Romance: Close Encounters Boxed Set Books 1 thru 6 ( New Adult and College Series Books 1 thru 6) (21 page)

SEVEN

~CLARISSA~

Sunday afternoon rolls around and Jason has left me to my own devices today. He had to do some charity work with his frat brothers this afternoon. My roommates are all gone and no one is here to talk me off the ledge. I’m staring at my car keys sitting on the coffee table and it’s near impossible to resist the temptation of Grant Montgomery. I touch myself just remembering our intimate moments. Oh God Clarissa stop thinking about him, his body on top of yours, the way he settles on top of you, the way he stares lustfully into my eyes, the way he touches me, the way he pleasures me between my legs. I throw my head back, my legs are spread and I’m desperately trying to rub one out when my phone chimes.

Grant: Are you coming?

Don’t I wish I was, no pun intended. What timing, I can’t seem to get there on my own, maybe Grant can help me. Can you see I’m struggling here? I grab my keys off the table and then toss them back down with a groan.

Clarissa: I can’t do this.

Grant: Just get in your car and drive over here. I promise to satisfy both of your appetites.

I bite my lip and press even harder on the sensitive spot between my legs. Grant is pulling out all of the stops, tempting me. I get another text.

Jason: Hey, dinner later?

Caught in the act and feeling guilty, then Deena walks in.

“Hey, what are you up to?” she inquires, eyeing me curiously because I am just sitting here, staring into space.

“Trying to decide who to have dinner with.”

“Oh, who are your choices?”

“Jason or my secret lover.”

“Really?” Her blue eyes go wide with surprise and she comes and sits next to me on the couch. “Why would you even consider going back to your secret lover?”

I look down at my hands and shrug. “I miss him.”

“Clarissa, if you do you could lose Jason.”

“Maybe I already am losing him.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well at dinner the other night, I asked him about that girl who was all over him at your exchange and he admitted it was hard for him to resist her.”

“Lauren is a beauty, I’m sorry to say. But you’re pretty too Clarissa.”

“Yeah well, evidently Jason was definitely tempted. He said he ‘pretty much’ resisted, whatever that means. Maybe he kissed her or more, I have no idea.”

“So this is why you’re thinking of going back to your secret lover.”

“I’ve been thinking about him for awhile.”

“He must be good,” Deena half teases.

“He is in so many ways, he’s a real man. Not that Jason doesn’t deliver the goods. He has a nice package too,” I laugh, sharing more than I normally do.

“It sounds like you have a tough decision to make. Hot lover number one or hot lover number two!” We both start giggling.

“I know, decisions, decisions. How are things going with you and your many men?”

“Good question. I hooked up with Clay, the calendar model guy again at my exchange. Then when I was slinking back home the next morning, Jake saw me from their balcony.”

“Oh no, do you think he told Ken?”

“I don’t think so, Ken didn’t say a word about it. He seems cool.”

“I don’t know how you two manage with this open relationship you have going on. I’m actually a little jealous of you. It’s like you get to have your cake and eat it too. Not a bad idea actually, maybe I want a relationship like that.”

“It’s working for us.”

“Good for you. Now what am I going to do about tonight?”

“I’ve never met your secret lover. If you bring him over to meet us, then I can weigh in with my opinion between Jason or secret lover boy. But for now I am pretty sold on Jason, he’s the whole package. Any guy would pale in comparison. You’re going to have to figure this one out on your own,” Deena replies. Little does she know, she has seen Professor Montgomery before and as I recall she did swoon like every other college coed on campus. Deena walks into our bedroom, leaving me to make my own decision. I’m just about to text Grant back when there’s a knock at the door. I look through the peephole and it’s Jason.

“Hi,” I say in greeting, swinging the door open wide and Jason walks in and takes me in his arms.

“Hi babe,” he says laying a kiss on me.

“Come on in,” I say breaking away from the hug and he follows me into the living room. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Yeah, I could use a cold beer,” he sighs taking a seat on the sofa.

“One beer coming up. How was your day?” I ask, handing him a beer and taking a seat next to him.

“Exhausting, but it was for a good cause,” he replies, putting his arm around me and nuzzling into my neck. Jason is part of the Big Brother program in Los Angeles. “Can we order a pizza, I’m really hungry?”

“Sure, I’ll call it in. The usual?” I ask.

“Sounds perfect,” Jason replies.

Deena comes out of our bedroom and see’s Jason and gives me a look before we meet up in the kitchen.

“Was this who you chose?” she whispers.

“He surprised me,” I whisper back, glancing at Jason.

“I’m going up to Ken’s place, for the night,” Deena informs me, waggling her eyebrows at me and then she’s off.

EIGHT

~LEXI~

Kara and I are out shopping today. I was in the mood for some new clothes, I’ve been accused of being a bit of a clotheshorse. I have a weakness for shoes and designer handbags too. I’ve never met a Louis Vuitton handbag I didn’t like. Once we get home, Jason is over and he and Clarissa are enjoying a pizza from Mario’s.

“Hey guys,” I say to them when we walk in.

“Someone went shopping,” Clarissa calls out to me.

“Yeah, I found a few things.”

“A few, you practically bought out the whole store!”

“Don’t exaggerate Kara, so I found a few things, is that a crime?” Just because Kara isn’t into fashion, she thinks I shop too much.

“I’m going up to Jake’s place,” Kara announces and leaves. I hear my phone ringing in my purse and go to answer it.

“Hi Troy,” I answer.

“Are you at home now?”

“Yes, come on over,” I reply, inviting him over.

“Be there in a few.”

I still get all tingly inside when I know I will be seeing Troy. Even though we’ve been together a couple of months now, I’m still horribly infatuated with him. He pushes all the right buttons and is really sweet to me. The girls flock to him, but he seems pretty devoted to me. I’m one lucky girl. A few minutes later there’s a knock at the door and it’s yours truly.

“I missed you today,” he says, taking me in his arms and his lips slant on mine in a heated kiss.

“Hey you two, get a room,” Jason teases from the dining table.

“Alright, maybe we will,” I quip back and take Troy’s hand and lead him to my bedroom and shut the door. Troy immediately pulls his t-shirt over his head and his bare chest steals my breath away as my hands skate across his chest and down to his amazing abs. He pulls me into him and I can feel his hardness pressing against my belly. “What have we here?” I say sultrily, my hand squeezing him through his jeans.

“Let’s just say I’m happy to see you,” Troy says, peppering my neck with kisses.

We keep the sounds of our lovemaking down with Jason and Clarissa in the living room. Troy is an incredibly skilled lover and he always leaves me panting for more. His rock hard body drives me crazy with lust as I smatter kisses allover his glorious six-pack abs. I drag my tongue across them.

“I love your sinfully sexy abs,” I say with a sexy smile.

“So I noticed, I work hard on them,” he grins back wickedly. My man is so smoking hot, how did I got so lucky is beyond me. The other girls notice him for sure, but right now he seems to only have eyes for me.

“Hey, I want you to come home with me this weekend. It’s my little sister’s birthday and we’re going out to dinner with my parents.”

“Oh, okay,” I swallow hard, already nervous about meeting his parents. I know Troy comes from some money, and I can’t help but worry how they will receive my Argentinian heritage.

NINE

~CLARISSA~

I really do like Jason, but I miss Grant. I miss being with him and was seriously considering driving over to see him on Sunday. He was tempting me, until Jason showed up unannounced like he often does. That’s what boyfriends do right? Of course Grant never did, although I would love it if he could have when we were together. But first of all, would I ever call Grant a boyfriend? Secondly, our relationship had top secret stamped all over it from day one. God, I’m missing him so much, although I remember the reason it had to end. The whole dirty little secret thing was taking its toll on me, on us, and our relationship. I mean come on, we could barely go out together. We would just hole ourselves up in his condo. That’s a sad existence for any relationship, no matter how good you think it is. I need to remind myself that’s the reason we can’t be together like I would love us to be, out in the open. I need to put all thoughts of us ever getting together again out of my mind.

Jason, focus on making it work with Jason, as long as he wants to that is. I can’t help but wonder if his attention is waning. Hey, don’t get me wrong; I’m cool with it. He just needs to come out and tell me that’s all. He has said I love you a couple of times, but hasn’t said it as of late. I couldn’t bring myself to return the sentiment. A part of my heart still lies with Grant. I admit it, does that make me a foolish girl? Grant made me feel sinfully sexy and so special. Being in his arms was euphoric, that’s why I can’t stop thinking about him I guess.

Late Sunday night I did receive a text from Grant.

Grant: Why didn’t you come to me?

Clarissa: An unexpected visitor showed up.

Grant: Next Sunday then, or any other night.

Clarissa: Please don’t tempt me.

Grant: See you tomorrow, sweet dreams.

Clarissa: Sweet dreams, goodnight.

Grant is tugging at my heartstrings yet again.

*****

Monday in class, Professor Montgomery eyes me a couple of times, but Jason doesn’t seem to notice. Half the time he is doodling in his notebook. He’s definitely not getting an A in this class. It’s safe to say he doesn’t deserve one either, but with the Bancroft name and money, he doesn’t have to worry about graduating cum laude.

Deena joins us at lunch today and Grant comes walking to the courtyard to grab some lunch. He drifts by our table.

“Isn’t that your sizzling hot English Professor, what was his name again?” Deena whispers, her blue eyes scanning him from head to toe and back up again.

“Deena, don’t be so obvious,” I scold her, squirming in my seat.

“Damn he’s gorgeous, illegally hot actually. Bet he looks great naked,” Deena says lasciviously. I choke on my drink.

“Don’t be such a prude Clarissa. Come on, you can’t tell me you haven’t fantasized about him in between the sheets?” My face feels warm, I hope I’m not blushing. I haven’t had to fantasize because I’ve experienced it firsthand.

“Miss Clarkson,” Professor Montgomery says as he walks purposely by our table.

“Hi Professor Montgomery,” I reply demurely and he keeps on walking.

“That’s it, Professor Grant Montgomery, what a dish he is. Do you think he’s ever fooled around with a student? Bet the girls in his classes must try to get his attention,” Deena observes and questions me.

“I have no idea,” I reply, but I can’t meet her eyes.

“I know I sure would try,” she says, winking at me. We all know Deena would try and under normal circumstances, who knows, she may be successful. Although Grant claims he’s never had an affair with a student before. For some reason I believe him, because I’m being a foolish girl yet again.

Jason finally joins us for lunch, just when I need to head off to my next class. I give him a kiss and I leave him with Deena to finish their lunches.

~DEENA~

“So did you hook up with Lauren?” I boldly ask Jason, although he probably won’t tell me, but I can try and read his reaction and body language.

“Who wants to know?” he replies, evading the question. Not a good answer.

“Lauren was all over you and I just wondered if you succumbed to her advances.”

“No I didn’t, not fully at least.”

“Hmmm, that doesn’t sound very convincing.”

“Look, I already told Clarissa. I had been drinking.”

“So that makes it alright?”

“Look, nothing really happened.” He continues to deny.

“That’s not what she has been saying to whoever will listen.” Jason’s ears perk up.

“Why what did she say?” he asks.

“That you two hooked up,” I reply.

“Well it’s not true, maybe some heavy petting. But we didn’t do the dirty deed. Don’t tell Clarissa what you heard from Lauren or me,” Jason says pointedly at me.

“I will try to hold my tongue,” I reply with a wry smile.

“Look Deena, you of all people should understand. Boys will be boys right?”

“Yes, I understand all too well. I can be such a dude sometimes,” I admit, look how I am with Ken.

“Damn, beneath Lauren’s beauty is an aggressive girl who is also a liar,” he says.

“She wants to sink her hooks into you,” I warn him.

“She will never succeed. She is one of many, but I only want Clarissa.”

“Then you better keep it in your pants.”

“As hard as it may be sometimes, no pun intended, I plan to,” Jason replies, but I’m still not sure I believe him. I won’t tell Clarissa though, she’s a smart girl, and she will figure it out for herself.