Page 23 of Princess and Country

Two months later

“Have you seen Carter today?” I asked, sitting between Jeff’s legs on a lounger in his backyard. “He’s been MIA for the last three days.”

Jeff brushed my hair over my shoulder. “He’s in his room. Writing. Again.”

I sighed.

Jeff and I started dating—officially—one month ago. After my sixteenth birthday. Things had never been the same between Carter and me since prom. Sure, we spent a lot of time together, hanging out and playing music, but his eyes often bore a sadness that wasn’t there before. Jeff and I broke the news to him together. It turned out better than we expected, considering we were both crushing his heart. Carter never told me in words that he loved me, but I could feel it in my bones.

“I miss him.”

“I do too, Princess. All his pain is transforming into amazing songs, though. So, it’s not all bad. You’ll have new original material by the end of summer. Music is his therapy. If he locks himself in his room for two more weeks, we’ll stage an intervention, okay? Carter needs time to process the idea of us being together. I know my brother—he won’t turn his back on us. When he’s ready, we’ll be here for him.”

I sank into my boyfriend’s arms, my own personal shelter. His lips trailed kisses on the back of my head. His arms fastened around me, and we stayed like that for a long time, just enjoying each other.

An idea crossed my mind, and I jumped to my feet. “Let’s go pick burgers from Bryce’s. It might cheer him up.”

Jeff followed me. “Good idea, let me grab my truck keys.”

When we came back with the greasy, smelly food, Carter couldn’t resist and joined us for lunch. He had dark circles around his eyes, and his hair was a mess. Worse than usual. The three of us ate in silence. When Carter stood to go back to his room, I tugged at his arm and leaned closer. “I know you need your space right now, but I’m here if you wanna talk. Or hang out. Always and forever, okay?” Carter stared at me for long seconds, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “Don’t shut me out, Cart. Please.” Could he read my eyes and see everything I wanted to tell him? “I miss you.”

Carter squeezed my upper arm. “I miss you too, Dah. We’ll talk later, okay?”

Pieces of my heart went missing.

“Sure.” Carter’s lips connected with my forehead, and he disappeared upstairs.

That night, Jeff and I were on our way to a party, but halfway there, Jeff drove his pickup truck along an old dirty country lane and stopped once we were far away from the main road. We settled in the cargo bed, under the stars, stargazing just an excuse to make out.

His finger pads grazed the skin of my stomach underneath my loose white shirt, and he swallowed my moans as our mouths fused together.

Each time we kissed, my body yielded all its control to my very hot boyfriend. As if he possessed all the keys to unlock the doors to my soul.

Rising on my knees, I tied my hair in a knot and straddled him. Positioned over him, I felt his erection against my center. I pushed on his shoulders and leaned forward to deepen our kiss. My right hand ventured to his chest and lowered until I could cup the hard part of him over the fabric of his shorts.

“Hey, Princess, what are you doing?” Jeff asked, detaching our mouths, his voice low and rough. The sound of it lit up flames everywhere inside me. His dick twitched in my hand. Jeff exhaled through his mouth and closed his eyes. His heartbeat vibrated in every cell of mine. “Dah—Oh—Yes—No, you don’t have to do that.” His breathing quickened as I stroked him faster over his shorts. “Fuck.” His eyes snapped open, and he studied me. With the high moon lighting up the night, I saw all the desire and restraint painted over his face. “Stop.” I froze. And frowned.

“Uh, you don’t like that?” Heat rose in me, and I blinked a few times.

“God no. You did nothing wrong, Princess. That’s the problem. This feels too good. And I don’t want to jizz in my pants. And we’re not having sex; you’re not ready.”

I sighed. My cheeks must have turned ten shades darker.

“This is embarrassing,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

Jeff squeezed my hands. “No. It felt amazing. Don’t ever say that. You’re perfect. I don’t want us to rush things, but I love when you touch me.”

He grinned, and I relaxed a little, my hand curving back around his thick erection.

“I know I’m not ready to sleep with you, but that doesn’t mean we can’t experiment, right?” I arched one brow, the way I knew he couldn’t resist.

“God, I love you.” When the words tumbled out, Jeff clamped his mouth shut, his eyes wide and face flushed.

My hands stopped their exploration.

“You love me?” Why did my voice sound so small? My heart hiccupped. All the racing thoughts and voices in my head died. Did I hear him right? Jeff loved me?

I tried to swallow but couldn’t, my throat thick with emotions.