Page 67 of Fumble

Chapter Nineteen

HUNTER

If there’sa wrong time to have fired your manager, this is it, and I don’t even care. The world can wait until tomorrow. Right now, all I care about is Faith. She looks fragile, for the first time since I met her—visibly shaken—and the worst part of it is, I don’t know how to fix this. Coach was never going to react well to me starting something with Faith, but the way it leaked has amped up his reaction tenfold. She looks heartbroken. Lost, and I hate this for her.

After I convince her to lie on the couch, I take up residence on the floor next to her, holding her hand in mine, offering what little comfort I can.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”

“What exactly did he say? Maybe if you tell me, I can help.” A pained sigh escapes her, making my heart ache. I don’t want to be the cause of a rift with her family.

“He called me disgusting. Told me he’s disappointed that I gave up my morals.” Turning to face her, I pull her toward me, planting a chaste kiss to her lips.

“You’re not disgusting or amoral.”

“America disagrees, I’m sure.”

“Fuck, anyone else. Do you feel good about what we did?” Part of me is scared for her to answer after what’s happened today. Her fingers trail the scruff on my jaw, her eyes wet with tears.

“Yes, but…” Shit. There’s a, but. “What if this is karma’s way of biting me in the ass? I waged my virginity, and here I am splattered across the internet as the slut who bragged about bedding Hunter Vaughn.”

“Do you honestly believe that? You think the universe cares about your virginity?”

“No.”

“Faith, look at me.” She can barely hold my gaze, an unsettling guilt weighing her down. “You’re not a slut. You’re never going to be a slut. If I had my way, you’d be the woman who marries the man she lost her virginity to.”

“What? I…” Her cheeks flush, and I know I need to rein it in.

“Relax. I’m not proposing. I’m just saying you’re important to me. I want a future to see where this could go. Does that sound like a cavalier attitude to your virginity?”

“No, but you weren’t the one who made light of it. I was.”

“Okay, extrapolate that out for a moment. If you felt nothing more than sexual chemistry with me, would it be so terrible? Most girls give it up to a horny prom date, or they felt peer pressure to lose it to some boyfriend who they wouldn’t look twice at after high school. You waited. You weighed your options. You made a conscious decision, figured out what you wanted, and went after it. I’m just the lucky fuck who happened to be around. You didn’t hurt, use, or abuse anyone.”

“Then why do I feel… dirty?” Like a bullet to the chest, my heart stops. I keep my gaze trained on the wall in front of me, holding her hand tight in mine, her arm draped over my shoulder.

“Did you feel that way before your conversation with your dad?” Seconds pass like hours as I await her response.

“No. For the first time in my life, everything felt… right.” The breath I didn’t know I was holding rushes out of me with audible force.

“Faith, I know you hadn’t had sex before, but you told me you’d done all the foreplay as much as I don’t ever want to think about you pleasing another guy. So, if it felt wrong with them, but the same stuff, and more, felt right with me, isn’t that enough to reassure you?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it. Explain it to me. We’re way past shy, love.” She nestles her head at the edge of the couch, tucking herself tight against the back of my neck.

“I’m not even sure I understand it. I always felt guilty if I let a guy get me off or getting him off.” My muscles tense at the thought of it. She’s mine. “But, with you, I only feel amazing things like I was meant to find you. Does that sound stupid?” I lift her hand to my lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her soft skin.

“No, not stupid at all.”

“Is this what sex feels like with everyone?”

“No, it can be amazing. Physical chemistry can make for some great sex, but don’t laugh, okay?”

“What? Why would I laugh? I’m the one asking sex questions due to a lack of experience.”

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