Steeling Her: A Romance Novel

Carter

We all crash on the same bed, mine, because it was the only one that was made yesterday. I don’t mind. I like sleeping with other people. Although I wanted to sleep alone, I felt better when they stayed with me.

I listen to their light breathing around me. Danielle resting on her side with her arm draped over my chest. That’s why I found it hard to breath in my sleep. I need to keep an eye on that. Haley is facing Danielle’s back. Danielle begged to be in the middle.

I know I’ve only known them for barely a day, but I’ve a good feeling about these two girls. Something I’ve never felt with people I’ve met initially. I’m always wary about them finding out who I am or what my last name is. But I’ve got a feeling these two might not care all that much? Well, I’m hoping they don’t.

I kept thinking about what happened earlier when we came home while lying in bed and staring at the blank white ceiling, allowing a movie to be played in my head of the events playback. I wake up and do the same thing like I did last night.

All I can think about is Haley’s brother. Nick. Nick Jackson. Those green eyes. That blond, windswept hair. The tanned skin. When his skin touched mine. He was so gorgeous. But he has a girlfriend. An absolutely gorgeous girlfriend.

I need to step back from him. For two reasons: one, he plays football and will use me like the rest. Two, he’s my roommate’s brother. And I’ll throw in the third reason too. He would never think of me like that. He’s too hot to like someone like me. I’m so weird and awkward and—

A knock at the door stops my train of thought. I perk up and hear it again. I slowly climb out of my bed and feel the coldness on my feet as I walk towards the door separating me and the person outside. I peek through the peep hole and see it’s Nick and TJ. They knock once more, making me jump and squeal a little. They definitely heard me. I have to answer now. But I’m in my brother’s jersey with Steel written on the back of it and his number on the front; Austin’s number.

“Shit!” I whisper but there’s no time to change out of it. I wrap my hand around the knob and open it up to see both of them lift their heads to look at me. Nick is wearing a baseball cap, and TJ is in a hoody. Both are in jeans and a white shirt. I don’t say anything but just stare at them. It’s hard not to. They’re both so good looking.

Seeing Nick smile at me, it knocks the wind out of me. He knows it too. “Hi.” He stands up and uncrosses his arms that were over his chest.

“Hi,” I reply shyly and swing the door open for them to come inside. They walk through the door and watch me step aside. I feel embarrassed under their gaze as I close the door. “Haley’s, um, still sleeping in there . . . I can wake her up if you’d like?” I ask lowly, not making eye contact with either of them.

“I thought that was her room?” TJ asks out loud. I raise my head to see him pointing to the room she chose.

“It is . . . but we all just slept in my bed. It was the only one that was made . . .” I fidget with my long sleeves on the jersey. Then I realize I’m only in panties underneath this jersey. No bra, nothing. Double shit! I mentally groan at myself at how stupid I’m being. I probably look so disgusting right now, and I’ve got two of the hottest guys I’ve ever known standing right in front of me.

“You all slept together?” TJ repeats my words in a higher voice than he originally had. My eyes snap up to his to see the cheeky glint in his eyes.

“Not like that! We just fell asleep . . . I don’t . . . I’m not into girls . . .” I stutter out loud, making their smiles grow bigger, allowing my head to shake fanning my hair out. They’re playing with me, aren’t they?

“He’s just messing with you,” Nick interrupts my rant and steps a little closer to me. His hand is slightly raised, making me watch it coming closer to me. “Good to know you’re not into girls,” he whispers seriously when TJ walks over to the kitchen, laughing lowly. I feel my cheeks heat up, and I walk back towards my room. I just don’t know what to do when I’m around them. I act like such a school girl meeting their celebrity crush. I mentally cringe at the thought.

“You a Steel fan?” his husky voice asks me. I turn around and send him a tight smile before walking into my room.

Don’t give him anything. Walk away from him. I get too nervous when he’s around.

I poke Haley to try wake her and she doesn’t move. “Haley?!” I whisper to her so I don’t wake Danielle. She still doesn’t move a muscle. I repeat her name. I’ve gotten nowhere for the last five minutes. I sigh and debate whether I should stay in here or go back out to them. I change into a top and yoga pants, tying my hair up into a bun. With a bra on this time.

I walk back out to see them sitting at our table drinking water. Both turn their heads to face me. I send them a small smile and switch on the TV to ESPN to watch the statistics of the players. Mainly my brothers’.

“Football fan?” TJ asks me while watching my reaction.

I smile with a weak nod and ask them, “Do you want any breakfast? I’m going to cook myself some . . .” Not facing them, I reach the handle of the refrigerator and bend down to take out the food my mom ordered for delivery yesterday. The fridge is completely stocked with food.

“Sure,” they simultaneously say. I spin around to see both of them watching me. I then hear the commentary on the TV in the background.

“Will the Chargers and the Giants meet each other for the third time in the Super Bowl this year? Steel brothers versus their father’s team! That’s a tough decision to make in the Steel household!” the reporter jokes. I laugh, shaking my head at how true it is. It’s a nightmare picking a side.

“Chargers will definitely win this year! Their team has no injuries so far, but the Giants have two players injured,” TJ voices his opinion while I hear Nick agreeing behind me. I stay silent, listening to the two guys chat about football. I don’t want voice any opinion about it. I don’t need them getting suspicious.

“You ever been to a college football game, Carter?” I freeze at the mention of my name leaving his mouth. I turn around to face Nick and nod. Twirling back to cracking some eggs, I place bread in the toaster and open the packet of bacon. Don’t ask me anymore about football, please.

“Haley goes to all our games. You should come too?” TJ asks me.

I turn around to face them again and say, “Oh no, it’s fine. I’m sure you have a lot of girls supporting you already. But thanks!” I try reject nonchalantly. Why did I say that? I sound so jealous! Way to go Carter!

“I think you’ll be dragged along, anyway. Haley doesn’t like to go to anything alone. Either you or your other roommate will be going.” TJ’s voice echoes through the kitchen. He’s right. Haley will make me go anyway if Danielle won’t go.

“I’ll go with her to keep her company,” I say while whisking the eggs up in a bowl for us. I allow the bacon to crisp a little.

“If you go, you have to wear a jersey though . . .” Where is TJ going with this? I don’t like the tone in his voice. It’s putting me a little on edge.

“I have jerseys I can wear,” I say back to the pan as the rings heat up gradually.

“A players jersey?” I turn my head over my shoulder to see them both staring at each other. Seriously, I don’t know where he’s going with this.

“I don’t think it’s mandatory?” Seeing Nick’s head snap over to me, he averts his eyes quickly by looking over to the TV. This turned so awkward so quickly. Just get in and out Carter. You’re making this awkward for yourself.

After making them breakfast, I place it on the table and scoop mine up, then see my door open and two bodies walk through the wooden frame, yawning.

“Ahhh, so you ladies are alive!” TJ comments to my two roommates. I hear Haley mumble a “Shut up” in their direction. I lean over the table and fill my plate with what I’m hungry for and leave to go back into my room. I kept catching Nick’s eyes, so I decided to leave and call my mom.

Why am I so awkward with people? Especially guys. I have zero experience in dealing with them. My brothers kept them away from me my whole life, hence my weirdness. I shouldn’t be let out in public. I’m that awkward.

I hear Haley scream at her brother and a few footsteps rapidly running around the dorm room. I laugh to myself while alone in my room. My brothers and I used to do that together. They used to chase me around and play with me when I was younger. They do nothing but tease me now. What are brothers for right? They’re always in your business; always on your case; always want to know where you are, what you’re doing and who you’re with. That can be the annoying thing about them—their protectiveness.

“Hi, honey!” I hear my moms voice through the phone making me miss her even more.

“Hi, Mom.” I put her on loud speaker.

***

Nick

“What time is your first class tomorrow?” TJ asks, snapping me out of the daydream I was in. I’ve been just staring at the TV screen for the last hour, completely lost in my thoughts. Mainly picturing Carter in that jersey she was in this morning. Those legs. Her bedhead. No bra. She looked so effortlessly sexy that I had to picture TJ in a bikini to turn me off.

“Ten. You?” Turning my head, I sneak a glance at Carter’s door. No movement, and she’s been in there for over an hour. What is she doing in there?

“Eleven. What time do you have lunch at?” He keeps the conversation going while keeping his eyes on the flat screen, so I get to look at her door until he notices. Hopefully he doesn’t. God, I sound like a creep.

“One. You?” I ask him back again. Seeing a grin on his face, I know he has it at the same time as me. “One until three.” I smile back at him.

“Same! See you at the usual spot?” He nods his head, focusing back on the flat screen.

“I’ve lunch then, too, but only until two. If Carter and Danielle don’t have it at that time, can I come hang out with you guys until I find someone to eat lunch with?” Haley begs beside me. Her puppy dog eyes usually work on me, but TJ is the one who gives in to her.

“Sure, Haley.”.

I smirk at him. “Pussy!” I tease, making Haley slap me on my shoulder. I laugh hard at her. Her expression is too funny. It’s a mixture of disgust and confusion.

“Speaking of, how was your fuck buddy?” I stop laughing immediately and snap my head around to face my best friend, who cannot keep his mouth shut. He always knows how to ruin the moment.

“Ew. TJ, not what I want to hear!” Haley groans, covering her ears. Just as I was about to answer, Carter’s door opens. I see her in her yoga pants and a low cut top. When she bent over earlier to grab breakfast, I got an eyeful down there. Lets just say it was exactly how I imagined it. Her pants cups her perfect ass, making me want to grab her and lock her inside the room with me and let her ride me.

My eyes follow her to the kitchen and see her bend over, giving me another eyeful. I mentally groan at why she keeps doing this to me.

“Hey, Carter! Why don’t you come sit with us?” TJ asks. Come sit on my lap.

Or come sit on my face, is what I want to say, but I restrain myself. This girl is too hot for her own good.

She slows down her walk but starts to rub her arm up and down. “No, it’s alright. I don’t want to bother you guys. I’ll just stay in here.” She points to her room. Is she uncomfortable with us being here? I don’t want to make her feel like that in her own dorm.

“You won’t be bothering us. It’s cool!” TJ is oblivious to the fact she’s not comfortable with something. I try to read her but it’s so hard to. I can see she isn’t confident, but it adds to her appeal. She’s modest—she doesn’t realize how gorgeous she is. I saw all the guys checking her out when she walked past them last night in that red dress.

She’s unsure of what to do. Her eyes go back and forth between us and her room. “There’s no room, I’ll just stay in here. Thanks.” She practically runs back inside, leaving the door slightly open.

“I don’t think she’s used to guys. I think she’s used to her own company. We all talked last night before we crashed.” Haley’s bites into her toast, allowing the crumbs to fall on her top.

They talked? About what?

“Yeah, she’s super shy! But she’s really nice. And oblivious to how gorgeous she is! I mean, did you see all those guys checking her out last night? They were practically picking their jaws up off the floor.” Danielle smirks at the TV as she remembers what happened last night. When she says that, I feel a slight burn in my stomach. A sudden urge to protect her.

I shake it off and focus my attention back on the screen. Watching a stupid reality show the girls just had to watch.

I can’t stop thinking about her in that red dress last night. Her sexy body in the red dress. The way her hips swayed as she walked. She had everyone’s attention the moment she set foot in that house, mine included—mine in particular.

Oh no!

No! No!

Stop that!

Think about Maya. You, fucking Maya. You went home with her and fucked her good. Hard . . . Maya, Maya, Maya.

“You alright, man?” TJ’s voice tears me out of my thoughts. I swipe my head around to face his worried expression. I nod my head and stand up to go to the bathroom.

“Restroom?” I ask Haley and she points to the door next to Carter’s room. I open the door and let myself in. Locking it, I rest my head back against the door and take a deep breath. I walk over to the sink where there is a mirror. Staring at myself, I run my hands through my hair.

“Come on, Nick. Stop acting like a pussy and get your shit together.” I need to fuck Maya again. Then I hear a soft voice through the wall. Her voice. She’s talking to someone. I can’t hear what she’s saying, but I can hear her voice.

“Fuck!” I take out my phone and dial a number I know will answer me.

“Babe?” Maya answers almost immediately.

“I’m coming over. I’ll be there in ten,” I tell her over the phone, making her laugh a little.

“So you miss me, Nick?” she teases me. The only thing I miss is my dick inside her. After her, I’ll call someone else.

“I need to get laid, Maya.” Hanging up on her, I burst open the door to see Carter standing in front of it. Shit, did she hear me? Her arms are folded over her chest and her hands are sliding up and down her arms for comfort. She’s staring at me with those big blue eyes of hers. She quickly looks away, looking inside the bathroom behind me and biting the inside of her cheek. I step to the side to allow her in but she stands there looking at me.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask her and her eyes swipe to mine.

“Uh, yeah. Thank you.” Her words fumble out of her mouth. Watching her lips part, I want nothing more than to take her right now. I guess that saying is true. We want what we can’t have.

She walks by me, and I smell light scent of vanilla from her; it surrounds me.

That’s it. I need to go and fuck someone. Now.

Walking away without looking back at her, I walk towards the sofa and slap TJ’s shoulder. Gaining his attention, I mumble to him, “I’m leaving. I’ll text you later?” Grabbing my hoody, I sneak a peek at her, watching her place a towel on the side. She starts to lift her top up, and I can’t peel my eyes away from her luscious body.

“Maya?” Her head snaps around to TJ, and I focus my eyes back on him too. Letting go of her top, I see her hide behind the door out of the corner of my eye. I nod and leave out the door without a goodbye. I look down at my pants and see that I’m rock hard.

“Fuck,” I groan. I slip my hoody over my body and head towards the elevator. The quicker I can get into my car, the quicker I can hide my boner. Jogging past a foyer of people, I cover my face with my hat and run out through the windy weather and slide into my car. Driving to Maya’s sorority house, I need to sneak in; like always.

I climb up the side of the house where I know her window is and slip in the window. I see her and Alice lying on her bed.

“You need to leave. Like, now,” I order Alice, making her pick her study books up and run out the door. Maya quickly stands up, and I take hold of her waist, pushing her back on the bed.

“Nick . . .” she moans breathlessly. I rip her top off, exposing her big breasts in my face. She rarely wears bras because she likes the attention she gets from guys. I pick her back up off the bed and she wraps her legs around me. Kissing her hard on the mouth, I bring my lips over to her neck.

“Nick, babe, what’s gotten . . . into you? You’re so rough today . . . I like it!” she squeals while I walk us over to the door to lock it. I shush her to stop her from saying anything further. I don’t need her to talk. I just want to fuck her. Hard.

I throw her back on her bed, making her squeal as I stand over her, watching her seductively look up into my eyes. “Touch yourself,” I command her, and she begins to squeeze her breasts while I watch her. She bites down on her lip; looks like she’s trying too hard. Then her legs spread open wide for me to look. A wet, juicy pussy is waiting for me. She slips her thong off and kicks it over to me. I catch it and throw it on the floor.

Flipping her over, I take a condom from her drawer full of them and unzip myself. My hardness springs free and I slip the condom down my long length. Bending her over and bringing her ass in the air, I slip inside her deep.

“Oh, Nick! Baby! You’re so big!” she moans over her shoulder. I thrust inside her deep every time, trying to get my thoughts under control. It’s not going so well for me.

I keep pumping in her, making her scream in pleasure. She’s too loud so I pull her hair back, silencing her as much as I can. I can feel her walls tightening around me, ready to squirt her juices on me. She’s a squirter.

“Shit! Nick, I’m cumming, baby! Don’t stop!” she begs me as I’m about the erupt inside of her. Picking up my pace, I slam faster and deeper into her trying to reach my peak quicker so I can get the fuck out of here.

She loses control of her body as it begins to shudder on me. “Fuuuck,” I moan, throwing my head back looking heavenwards.

“Oh yes! Yes! Yes! Nick! Ooohhh!” she screams right after me and I slow down my pace to allow her pleasure to last longer.

She’s on her hands and knees with her head bent low, trying to get her breath back while I slip out of her and discard the condom in her trash can, pulling up my pants and adjusting myself. That was a good release but I regret coming over. I shouldn’t have come over. I have that same feeling I felt last night when I finished with her too. A feeling I’ve never had before. Fixing my pants, I walk back over to the window I came in from and feel her grab my arm.

“That’s it?” she asks me with a deep frown on her face. But I wear a puzzled expression. What more did she want?

“Yeah? I told you I came here for one thing, Maya. I got it, so I’m leaving.” I place a foot on the frame of the window readying to climb myself back down the side of the house.

“Nick! I want to talk!” she whines in my ear. I sigh and stand back inside her room.

“About . . . ?” I trail off, subliminally telling her I don’t have time for this. I want to go back and either find another girl or do it myself. I’m not sure what I’m feeling.

“About us, Nick. I think we need to talk . . .” She gives me her pleading eyes that used to work on me, but not anymore.

“Maya, we’re not going on a date. I’ve told you this. I don’t do dates . . .” She huffs and rolls her eyes at me. I rest my back against her wall and look hard at her. I’m preparing for the fight that’s about to erupt between us. This always happens when she bring this shit up.

“You’re so annoying, you know that? Is it so bad to want to be in a relationship with you, Nick? To be the only girl you can have? You’re the only guy I want! We had something good going in high school. Why can’t we go back to that? I miss that, baby.” She climbs closer to me but I step out of her way before she gets too close.

“Maya, we didn’t have anything in high school. You slept with half of the school. I don’t want a girlfriend, it’s too much drama. I need to stay focused on football. End of discussion.” I hoist myself back onto the window ledge and place a foot on a vine, allowing me to climb down the side. I hear her curse my name over and over out the window. As soon as I get down, I salute her and jog back to my truck.

Once I’m back in my truck, my mind automatically goes back to her—to Carter. I lean my head back against the headrest and yell loudly in my car. I know I look strange doing it, but she’s in my head constantly. What is it about her?

Feeling my phone buzzing in my pocket, it’s a group message from the coaching staff about the gala we all have to go to. This year will be a good one, the Steel family will be hosting it. Random, but cool. Maybe I could bring Carter because she’s a fan?

No!

No, Nick!

I’ll get to meet the most influential family in the NFL. I know the family is linked with this college. The gala is taking place in the convention center in two weeks. They’re probably expecting us to wear suits and ties. Who doesn’t love a guy in a suit and tie? Not only that, a college football player in a suit and tie. It’ll be my third year attending one. They usually have NFL legends who went to Ole Miss for college football hosting it.

This year will be good. Meeting current NFL players who went to this college also along with a coach. But not just any coach. Roger Steel, the New York Giants coach. The number one coach in the game. No wonder why his two sons are football players, two of the best out there too.

Sitting aimlessly in my truck, I tap the wheel with my fingers.After a few minutes, I start up my truck, leaving the college estate. Watching the traffic build up, I decide to head back to the house, half listening to the radio and half thinking of where I’m driving to. I decided to go the long way back to keep my mind preoccupied.

Arriving back to the house an hour after leaving Maya’s, I see some cars parked up outside. Knowing some of the team are over, I walk up the driveway and open the door with a push due to the stiffness of it. I walk straight into the living room to see numerous bodies playing Xbox.

“Dude! Watch my ba- Averman! Watch my fucking back will you?” I hear Reggie roar at Rob, one of the twins, as I come into view. They’re playing COD. It gets pretty intense when we all play with each other. Too intense for my liking, but there’s a betting ring on who will win when we play. Usually, controllers go flying forcefully towards the same wall. We made so many dents on the wall that we’ve mastered how to plaster a wall and coat it with paint.

“Yo! How was Maya?” TJ teases me. I run my hands down my face groaning aloud, feeling my nails scrape my skin as they move downwards. “That bad?” He chuckles, sipping on a bottled water. I nod, huffing out in frustration at what had happened between us. Although it was a good release, I regret going.

“So the game is next week. Haley said she’ll come to support us and Danielle said she would be coming too.” That means that Carter won’t come. I clear my throat, stopping myself from thinking about her. Dammit, why do I keep doing that? I nod my head and send him a tight lipped smile. He knows me well enough, I can’t hide it from him.

“Jackson! How was your night last night?” Ryan stops beside us, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. I know what he’s getting at. “You banged red dress?” I glare at him but don’t reply. I reach for a cool water bottle and sit up on the countertop in the kitchen area thats linked to the living room. I feel the cold marble seeping through my jeans and into my skin, cooling me down from the heat outside.

“I’ll take that as a no . . .” he trails off, stating the obvious and tapping his fingers mindlessly across the counter. He’s testing my patience right now. I can get any girl I want. I’m Nick fucking Jackson for god sake.

“Shut it, Ryan. Stay away from my sister and her friends. And her name is Carter,” I unknowingly defend her against him. I don’t know why I did that, I just felt the urge to stick up for her without it even registering in my mind. Feeling eyes on me, I look down at my phone to see some messages that I will ignore.

“I didn’t know it was a touchy subject.” He holds his hands up to surrender, but I know he’s just doing this to annoy me. He’s been this way since the first day I met him. “Well Carter is hot, and she’s not your sister, dude. You have no leeway with her.”

“I have plenty of leeway with her. Stay the fuck away from her,” I snap at him, but his smile becomes wider. I don’t care how I look to them, he will not touch her.

“You like her, don’t you?” I narrow my eyes at him and shake my head. His voice is beginning to annoy me.

“No, I don’t like her—I don’t like girls. I fuck them and move on.” I gulp a mouthful of water. I immediately regret saying that, but it’s left my mouth. I can’t take it back.

“So, you won’t mind if I take her out then?” he asks genuinely. He actually likes her? What the hell?

Yes, I do mind, you dimwit.

Wait, what? No, no I don’t mind.

Wait? What is going on with me?

“Dude, she wouldn’t say yes to going out with you,” TJ intercepts the conversation. Thank God, because I really didn’t know what to say to Ryan. TJ swirls his water around the bottle, closing one eye to look inside the plastic container. I don’t know what the hell he’s looking for? It’s a clear plastic bottle with clear liquid inside of it.

“Who wouldn’t want to go out with this?” Ryan points to himself. He’s an even bigger idiot than I thought.

TJ starts to laugh at him. “Averman, leave her alone. Save yourself the heartache.” He taps his shoulder. Ryan stares blankly at him, like he cannot believe he just said that.

“What? She’d be good to have on my arm! She’d look good with me.” He smiles over to TJ, who just shakes his head with a mouth full of water. After he swallows it, I listen to what he’s going to say next.

“Good luck with that, Ryan. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Leaving us in the kitchen area, I study Ryan as he takes out his cell phone.

“You got her number?” he asks me, shaking his screen in my face. The brightly lit screensaver of a naked girl with her legs spread open occupies his screen. Carter will never go for him.

“No, and even if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you either,” I growl out to him. He’s not her type; he never will be her type. Ryan’s a douchebag to girls he gets with, although I’ve yet to see him actually take one on a date.

“What’s her last name then? I’ll find her on Facebook and ask for it.” I freeze at his question. I don’t know her last name. What is her last name? I shrug at a waiting Ryan, who huffs out in annoyance at me. I smirk into my bottle as I finished it off. He walks down the hallway, to his room, and slams the door shut.

Nick 1 – Ryan 0.

“Too easy . . .” I smirk alone in the kitchen.

Walking down to my room, I nudge my shoulder against the wood to push it open. Once inside, I pull my shirt off my back at go straight for the shower. I need another one.

What a day today was.