The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

ZANE

She fit against me too perfectly.

That was my first fucking problem.

The second was how little she was fighting to get away.

Astra’s soft, plump body stayed pressed against my chest, warm even through the oversized purple hoodie. My arm stayed locked around her waist, fingers digging into the curve there like I needed the reminder that she was safe

Not crying.

Not hurt.

Not looking at some disgusting creep’s dick in the middle of the street.

“Mine.*

The thought pissed me off.

Her long lashes fluttered as she finally looked up at me, still shaky. Those big blue eyes were glassy behind her glasses, lips slightly parted.

“Zane…” she whispered.

My jaw tightened.

“What?”

“My phone,” she breathed. “It’s probably on the floor…”

I loosened my grip just enough for her to breathe and bent to pick it up. The screen was cracked. Pathetic.

Astra reached for it immediately.

“Thank God, give it….”

I lifted it high above my head before she could grab it.

She froze. Then stared at me in disbelief.

“Zane!”

I smirked.

Too fucking easy.

“You were really about to look at some old man’s dick for this piece of junk?” I asked mockingly, turning the cracked phone in my hand. “Must be a very special phone, Trash-tra.”

Her face went scarlet.

“I told you he took it!”

“And I told you you’re stupid.”

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Chapter 36

“I am not stupid!”

“You absolutely are.”

She glared up at me, breathing hard, and tried to snatch it again.

Big mistake.

The movement pressed her right back against my chest. Both of us froze.

My arm stayed locked around her waist. Her chest brushed mine with every uneven breath. Those wide eyes blinked up a me behind her glasses.

Fuck.

She was tiny this close. Soft. Delicate. The top of her head barely reached my chin. One arm around her waist and I could lift her off the ground if I wanted.

Astra noticed the shift in my expression.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she muttered.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re thinking something bad.”

I smirked slowly.

“Baby, I’m always thinking something bad.”

Her breath hitched.

Cute.

Dangerously cute.

She tried jumping for the phone. Actually jumping*.

I stared at her, almost amused.

“Did you just…”

“Shut up!” she squeaked, mortified.

A low, rough laugh escaped me.

She looked stunned, like she’d never heard me laugh before.

She crossed her arms stubbornly. “You’re a bully.”

“You’re just now figuring that out?”

“You’re enjoying this way too much.”

“I really am.”

Her glare was weaker now, more flustered than angry.

I liked this version of her.

Chapter 36

A lot.

I finally lowered the phone slightly. “Password.”

She hesitated, then quietly gave it to me.

The fact that she trusted me enough to do that did something strange to my chest.

I unlocked it, checked the cracked screen. Still working. Barely.

“This thing belongs in a museum,” I muttered.

“Don’t insult Alex,” she gasped.

I looked at her slowly. “You named your phone.”

“He has feelings.”

I almost laughed again.

Instead, I handed it back.

But before she could take it, I stepped closer again, crowding her space. She had to tilt her head back to look at me.

“You’re never doing something this stupid again,” I said quietly, voice rough. “Understand?”

She didn’t answer.

But she didn’t pull away either.

I finally stepped back, opened the passenger door.

“Get in.”

She blinked, still flushed and confused, but climbed in.

I closed the door behind her, smirking to myself as I rounded the car.

She could fight me all she wanted.

But tonight, she wasn’t getting away from me.

Not even for a second.

The drive home was thick with silence.

Astra sat curled in the passenger seat like she was trying to disappear into the leather, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Every few seconds she’d steal a glance at me, then quickly look away, clutching her cracked phone like a lifeline.

I kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the center console, close enough that my fingers brushed her thigh every time I shifted gears.

She tensed every single time.

Good.

I liked her nervous.

“You’re awfully quiet over there,” I said after a few minutes, voice low and mocking. “Cat got your tongue, or are you still

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Chapter 36

replaying that flasher’s dick in your head?”

Her head snapped toward me, cheeks flushing bright red.

55 VINES

“I had no choice!” she snapped, voice shaky but trying to sound brave. “He took my phone. I didn’t know what else to do”

I let out a low, humorless laugh.

“Right. So your brilliant plan was to negotiate with a pervert in the middle of the night. Real genius move, Trash-tra. Top- tier decision making.”

She glared at me, but her cheeks burned even darker.

“You’re such an asshole.”

“Yeah?” I smirked, glancing at her sideways. “And yet here you are, sitting in my car like a good little girl. Funny how that works.”

She huffed and turned to look out the window, but I caught the way her thighs pressed together.

I let the silence drag for a moment, enjoying how uncomfortable she was. Then I reached over and tugged at the sleeve of her oversized purple hoodie. The neckline had slipped down one shoulder again, exposing a smooth strip of skin.

“Stop fidgeting,” I ordered. “You look like a scared little rabbit about to bolt.”

“I am scared,” she muttered under her breath. “You’re being weird tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Weird? I just saved your ass from seeing some old man’s nasty cock and you’re calling me weird?”

She turned to me, eyes wide. “You didn’t have to do that. You could’ve just called the police or something.”

I snorted.

“Police? For that piece of shit?” I shook my head. “Nah. I handle my own problems.”

She swallowed hard. “Am I… a problem now?”

I let my eyes drag slowly down her body before returning to the road.