Princess for a Summer: An Amanda Clarke Novel

by Amanda Clarke

  “There’s a circus act, but there’s no rides because we’re indoors.” Nodding in understanding, Erich straightened as we spotted the fried dough stall, and my mouth watered even as I opened it to speak up. “We can go watch it when it comes on, if you want. The tickets are included in admission.”

  “Yeah.” Excitement laced Erich’s tone, and my seemingly perpetual smile widened. The line for the fried dough stall wasn’t too long, and I sighed in pure bliss as he released my hip to hold my hand. Lacing our fingers together, he leaned over once again, and goosebumps washed my right side as his warm breath flowed down my neck. “Are you glad we went on a date instead of staying home?”

  Heat flushed my cheeks, and I nodded as Erich squeezed my hand tenderly. Lifting myself on my toes, I puckered my lips in silent urging, and he huffed a barely audible laugh before ducking his head. Our kiss threatened to blossom almost immediately, and I tightened my fingers around his palm until he broke the seal of our mouths. Stroking my cheek with his free hand, his eyes glimmered with promise when they met mine, and he slowly licked his lips.

  My abdomen tightened, body tensing as need infused my spine, but Erich didn’t have the opportunity to wind me up any more when a hand flew out of nowhere to clap down on my shoulder. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and I whirled around with widening eyes to catch sight of Kristy- of all damn people- positively beaming at me. Sucking in a sharp whistle of a breath, annoyance raged through my chest and across my expression at the shit-eating smirk that stretched her lips.

  “Hey- I thought we could do a double date.” Opening my mouth only to pause when Jason shuffled up behind Kristy, I clenched my teeth and forced a pleasant smile on my face. I honestly liked Jason, and he flashed me a genuine grin as he stuck out his hand. My gaze widened even farther as it flickered to his outstretched palm, and my face flamed in embarrassment as I lifted my elbow awkwardly. Quickly curling his fingers, Jason reached to scratch the back of his neck, and I shifted my weight from one heel to another as he spoke up loudly over the crowd.

  “I didn’t know you were the one Erich’s been seeing. Honestly, I have more respect for him- watching those guests at the wedding throw themselves at him was embarrassing.” Keeping one eye on Kristy, I couldn’t help the smirk that twitched at the corners of my lips as she blushed in shame from Jason’s joke. Just by the look on his face, I could tell he was sincere, and I shrugged even as womanly pride ripped through my chest. The man in question rested his palm against the small of my back, and I leaned into Erich’s firm touch as he spoke up.

  “It wasn’t a big deal. I enjoyed the food.” Answering smoothly, Erich flexed his fingers against the thin fabric of my shirt, but he didn’t linger on the subject. “Do you want some fried dough, too? We’re just waiting in line.”

  “Sure- skee-ball can wait. You know, Erich, that this place won a few awards for their fried dough.” Licking my lips heavily at the reminder, I nodded furiously when Erich looked to me for confirmation. Smiling broadly, my mouth watered as his stretched in excitement, and I lifted myself on my toes to glance at the line. The booth workers were churning out order after order, and the line shuffled forward a step and a half before I spoke up.

  “Yeah- I forgot about that. I don’t come here often- I don’t want to come on the weekends, and I’m always working.”

  “This place is unbearably packed on the weekends- it’s early, but it’ll get bad real fast. How long were you planning on staying? Maybe we can go out to dinner afterwards? My treat, since I finally got to meet you, Amelia.” Jason’s use of my name sent my brows sky high, and I automatically turned to Erich to find annoyance flicker across his expression. The slip only lasted a fraction of a second before he nodded a little less enthusiastically than one would expect, and I couldn’t help but sympathize.

  Kristy really was a conniving bitch, and I was stupid for letting slip where I was going tonight.

  “Okay, sure…” Quipping up quietly, I almost wished Jason didn’t hear me, but my hope was dashed when he smiled in satisfaction. I liked Jason well enough, but I just didn’t know him. Discomfort over the fact that he’d crashed my date wedged between my heart and my lungs, and I focused instead on the quickly diminishing line in front of us.

  Holding my plate with both hands, I stood back to munch on my bread in content as Erich and Jason played skee-ball. Kristy cheered her husband on, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she actually loved him and cared about his opinion. Maybe she only married Jason for the publicity and notoriety. Maybe she married him because she felt insecure about her own acting career and wanted to piggyback his.

  Who knew?

  Well, I know for a fact that she’s a wet blanket on this date. Fighting a frown at the thought, I exhaled a sigh out of my nose before swallowing my bite harshly. Kristy kept suggesting Jason and Erich compete in games, and they were on their sixth round of skee-ball. There’s no way she came here just because I talked trash to her in a two-minute exchange. She must have decided to play nice in case I was interviewed for the wedding.

  “Hey, Erich- I’m gunna go get a drink. I’ll be right back.” Pausing his game at my call, Erich twisted to shoot me an apologetic look, but I only shrugged. Wandering away from the game booths and towards the many, free soda stands, I tore off another chunk of my powder-topped fried dough with an annoyed huff. “I’d rather be at home having sex.”

  Grumbling around my mouthful, I balanced my plate on one hand and grabbed a paper cup with the other. Surprise rattled my spine when big, familiar hands grabbed both my wrists, strong arms wrapping around me, and I dropped everything as Erich spun me around.

  “Let’s go- run-“ Exhilaration raced through my veins as he tugged on my arm, and I didn’t hesitate even a second to follow him. Grinning broadly at the sudden turn of events, my heart thundered in my chest while Erich weaved through the tight throng of carnival-goers towards the nearest exit.

  “Go- go!” Pushing at his back as urgency swept through me, I couldn’t help but giggle as we made our escape, and Erich tightened his grip on my wrist. Bursting through a side door, we both faltered at the sudden brightness of the sun, and I squeezed my eyes shut tightly. Turning to face me, he tugged me to his chest as we dissolved into laughter at the childish glee of having run away from his cousin’s wicked wife.

  “You’re so bad, Erich- Jason’s going to be mad we disappeared on him.” Our mad flight stole my breath, and I leaned back to poke Erich’s sternum firmly even while he shook his head. “I didn’t think you were so gutsy.”

  “When I said we should go out, I did mean alone.” Cupping my cheeks in his palms, Erich met my gaze as I panted to fill lungs strangled on excitement, and his eyes glittered with merriment. “But, since he’s here… I’m going to take you back to his mansion and make love to you on his kitchen counter as revenge. He won’t be back any time soon.”

  “Oh-“ Dragging my palm up Erich’s chest, desire spiked my heart rate as I stepped even closer to him. “You’re so bad. I love it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two Amelia

  My legs quivered as Erich rushed to strip me of my jeans, and I hurriedly kicked off my heels. The cold tiles that hugged the soles of my feet sent sharp shivers up my spine, and the harsh fabric of my pants burned my legs. Licking my lips heavily as need heated my shallow pants, a gasp rasped from my throat when he gripped my hips hard to hoist me onto the counter.

  Desperation jerked Erich’s movements as his grappled with my jeans, and his grunt when he finally freed my ankles shot straight to my core. Knowing hands scorched my skin as they roamed around my waist and up my front, and I grabbed his strong jaw in my palms to pull his mouth to mine. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I moaned softly at the friction of his jeans against my soaked panties. His tongue tangled with mine, the taste of him pooling in my mouth no matter how many times I greedily gulped it down. Hastily unbuttoning my shirt, he pulled the curtain apart to slip his fingertips under the lace of my bra, and my
heart thudded against the bars of its cage as I arched sharply.

  But he didn’t pull the material down as impatience slicked his palms, and I moaned into his mouth when his fingers delved beyond the fabric of my panties.

  Eagerness suffused my muscles, spreading my thighs wide as I locked my ankles against the small of Erich’s back. Our kiss deepened, his unoccupied hand fumbling with the fastenings of his pants, and a violent, needy shiver strafed my spine. Slipping between my swollen, drenched folds, his fingertip teased my entrance, and my lustful fever reached its peak as I tilted my hips. Groaning softly down my throat, he jostled slightly as he pushed his pants down around his knees, and he wasted no time at all to pull my panties to the side.

  “Fly, meine geliebte… Float to the stars with me and beyond…” My eyelids popped open at Erich’s rough, husky German slithering along my tongue, and I only managed a hiccup of a breath. Shoving his hard cock into my channel with no preamble, he sucked in a sharp breath even as mine was knocked from my lungs. Rolling in their sockets, my eyes ached from the pressure building behind them, and my gasp echoed around the kitchen when he jerked my head back gently by my hair.

  Erich was mad- he was mad our date had been interrupted. He was mad that I had been insulted by some woman he was now related to, no matter how distantly. He was mad that he had to resort to running away- like his dignity didn’t mean diddly squat to the very people he’d been here to support.

  Erich is hate fucking me…

  “You will always mean the most to me-“ My bare whisper floated up from the very depths of my soul, and Erich froze with his face buried in my neck. Smiling small at the heat radiating from his forehead, I shied away from the question that seared the roof of my mouth. “No one else. Just you. Always.”

  … When was the last time anyone, even Erich himself, put him first? The though broke my heart clean in two, and there wasn’t even the faintest chance it’d recover.

  “Amelia…-“ Erich’s voice crackled harshly, and in the midst of this sad but beautiful moment, I believed my own promise just as much as he did. Goosebumps washed my entire body in thick sheets as he mouthed my neck with trembling lips, and I squeezed my eyelids shut to beat back the sting. Slowly receding from my depths, he grabbed at my hip to dig his fingernails into my supple flesh.

  My channel tightened and quivered as Erich’s smooth, stiff cock caressed my walls, and a moan erupted from my chest like an earthquake. Sliding easily into my leaking entrance, he panted chokingly into the nape of my neck from beyond clenched teeth and flared nostrils. The tension thrumming through him threatened to ignite the air with electricity as it buzzed between the places we were connected, and I flopped my head forward heavily to rest my forehead on his shoulder.

  “Stop thinking- just do.” Murmuring softly in Erich’s ear, I kissed to exposed skin at the base of his neck and wrapped my arms around him to hold him tight. There was no threat of his departure looming over us; there wasn’t even the counter on which I sat there to support me. For a split second, we floated, weightlessly soaring into ascension from mere physical desire to something more.

  And Erich did. Sucking in a sharp breath that stole the heat from my body, he cupped the back of my head to hold us even closer. His cock pulsed inside me, caressing my walls as he pulled his hips back, and I tightened my grip on him as anticipation ravaged its way through my chest.

  Moaning loudly when Erich plunged into my depths, I shivered from the hard snap of his hips, and the echo of skin slapping against skin chased his groan around the kitchen. My nails dug into his shoulders from behind his shirt, and his palm slipped from my waist to grip my ass with bruising force.

  “Ame- Ame-“ Grinding my name out through clenched teeth, Erich’s muffled call rang in my ears, and I clenched around him as the passion in his tone sent me over the edge. My legs trembled, breath catching as air drained from my lungs to fill my skull, and he hauled me off the counter to stumble backwards into the island. Sinking to sit against the piece, he shuddered violently from the stabbing cold of the granite to squeeze me until my ribs creaked from the pressure.

  Riding Erich shamelessly, moan after moan dropped from my aching throat, and his length throbbed and stretched my channel. The thick dusting of his happy trail rubbed my clit raw, sending sharp needles of pleasure to spear my abdomen. Panting harshly into his neck, I whimpered pathetically as another orgasm washed through me, and I clamped down on his cock as hard as I could.

  Erich’s nails dragged up over my ass and the small of my back, and I arched sharply into the bite of pain that only added to the haze of rosy red. Nibbling my neck while I bounced on his lap, he licked and sucked the spot with no regard to any mark he might leave.

  “Yes-s-s-s-s ah- fuck!” Blunt teeth sunk deep into my quivering, sweat-slicked flesh to muffle Erich’s hiss, and a shriek burst from my throat at the sudden, stabbing pain. Squeezing my ass cheek, he pushed me down hard with a jerk, and my eyes rolled as his thick cock tore my sensitive walls. Fire seared the wounds, and small tears leaked from my eyes at the dull throb that rippled through my body.

  “… I didn’t mean to… but I had to…” The halting, rasping German that battled for supremacy in my mind only pushed the two halves of my heart father apart. Gasping for breath, I sunk into Erich’s lap, spasming lightly from the force of his orgasm, and he wrapped his arms tenderly around me to press his cheek to my stinging shoulder. “I need it, Ame…”

  “You have it.” Trembling wildly, my words scratched at my throat and crackled my lips, and I shivered when Erich licked my injury with all of his tongue. Gasping harshly, I squeezed my eyelids shut tight, and he went soft inside me at my sound of pain.

  “I- let’s… let’s…” He didn’t even know what he wanted, and I unhooked my nails from his shirt to cup his ticking jaw. Forcing my face from his shoulder, I cracked open my eyes to watch the torture flicker across his expression. My chest tightened, a physical pain spreading through me that was unlike anything else, and I stroked his cheeks with trembling fingers.

  “Let’s go home, Erich.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three Erich

  “Don’t pick it up.” Staring blankly at my cell phone, I clenched and released my jaw as my arm prickled with the urge to throw the stupid device at the wall. “Erich, just ignore it…”

  “This is the fifth time in a row he’s called.” My voice was hollow with foreboding, and Amelia shuffled to throw her legs around mine and rub my shoulders soothingly. Her touch burned my bare skin, and I tightened my grip on my phone before swiping the ‘Accept’ button across the screen. Inhaling deeply, I cleared my throat roughly before putting the speaker to my ear, and my uncle didn’t wait for a greeting to shout through the receiver.

  “I sent you to America, and you do nothing more than frolic around with some tramp!” Wincing noticeably at the anger that rippled across my face, I stiffened even as resignation swam through my veins. “You’re coming home today, Erich! I hope to God it was worth it, because you’ll never go back as long as I’m alive to stop it!”

  My shell-shocked mind barely registered my uncle’s words as he railed at me, insulting Amelia and shouting so loud I had no doubt she could hear him. All the while, I kept my mouth firmly shut, and ice lodged in my chest while he went on and on about American corruption. It lasted minutes that dragged on like hours, and when he hung up, I couldn’t even remember most of what he’d said.

  But it hurt, and a headache beat viciously against the backs of my eye sockets even after my cell phone slipped from my hand and onto the floor.

  “… Kastav isn’t my home…” Croaking harshly, my voice cracked like lightning confined in the small space of Amelia’s bedroom, and she tightened her grip on me. “Not anymore…”

  Just yesterday, things had looked so bright, but now- now my future was draped in deep shadows. My uncle was never supposed to know about Amelia, but somehow, he’d found out. Racing faster than it ever had before, my mind searched for any
way that he’d discovered my affair, and Amelia kissed the back of my neck before speaking up softly.

  “It’s okay, Erich. We knew what would happen.” Shaking my head listlessly, I stared through aching eyes into space as I wordlessly denied her words. This wasn’t supposed to happen. We weren’t supposed to go this far. Our tryst was supposed to be fun, passionate, and brief; we were supposed to enjoy each other.

  We weren’t supposed to fall so hard.

  “What if I don’t go back? What if I just don’t get on the plane?” My desperate attempt to turn my back on everything I had grown to accept as my responsibility shriveled on my tongue, and I gulped harshly. “He can’t force me to go back…”

  “You have to go, though, or everything even remotely bad that happens in Kastav- you’ll blame yourself. It’s not worth it, Erich. I’ll be here, and you heard him- when he’s gone, no one will stop you…” Years. Years will go by before I see Amelia again. My gaze flickered to my cell phone, and a rueful smirk twisted my lips. Phone calls- texts- even video chat- it would never be enough. It would be better not to have any contact with her rather than suffer like that, and the realization slammed into my chest with the force of a tsunami.

  “… Will you come with me? To the airport…” Just as I posed my question, my phone gave a shrill ping of notification, and the screen lit up with a text from my driver. My throat closed, but that tiny blip in my scope of comprehension seemed to trigger a sudden recognition inside me.

  Kristy. She must’ve taken a photo of Amelia and I last night and sent it to my driver. Jason had his number, after all, and it wasn’t a stretch that Kristy would go through his phone. My driver was under strict orders to discourage me from doing anything to discredit my uncle or Kastav, but he’d kept his mouth shut thus far. As long as no one really knew about Amelia and I, he turned a blind eye.