Free The Virgin Bet by Olivia Starke Page A

me?” he asked, moving down, his lips hovering over her aching nipple, promising so much more if she gave in.
    Tippy wanted to say no, and she clenched her teeth. Brent nipped her nipple, sending a lance of pain through her system. She hissed.
    “So?” he pressed, baring his teeth, promising another sharp bite.
    “Fine!” She grabbed the back of his head, pulling his mouth to hers. “Fine, I’ll go to the stupid reunion,” she said against his lips.
    ****
    Finding a decent dress to wear to the formal event proved to be a nightmare. All lanky in bad spots, while squishy in awkward spots, made finding something that didn’t make her look like an overstuffed sausage nearly impossible. Brent had even offered to go shopping with her, but she imagined he’d like the most revealing thing in the store, and no way would she be showing that much pale freckled skin.
    The last dress she tried on was an ankle length dark purple sheath. With a high neckline, and just a bit of her back exposed by a matching lace inset; it seemed perfect, and modest. She turned this way and that, and even the store clerk, who’d thus far remained mute on the topic, commented on how great it looked with her hair, and complexion. The price tag left her antsy, spending so much on a dress she’d wear once didn’t sit well with her, after all she existed on savings, but in the end she had to relent. She went to the register, the clerk rang up her purchase, and she was out the door, heading to Brent’s place. She spent a lot of time there now, the place wasn’t empty like hers. She didn’t feel as lonely, even when he was at work, and she was huddled on his couch with the TV on.
    She was getting too cozy with him, a voice warned in the back of her mind. But she was a lost woman, and she decided to ride the ride as far as it’d take her. She’d handle any consequences later.
    When she arrived at his place, she dug out his house key, and carried her bag inside. They’d even exchanged keys. She’d stepped into a serious relationship without even seeing it coming. Once inside she deposited the dress bag on the couch, and walked to the kitchen, wanting to have dinner ready for Brent when he got off of work. She found she enjoyed doing domestic duties—cleaning, doing the laundry, cooking meals, and having them ready when he got home. Things she never thought in a million years she’d like to do for a man. But she felt like she’d found her groove, something that made her feel useful, but didn’t leave her stressed out like the bookstore had.
    Her thoughts wandered to more dangerous territory; spending her days maintaining his home, raising his children. Cooking meals, and doing laundry in a house full of love. Never in her life had she considered housewifery as her future, but never in her life had she met a man who made her feel the things that Brent made her feel.
    Brent walked in an hour and a half later. He smiled when he saw her, and pulled her into a hug, giving her a long kiss.
    “Smells amazing,” he said when they parted, inhaling deeply. “What’s cooking?”
    “Baked chicken with root vegetables,” she said proudly. She’d never been much of a cook, but she was learning thanks to the internet. “Dessert will be pie I picked up at the store.”
    “Fantastic.” He kissed her again, and she melded into his embrace, feeling giddy with emotion. She loved him, in that moment the realization seemed bigger than all of the universe.
    She pushed away from him, needing a moment to collect herself. She waved toward the couch. “I bought a dress.”
    “Let’s see it.”
    She walked over, and grabbed the bag with the dress then retreated to the bathroom to try it on. Her hands shook. Do I really love him or is it all the great sex muddling things? She pulled the dress over her head, and zipped the side, before she smoothed it over her hips.
    “I can’t love him,” she told her reflection in the mirror. I can’t afford to love