Buying The Virgin Part 1-3

CHARLOTTE

Sitting in my room, the small private space that I call my own, in the house I share with seven other students, my phone beeps. It’s an incoming message, from Michael

“Purchase completed fifteen minutes ago. Your Home awaits you.”

*****

Fumbling, as I balance my bags in one hand, door keys to the lock in the other, I step into the hallway of the student house.

As I tramp upstairs, a voice floats down from the top floor; Marie. “That you, Charlotte?”

“Yup,” I shout back.

“You’ve got visitors…. They’re up in the kitchen here. I made them a coffee while they waited.”

I don’t get visitors. There is only one possibility. Racing upstairs, I dash into the kitchen, and, yes, it’s them, my Master and Michael, both grinning wildly.

“Surprise!” says Michael. He sweeps me into his arms, swinging me around, kissing me on the mouth.

My Master, more circumspect, touches me on the shoulder, kissing my forehead. “Hello, Charlotte. Lovely to see you.”

“Mas…. James! Michael…” Suddenly conscious of Marie’s stare, I say. “Oh, Marie. This is Michael, my fiancée and… James…. his friend. This is Marie, one of the other house shares.”

Marie is looking at Michael with far too much interest for my liking. “Ah…. the mysterious fiancée at last,” she says. “We’ve been wondering what you’d be like… Can’t say I blame Charlotte for keeping to herself so much when I see what she’s saving herself for….”

Michael says nothing. With his blond, blue-eyed, good looks, he always draws attention. My Master sucks in his cheeks, looking amused.

“Come on downstairs,” I say. “We can talk in my room. It’s a bit quieter there. Thanks for making the coffee, Marie.”

“Oh, no problem.” She eyes Michael, all too obviously, and he pointedly fails to notice.

privacy, my Master wraps his arms around me, holding me tight, his mouth opening over mine. His kiss is long and slow, and

you were coming? I’d have at least made sure I had some chairs

thought you would enjoy

study room; a bed, a desk, bookshelves, a chair, wardrobe and built-in drawers, but now, my Master sitting on the single chair, Michael sits on the end of the narrow bed as I put on the kettle. Then I have to go back up to the kitchen

“Snug. You might swing

I only use it for working and

high, and from the kitchens above, chairs scrape across the floor. “It’s a bit busy around here, isn’t

both. It’s been so long. I know

books and notes, open on the desk. “We did choose Friday night, hoping

That’s fine. I have until Wednesday to hand that work

going out anywhere

I don’t really go out. I’m

My Master looks bland. He continues, “Good, and later…” he lifts my hand, kissing the fingers…” A hotel room perhaps? We thought

but, er…. but I don’t have anything really to wear for going out in. I only brought jeans and tee-shirts and everyday sorts of

“We brought some of your other clothes along. They’re in the car. And um, perhaps you should have a shower first? You smell of machine

college today, they were showing us how to use a lathe

“Is that what you’ll be expected to do when

you’re expected to have some idea of how a machine shop and a tool shop work, and that means I

up and changed, and we’ll wait upstairs? It’s a bit crowded in here….” He sees my hesitation. “Don’t worry. I’m sure James will

realising how silly I’m being. “, I think she’s expecting her

“Another student?”

on the Aeronautical Engineering

check out the clothes they have brought with them.

Caroline too, and a couple

turn to me, and Pete glances around, then does a double-take as he sees me. “Bloody Hell, Charlotte. I didn’t realise you had legs under your jeans, let alone

what he has said, and blushes apologetically at Michael. “Um, sorry. didn’t mean… Not used to seeing

“You’ve seen a

*****

hotel. As we step into the lobby, all polished glass and brass, expensively perfumed