My Virgin Valentine: A Valentine's Day Novella

by Genevieve Matthews

  I turn around to find Nate standing in the middle of the mess staring at me with his mouth open, his body radiating a hunger that has nothing to do with the food around us.

  “I’m speechless,” he says.

  Smiling, I do a slow turn to show off the red, lacey, babydoll lingerie I changed into when I slipped back into our bedroom.

  “Dessert,” I say, using my best bedroom voice. “Should we clean up the glass?”

  “What glass,” he says, already moving towards me.

  “Not so fast, handsome.” I put my hands up to stop him before he rips my lingerie off before we’ve had our fun. There’s a frantic look in his eyes that makes my entire body hot knowing he’s going to be hard to restrain tonight.

  Taking his hand in mine, I walk him over to the coffee table where I’ve set up the candles from dinner and a bowl of strawberries and chocolate sauce. Once I’ve positioned him in front of the couch, I push him backwards so he falls into a sitting position.

  I straddle him, running my hands over his arms, letting my fingers trace the trail of tattoos that aren’t hidden by his shirt. I press against the hard bulge being restrained by his pants.

  “You’re always ready to make me feel good,” I say, rocking my hips against him, moaning at the intense sensation I get when our bodies touch. “But before we get too far, you have to try some strawberries and chocolate.”

  “Whatever you say.” He tries to hold me on his lap but I push back, putting a little distance between us. Perching on the end of the coffee table, I reach up and let the straps of my baby doll bodice slip down to my elbows.

  Nate instantly reaches for me but I don’t let him touch me, not yet. Shaking my head and wrapping my arms around my chest, he sits back again.

  “Good boy,” I say.

  “I’ve created a monster,” he says shaking his head, his mouth turned up in a sexy smirk. “It’s hard to remember back to when you used to be so shy with me.”

  Dropping my arms in response, I dip my finger in the bowl of chocolate and slowly bring it to my lips. Ever so slowly I slide my finger in my mouth and suck off the chocolate.

  “Um, delicious.”

  My finger dips into the chocolate again, this time letting it drip on my breast and down my nipple. The chocolate is warm and as it slowly trails down my breast I have the overwhelming urge to slide my hand between my legs.

  This time I take a strawberry out of the bowl and use it to collect the chocolate off of my breast. Seductively, I bring the strawberry to my mouth and take a bite.

  “Oh, baby, you have to try the strawberries. They’re sweet and juicy.”

  I hear him moan and curse under his breath but I don’t look at him. Instead I dip back into the chocolate and cover myself with more warm delectable sweetness.

  I let myself look at him this time as I hold a strawberry out for him to take. It has been a year now but I almost blush when I see the smoldering heat coming from his stare. It nearly brings me to my knees that I have this effect on him. His hand is up by his mouth, biting his finger, presumably to keep himself from grabbing me and having his way with me on the table.

  Leaning my arms back, I finally invite him to have a taste.

  “Try it,” I whisper.

  Falling to the floor in front of me, his hands slide up under the lingerie as his mouth finds my breast. He circles my nipple with his tongue, licking off the chocolate as he goes. My eyes are riveted to him. Watching him devour me with such fervor makes my heart pound and my body squirm.

  His strong arms wrap around me and pull me down off the table into his lap. He’s still licking and sucking my breasts, using his fingers to swirl the chocolate over my nipples before he pulls them into his mouth and nips them clean.

  I’m losing my ability to think straight now that his hands and mouth have taken control.

  “There’s still one more place I wanted to cover you with chocolate,” I say. When he pulls his head back, there’s a small bit of chocolate on the corner of his mouth. Using my tongue, I lick it away.

  “You’re fucking amazing,” he says. We both laugh before our kisses turn the tension in the room back to sexual urgency.

  “Drop your pants,” I say.

  I’ve been staring at this computer screen for too long. It’s too early for one thing and this steaming mug of coffee in my hand doesn’t have nearly enough of a caffeine boost to pull me out of the sleepy love hangover I’m experiencing today.

  Bringing the coffee to my lips, I take a minute to look out the window at the flower shop next door. It’s a strange feeling to be sitting here looking in from the outside. I have to smile at how much my life has changed over the course of a year.

  “Babe,” Nate says, walking into the office and making me jump. Looking at him in his faded torn jeans smeared with grease and T-shirt that molds to his body in all the right places always makes me smile. It’s a damn miracle we get any work done now that we’re in the same building together all day.

  “Were you able to get some numbers on the parts for that seventy-four Ducati that came in last week?” He leans over the desk so he can see the computer while I pull up the spreadsheet of information I’ve collected for him.

  “Yes, but you’re not going to be happy about it. The money you’ll need to shell out for these parts will make your profit on the bike virtually nonexistent.” I pull up the file I’ve been keeping of available parts I could find as well as the cost to procure them. I hit print and a minute later the printer springs to life, spitting out the document.

  Nate grabs it off the printer and walks around the desk. Leaning into my chair he kisses me. The flutter of happiness that permanently resides in my chest these days makes itself known.

  “Thanks, you’re the best.”

  “I’m happy to help,” I say.

  “You’re tired today?”

  I make a funny sound with my lips at the absurdity of the question. “I usually need more than four hours of sleep, so yes, I’m tired today.”

  “Me, too,” he says. “It was worth it though. I’m never going to look at strawberries the same way again.”

  He kisses me one more time before he turns around and I watch his perfectly sculpted ass walk out of the office.

  “Stop staring, you fiend,” he yells behind him.

  I laugh with abandonment, my lack of sleep getting the best of me. I steadily sip my coffee for a few more minutes while searching the internet for the names of a few parts Nate has written down for me.

  I’ve also taken over the budget for the shop and I’ll be tackling that within the next few days. I’ll save that for a day when I haven’t been up all night rolling around in the sheets with my ridiculously hot boyfriend.

  The morning crawls along. Most of the time I find myself zoning out and daydreaming about taking a nap. It’s just before lunch when my phone at the desk rings twice, signaling I’m getting a call from inside the shop.

  “Babe, would you do me a favor and go through the boxes that were delivered today? I need the set of handlebars you ordered a week ago and they’re suppose to arrive today.”

  “Sure, I’ll be right out,” I say, setting the phone down and stretching. This is the perfect job for me right now anyway, something active to keep me from falling asleep.

  I walk down the hallway into the main area of the shop. I don’t see Nate but there are a few other guys working on various things. It’s quiet and I’ve come to like these days the best. Nate is the happiest when he’s working on the bikes and not being distracted or pulled in ten different directions. And he stops in for quick little visits more often when it’s slow.

  There’s a pile of boxes up by the front desk. The handlebars should be in a smaller box so I start with those. Sorting through I pull out the smallest boxes and set them on the desk. I’m searching for a box cutter, pulling the drawers out one at a time and sifting through the miscellaneous crap inside.

  “There you are,” I say to myself when I finally
uncover the box cutter.

  I use the razor to open the first box. It looks like a small decal for one of the bikes. Not what I need. Setting that box aside, I grab another one and open it up. This time I honestly don’t even know what I’m looking at. Obviously not handlebars so I set it aside.

  The third box is almost too small. I’m about to set it aside, knowing handlebars wouldn’t fit inside, when I change my mind and decide to open it anyway. I might as well go through the boxes so we can see what we’re still waiting for.

  I’m confused when I open the box only to find another smaller box inside. I check the front flap again to see whom the box is addressed to. It has Nate’s name on it so it must be something he ordered. I pull out the box and lift the cover.

  There’s a black ring box nestled in the box. For some reason, I set the box down feeling like maybe I shouldn’t be opening it.

  “Go ahead and open it,” Nate says, making me jump for the second time today. He’s standing quietly behind me, his hands behind his back.

  Suddenly I realize what’s happening and I’m overcome with emotion. My heart is pounding away in my chest and all I can do is take a deep breath and grab the box. I forget to exhale when I click the lid open to see the beautiful diamond ring on display in the box.

  The tears instantly start flowing down my face and when I turn to look at Nate he’s down on one knee, holding a bouquet of red orchids in his hand.

  “Marry me?” he asks.

  I pull the ring out of the box and slip it on my finger. Going down to my knees in front of him, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.

  “Yes,” I say, at a loss for anything more eloquent to say. But I guess in this situation, plain and simple works the best.

  Afterword

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  A Cautious Heart

  Chapter 1

  Bree

  When I was a little girl, I’d daydream about my future. Those early imaginings never involved being parked under an overpass, hunched in the driver’s seat of my silver Toyota, crying my eyes out. But here I am.

  I’d only been on the road for an hour when the storm clouds tore open and poured a torrent of rain on my car. It was nearly impossible to see, but I made myself keep going until my composure began to crack. When my tears matched the steady pace of the raindrops, I finally pulled to the side and stopped under the overpass. I grip the steering wheel and let my tears flow as I watch the rain fall in sheets around me.

  People think running from your problems is easy, but my resolve weakens with every mile.

  The shrill ring of my cell fills the car and I jump a foot. I check the number and instantly relax.

  “What’s wrong?” I say without any need for a greeting. Cate Mercer is my business partner and official best friend since the third grade, when we discovered our mutual love for double-dutch jump rope and chocolate chip cookies. We were inseparable then and remain inseparable to this day. Her support was instrumental in getting me through the loss of my parents and has been the only thing keeping me going these past few weeks.

  “Nothing’s wrong, I just wanted to check to make sure you are okay.”

  “I thought we agreed it would be better for both of us if we didn’t talk for awhile.”

  “I know but I worry. You’re so sensitive. I picture you sobbing behind the wheel, trying to find your way.”

  My silence is answer enough.

  “Oh, shit. You’ve cried the entire trip so far, haven’t you?”

  “Not the whole trip.” I try to hold back a sob. “I just haven’t had a lot of time to process everything. I threw some random stuff in my bag and got in the car and started driving. I’m starting to feel the weight of it all, you know?”

  “Hey, listen to me. You’re going to be fine. My mom is going to take care of you until you figure out the next step. This is your chance to start fresh. Take it. Just give yourself time to find yourself again.”

  I take a moment to inhale a few deep breaths and pull myself together again. “I’m just scared of not knowing what happens next.”

  “You’re going to figure it out, Bree. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”

  “Right now I’m just thinking about finding somewhere to live and then getting a job before I need to start selling myself on the streets. I can’t stay with your mom forever.” I dab at my leaky nose with a balled up tissue.

  “Well, you know my mom and she’ll be thrilled to have you stay with her as long as you need to.”

  “I know. I don’t want to take advantage, though, and finding my own place is a solid first step to getting back on my feet again.” I look in the rearview mirror and wipe away streaks of mascara. “My first step is to get out from under this bridge and get driving again, and that’s all I can think about right now.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll leave you alone. Now get back on the road so you make it before it gets too late. And no more crying! You’ll get into an accident or something.”

  “Well, I’ll try.” I feel the waterworks welling up again, but I fight them back this time. The rain has finally slowed and it’s time to get moving. “You know how I get sometimes. But thanks for checking in. I feel better just hearing your voice. I’ll have your mom let you know when I’m safe and settled.”

  “Be safe and we’ll talk soon.”

  “Okay, but don’t try calling this number again. I’ll get a burner cell phone once I get there. I can’t risk being tracked.”

  Before pulling out from under the bridge, I pull the SIM card out of my phone and drop it under the wheel. I put the car into drive, look over my shoulder to check my blind spot, and merge back onto the highway.

  The sun finally peeks out and I’m able to ease up on the death grip I’ve had on the steering wheel and enjoy the scenery around me. It is fall and the leaves are just beginning to change colors. I drive through beautiful winding roads covered with canopies of red, orange, and yellow leaves as the sun begins to set over the crest of the hill.

  Once it’s dark I get antsy from being in the car all day. I worry that I am further away than I initially thought when my headlights illuminate the cheerful ‘Welcome to Winterhaven’ sign. Things are very quiet and most of the stores are closed up tight for the night.

  I am more than ready to be out of the car by the time I find The Cozy Cottage. Cate’s mom, Greta Mercer, moved here a few years ago and opened her own little inn. Winterhaven was one of the locations we scouted to start our own coffee shop because of her and how she really talked up the town. In the end we decided on a larger city to make sure we had plenty of business as we got everything up and running.

  The Cozy Cottage is the perfect name for this inn. It looks like a typical English cottage. There’s a long stone path leading to the front door, with giant green hostas, asters in every shade of pink, blue and purple, yellow goldenrods, and fragrant stalks of lavender lining the path. My eyes are drawn to all of the windows, each with a set of green shutters that complement the tan bricks. A few trellises lean against the walls with an abundance of creeping ivy and climbing roses growing up the side of the building. All of the windows are lit with a soft glow. It is quaint and peaceful. It’s obvious from first glance that Greta has added her personal touches all over the place.

  As I walk through the front door, I anticipate the smell of apple pie and cinnamon. I don’t see her at first but I hear a soft ding as I step into the foyer. A moment later a woman walks down the large antique staircase that leads into the main room.

  “Bree! You made it!” She says as she walks right up to me and scoops me up in a big bear hug. “Welcome to The Cozy Cottage!” She extends her hand and waves it behind us,
presenting her inn to me. She has laugh wrinkles at the corners of her bright green eyes. Her hair isn’t typical for an older woman, it is long and white pulled back in a loose bun low on the back of her head. She is very beautiful. And everything about her takes me back to my childhood.

  “Wow, Greta! You have really outdone yourself with this little place. It’s so beautiful and cozy.”

  “I’m glad you finally have the opportunity to see it. Lucky for you, I have plenty of rooms available so you’ll get your pick. If it were summer, it’d be a different story. A lot of people come for long weekends to check out the shops and restaurants in town. It’s a beautiful place. But now we’re on the tail end of fall and winters around here can be brutal. Needless to say, tourism slows down!” she laughs and her joyful mood is infectious. I find myself smiling for the first time all day.

  “Do you have everything you need?”

  “I just have a few more things I need to grab from my car. If you just want to point me in the right direction you don’t need to wait for me.”

  “Oh, sure. You’ll go up the staircase and your room will be just to the right. Number 4. There is a bathroom in the room and a small refrigerator to keep things cold. Otherwise I’ll have breakfast out in the dining room in the morning. Feel free to help yourself.”

  “Thank you so much.” I take the room key from her and throw my bag over my shoulder.

  “Well I will be happy to show you around town when you’re up for it. I could introduce you to a few people that might be able to help get you back on your feet.” I’m sure Cate has filled her in on everything that has happened to me but she doesn’t mention it and I’m incredibly thankful for it.

  “That would be great. I look forward to it, thank you.”

  After an extremely tumultuous day, I am finally settled in my room and snuggled in the middle of the large sleigh bed under a huge fluffy down comforter. Greta sure knows how to make people feel at home.