The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

ASTRA

I turned my head away from him and pressed my forehead against the cool bus window, trying desperately to steady my breathing.

“Just ignore him. Just ignore him. Just ignore him.”

But it was impossible.

Zane’s scent kept invading me, deep cedarwood, something dark and expensive, mixed with the faint trace of his skin and the heat rolling off his body. Every time I inhaled, it wrapped around me like smoke. Warm. Masculine, Dangerously good.

God… he smelled so good.

I hated myself for even thinking it.

My thighs were still tingling where his hand had gripped me. The ghost of his fingers lingered like a brand. I squeezed my legs together tighter, trying to fight the unwanted heat pooling low in my stomach.

“He’s a monster. He’s terrifying. Stop it, Astra.

The bus hit another bump and Zane’s arm, still draped behind me on the seat, shifted slightly. His fingers brushed the back of my neck, light, almost accidental.

I shivered hard.

“You’re breathing so fast,” he murmured, voice low and rough right beside my ear. “Scared? Or something else?”

I didn’t answer. I kept my eyes fixed on the blurry trees flying past the window, biting down hard on my bottom lip.

Zane let out a dark, quiet laugh that vibrated through me.

“Still ignoring me? Cute. Keep doing that. See how long it lasts.”

His fingers moved again, this time deliberately tracing a slow line down the side of my neck. Not hard or painful.

Just… possessive.

Like he was reminding me he could touch me whenever he wanted.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

*Please stop. Please stop. Please stop.

But my body wasn’t listening. My skin felt too hot. My pulse was racing. And that stupid, traitorous part of me kept noticing how good he smelled, how warm he was, how deep and rough his voice got when he was this close.

Suddenly, a sharp notification sound cut through the air.

Zane’s hand froze.

Then he slowly pulled it away from behind my seat. I felt the loss immediately both relief and an awful, confusing emptiness.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him pull out his phone. His full brows creased deeply as he stared at the screen. His jaw tightened. The dangerous edge that entered his eyes made my stomach drop.

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11:52 Fri, Jul 3 J.

Chapter 12

Whatever he was reading… it wasn’t good.

He looked up at me.

Our eyes met for half a second.

I quickly looked away, my head knocking against the glass with a dull thud. My heart was racing so hard it felt like it might burst.

Zane didn’t say anything.

He didn’t put his arm back behind me.

He didn’t touch my thigh again.

He just sat there, silent, staring at his phone with that terrifyingly cold expression. The unpredictability of it made everything worse. One moment he was whispering threats in my ear, the next he was completely shut off, like a storm cloud waiting to explode.

My heart wouldn’t slow down.

He was too unpredictable. Too volatile.

I didn’t know which version of him scared me more.

Eventually, the exhaustion from the long day caught up with me. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier. The rumble of the bus, the low chatter around us, and the lingering warmth of Zane beside me lulled me into an uneasy sleep.

I didn’t know how long I slept.

When I woke up, the bus was quieter. Most people had dozed off. Heads were tilted back, mouths slightly open, earphones still in.

Including Zane.

He was resting his head against the seat, eyes closed, face completely relaxed. The usual cruel tension in his jaw was gone. His long, dark lashes rested against his cheeks, making him look almost… beautiful. Peaceful. Like the boy who made my life hell had disappeared for a moment, leaving behind someone heartbreakingly handsome.

Before I realized what I was doing, I had leaned slightly closer, studying him:

His lashes were unfairly long. His lips were full and soft-looking when he wasn’t smirking. Even the sharp line of his jaw seemed less threatening like this.

Then, suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

Green, sharp and awake.

My face went bright red.

I jerked back so fast my head hit the window again with a soft thunk.

Zane stared at me, unblinking, for a long second. The peaceful look was gone. In its place was that familiar dark intensity, but mixed with something almost… amused.

“Enjoying the view, Trash-tra?” he asked, voice low and raspy from sleep.

My cheeks burned hotter. I opened my mouth to say something, anything but before I could, the bus slowed down and came to a stop.

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