Lahat ng Kabanata ng FORBIDDEN ICE: CLAIMING THE CAPTAIN'S SISTER: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

CHAPTER 22THIN WALLS, THINNER LINES ISLAIn case you've been wondering how long it takes to go from being in cloud nine drastically back down to earth, I'll tell you for free. It takes just a millisecond, and you'll crash harder than you've ever crashed.That was how hard I crashed when I heard footsteps outside the door to the stairwell. I crashed so hard I froze on impact. It wasn't the dramatic kind of freeze where your body tenses all at once, but the terrifying one where everything inside you goes quiet at first. Rowan was still against me, his breath warm near my ear, my hands resting on my waist with him still buried deeply inside me when the sound reached us.It was right outside the stairwell and I internally began to curse whoever the footsteps belonged to.My fingers locked instinctively, my spine flattening harder against the wall like if I became part of it, I’d vanish into it. Rowan's body stilled too, every one of his muscles going alert in a protective and controlle

CHAPTER 24WHEN DISTANCE BREAKSELLISYou know how you feel when you feel something calling your name? That was exactly how I felt when I looked towards the door. I wasn’t supposed to be looking at the door. I was supposed to be in my own space, enjoying the music and alcohol while trying not to think about her. I’d been doing a decent job of it too, standing by the window with a drink I’d downed in half, letting conversations wash over me without really hearing them.Then the door opened.And just like that, everything in me paused and focused on the entrance. Holy fuck!For a second, my brain refused to catch up with my eyes. Isla stood there like she’d stepped out of a different world entirely—no oversized hoodie, no layers meant to disappear into. The dress hugged her in a way that felt unfair, soft fabric tracing lines I had memorized in other way and other moments I wasn’t supposed to think about anymore.My grip tightened around my cup but I couldn't get my eyes off her. She

CHAPTER 26THIN ICEISLAI think there's only two people in this universe, and that's me and Noah. At least, that's how it feels like with him staring into my eyes with such intensity. I didn't bother to look away, even though the thought alone scares me. Noah's eyes hold mine, brimming with darkness and steadiness and in that moment, the world narrows down to the space between our faces. His thumb was warm at the base of my neck, his breath brushing my cheek. My thoughts betray me, drifting somewhere dangerous, somewhere heated and entirely inappropriate. I imagine closeness, weight and the kind of intimacy that makes your knees weak and your judgment disappear.I swallow and forced myself to blink. “You’re staring,” I mummur. “So are you,” I whisper back.Something flickers in his gaze—satisfaction, maybe relief, and then his hand slips from my neck to my wrist. For a second, I thought he'd tug or do something else, but instead, he just turns around and started walking like he

CHAPTER 28WHAT LINGERS IN THE DARKISLAI can't count how many times in my life time I've prayed for the ground to open for me to drop in it, but this particular moment was the most desperate time. The time I'd urinated on my body in fifth grade, the time my brother had caught me outside with a boy in eight grade, the time I'd fallen face flat on the ground in the school hall and my crush was just a few steps away. All those times felt like child's play compared to now. Victor stood lazily beside her, leaning casually against the tree like he owned the space. He didn't look like someone who has been thrown out of Asher's party almost 2 hours ago. “What are you doing here?” I ask again, my voice barely steady. I was trying not to repeat what happened in fifth grade. Jade laughed, but there was nothing amusing about it. Before I could react, her palm came out of nowhere and rested harshly on my face.“I should be the one asking you that.”My head snapped to the side as hot and imme

CHAPTER 30TOO CLOSE TO THE FIREISLADid I just hear my name or is my ears playing tricks on me? For the love of God, I really hope my ears are playing tricks on me. My heart thumped so hard I could swear Rowan could hear it from where he stood. And my heart wasn't beating out of excitement, it was beating out of ‘oh-God-I’m-about-to-get-caught’.“Isla.”Yup, my ears definitely weren't playing tricks on me. The sound of my name this time instantly felt like a hand yanking me out of water. Fear shot straight down my spine, cold and weakening, and everything inside me went rigid. I pulled back from Rowan so fast my shoulder brushed the wall.From how it burned, I'm sure I scraped it. I was still caught in the fear in my chest when I saw the flash of anger on his face. Rowan looked like he could tear down whoever it was they were interrupting the moment. But I didn’t have time to think about Rowan’s anger. I barely had time to even think at all. Shit! Get off him, Isla!My hands mo