Fire and Ice: Book One: Burned (The Fire and Ice Series 1) by Kiara Delaney Page B

it, even it meant I had to chase her down
the street, throw her over my shoulder, and drag her back kicking and
screaming. It wasn't usually how I got women to scream for me, but I had a
sneaking suspicion Hailey wasn't just going to roll over and wipe her hands
clean of the mess I'd made tonight, regardless of the fact that I'd saved her
ass tonight.
     
    I gingerly
turned the doorknob, pushing the door, as it creaked midway open. Hailey's head
swung towards me, her eyes that of a deer's caught in the headlights. She was
sitting on the edge of the opposite side of the bed, her back to me, and I
could tell by her red-rimmed eyes that she'd been crying. Fuck! I absolutely hate when chicks cry. I never know
what to do. My mother used to cry all the time, and I had no clue how to
comfort her.
     
    A sense of
immense dread flooded my system as Hailey turned away from me and bowed her
head. I leaned against the doorframe, trying to collect my thoughts, hoping a
light bulb moment would pop into my mind and rescue me; but there would be no
easy way out tonight. I was going to have to eat shit and man the fuck up.
     
    I sighed and
pushed off of the doorframe, walked around the bed, and knelt down in front of
Hailey. As I'd figured, she made no attempt to make eye contact with me. I
place my finger under her chin in an effort to bring her eyes to mine, as I
said, "Look at me."
     
    She pulled away
from me instantly, gritting out, "Don't touch me!"
     
    Jesus, I
figured she'd want answers. I didn't think she'd shut me out completely. I had
to get her to listen to me. I blew out a frustrated breath, and combed my
fingers through my hair before I said, "Hailey, I can explain what
happened. It's not what it looked like."
     
    She shot me a
fiery glare, and half laughed, as tears welled up in her eyes. "Well
that's awfully convenient Kellan! How many
times have you used that line?"
     
    "Hailey,
you have to believe me...just let me explain."
     
    "Ha! I
should believe you, why? Oh yeah...because I should be able to tell when a
fucking liar is telling the truth!"
     
    She was
squeezing me by the balls, and I didn't take that shit; definitely not from
smart-ass women. She was fueling the fire that simmered just below the surface
at all times, ready to ignite at a moment's notice, and I was defenseless to
it. The flames that consumed me were a coping mechanism. Once set ablaze, they
were an unstoppable force within me.
     
    ******
     
    Hailey
     
    I couldn't
believe this jackass was trying to convince me I was...what?...seeing things
earlier tonight? That I'd gotten it all wrong? Hello!
I have eyes. I know what I witnessed. There's no use in him 'explaining'
anything. Lies. Georgia was right. And now I know she knew all too well because
she's screwing Kellan behind my back! Wait...what?
It's not like you're seeing him. But then again, she said she could tell
I had it bad for him, so why would she go after him herself? I mean, Girl Code,
right?
     
    Well...I guess
technically she had met him before she met me, so it's really not fair to
accost her for sleeping with him. But, damnit! Why didn't she just come out and
tell me, rather than try and warn me off of him, like she was doing me a favor?
I may have been disappointed, but I wouldn't be crushed by all the lies. I
honestly wish Jordan were here. I wish he had been the one to swoop in when
those guys were giving me trouble. I wish I were at his house, relaxing and
talking and...
     
    Pulled from my
thoughts, Kellan stood up abruptly, threw a fist into the wall, and narrowed
his eyes on me, yelling, "Don't you ever accuse me of being a fucking liar, got it Princess?" My eyes grew wide and
I began to shake with fear, my mouth hanging open as Kellan stomped out of the
bedroom, slamming the door behind himself as the walls rattled.

Chapter Twelve
     
    Kellan
     
    Fuck this. Fuck
her. Fuck it all. I don't need this shit. I slammed the door behind myself, and
slid down the wall, slumping against