Princess (American Princess #1)(19)
Author: Courtney Cole

“I believe it does,” he answered, surprising her with his frank tone. “I think it’s tied together.  Would it surprise you if I told you that your parents don’t want this investigation to continue?  That they would be satisfied to just let the guy who hurt you walk? I just spoke with your mother this morning.”

Again his face was impassive, but she felt sure that the question was orchestrated- he wanted to see her reaction. Again.

She didn’t give him one, but she cringed on the inside.  It was a devastating blow to realize over and over that nothing was more important to her own parents than their public appearance.   She knew the Why without asking.  They didn’t want public opinion of it-of her- to hurt the campaign. She was so tired of the endless freaking Campaign. It had been a part of her life since she was an infant.  In fact, on more than one occasion, she had wondered if that was the reason she had been born at all…as a prop for the picture perfect, All-American family.

“No, it wouldn’t surprise me,” she sighed, trying to close off her expression so that they wouldn’t see that it had upset her. As it was, she had a difficult time keeping her voice steady. “Was there anything else you needed from me?”

“I think that will be all for today.  We just wanted to confirm the length of your relationship with Mr. Price.  If we think of anything else, we’ll let you know.”

She followed them to the door, her eyes on the scuffed low pumps of Detective Wills as they walked.  The woman’s fashion sense hadn’t improved.  On their way out, the detectives passed Stephen as he strolled up the walk.  They barely spared him a glance.

“Am I too late for the party?” Stephen asked lightly as he stepped into the house.

Sydney tried to smile, but knew that the floodgates were about to open. She turned quickly, trying to escape to her room before the tears hit.  She didn’t want Stephen to witness it. She’d been so much better lately, much to his obvious relief.  She didn’t want him to start worrying again.

As she fled, Stephen stayed in place, staring after her in confusion.  But it only took a second for the unmistakable sounds of her muffled sobs to reach him through her closed door and he quickly followed her. 

He lingered in her doorway, watching her cry for as long as he could stand it before he strode quickly across the small room to sit on the edge of her bed, scooping her into his arms. With her head on his chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her, she cried in wracking heaves until there was nothing left. When she finally raised her tear-streaked face to look at him, there were no more tears to cry.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured quietly. “I actually felt better today, for awhile. But something they said about my parents was upsetting.  I didn’t mean to fall apart on you. I’m better now.  I just needed to get it out.”

“Don’t apologize,” he answered softly.  “I wish I could give you good advice, but your parents are a different species from mine.  My experience doesn’t apply to yours.  But I promise you, everything will be okay.”

“I hope you’re right.  But sometimes, it just doesn’t feel like it.  The detectives told me today that my parents want the investigation to stop because it would hurt the campaign.  They couldn’t care less that someone tried to kill me. Do you know how that feels?”

He sighed heavily and tightened his arms around her.

“Syd, I don’t know how that feels… I’m sorry.  But if I could, I would take it for you. I don’t want you to hurt.”

“Trust me, I don’t want to hurt, either. I’d gladly give it to you.” She smiled ruefully.

“I can tell you this though, and I mean it.  Whatever your parents feel or don’t feel… it isn’t a reflection on you.  You’re amazing.  And if they honestly don’t see that, then it is their loss.  You’re the best person I’ve ever met and you’re going to have a great life.  You don’t need them to make you happy.”

She knew he was right.  Her parents’ feelings didn’t define her but it was hard to convince her heart of that.  She laid her head back on his hard chest, letting the scent of his masculinity surround her.  The smell of aftershave and shaving cream floated lightly on top of the slightly musky fragrance of his skin.

She also realized that his chest wasn’t the only thing that was hard.  As she remained curled up in his lap, she felt the growing evidence of his desire for her and it set her on fire, regardless of the empty ache she felt inside.

She nudged against him, gently testing.  Rejection was not something she could handle right now.  Not after everything else.

He unconsciously pushed back against her, and she felt his stiff rigidity resting against her.  She wriggled closer, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from him.  The sound of his need for her fueled her own, scorching through her as though someone had tossed lighter fluid on her and then lit a match.  It came in waves- rippling and building.  The air between them was so heavily charged that it almost sparked. She was suddenly breathlessly eager and flushed.

“Stephen, I want you,” she whispered.  “I can’t help it.  I’ve wanted you for so long. Please.”

Heat flushed her cheeks and her skin practically tingled, as she ran her hands against the solid expanse of his back. He groaned in response and buried his face into her hair.

“Syd, we can’t.  You’re vulnerable right now and you don’t know what you want-”

She interrupted him firmly.  “I know exactly what I want. I want you. Please, Stephen. You’re the best person that I have ever met.  I just want to feel close to you- as close as I can be.”

She ran her hand through his hair and pulled his face down to hers.  She knew the instant that he gave in.   He tilted her back softly cradling her, and lowered his lips to envelope hers.

She sucked him up hungrily, sliding her tongue softly between his lips as she ran her hands urgently over his body.  She felt as though she couldn’t get close enough of him, couldn’t inhale enough of his scent, couldn’t touch him enough.  He appeared to share those thoughts as he pulled her as close as he could, pushing himself against her through her clothes.

Their breath was ragged as they experienced each moment, prolonging it and rushing it at the same time.  He slid his hands over her soft body and buried his face into her neck, her soft scent sending him over the edge. He pulled her shirt over her head in one fluid motion. All traces of awkwardness were gone.