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  Sharing Spaces: Book 1

  Alicia Michaels

  Copyright © 2014 Alicia Michaels

  Published by Anchor Group Publishing

  PO Box 551

  Flushing, MI 48433

  Anchorgrouppublishing.com

  Edited by Melissa Ringsted

  Cover by Najla Qamber Designs

  All rights reserved. Published by Anchor Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

  Acknowledgements

  This book is definitely different than anything I’ve ever written. Fantasy has been my comfort zone for so long, I was filled with trepidation about stepping into the New Adult Contemporary genre. Luckily, I had so much love and encouragement from the people around me from the start that I couldn’t help but feel emboldened to take the step. Thank you to my wonderful Fabulous Fae Street Team for being my cheer squad during the inception of this book. Special thanks to my lovely beta readers: Carly Fall, Carrie Blair, Donna Connery, Tanya Johnson, Megan Steitz, Amy Wells, and Kim Culbertson for helping me to make this story even better!

  Prologue

  My name is Jennifer Nolan, and I am a twenty-year-old virgin. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Twenty is still young, and I know a lot of people would argue that no teenager should be having sex in high school. Spare me the abstinence lecture. Seriously.

  Really, it wouldn’t be so bad if I’d never had a boyfriend. It wouldn’t be so bad if I’d never been kissed, were a social outcast, or a lesbian. However, the truth is, I have had several boyfriends. I’ve been kissed a lot. I wasn’t popular in high school, but I was social and had lots of friends. I am not a lesbian.

  The problem is not that I’ve never had a chance. In fact, I’ve had way too many chances and absolutely no success. My cherry is firmly in place, no matter how many times I’ve tried to get rid of it. What’s the big deal, you’re probably wondering. I could see why you might ask that. I’m only twenty, I haven’t graduated college yet, and am not dating anyone seriously right now. I managed to make it through my teens without getting knocked up or getting an STD. I guess I’ve done all right for myself in that regard.

  The big deal is, with each attempt I became more and more psyched out about it. It makes me all itchy and fidgety just to think about it. And I don’t mean fidgety in the way of some big-breasted romance novel heroine. Nothing heaves or spasms, and my heavy breathing is not sexy. We’re talking hives and wheezing into a paper bag here. Definitely not attractive.

  Each attempt has gone worse than the last, until just the thought of taking my clothes off and getting into bed with anybody throws me into a state of panic.

  My mission? To lose my stupid virginity by my twenty-first birthday ... which is in two months. I can’t very well go into the next phase of adulthood with my v-card. How can I honestly call myself a ‘woman’ if I fidget, wheeze, and just about have a heart attack at even the thought of intimacy? Any guy I date is going to wonder what the hell is wrong with me.

  So, it’s happening. I’m not sure when, or with who—since I’m not dating anybody—but I’m determined not to see twenty-one without shedding that one last thing keeping me at girl-status.

  Drastic, much? I don’t think so. Maybe if you knew some of my history, you wouldn’t either. First, there was Jeremy …

  My first attempt was as seventeen years old, senior year. It was like something out of a cheesy movie, making out in the back of a car after Homecoming at Lookout Point. Okay, so the place isn’t called Lookout Point, but The Ridge is a cliff overlooking my small Texas hometown and people do go there to make out. Me and Jeremy had been dating for six months—a lifetime in TDT. That’s Teenage Dating Time, by the way.

  Anyway, things were getting pretty hot and heavy. The windows were steamed up and we had collapsed on to the backseat in a tangle of writhing arms and legs. Jeremy had me topless and was pretty much in teenage-dude heaven. I mean, I don’t want to brag or anything, but I’ve got some pretty nice boobs. Not too big or anything; average size, but almost the perfect shape and symmetry. Although, with the lack of finesse Jeremy showed in handling them, I doubt he would have cared if one was three sizes bigger than the other, or if my nipples were two different colors.

  That familiar tingle of horny teenage hormones was tearing me up inside, turning me into a panting, thoughtless animal. I guess that natural high was what made me bold enough to attempt my first B.J. I mean, how hard could it be? It’s not exactly rocket science.

  At least, I didn’t think it was. Apparently there is a science to it, especially when you wear braces. In my enthusiasm, I might have gone in a little too hard. I slipped, my face landed in his lap, and I almost unmanned him. To be fair, the wound was superficial, but there was so much blood you’d have thought someone was stabbed to death in the back of that car.

  After dropping Jeremy off at the emergency room, I pretty much ended our relationship by ignoring him until graduation. He didn’t seem to mind. After I mutilated his man-parts, I doubt he would have felt safe getting in the sack with me without some major life insurance.

  Let’s see, my next attempt came during my first semester of college, just a few months after my eighteenth birthday. Somehow, I managed to catch the eye of a teacher’s aide. He was a graduate student working on his Master’s in Education. While he was officially considered ‘faculty’, the age gap wasn’t that much and he was too gorgeous for me to be put off with teacher vibes. Slender with long legs and broad shoulders, ginger colored hair and green eyes peeking out from behind sleek, rectangular glasses. Alistair: even his name was sexy.

  We traded a lot of smoldering looks across the classroom. Those looks turned into short conversations in passing. Some flirtations where our hands touched as we exchanged papers. One of those hand-touching exchanges led to me being propelled into an empty classroom.

  Once again, the moment played out like something from a film. Alistair grabbed my ass and pulled me up against him, his lips crashing down over mine in a seductive move that left me swooning like an idiot. We tore at each other’s clothes, and as soon as he had my pants off, he lifted me and threw me onto a desk.

  And right onto a stapler.

  You’re probably thinking the two staples I took to my left butt cheek would have been enough to end it, but apparently I’m a glutton for punishment.

  “I’m okay, really,” I told him, pulling him in for a kiss.

  “Yeah?” he asked, his smile crooked and sexy as he swept the contents of the desk aside to avoid any more injuries. “I’ve wanted this forever,” he said, his mouth tracing a path from my neck and down to places that made my toes curl. My only response was a whimper, as I allowed him to lay me back, struck dumb by his sex appeal as he rested his weight over mine on the desk.

  This resulted in another trip to the E.R.

  Who’d have thought those classroom desks were so flimsy? It splintered as if it were made of matchsticks, dropping me to the floor, where I cracked the back of my head open on the tiles. A concussion and a few staples were enough to dampen that encounter. Luckily, Alistair did a good job covering up what we’d been about to do and no one was the wiser. When no one questioned his story about how he’d perched on top of the desk I’d been leaning against, causing it to collapse, we were in the clear. I probably could have had a chance with Alistair after that if I’d wanted it. Especially if the longing looks he threw my way were any indication. However, by then I was so freaked out about sex, I just couldn’t bring myself to allow him to get me alone. At the end of the semester, he graduated and I never saw him again.
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  After that, I decided my first time was going to have to be more vanilla to avoid injury. Good ole missionary position, laying on a bed sex … that was the way to do it. My braces were long gone and office supplies couldn’t impale me.

  The chance came my sophomore year when I met Geoff, a moody, brooding art student. He was sexy in a less obvious way. Thin, long, and tall, with an ethereal face framed by inky black hair. He drew pictures of me and called me his muse. He was a total weirdo, but in an artsy sort of way. At least, I thought it was only in the artsy sort of way. He had me fooled for about four months and I thought I we were on our way to a long lasting relationship. That was before he got me half naked in his room and proceeded to try to tie me to the bed with a set of very scary looking leather straps. I don’t think I even bothered to get dressed before I ran, screaming for the hills.

  After that I pretty much gave up. There have been a few guys I was interested in, and even a couple of great first dates and kisses. Just a month ago, I went on a date with a guy from my Sociology class. He was cute, funny—and, most importantly—normal. Just the kind of guy I wouldn’t mind giving my virginity to. Unfortunately, when our kisses started to turn in to something more, the twitching and wheezing started and I panicked. If I’m not careful I’m going to develop a reputation for this crap.

  No, actually, I’m not.

  I’m not, because I’m determined to just power through and do it.

  The countdown is on.

  60 days.

  Oh God, I think I’m going to barf.

  Chapter 1

  Day 1

  What does one wear when striking out to lose her v-card? As I stood staring at my reflection on day one, I wasn’t sure my outfit was quite right. Sure, my turquoise tank top brought out the green in my hazel eyes and my jeans made my butt look great. But was it enough? If I wanted to catch some guy’s interest, I needed to step up my game. Snatching the ponytail holder out of my dark brown hair, I decided to let the waves hang loose for a change.

  “Jenn, hurry up, I wanna grab breakfast before class!” my roommate, Kinsley shouted through my closed bedroom door. The on-campus apartment I shared with her and three others was bustling with the sounds of people getting ready for the day. A radio blasted across the apartment and the shower ran. Someone was using a hair dryer, and the smell of coffee permeated every corner of the house. Of the five of us, I’m the only one with a room to herself. Really, my room is small enough to be a walk-in closet, and we couldn’t fit another person in here if we tried. But with my Ikea bed, desk, and dresser, I was able to make enough space to be able to turn in a circle without banging my shins on things.

  The rest of the apartment is more spacious, but not by much. The townhouse style layout has all three bedrooms crammed upstairs, and a single bathroom. Downstairs is the living area, kitchen, and another half bathroom. I can’t complain too much; the apartment is in a prime location on campus, I get to live with my best friends, and the five-way rent split saves us all some much-needed cash.

  “Coming!” I answered, turning to rifle through my dresser for something a little more inviting to wear. Tank top, jeans, and sneakers weren’t going to cut it. Leaving on the tank top, I swapped the jeans out for a cute, white skirt, and my sneakers for my favorite open-toed wedges. Thank God I’d shaved my legs and painted my toenails last night. For the next sixty days I needed to be ready for any contingency. That meant painted toenails and smooth legs. I sprayed on a little perfume and dabbed on some lip gloss; a full face of makeup for class was a bit much, but I lined my eyes with a pencil, too, to make them stand out. Ditching my backpack, I slid my books, notebook, and pen into an oversized, hobo-style shoulder bag and left my room. Kinsley was standing outside my door, an impatient look on her face.

  Her sienna-toned skin was gorgeous, the same exotic shade as her Indian mother’s. Kinsley was one of those girls who was too smart to know how gorgeous she was, with cat-like, almond-shaped eyes and full lips. She was also a straight A student, vice-president of the student council, a cheerleader, and apartment 4C’s resident overachiever.

  “Finally!” she said, rolling her dark eyes. “What’s with the skirt?” she asked. Tank tops and jeans are our uniform, maybe hoodies and sweatshirts when it was cold outside. We don’t dress up unless we’re going out.

  I shrugged. “Just want to look nice today,” I answered. “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah, just waiting for Pretty Boy in there.”

  I sighed and walked over to the bathroom door. Steam was coming from beneath it and the sound of Christian’s off-key singing came through the water. “Chris, move your ass!” I bellowed. The water shut off in response and a few seconds later, the door swung open. Dripping wet, with a towel wrapped around his slim hips, one of our two male roommates glared at us through the tumble of dark hair falling into his eyes. Despite the fact that he’s a football player, gorgeous, and chiseled like a stone, neither of us are fazed. He’s Christian, just one of the guys who lives with us. Besides, he’s got enough campus skanks drooling over him without us adding to it.

  “What’s with the skirt?” he asks, looking me up and down. “You actually look nice today, loser.”

  “Blow me,” I answered, glaring at him.

  He grinned. “Is that an invitation?”

  I snorted. “Dude, would you hurry up?”

  The three of us have World Religions class at ten o’clock. We usually eat together in the cafeteria before heading to class. Christian always takes forever to get ready. More, I think, than the rest of us. He brushed past me and disappeared into the room he shares with Luke. Kinsley and I descended the stairs and waited for him near the front door. By the time he finally came down, wet hair gelled and tousled to perfection, we only had thirty minutes to eat and get to class.

  Luke followed behind Christian, backpack slung over his shoulder and guitar case in one hand. The only guy on campus who gets more girls than Christian is Luke. He’s the artsy one; a singer and a musician. Luke is nowhere near as pretty as his roommate. He’s cute in a normal, boyish kind of way—brown hair, brown eyes, nice smile—but he could charm the pants off a nun. Plus he’s kind of got the smoldering, wounded guy quality to him after being dumped a few years ago by his high school sweetheart. Girls everywhere have tried, without success, to piece him back together again. Together, he and Christian are like some kind of girl-seducing dream team.

  Luke looks me up and down like Christian did and frowns. “What’s up with the skirt?”

  “That’s what I said,” Christian said as he tossed an expensive, leather satchel over his shoulder. Everything about Christian screams wealth and class, right down to his pressed khakis and costly loafers. His parents are loaded, and by proxy, so is he. My parents do well, enough that they are paying for my education, just as Christian’s family is, though he could have gone to Harvard on their dime if he’d wanted to. His choice to go to UT and live on campus as opposed to at home hadn’t gone over well with them, but in the end, he’d gotten his way. My parents are nowhere near that well off. Kinsley attends UT on a scholarship, and Luke gets by on financial need-based grants. A trust fund my grandfather left me pays for my part of the rent.

  “Is it so wrong to want to look nice for a change?” I practically yelled, blowing my bangs out of my face with a huff.

  Kinsley’s eyebrows shot up. “Defensive, much?”

  “Whatever, let’s just go.”

  We set off from our apartment, leaving Kinsley’s roomie, Chloe, asleep in their room. Chloe has all afternoon and evening classes because she doesn’t get out of bed before noon. The spoiled socialite is as rich as Christian and twice as snooty. Her diva behavior dictates a strict schedule, which involves sleeping until lunchtime.

  The day was perfect, but it was still early. The beginning of fall in Texas meant a mild morning and a scorching afternoon. We descended the stairs to the parking lot, the entire building coming to life. Doors opened and closed as students c
ame and went from the other townhouses sandwiching us on either side. On the lawn, two girls lay on beach chairs in bikinis, working on their tans. Luke flipped his aviator sunglasses up onto his head, his eyes bugging out like one of those cartoon wolves.

  “Mornin’, ladies,” Christian drawled with a grin.

  The girls smiled back and giggled, whispering to each other as we passed by.

  “You guys suck,” Kinsley grumbled as we walked, heading toward the cafeteria. “Isn’t it a rule that you can’t scam on other girls while you’re with your chick friends?”

  “Uh, no,” Christian said.

  “Nope,” Luke added.

  “There should be,” Kinsley snapped as Christian opened the door for us. This campus had several places to eat, but the best one was right across the street from our apartment. They have the best biscuits.

  “Jealous?”

  Kinsley elbowed Luke in the ribs. “You wish.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah, I forgot you’re practically engaged to Mister Wonderful.”

  Kinsley’s boyfriend, Aaron, is a grad student. They’ve been dating for three years, and it’s pretty much known that they’re going to get married as soon as he has a job to support them. She’s practically planned the wedding already.

  “I’m just saying, it’s unchivalrous,” she said as we got in line and grabbed our trays. “I’m making it a rule. No hitting on skanks when you’re with us. It’s rude.”

  “Then the same should apply to us,” Christian said. “Cheese omelet with onions and bacon, extra crispy,” he added to the cook behind the counter.

  “Agreed,” said Luke as he helped himself to the fruit bar, filling a small plate with pineapples, cantaloupe, and blueberries. “No fishing for guys when you’re with us. We want you to bask in our sexiness.”

  “Well, no worries on my end,” Kinsley stated. “It’s Jenn you have to worry about. She’s the one wearing a skirt.”

  “Shut up about the skirt,” I said. It was my turn in line. “Mushroom and spinach omelet, please.”