Getting Under Nathan

1: 'Don't make me too jealous.'

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Chapter 1 - "Don't make me too jealous." 

"So many stairs." Nathan panted as we continued up to the top floor of the building. "Why did you have to pick the flat on the top floor, Bella?"

"It's not like I chose it. I applied for accommodation, and they randomly assigned me a flat."

"At least you'll improve your fitness by going up and down here every day."

I didn't respond to his joke. Nathan knew how nervous I was about moving into my university flat and meeting my new flatmates; he thought that joking around would calm me down.

"Here we are. Flat 13. Lucky number, Bella." He winked.

I scowled at him. "You're not funny."

"I'm a comedian, Bella, and you know it."

I placed the box I was carrying down on the floor and then fished in my pocket for the key to the flat door. My fingers were shaking as I inserted it into the lock. Why was I so nervous? What was the worst that could happen? I didn't want to consider that.

"Bella," Nathan said as I picked up my box again, holding the door open with my foot. "Put that box on top of mine and then you've got your hands free to open your door."

I looked at him sceptically. Nathan was already carrying a heavy box. "You sure you can manage both?"

"Babe, I'm made of muscles. Nothing is too heavy for these guns."

I rolled my eyes and lifted my box to carefully set it on top of his. He didn't even wince. Pulling the door open properly, and holding it so Nathan could follow me through, I noticed that none of the lights in the corridor were turned on.

"I must be the first one here," I said as we walked down to the corridor and noted all the closed doors.

"Well that's good," Nathan said cheerfully. "We can crack on with sorting out your room without you feeling obliged to socialize with your new flatmates. Plus when they arrive they'll probably come and introduce themselves to you. So you don't have to worry about that too much either."

"Hmm," I said, coming to a stop in front of the bedroom door that corresponded with the number on my key.

Nathan placed the boxes down and continued along the corridor, opening the door at the end which I assumed was the kitchen. Whilst he explored that, I opened my bedroom door and stepped into the room where I'd be living for the next year of my life.

It was pretty bare but obviously it would be. I was supposed to decorate it myself, make it my own room so it felt more homely. There was a bed against the right-hand wall with a long desk against the left-hand side. The window was directly opposite the door and opened slightly, allowing a small breeze to trickle through. Silently, I wandered over to it, hoping that I at least had a nice view so something positive could come out of being on the top floor. Luckily, my wish was granted. I could see straight across the city and knew that it would look even more spectacular at night when all the buildings were lit up.

I hadn't heard Nathan enter the room and jumped when he wound his arms around my stomach and pulled me back against his body.

"You'll be fine," he whispered in my ear, his fingers gently caressing the bare skin of my stomach. I couldn't even appreciate how sensual it felt; my mind was too occupied with this life-changing chapter of my life. "Shall we make a start? The sooner we start, the sooner the room will feel more like home. I've propped your door open so when your new flatmates arrive they'll know you're here and they'll come and introduce themselves." I nodded but didn't move out of his embrace. "This is gonna be one of the best years of your life, Bella. It's a fresh start. Nobody here knows who you are; you can be whoever you want."