Virgin (A Real Man, 2) Read online

  VIRGIN

  A Real Man, 2

  VIRGIN (A Real Man, 2)

  By Jenika Snow

  www.JenikaSnow.com

  [email protected]

  Copyright © July 2016 by Jenika Snow

  First E-book Publication: July 2016

  Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography

  Cover model: Marshall Perrin

  Photo provided by: Wander Book Club

  Editor: R. Cartee

  Editor: K. Alexander

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Virgin (A Real Man)

  Quinn

  Isabel

  Quinn

  Chapter One | Quinn

  Isabel

  Chapter Two | Quinn

  Chapter Three | Isabel

  Quinn

  Chapter Four | Isabel

  Quinn

  Chapter Five | Isabel

  Chapter Six | Quinn

  Chapter Seven | Isabel

  Chapter Eight | Isabel

  Quinn

  Chapter Nine | Isabel

  Quinn

  Epilogue | Isabel

  Quinn

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  About the Author

  She’s the only one he’ll ever want.

  He is the first boy she fell in love with.

  Quinn

  I met Isabel when I was ten.

  I fell in love with her before I even knew what that meant.

  I knew from the moment I saw her she was it for me. No one else compared to her, and I’d do anything to make her mine. But I was afraid of losing the friendship we have, so I've kept my mouth shut.

  But she's leaving me, and I know I can't keep how I feel inside any longer.

  Saving myself for the girl I love isn't a hardship, but it’s something I'm proud of. When it comes to Isabel, giving her my virginity, and making her see we belong together, is all that matters.

  Isabel

  Quinn is like the other half of my soul, the one person I can talk to about anything. He has the bad boy thing going on but is also respectful as much as he is a rebel.

  He is the first and only boy I will ever love.

  Being forced to move across the country, and leave him behind, is like leaving a piece of myself in the process. But telling Quinn I am madly in love with him could put a strain on our friendship. I don't know if that’s something I could handle or risk.

  Quinn

  Nothing can keep me from Isabel. She is it for me, and I mean that in every conceivable way. Nothing can keep me from her. I hope she's ready because there isn't anything or anyone that will stop me from having her as mine.

  Warning: This story is quick and dirty and filled with a virgin hero who wants his heroine to be his one and only. It's drama free, and has insta-everything going on, so be prepared to have an overload of sugary virgin goodness.

  Chapter One

  Quinn

  The first time I saw Isabel, I knew she was something special.

  I hadn’t even spoken to her, didn’t even know her name, but like those sappy songs and movies where they talk about that instant connection ... yeah, I had gone there with her.

  We were ten years old, and she was being picked on by some little prick; the sight of her crying had done something to me instantly. I’d wanted to protect her, to hurt anyone that thought they could make her cry.

  I’d stormed right over there, pulled her behind me, and given the bullying asshole a black eye.

  After that day, we became inseparable.

  After that day, no one fucked with her, not unless they wanted to deal with me.

  And they never did.

  I might not have known what I was feeling for her at such a young age, but I knew without a doubt she was it for me. I wanted her in my life forever.

  As the years went on, our relationship became stronger, our friendship tighter. She was my best friend, the one girl I could talk to about anything. And she could do the same with me. But that friendship evolved for me, and I didn’t just see myself as her protector anymore, but the guy that didn’t want any prick even looking at her.

  I knew I loved her before I even knew what that fucking word meant.

  We were both eighteen, and although I’d always kept my distance when it came to telling her how I really felt, I knew I couldn’t hold that shit in anymore. I loved Isabel so much it hurt.

  She’d never know how much she meant to me unless I grew some balls and told her. But I was afraid, afraid of losing the best thing in my life. The fear that I could ruin everything with those three words had kept my mouth shut, but I couldn’t do that anymore.

  She was the most important person to me. Isabel was my world, my life. Hell, I breathed because of her.

  She didn’t know it, but she was mine, and I needed to tell her before it was too late.

  Isabel

  I felt like crying.

  They weren’t happy tears, but soul numbing, heart-breaking tears that would consume me and not let go until it had wrung every last ounce of energy from me. If I gave in and let that sorrow take over, I’d crumble to the floor and not be able to get back up.

  “Everything will work out, Isabel.”

  I looked at my mom before I walked out of the front door and headed to school. My eyes stung from the unshed tears, and my throat was so dry and tight I couldn’t even swallow.

  “No, it won’t be okay.”

  My mom gave me a sympathetic look, and I hated it. “Isabel, we didn’t mean to spring this on you, but we just found out, as well. Your father can’t pass up the promotion, even if it means we have to move your senior year.”

  I just shook my head. I didn’t care if I had to finish my senior year at another school. What I cared about, what was breaking my heart, was the fact I had to tell Quinn about this.

  I would be leaving my best friend.

  I would be leaving the guy I was hopelessly in love with.

  Not saying anything was the best route; if I opened my mouth, I’d either yell at my mom for ruining the best thing in my life, or cry like a little bitch.

  I just left the house, got in my car, and drove to school.

  Everything passed by in a blur. I was at school before I even realized it. After cutting the engine, I just sat there, my heart racing, my body numb. I didn’t know how to tell Quinn any of this.

  I don’t want to tell him.

  Telling myself this was all just an overreaction was easier said than done.

  It’s just one more year, and we can be together again.

  It’s just one year of us being apart all the way across the country.

  Closing my eyes and resting my head back on the seat, I could have cried at my thoughts.

  Be together? Quinn and I were a lot of things, but together wasn’t one of them. He was my best friend, the boy who had protected me when I was only ten and being picked on. He was the first person to tell me things would be okay because he wouldn’t le
t anyone hurt me. Although my home life was fine, happy even, the very thought of not having Quinn in it, not being able to see him every day, talk to him, and feel so protected because I knew he would never let anything happen to me, was unbearable.

  When I opened my eyes, I saw Quinn walking toward the car. He always waited for me so we could walk together, and knowing I’d have to finish off my last year of school without doing this one thing every day broke my heart.

  But I plastered on a smile, because I didn’t want to tell him right now and ruin the entire day. It was Friday and I could tell him after school; that way we’d have the whole weekend to hang out, maybe talk about this.

  “Hey,” he said and leaned his massive biceps on the inside of the window, his smile bright, straight, and white.

  “Hey yourself.” I smiled wider, turned to grab my bag off the passenger seat, and went to open my door, but he was already there doing it for me. Once out of the car, I tried to keep my composure happy, but inside I was a wreck.

  I stared up at him, his body massive for only being eighteen. He had tattoos on his arms, even though he was younger. He appeared like the bad boy in all ways, was in many senses, but he was also my best friend.

  He played hockey, and his body was a machine, tearing through anything and anyone to get what he wanted. At six foot three and two hundred pounds of raw muscle, Quinn didn’t look like someone that should be going to this rinky-dink little high school. He looked like a man in many ways.

  He was a hard ass to all others, but to me he was the sweetest person. He showed me a side that he didn’t allow anyone else to see, and that made me love him even harder.

  One of his friends who also played hockey came over and started “talking shop” with him, and I just stared up at him. His dark blond hair was cut short and had a mussed look going on. From this angle, his light blue eyes almost looked crystalline. And the clothes he wore ... yeah, they couldn’t hide the raw power he exuded. Big biceps, vein-roped forearms. He was perfection, and I wanted him to be mine.

  God, what am I doing, measuring him for a suit?

  How am I going to get through this, even if it is for only one year?

  Chapter Two

  Quinn

  I could tell something was wrong with her as soon as I saw her this morning. She was being fake and had plastered on a tight smile, but in her eyes, I could see something was bothering her.

  My first instinct was to demand she tell me who the fuck hurt her, because I was ready to beat that fucker down, but I kept my cool, wanting her to come to me and tell me what was wrong.

  I sat in my seat in the back of the class, staring at her, unable to focus on what the teacher said. Isabel sat a few seats in front of me and to the right. She kept tapping her pencil on the desk and bouncing her leg, her nerves clear. I’d never really seen her like this, and it had every muscle in my body taut with the need to make things right for her, to make her feel better.

  She looked back at me then, maybe feeling my stare burning a hole in the back of her head. She smiled, but it was tight and didn’t reach her eyes. I curled my hands into tight fists, wanting to just fuck the class and drag her out of the room, but thankfully the bell for the end of the day rang. I shot out of my seat, grabbed my backpack, and stormed over to her.

  “Hey,” she said softly as she put her books in her bag. I saw the column of her throat work as she swallowed, could see how tight her jaw was.

  “Come on,” I said and all but dragged her out of the classroom, down the hall, and finally outside.

  We made our way to her car, and only then did I cross my arms and glare down. I waited for her to tell me what the fuck was going on, and when she didn’t, I exhaled.

  “What’s gong on?” I asked, making my voice softer. I didn’t want to upset her because frankly, I was on edge not knowing what was going on with her. She never kept things from me.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, but she didn’t meet my eyes.

  I placed my forefinger under her chin and tilted her head back. “Isabel,” I said in a low voice. “What’s going on?” She didn’t answer me right away, and when I saw the tears start forming in her eyes, I cursed. “Did someone fuck with you?” I curled the hand not touching her into a fist and gritted my teeth. I needed to stay calm, because the very thought of someone messing with her had me nearly going off the rails.

  “If someone fucked with you, so help me God...” I shook my head. “I’ll make them hurt.” I stared into her hazel eyes, could see her mahogany colored hair blowing around her shoulders. Hell, I could smell the citrusy scent that always surrounded her. Despite not knowing what was up with her, I was getting hard, wanting her like a fiend wanting a hit of my addiction.

  She shook her head. “No one hurt me, Quinn.” Her voice was low, distant almost.

  I wanted to smooth my thumb along the soft skin under her chin, but I refrained and pulled my hand away. “You’ve been acting weird all day. Tell me what’s wrong, because I know you well enough that I can see you’re bothered.”

  She looked at the ground and closed her eyes. After a second, she lifted her head and looked me right in the eyes. God, she was gorgeous; even looking like someone had ripped her heart out and stomped on it, she was the most beautiful fucking person I’d ever seen. I wanted to pull her in and kiss her until she was breathless, wanted to tell her I loved her, and that I was so fucking in love with her I lay in bed at night thinking about her being mine.

  I wanted to tell Isabel she was it for me ... that she was the only one I’d ever want.

  I was a virgin, and I wanted Isabel to be my first and last.

  “We’re moving, Quinn.”

  Her words brought me back to the present, had me blinking and trying to process what she’d said. “What?” I asked, hearing her, knowing what she said, but not comprehending it.

  “I’m moving. My dad got a promotion, and relocating is part of it.” She brushed away a tear that fell from her eye.

  “Moving?” I asked, my voice thick, tight.

  She nodded.

  I shook my head. “When?”

  She was silent for long moments, and I felt myself become tighter, knowing what she was going to say would be fucking hell.

  “Less than two weeks.”

  I felt the breath leave me. I couldn’t do anything but stand there and stare at her, watching as the tears slid down her cheeks.

  “Two fucking weeks?” I gritted those words out. “Are you serious?”

  She nodded.

  Reaching up, because I couldn’t stand to see her crying, to see her hurt, I cupped her cheek and brushed two tears away with my thumb.

  “How the hell can anyone move in two weeks?” I meant to say those words to myself, but they spilled forth. “Fuck,” I said and squeezed my eyes shut.

  We hadn’t been apart for more than a day since we were ten.

  I fucking loved her.

  I love you.

  She cupped my hand, neither of us speaking or moving for long moments. Finally, she sighed and smiled, but it was sad.

  “The position my dad is taking needs to be filled right away.” Her voice was soft. “And my mom doesn’t want to wait a year until I’m done with school to move out there. She wants to be with my dad.”

  Yeah, I got that, understood it even, but hell, what about us?

  It was then, as those words sunk in, that I felt rage fill me. I felt this bone-deep anger that took my breath away, that stole every single ounce of sanity. I wanted to avenge her even if there wasn’t a monster in front of her, wasn’t someone that had stolen an ounce of her flesh. I wanted to be the one to hold her close and keep her by me, making sure she couldn’t be hurt, not by her family ... not by a distance that was the enemy.

  I wanted to tell her right then that everything would be okay, that I’d never walk away from her. I’d follow her to the end of the fucking world if I had to.

  She was it for me, and tonight I’d tell her how I felt.


  Tonight, I’d take her somewhere private, where it was just us, and tell her my deepest secret.

  Tonight I’d tell Isabel that I loved her, and nothing would keep us apart.

  Chapter Three

  Isabel

  “Have you told Quinn?” my father asked from across the dinner table.

  “Yeah,” I replied in a dead tone.

  “Honey, eat,” my mother said.

  I stared at my plate, pushing my food around with my fork. They actually expected me to eat, to have an appetite after the shit they threw at me this morning?

  “I’m not hungry.” I set my fork down and looked at the clock. I was meeting Quinn in twenty minutes. He wanted us to hang out, to spend time together, and really talk about all of this. At least the latter was what I assumed.

  “It’s for one year, Isabel,” my dad said, sounding frustrated. I didn’t care if he was annoyed. “Once you graduate, if you want to go to school here, or wherever Quinn is, that’s an option.”

  “A year is a long time,” I said, my voice monotone, and I knew my expression reflected that. “Let’s not forget you’re uprooting me during my senior year, or that we have to move across the country.” I straightened, not about to cry at the dinner table. “It’s not like I’m moving to the next city over. It’s not like I can tell Quinn to go with me.”

  My dad exhaled and grabbed his napkin to wipe his mouth. When he set it down, he looked me right in the eyes. “I know you and Quinn are close. And I know this will be a hard adjustment. But it’s for one year, honey, and I can’t pass up this promotion.” He said the last part a little softer. “I’ve been working toward this for the last ten years.”

  I wanted to support my dad, knew he deserved this, but it was hard to feel any kind of happiness toward anyone when I was hurting so much.

  “I’m sorry. I’m happy you’re getting what you deserve, but it’s ... hard for me.” I stood and walked over to the table in the foyer. I gabbed my keys from the little bowl on it and stared at myself in the mirror above the table. I looked like shit, with dark circles under my eyes and this shitty expression covering my face. I might only be five minutes away from where I was to meet Quinn, and I’d obviously be early, but I’d rather sit there with just my thoughts and the silence than stay here and try and be happy when I wasn’t.