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

by Cartwright, C. C.

  “Can you say yum? I’ll take the hottie on the right.” I overhear Nicole, one of my pledge sisters say under her breath. Looking at the three, Jason is the one on the right. He does look pretty hot standing up there in all his handsome glory. I laugh at Nicole’s comment.

  “What’s so funny Clarissa, wouldn’t you agree? He’s sex on a stick,” Nicole continues to salivate over him. I think it’s funny, I’m sorry. I try not to look at Jason that way, although it has been getting harder and harder to ignore his good looks and perfect male physique. Nicole is right, he is sex on a stick and I think he may just know it.

  “He knows it too,” I mumble. After the tall one of the group invites us over for an exchange, which basically is the Sigma Chi house inviting our entire Sorority over to their house for a party, typically on a Thursday night, the frat boys file out. Jason sees me and offers a small smile in my direction.

  “Do you know him? That’s Jason Bancroft,” Nicole tells me like I don’t know.

  “Yeah I know, we’re friends. He’s in my English class,” I say as I continue to eat dinner.

  “Really, what’s he like?”

  “He’s nice,” is all I offer and Nicole looks frustrated by my response.

  “Care to elaborate?”

  “He’s a nice guy, what more is there to say?”

  “I’ve seen you eating lunch with him,” Maci chimes in from across the table.

  “You need to introduce us at the exchange okay?” Nicole says.

  “Okay, remind me,” I say, knowing she won’t forget.

  five

  ~CLARISSA~

  Grant wants me to come over Thursday night, but I can’t. I need to go to our exchange with Jason’s fraternity that night. All pledges are required to attend every exchange, they do a role call before the guys come to get us. At the appointed hour, the entire Sigma Chi Fraternity comes over and rings the doorbell. The whole Sorority crowds along the staircase and the foyer and then we open the door to greet the hot studs. They belt out their Fraternity song. After they finish serenading us, we sing out our Sorority song. It’s a little corny, but it is a tradition all the houses still follow.

  The guys then walk us over to their house and we party. Some of us party harder than others. There are free flowing kegs of beer and usually a DJ is playing great tunes. Of course there are always random hook ups by the end of the night. That’s all part of the coming of age that goes on in college I suppose. Although I have never par taken in one of those. I’ve never been a one-night stand kind of girl. Grant was supposed to be the exception to the rule. I did go into that one thinking it would be my first one-night stand, but it has turned out to be way more than that, I think with a heavy heart.

  I’m now in the backyard of the Sigma Chi house, with a drink in hand, and standing in a circle with a few of my pledge sisters. Nicole is standing next to me and gives me a nudge.

  “There’s Bancroft, introduce us,” she whispers. I follow where her eyes are looking and see him by the keg filling his cup with beer and laughing with one of his frat brothers. He’s got on a snug fitting black v-neck t-shirt, dark snug jeans and his hair is gelled just so. He stands a little over six feet and has a perfect build, not too muscular but just right in my opinion. I look away before he catches me checking him out.

  “He’s coming this way, catch his eye,” Nicole says. God, she is aggressive in an annoying way. She’s gorgeous though, she should have no problem hooking up with any one of these guys here tonight.

  “Hi Ladies,” Jason comes and welcomes our group with his confident and drop-dead smile. His eyes stay on me longer than anyone else as he takes a drink out of his cup. Nicole elbows me.

  “Jason, let me introduce my pledge sisters to you. This is Nicole, Maci and Bella. Girls this is Jason Bancroft.” As if he needed introducing. Each girl inflates her chest.

  “It’s nice to meet you ladies,” Jason says.

  “The pleasure is all mine,” Nicole says sultrily extending her hand. I have to take a drink and look away so I don’t burst out laughing. This reminds me of The Millionaire Matchmaker or The Bachelor shows when all these girls are vying for the attention of one Bachelor. I find it all so pathetic.

  “Nice to meet you Nicole,” Jason says, shaking her hand and I don’t miss his eyes peruse her from head to toe and back up again, his eyes resting on her chest. Nicole is a tall model thin blonde with long lean legs that go on for miles. She’s too thin, I think bitterly. We are complete opposites. I have long brown hair, curves and am on the petite side. Maroon 5’s Love Somebody starts to play.

  “Oh, I love this song.” I start moving to the music.

  “Come on, let’s dance,” Jason says, motioning for all of us to follow him. The dance floor is pretty crowded and we spill over the edge. Jason starts grinding on Nicole and their eyes are locked on each other. It’s quite the nauseating spectacle. It causes my stomach to lurch and I’m not sure why it’s affecting me like this. Some of his frat brothers move in on us. That tall, dark and handsome one who came by the house the other night to invite us to the exchange is smiling down at me and dancing very closely invading my space.

  “Hi I’m John, what’s your name beautiful?” A real charmer this guy is, gorgeous face and cocky as all get out.

  “Hi I’m Clarissa and this is Maci.” He barely acknowledges poor Maci, he just keeps staring at me and getting close enough to start grinding on me. I close my eyes getting lost in the music, not caring if he is getting up close and personal on me. These exchanges can be so much fun. I’m trying not to even look at Jason making his move on Nicole or should I say Nicole making her move on him. I continue to writhe and dance with John, turning my back towards them. I start to feel some guy grinding up to my backside as I gyrate and wave my arms up high in the air getting so lost in the rhythm of the music. How I love to dance, I could stay out on this dance floor all night and I practically do. I turn around and it’s Jason grinding on me and he places his hand suggestively on my body. One goes to the front of my thigh and the other pulls me into him at the waist. I think I just felt his rigid manhood press against my behind.

  “Jason, stop it,” I say, scolding him. I try to dance away from him.

  “Where’s your mystery man tonight?” I act like I don’t hear him as I move away from him and cozy up to John. Let Jason go for Nicole tonight. She has made it obvious she’s all his for the night or their lifetime I laugh out loud. These girls look at him with dollar signs in their eyes, it’s so apparent. He whips around and is grinding on Nicole again and then takes her hand and leads her off the dance floor. My gut clenches when I see them walk off together. Is he taking her to his room just like that? I think I’m going to be sick as they walk off disappearing amongst this party crowd. Dancing suddenly loses its luster and I want to go home and crawl in bed. Something about Jason hooking up with someone right in front of my eyes bothers me to no end. It does literally make me sick.

  “I’m leaving,” I tell Maci and Bella.

  “Why so early?” they ask.

  “I don’t feel too good, it’s my stomach. You guys stay and have a good time,” I tell them.

  “Hey Clarissa, where are you going?” John follows after me.

  “Oh, I’m not feeling too great, I’m going to call it a night.”

  “Let me walk you back to your place. Where do you live?”

  “In an apartment around the corner, I’ll be fine. Thanks anyway.”

  “No really, I can’t let you walk home alone.”

  “If you don’t mind,” I say, looking up at him with a small smile. It’s sweet of him to walk me home. Normally Jason would, but I suppose he’s busy getting himself some tonight. John and I chat on the way back to my place.

  “Goodnight Clarissa. Can I take you to dinner this weekend?” he asks. I pause before I answer.

  “You know John, normally I would love to, but I’m kind of seeing someone right now.”

  “Oh, okay. Well, goodnight.�
��

  “Thanks for seeing me home, it was really sweet of you,” I smile at him.

  “Happy to oblige, take care,” John replies.

  I get into our apartment, take off my make up and put on my comfy pink PJ’s with hearts on them and climb into bed. It makes me upset to even think about Jason with Nicole. It’s really bugging me. It’s sick really, she’s a slut and he’s a man whore. The way these people just hook up randomly. All right, I admit I’m being a hypocrite. I was just as bad that first night I drove over to Grant’s condo. I need to forget about them and just get myself some shuteye. Deena better not be bringing a guy home tonight.

  Morning comes too soon. Deena’s bed hasn’t been slept in, which is no great surprise. I wander out to the kitchen for some breakfast and Kara and Lexi are enjoying some pancakes Kara whipped up. Jake from upstairs is sitting at the table eating pancakes with them. Hold on here, did he spend the night or just show up this morning?

  “Hi guys,” I say groggily.

  “Good morning, there’s some pancakes for you,” Kara offers.

  “Oh great, thanks.”

  After I eat breakfast, shower and get dressed I ride my bike to school. I pass by the Sigma Chi house like I do every day and low and behold who do I see doing the walk of shame this morning? None other than Nicole walking back to the Sorority house in what she was wearing last night. An emotion hits me in the gut and it’s a mixture of anger and jealousy. Those are the two words I would use to describe these mixed emotions. I don’t like how all this makes me feel. Why should I care? I have Grant and we have a great thing going, I’ve never been happier. So why does Jason sleeping with Nicole bother me so much? I don’t even want to go to English today and have to see him all smug because he got laid last night. Maybe I will skip class today and park my butt in the library instead, and that’s just what I do.

  He texts me after class is over. He’s looking for me. I have my head buried in a book when I hear his voice.

  “Hey,” Jason says.

  “Hey yourself,” I say, looking up at him wearily.

  “You hungover, why didn’t you make it to English today?” he pries.

  “No, I didn’t drink that much last night,” I answer.

  “What’s up with you then, you’re acting strangely? Is this because I hooked up with Nicole?” he asks.

  “Look, what and who you do is your business. All I know is it bothered me and I don’t know why. Are you happy now, I admitted it? Let’s drop this now, end of conversation,” I admit and start packing up my things. He just stares at me and let’s out a long sigh of exasperation as he runs his hands through his hair and looks sexy as hell at this moment. Damn, bet he’s great in bed. Will I need to ask Nicole? Yeah right, when hell freezes over. I don’t even want to lay eyes on her, that slut. Bet she is entertaining the idea that she’s going to hook THE Jason Bancroft, she better think again. Sleeping with him after knowing him 30 minutes isn’t going to hold his attention for long I can guarantee you that. He’s done with her. She was just an itch for him to scratch. Something tells me she isn’t going to be that easy to cast aside. With her looks, she is probably used to getting what she wants, you know the typical entitled USC Sorority girl, mark my words. Jason and Nicole really are a match made in heaven, they just don’t know it yet.

  six

  ~JASON~

  When Clarissa dances, she is so damn sexy, the way she moves her hips, she must be a wildcat in bed. You can tell by the sultry way she gets into the rhythm of the music. She’s attracted my friend John, the biggest womanizer in the fraternity tonight and why wouldn’t she? She is by far the hottest and sexiest girl here tonight. I don’t like it one bit, he’s practically rubbing up against her and she’s letting him.

  This Nicole is an aggressive one, ready and willing like they usually are. I try and move closer to dance with Clarissa and at first she lets me press up against her and now I’m rock hard. But then she gives me the old snub and moves away from me towards John.

  I’m pissed. That’s it. I’m out of here. I take Nicole’s hand and lead her up to my room. She can ease the case of blue-balls that Clarissa leaves me with. I’m sorry to be so crass, but that’s what’s been going on here. I need to forget about Clarissa as anything more than a friend. Nicole is what most guys would call gorgeous, with long, beautiful, blonde hair that I can wrap my hands in when she’s got me in her mouth. We walk through the kitchen to my room and I get a few approving glances from the frat bros I pass along the way. She’s great arm candy.

  As we ascend the stairs I feel a pang of guilt wash over me. Why should I feel guilty? Needless to say I let Nicole have her way with me, all night long. Wish she would have left before dawn, but I couldn’t just kick her out of bed.

  After Nicole leaves, I jump in the shower to make it to English class in time.

  “Hey Jason, she was a beauty.” I see John on my way out the door.

  “Yeah, Nicole is gorgeous,” I say in agreement.

  “I walked Clarissa home last night. She’s a sexy one, but I got shot down. I crashed and burned,” John admits.

  “Why did you make a move on her?” I say with a clenched jaw as I anxiously await his reply.

  “No man, but I asked her to go out with me this weekend.”

  “What did she say?”

  “She said she was kind of seeing someone.”

  “Yeah I know, some mystery guy.”

  “Huh?”

  “Never mind, I need to get to class.”

  It will be awkward seeing Clarissa in the light of day after what happened last night, with me hooking up with her Sorority sister. Hope she’s cool with it, she should be, we’re just friends. She has made it perfectly clear to me time and time again.

  When I walk into class I don’t see her at first. As class starts there’s still no sign of her. Hmm, not like her to miss a class. Now as for me, I usually end up not making it to my classes on Fridays after a late Thursday night of partying, but I made the effort this morning because I want to make sure Clarissa and I are cool. It doesn’t sit right with me that she’s not here this morning. Could she be mad or upset about last night? Not possible, she has no good reason to be. She has had numerous chances to express her feelings for me, but I know she is devoted to this mystery lover of hers. Heck she even shot down my man John, who definitely has a way with the ladies. This guy of hers must be a stud or something, he is one lucky son of a B****. Professor Montgomery dismisses us and Clarissa never showed today.

  Jason: Where are you?

  Clarissa: Who wants to know?

  Jason: Are you ok?

  Clarissa: Why wouldn’t I be?

  Jason: Where are you?

  Five minutes go by and still no reply from her. Where the hell is she? She is acting strange and it concerns me, could she be upset about last night? Why did I hook up with Nicole? It was a bad idea and I knew it. She has already texted me this morning. Something tells me to go and check the library and that’s exactly where I find her, in our usual spot.

  “Hey,” I say when I walk up to her and she has her nose buried in a book.

  “Hey yourself,” she says, looking up at me wearily.

  “You hungover, why didn’t you make it to English today?”

  “No, I didn’t drink that much last night,” she replies.

  “What’s up with you then, you’re acting strangely? Is this because I hooked up with Nicole?” I come right out and ask her.

  “Look, what and who you do is your business. All I know is it bothered me and I don’t know why. Are you happy now, I admitted it? Let’s drop this now, end of conversation,” Clarissa admits and start packing up her things. I’m so exasperated with her. Why does she keep fighting me and her feelings for me? If me being with Nicole bothered her then she does feel something for me beyond friends, but I won’t dare press it now. I’m in the dog house and I hope I get let out soon. We walk out of the library together without a single word to each other. I watch h
er as she unlocks her bike and rides off to her Bio class. She’s annoyed with me to say the least, so I don’t even ask her about having lunch today. I need to give her some space to cool off.

  seven

  ~CLARISSA~

  Even knowing Jason slept with Nicole, I am still so tempted by him. His looks, his charm and that body of his don’t go unnoticed. I don’t know how much longer I can deny this attraction. Judging by how upset I let it get me when he got together with Nicole, I must admit the truth, I have feelings for him. I was jealous, plain and simple.

  “Please don’t be mad at me anymore, ok? I had a lapse in judgment the other night and I regret it for a number of reasons. One of which, it upset you and I’m sorry,” Jason pleads softly. We’re sitting at our usual table at lunch today.

  “Hey, you don’t need to make any apologies to me, you’re a free agent,” I offer.

  “Well, then why were you acting so strange, like you were mad at me or something?”

  “I don’t know what got into me. Let’s just forget about it and move past it,” I reply.

  “Sounds good to me. It’s like we had a fight and we aren’t even together,” Jason says with a deep laugh. I offer him a faint smile, not sure what’s going on between us.

  “Maroon 5 is playing at the Forum in a couple of weeks. I know how much you love their music, do you want to go? I can score us some awesome seats,” Jason asks. I suppose this is some kind of peace offering.

  “Oh my God, Yes! I love Maroon 5! But shouldn’t you be asking Nicole, I’m sure she would love to go,” I tell Jason.

  “God no,” Jason mutters.

  “Why not?”

  “I’m actually trying to get rid of her,” he says.

  “I actually feel sorry for her, I knew she liked you. She asked me to introduce you two. She had a bead on Jason Bancroft,” I laugh.

  “Why didn’t you warn me?”

  “You’re a big boy who can take of himself, figured she might be your type.”