The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

ZANE

The sun was beating down on the practice field like it had a personal grudge

1 ran routes until my lungs burned. Hit the sleds like I wanted to break them. Threw pass after pass with perlees spreads jours. one harder than the last. Coach was yelling praise from the delines, but I barely heard him.

My mind was somewhere else.

Last night kept replaying in my head like a bad fucking movie I couldn’t turn off.

Mom’s tear filled voice in the cinema room.

The way she cried into my chest after Landon walked out like he hadn’t just shattered her again.

How she begged me when I said I’d kill him.

“No, Zane… he’s your father. Please don’t say that.”

Father.

The word tasted like poison in my mouth.

I didn’t see a father when I looked at Landon Ashton. I saw a cold, calculating machine who used people until they broke and then replaced them. He’d been cheating on my mora for years. Different women. Different staff members. Always discreet enough to maintain the perfect family image in public, but never discreet enough that I didn’t notice.

And Mom?

She stayed.

Every single time.

Because she came from nothing, a poor family with nothing but pride and she was terrified of going back to that. Terrified of what people would say. Terrified of losing the life she’d built, even if it was built on lies and humiliation.

I slammed into the tackling dummy so hard the frame rattled.

Sweat poured down my back. My shoulder ached. But the anger wouldn’t leave.

I’d watched her endure this shit since I was a kid. The fake smiles at galas. The way she’d disappear into her room some nights and come out the next morning with perfect makeup and perfect posture like nothing happened

And yesterday, when I finally said out loud what I’d been thinking for years, she still defended him

That broke something in me.

I didn’t want that kind of love.

I didn’t want that kind of weakness.

If I ever claimed someone, truly claimed them they would never have to endure what my mom did. They would never cry because of me. Never wonder if they were enough.

My mind flashed to Astra.

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Soft. Kind. Always taking care of everyone else.

The thought of her ever looking at me the way Mom looked at Landon made me feel fucking sick.

I threw another pass, harder than necessary. The ball cut through the air like a bullet.

Coach blew the whistle.

“Alright, that’s enough for today! Good work, Ashton!”

I didn’t feel good.

I felt wired. Violent. Like I needed to break something.

As I walked off the field toward the locker room, my phone buzzed.

I ignored the buzzing phone.

All I could think about was getting home.

Getting to her.

Practice had run late, it was already past 6 PM by the time I showered, changed, and got into my car. The sky was turning that deep orange-purple as I drove through the gates of the estate.

The moment I stepped inside the mansion, one of the staff members greeted me quietly.

“Welcome home, Master Zane.”

“Is Astra home?” I asked

“Miss Astra hasn’t returned yet.”

I stopped mid-step.

Not home?

My jaw tightened. Where the fuck was she?

I dropped my duffel bag on the stairs.

Hospital?

With that British fucker?

Or did she get herself in real trouble?

The thought of her with Jason again made my blood boil.

I dressed fast, a t-shirt, and sweatpants and went back downstairs, hair still damp.

Voices drifted from the living room.

I walked in and stopped.

Astra was back.

She was kneeling on the rug in front of the massive TV, talking softly to the twins. Lucas was curled up on the couch under a blanket, watching cartoons with sleepy eyes. Mason sat on the floor playing a handheld game, but he kept glancing at Astra

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with a small smile.

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“I’ll come play with you in a bit, okay Mason?” she said gently, brushing Lucas’s hair back. “Just let me take a bath first.”

Something ugly and irrational twisted in my chest.

Jealous.

Of my own fucking little brothers.

She looked so soft, so natural taking care of them.

I wanted that softness for myself.

I wanted her on her knees in front of me.

“No, you’re not,” I said from the doorway.

Astra’s head snapped up. Her eyes met mine and widened slightly.

She stood up slowly and walked toward me, stopping a few feet away.

“We don’t have tutoring today,” she said quietly, but firmly. “It’s three times a week. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Today is Tuesday, so…. until tomorrow.”

I stared down at her, eyes dragging slowly over her face, her neck, the way her chest rose with nervous breaths.

The corner of my mouth lifted.

“You think I give a fuck what day it is?” I murmured, stepping closer until she had to take a step back. “You’re coming with me. Now.”

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t move.

The twins were watching us curiously from the couch, eyes wide like they were watching a movie.

I didn’t give a fuck.

I wanted her alone.

Astra wrung her hands together, clearly nervous, her voice soft but stubborn.

“No… it’s an arrangement I have with your father.”

The word father hit me like acid.

My jaw clenched hard. That bastard didn’t deserve to be called that./

Astra kept talking, stepping back.

“I’m tired, Zane. So… please. Tomorrow.”

She turned and started walking upstairs.

I followed slowly, taking my time, letting her feel me behind her. When she glanced back nervously, I just smiled, all confidence and bad intentions.

She kept walking faster.

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The second she reached the top of the stairs, I moved.

I rushed forward, grabbed her wrist, and spun her around, slamming her back against the wall with just enough force to make her gasp.

“Zane.” she breathed.

I caged her in, one hand beside her head, body pressed close.

“Fine.” I said, each word deliberate. “Tomorrow.”

But I didn’t let her go.

Instead, I lifted my hand and pressed two fingers to the side of her neck, right over her racing pulse. It was hammering wildly under my touch.

Her lips parted on a shaky breath.

I dragged my thumb slowly across her bottom lip, eyes locked on her mouth.

“Tomorrow,” I repeated, almost mocking. “But right now… I can still feel how fast your heart is beating for me.”

She shivered, eyes fluttering.

I leaned in closer, thumb pressing lightly into her mouth, brushing over her tongue.

“You can run upstairs. You can hide in your room. But we both know the truth, Trouble.”

I pressed my forehead against hers, voice dropping to a growl.

“You’re already mine.”

I held her there for a few more seconds, feeling her pulse race under my fingers, watching her tremble.

Then I stepped back.

“Go.”

She didn’t wait. She turned and hurried down the hallway toward her room.

I stayed at the top of the stairs, watching her go, my cock hard and my mind spinning with dark, dirty thoughts.

Images of pinning her down, tearing that gown off, making her scream my name until she forgot every other man existed.

I smirked to myself and went to my room.

I tried to sleep. Really tried.

But every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Bent over in the playroom. Trembling against my door. Flushed and wide-eyed while my thumb was in her mouth.

Eventually I gave up, jerked off roughly to the memory of her soft lips and racing pulse, then passed out.

When I woke up, it was after 8 PM.

The house was quieter than usual.

I headed downstairs, frustrated and irritated.

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Voices drifted from the living room.

“Astra, you look beautiful!”

Lucas’s excited voice.

Elira laughed softly. “Yes, it suits you perfectly, darling.”

I walked in.