Their Secrets

Charlotte aka "Charlie" is in a position that most girls envied. With an older brother on their college football team, she gets to spend a lot of time with his teammates. One in particular has always caught her eye. The quarterback, Rusty. But like all of her brother's teammates, he either sees her as one of the guys--or doesn't really see her at all. Of course, her love life isn't helped by the fact that her very large brother is also very overprotective.

But during one of the last parties of the year, something changes. When Rusty and Charlie end up hanging out together at his place, she discovers his secret: the star quarterback is still a virgin. And it is part of what makes him hesitant to date anyone. She makes him a proposition: they can share their first times together, thus relieving them both of their secrets. This sparks passions that both have been hiding for a long time, and makes them wonder if once will be enough...

Excerpt:
My roommate was ‘entertaining’ again. I suppose I should have been grateful that she’d chosen to do so when I wasn’t there, but now… My face flushed, I turned back to Rusty. “Would it be okay if we hang out at your place instead?”

His face was nearly as red as mine had to be. “Sure. No problem.”

He didn’t live on campus. I knew he shared an apartment with a few of his teammates—though thankfully, my brother wasn’t one of them. Would have been even more awkward if he did. And if he’d decided to bring the girl he’d left the party with back here.

That didn’t mean the apartment was empty, however. Several guys were gathered in the kitchen, playing some kind of drinking game. They didn’t even notice as Rusty took me by the arm and led me around them.

To his room.

My heart did that funny little flutter again once the door closed behind us. I knew that I shouldn’t read anything in the fact that I was now alone with him again, and his bedroom. But it seemed that a part of me still harbored more than a little bit of the old crush I’d had on him.

That, and a crazy amount of hope.

“Sorry it’s a mess.” His things were scattered everywhere. “I wasn’t expecting to let anyone in here tonight.”

That was… reassuring? I think? “Don’t worry about it.”

He raked a hand through his hair. “I’d offer you a drink, Charlie, but I think I remember you’re not of age just yet.”

“Next month.”

Rusty gave me a shy smile. “Well, happy early birthday?”

“Thank you.” I bit my lip, my stomach fluttering as much as my heart now. As well as something lower; a pulsing rhythm taking up residence between my legs.
To cover my responses—as well as to hide the fact that I was feeling really awkward about being in a guy’s bedroom for the first time, no matter how innocent the moment might be—I moved past him toward the bed.

Flopped onto my back and grinned up at him. “I don’t suppose you have a television under that pile of clothes on top of your dresser, do you?”

“Yeah. But Charlie?”

“What?”

“What are you—” he broke off, as if the intense flush that had colored his face and his throat had stolen his voice. He swallowed hard. “What are you doing?”

“You don’t mind if I get comfortable, do you?”

“Not at all. It’s just…”

Something about his uncertainty made me a little bolder than I normally would have been. Besides, I’d certainly known him long enough that I should be free to tease him. Just a little. “I’m sure you have girls on your bed all the time. Or is it just this girl you don’t want to be here?”

“Actually, you’re the first.” His blush deepened, his face turning so red now, I thought he might burst.

“The first on this particular bed?”

“No.”

The tentative idea that had begun to form in my head ripened. Was it possible? “Don’t tell me that the star quarterback is a virgin.”