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

by Cartwright, C. C.

  “What is Ken going to think about you going to the Sigma Nu formal?”

  “I don’t know, but we both know I do as I please,” I say with a shoulder shrug.

  “Believe me, I know how you operate Deena. How do you do it, not let your heart get involved?” Clarissa asks in wonder.

  “I don’t know, I believe in living in the now. Having a good time, doing what I want. I don’t want to have to answer to anyone, you know what I mean?”

  “Yes and no,” Clarissa replies pensively.

  “So what, are you back with your secret lover?”

  “Yes,” is all Clarissa offers, but she beams at my question.

  “Girl, you have it bad for this guy. When can we meet him?”

  “Never.”

  “What do you mean never?”

  “No, I’m kidding. Maybe one of these days I’ll bring him over,” Clarissa finally offers.

  “I’m dying to meet him,” I say before we both pick up our backpacks and get to our next class.

  *****

  “Hey girl, just the person I wanted to see,” I call out to Kara the minute she walks in the door of our apartment this afternoon.

  “Oh hey, what’s up?” Kara says, walking into the living room and I walk out from the kitchen. We both crash on the sofa.

  “Hot calendar guy Clay asked me to his spring formal!” I exclaim, beaming with excitement.

  “That’s great! But hey, what’s Ken going to think about it?”

  “You sound like Clarissa. You know I don’t answer to anyone, no strings, remember?” I reply sassily.

  “Well, I’ve been around you both up in their apartment and I can’t help but feel Ken wants more from you,” Kara says, giving me her two cents.

  “I really like Ken, he’s a great guy,” is all I offer.

  “But?” Kara poses as more of a question.

  “But I refuse to be tied down,” I reply emphatically.

  “I suppose Ken knows all this and he still keeps you around,” Kara agrees.

  “So when Clay asked me to his formal, he asked if I thought you would be interested in going with his frat brother Kyle. What do you think?” I ask.

  “Of course, I would love to go with him,” Kara’s voice raises an octave.

  “That’s what I thought. I’ll let him know. Is it alright if I give him your cell number?”

  “Yes. Yes!” she squeals. “I’m excited to go to a fraternity formal. I’ve never been to one and they sound like so much fun. Another one of college’s experiences I wouldn’t want to miss,” she gushes.

  “We’re set then. I need to go out and find a dress, let’s go shopping together,” I suggest.

  “Sure, that’s sound like a great idea. Where should we go shopping?”

  “I don’t know, how about The Beverly Center or Century City Plaza? I like the Bloomingdales they have there,” Deena replies.

  “Sounds good to me. I need to hit the books, I have a big Biology exam tomorrow,” Kara groans, lifting her body off the sofa and finding her books.

  *****

  A couple of weeks go by and the Sigma Nu formal is this coming weekend. I still haven’t breathed a word to Ken, I’ve been dreading it actually, I hope he’s cool about it and doesn’t give me a hard time. He better not make me feel guilty, there’s nothing I loathe more than feeling guilty about something.

  Ken comes down tonight just to say ‘hi’, but I know what he’s looking for and I’m happy to give it to him. Clarissa is gone tonight with her mystery lover. I could tell when she headed out that she was going to spend the night with him. Ken and I end up in my bedroom doing what we do best together. Ahh, he is so satisfying, I must say. He’s got it going on in the bedroom, and does he have stamina, he wears me out some nights.

  “Let’s hit up a club this weekend,” Ken suggests while we’re enjoying some pillow talk after a sizzling hot roll in the sheets.

  “I can’t on Saturday,” I clip out.

  “Why not, what are you up to this weekend,” he asks.

  “I’m going to the Sigma Nu formal.”

  “Who are you going with?” his voice sounds strained.

  “Clay Atkins.”

  Here it comes.

  “Oh calendar boy, you both make a great looking couple,” he mutters sarcastically.

  I don’t give him a response.

  “When were you planning on telling me?” he asks as if I have to answer to him.

  “Why, was I supposed to ask for your permission?” It’s my turn to be sarcastic.

  “I don’t know, Deena,” he sighs in exasperation.

  “Look Ken, you know I don’t answer to anyone. That’s the way I want it and I thought you did too.”

  “You’re right, you’re right,” he says in agreement, but I’m not sure he really agrees. He starts to search for his clothes and gets dressed. “I’m out of here. Thanks for the roll in the sheets. I got what I came down here looking for.” With that cutting remark, he walks out of my bedroom and then I hear the apartment door close. His words achieve what he wanted them to. They leave me feeling cheap and used tonight. He was none too happy. What’s going on with us? I fall asleep tonight not knowing how I feel.

  *****

  Saturday night has arrived and Clay and I are double dating with Kyle and Kara. I just hope Ken isn’t around to witness us leaving. The guys show up with lovely floral wrist corsages and Clarissa takes pictures of us before we leave. I’m decked out in a red-hot number. A red strapless floor length gown, with a trumpet skirt that flares out at the bottom and it clings to my every curve. Kara looks smoking hot in a slinky form fitting pastel blue beaded floor length backless dress. Damn, the girl screams sexy! Kyle’s eyes bug out when he see’s her.

  We all get into Clay’s Bentley that he borrowed for the occasion from his parents. The LA Country Club is located in Westwood.

  We pull up to the valet attendant who then takes his car and we head into the Club. The foyer and ballroom are decorated traditionally and screams old money. All the guys are in tuxes and the girls in a mix of floor length and cocktail length lavish party dresses. The atmosphere is classy and festive with free flowing alcohol. I see a couple other girls from the Song Girl squad here. Kallie Hart and Jessica Bell are here with two Sigma Nu fraternity brothers who Clay is friends with and we all sit at a table together for dinner.

  “Hey Deena, you’ve got yourself the hottest guy in the whole frat,” Kallie remarks while we’re mingling before dinner.

  “He’s really nice too, a good time kind of guy if you know what I mean,” I tease, wiggling my eyebrows.

  “Girl, you get around don’t you, I thought you were seeing Ken Jacobs?”

  “We see each other,” I tease, intimating that he’s another one of my good time guys.

  “How do you not get attached? I can only sleep with one guy at a time,” Kallie admits her weakness.

  “I enjoy variety, what can I say,” I reply.

  “You’re a good time girl, Deena,” Kallie says and I’m not sure how to take it.

  “You got that right,” I say just as Clay comes up to us and takes my hand.

  “Hi Clay,” Kallie says flirtatiously. Oh brother, is she trying to steal my date?

  “Hey Kallie, how goes it?” Clay says coolly.

  He’s with me tonight girlie, I think to myself.

  “Let’s go sit down for dinner,” Clay says, leading me by the hand to our table.

  The service here is impeccable and dinner is superb. First class all the way, I would expect no less from the LA Country Club. After we finish dinner, Kara and I excuse ourselves to go to the ladies room.

  “Are you having a good time with Kyle?” I ask Kara on the way.

  “Yes, I am. He’s quite the charmer.”

  “Is he going to be able to charm the panties off you later? You scream sexy tonight in that dress. You’re going to have to fight him off with a stick,” I say with a raise of my eyebrow.

  “
That remains to be seen,” Kara challenges back.

  “Shall we make a wager?”

  “Hell no, Deena. I refuse to make anymore bets with you!” Kara exclaims and we both giggle.

  “What’s so funny?” Kyle and Clay ask as they sneak up on us as we are making our back to the table.

  “Nothing,” Kara replies looking flustered. Chill girl, she needs to loosen up and enjoy herself.

  Clay and I dance a good part of the night and have a fabulous time together outside the bedroom for once. It’s getting late and I think I have had one too many by now. We all pile into Clay’s Bentley and head back to USC. Clay takes my hand in the car.

  “Come back to the house with me,” he commands softly.

  “Sure.” Of course he knows I will, I’m the good time girl.

  Ken’s words the other night still sting. We haven’t spoken since. I can’t decide whether I care or not. I definitely am having a great time with Clay. He is the most amazing eye candy. All the girls light up and have a flirtatious smile for Mr. Model. It would be tough being with someone that handsome, I think. Of course now that I get all of this attention from being a Song Girl, I could be tough to date as well.

  Once we get back to their frat house on The Row, we leave Kyle and Kara alone in the living room. In our inebriated state, we find our way up to Clay’s room and stumble into bed together.

  “Did you have a good time tonight?” Clay asks as he starts undressing me.

  “I did, but I think it’s about to get even better,” I reply wickedly. I am the devil in red tonight, or should I say the devil out of red?

  EIGHTEEN

  ~CLARISSA~

  Grant and I are spending the weekend in Montecito. Oh how I’ve grown to love this intimate enclave. It’s our special place to be together, really be together. Not hidden like some dirty little secret, like we are when we’re back in Los Angeles, and on campus. I daydream about a day when Grant can come over and hang out with my friends and I. But I know it will always be just that, a dream which will never be our reality.

  We just pulled up to Grant’s Montecito home for the weekend, and he’s been teasing me all the way up in the car. Stroking the inside of my thighs and getting me all hot and bothered. I’m dripping for him and can’t wait to get in the house and rip his clothes off.

  We make a beeline for the bedroom, I’m giddy with the giggles, but stop laughing the minute we fall into bed and strip each other naked.

  He immediately rolls me over and covers me. I wrap my legs around him and his hardness presses right where I want him, rubbing across my sensitive bud feels deliciously sinful. Oh how I desire this man all day everyday. His hand skates up and down my thigh. Then he gets on his knees between my legs and grabs hold of my ankles and spreads my legs wider.

  “I love you splayed out for me, you are a vision, Clarissa,” he says huskily. He rests one leg on his shoulder and guides his crown into my slickness and sinks in slowly.

  “Ahhhh, mmm, you feel so good,” I purr.

  “Clarissa, I want this forever with you,” Grant says in the heat of our passion and it warms my insides.

  This is a quick, fast paced session. We’re in desperate need of release from the tension we built up in the long car ride up. He finishes me off, leaving me breathless and panting from another amazing, earth shattering session.

  We have dinner out on the patio, it’s a warm, clear night and you can see the stars up here.

  “I love it up here,” I say as my head is tilted up gazing at the stars. I can feel Grant’s eyes on me.

  “You make me unbelievably happy. I missed you when we were apart. I was miserable, actually,” Grant admits.

  “I swooned over you every day in class, and couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I admit to him as well as myself.

  *****

  After a passionate night together, remembering all the reasons I missed Grant Montgomery. His scent, his touch, and his sinful body melding with mine perfectly, I wake up from my dream with him lying next to me, and I’m content knowing it wasn’t a dream. The sheet is wrapped around his waist exposing his glorious abs and chiseled chest. Warmth pools below my waist as I clench, just thinking about having him love me again and again. I just can’t get enough pleasure with this man.

  He looks so handsome and peaceful sleeping. I watch his chest rise and fall, as he is still in a deep slumber. Must have worn him out last night, we were up into the wee hours of the morning loving each other’s mind, body and soul. I want him again, why am I so insatiable around him? I roll on my stomach and prop myself on my elbows and languish a kiss on his chest, then take a nipple in my mouth and suck gently, before I graze my teeth over it. He opens his eyes and I watch as a slow smile spreads across those kissable lips of his.

  “Good morning my sexy one,” his voice is a low rumble that vibrates through my body.

  “Good morning,” I crawl on top of him, covering my Adonis with my nakedness and slant my lips over his.

  I don’t know what Grant and I are doing, but it sure feels good. I know he wants me in his bed every night if he could get me to come over. I know that’s what I want too. I love spending time with him. I love being with him, but he has never expressed how he feels about me.

  “Grant, I don’t know what we’re doing…” I murmur, not sure why I said it, “I know I love being with you,” I sigh.

  “Clarissa, look at me,” he requests. I tilt my head up and my eyes meet those killer blue eyes of his.

  “I love you,” he says in a whisper. My eyes shift down to his perfect lips and I wonder if I’m imagining he said those three words to me.

  “Can you say it again?” I ask tracing his kissable lips with my fingertips.

  “I love you,” he says softly and I watch the words roll off of his lips this time, making sure I don’t miss it. His words warm my soul like you wouldn’t believe.

  “Is this real?” I question, doubts nagging me.

  “Yes. I’ve felt this way for awhile, but didn’t want to scare you,” Grant admits and I still can’t believe he said those three words to me, I thought he doesn’t do love.

  “I love you too,” I scarcely whisper back. He takes my lips in a kiss filled with so much tenderness I think I may cry at the beauty of this moment. I have fallen hard for my Professor; I will never be the same. He rolls me over and moves on top of me, as his hand reaches up to cup my breast lovingly. I want to feel his lips sucking my sensitive nipples as only he can make me writhe with pleasure beneath his lips and hands. Oh what they do to me. They leave me breathless with desire, he leaves me desperately wanting him to fill me and my skilled lover knows it. He loves to drive me crazy with want, panting and begging for more of what he dishes out. Making me feel so loved and so close to him when we are joined so intimately. There is no better feeling in the world then when Grant is making love to me.

  “Make love to me,” I say softly, that’s the first time I’ve called it that. The expert way he rolls is hips into me, with a steady rhythm brings me to the brink of ecstasy every single time. I will never tire of his loving, I want this forever. God Clarissa, stop right there. Don’t be so naïve and don’t use the word forever you silly girl. You think that’s what you want when he loves you between your legs, but get a grip on reality. So he said he loves you, you’ve heard that before. Not too long ago Jason told you those same three words. But as time went by he couldn’t keep it in his pants, typical guy. After awhile, men can’t resist temptation. Grant may be no different. Enjoy the now, I remind myself.

  NINETEEN

  ~GRANT~

  Happy to be taking Clarissa up to Montecito this weekend so we can enjoy really being together, out in the open. It’s beginning to feel suffocating being in Los Angeles and on campus with her. I can’t stand it much longer. She lights up and comes alive when we’re here and I want her to be the same way when we’re home too.

  We’re at dinner tonight at what has become one of our favorite restaurants. S
he’s glowing tonight, she’s beautiful, I truly love this girl. There’s something so special about Clarissa, she makes me feel special too.

  “I’m resigning from the University,” I reveal over dinner.

  “What do you mean?” she asks with a look of confusion.

  “I’m handing in my notice.”

  “Why, what will you do?” Clarissa asks, with surprise in her voice

  “I’m going to work in my family’s textile business.”

  “But Grant, don’t you love teaching?”

  “I do, but I love you more. I want to be able to give you what you deserve and that’s a real relationship. Take us out of the secret shadow, be proud and out in the open.”

  “Grant, I don’t know what to say,” she stutters out in pure astonishment, with a beautiful smile spreading across her lips.

  She never dreamed I’d give up being on the faculty at USC for her. It never dawned on her to ask me and that’s what makes me even more willing to give it up for her, it makes me love her even more. She is the epitome of genuine sweetness and sexy rolled into one incredible package that I can’t resist giving up everything to be with her. I had to really think about this because once it’s out that I’m dating a coed, I will most likely never be able to get another teaching job in this town again. To be honest though, being a Professor wasn’t going to be forever.

  I have been slated to take over my father’s multi-million dollar textile business. It was just a matter of time, after I got my passion for teaching out of my system. My parents were just waiting patiently. They will be happy I’ve come around. I want to take Clarissa home to meet them, but it’s too soon. I don’t want to spook her by getting serious too quickly. She is still young, but I will wait patiently for her to realize that we are destined to be together. She struggles with being tied down, who could blame her. I let her go be with the Bancroft kid, get it out of her system.

  What I didn’t plan on was becoming so wrapped in her and falling hard for her and craving her so desperately. It’s not like me to get attached, I usually don’t do attachment. I’m a professional when it comes to detachment, but Clarissa pulled me in with the special way she has about her, I can’t describe it. Can you believe an English Professor at a loss for words? I like to believe Clarissa followed her heart back to me, I hope and pray it is more than just the sex for her. Can’t believe I’m saying that either, usually I’m happy with it just being about the sex, that’s usually all it is for me. Although like I said, it’s been different with Clarissa from day one.