. I shut the windows inside before locking the door behind me.

I took a warm shower before getting dressed for bed. I loosened my hair before opening my desk drawer. I pulled out a small taser before crawling under my bedsheets. I placed the taser under my pillowcase before going to sleep.

The next morning, I tiredly rolled out of bed. I did my morning routine and pulled on some baggy sweats paired with a white crop top.

By the time I left my room, my dad was done loading my things into his car. "You want me gone this bad?" I joked, and he lightly chuckled before ruffling up my hair.

"It's about damn time." He laughed. "I think I'm gonna start dating again." He announced, and I pulled my face in distaste.

"Ew. Don't tell me you're planning on bringing random ladies over." I started, and he shot me a warning look. "What I meant was, don't become the promiscuous type."

"Watch your tongue." He said before getting in on his side of the car.

"If you become a player, I'll move back in." I pointedly stated, and he just laughed.

He smiled over at me before letting out a heavy sigh. "Why does it feel like you're moving to another country? Come over for dinner at least once a week." He uttered before we started driving in the direction of my new suite on campus.

"Dad, I'm not dying. And you'll still see me every day." I joked before turning the radio on.

"Alright, I'll stop." He raised his hands in surrender before placing them back on the steering wheel.

After a five-minute drive, we stopped in front of a skyscraper building. I jumped out of the car before going up to my new room while my dad carried my luggage.

I entered the key code at the door before making my way inside. Soft music was coming from somewhere inside the suite. It must have been my new roommate.

My dad carried in the last of my things before narrowing his eyes at me. "Have you met your new roommate yet?"

"No. She's probably in her room." I blankly replied.

"Go knock on the door. I want to meet them before I leave."

"You knock on the door." I snapped back before slumping onto a barstool behind the kitchen island.

My dad breathed out a frustrated sigh before going over to the room where the music was coming from. I kept my eyes glued to my cellphone screen as he knocked on the door.

The door opened, and my dad started chuckling. He sounded pleasantly surprised. "My star player." He uttered, and my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach.

"Coach Ronan, what are you doing here?" Kyren's voice filled the air.

"I'm dropping my daughter off at her new apartment. She's your new roommate." My dad explained before pointing in my direction, and I turned my head to the side.

"I think she's shy." My dad uttered, but he was only making matters worse for me. "Sweetheart, come here. Come meet your new roommate."

"No. I'm okay." I chirped out while hiding my face behind my hand.

"Hailey Jade." My dad seethed through his teeth, and I pursed my lips together before slowly walking over to them.

My dad shot me a warning look. And Kyren had a clean smirk on his face.

"Hailey is actually a big fan of you." My dad lied through his teeth, and I shot him an angered look.

"No, I'm not." I corrected, and Kyren started laughing at the two of us.

"Be nice. I was just joking." My dad said, before joining Kyren's laughter, and I just glared at them in disbelief.

"Take good care of my daughter, Wolfe." My dad uttered, his expression suddenly becoming serious.

Kyren's eyes darkened as they landed on me. "Don't worry, Coach. She's perfectly safe with me," he assured my dad, the threat in his voice not going unnoticed by me.