Virgin Marriage by Alexa Riley

Chapter 1

Skyler

“It’s really fine,” I try and tell him again. Okay, maybe it’s not because my knees are throbbing from hitting the concrete sidewalk and the burn of his coffee still lingers on my stomach. I don’t think either of us were paying attention when we collided.

Damn it. This was my favorite shirt and it’s definitely ruined now. It’s not even mine, but the man it belongs to isn’t going to ask for it back. He took part of my heart with him when he left so I’m keeping the shirt, even if it only brings me heartache. The smell of him is long gone, but there’s no way I’m getting this coffee stain out of it. Maybe this guy did me a favor and I can get rid of it.

“My parents’ place is just around the corner. Let me help you at least get cleaned up.” He holds his hands up, unsure of what to do. I can tell he wants to help me, but he’s trying not to touch me. Something about his deep blue eyes is familiar, which has to be the reason I’m agreeing to go with him.

“Okay,” I say and his shoulders drop in relief.

He said his parents’ house, so at least it’s not some random place. My knees are starting to throb and I’m pretty sure they are bleeding. I finally glance down and see blood seeping through the material of my gray leggings. I gasp and jerk my head up to look away, and as I do I feel dizzy. Strong arms wrap around me to keep me from falling over.

“Shit, should we go to the hospital?” he asks, and I’m sure

my face is green.

“No, It’s just the blood.” I suck in a deep breath and pull it together the best I can. The sight of it always makes me sick.

“We’ll get you fixed up. I bet my mom or sister has something at the house you can wear if you need to change your…” He trails off for a beat. “Pants.”

I let out a small laugh and meet his gaze again. His eyes are so unsettling but I don’t know why.

“I’m Skyler. Maybe we should exchange names since you’re taking me to your parents’ house and getting me pants.”

“Jon,” he laughs as he helps me steady my feet. “I really am sorry about this.” He starts to guide me down the sidewalk and finally releases me when I can manage on my own. “I was trying not to be late, but it looks as though I only made it worse.”

“If you need to be somewhere, I’m okay.” I stop walking for a moment and try not to look down at my knees because I might pass out. There’s no way I’m making a subway ride. Jesus, I’m a mess over a little blood. I’ve had hemophobia since… I stop my train of thought, not wanting to go there.

“No, it’s cool, just family dinner. My mom can be ruthless if you miss one or show up late.” He says it with a smile, making me think his mom isn't ruthless at all. “She’d be extra pissed if she knew I’d left a woman who needed some help.”

I relax. I know he’s going to make sure I’m okay even though I’m a grown woman—if twenty counts as grown, but I know some people don’t. Jason comes to mind, but I fight the thoughts of him and shove them into the box I don’t want to open.

“I’ll pay for the shirt.” He eyes my white shirt that’s a couple of sizes too big for me.

I only meant to run out and grab some coffee. Then I got a wild hair to run over to my favorite bakery across town and pick up something sweet for later. I was going to spend my lazy Sunday eating pie and getting lost in a book and reruns of reality TV.

“It’s fine. It might have been my fault.” He was getting out of a cab and I was lost in my head and not paying attention. It was a bad habit of mine to get off track and walk right past the place I was headed. Sometimes it would take me two blocks to realize what I’d done. Which is exactly what happened today.

“Did you go there?” He nods to the university logo on my shirt that’s faded from having been washed so many times.

“No.”

College hadn’t been in the cards for me. At one time I would have thought so, but life can change so quickly. I’ve learned that lesson too many times to count. Each day you never know what you’re going to get and you can never rely on anyone but yourself.

We turn the corner into a nice neighborhood that’s very much like the one I grew up in. I only came all the way out here because of the bakery. It’s the same one Jason took me to. I grew addicted to the place with one taste, just like I’d done with him. That’s all it took for me to fall under his spell, but as quickly as he was in my life, he was out of it. It’s almost like he dropped off the planet.

I’ve only seen him once since then when I purposely went looking for him. I pretended to run into him, which was pathetic, but when I found him with another girl it was bittersweet. It made me realize I needed to move on too. Jason wasn't coming back and even if he did try and crawl his way back to me, I’d step right over him. I’ve never fallen so easily for a man and the one time I let my guard down I was left shattered and alone.

Jon guides me up a driveway and opens a side door. “You hungry? My mom’s going to ask you to stay for dinner.”

I flick my gaze to Jon as he holds the door open for me. He’s handsome and maybe a year or two older than me. This could be my move-on moment, but there’s no spark. He seems nice enough, but I’m not sure if he’s hinting at me staying because his mom is going to ask or because he wants me to. He seems like a good guy, but I’m not feeling anything romantic.

“I probably shouldn't,” I admit as I enter. The scent of food hits me and my stomach makes a loud growl, causing Jon to chuckle. All I’ve had so far today is coffee. I still haven't gotten my pie and from the look of things I won’t anytime soon.

“I don’t think your stomach agrees,” Jon teases me as we walk through a kitchen where a woman is standing at the stove. She has dark hair with a few gray streaks and she turns to look at us.

“You’re late.” Her eyes fill with surprise when she sees me and I know it’s his mom.

“I need the first-aid kit, Mom,” Jon tells her. Her eyes roam over me quickly before she darts off, shouting a “be right back” over her shoulder.

“Let’s sit you down.” Jon leads me out of the yummy-smelling kitchen into the dining room. The table is set and ready for what has to be a giant family. If I didn't know any better I’d think it was Thanksgiving.

I glance over when I see someone enter from another room and all the air in my lungs freezes. Jason stands there looking as shocked as I am. We stare at each other for a long moment, neither one of us saying a word.

“You okay, Skyler?” Jon asks me.

He puts his hand on my thigh just above my knee. No, I’m not okay. So many emotions come flooding back to me and then I see her. The same girl I saw Jason with before. She walks in right behind him and her eyes move to where I’m at with Jon and then to Jason.

Jason stares at Jon, and I watch anger take over his shocked expression.

“What are you doing with my girl?” Jason points his finger at Jon and I realize I didn’t know he had a brother. It’s another reminder that I wasn’t worth confiding in. “Sky, come here,” he orders, but doesn't glance my way.

“I’m not your girl,” I answer as I glance at Jon and watch a small smirk pull at the side of his mouth. I see it now, why his eyes felt so familiar. “I’m with Jon.” The words pop out of my mouth before I have a chance to think them over and to my surprise Jon’s smirk turns into a full-on smile before Jason launches himself across the dining room table.