Royal Engagement

by Chance Carter

  Ah, that was why she wanted my input. I hadn’t told anyone about my day in the woods with Shane, or about our kiss, but it wasn’t because I was ashamed. The moment just felt too private to ruin by having Sasha pronounce her opinion on it. Right now it was something special, a moment I didn’t have to share with anyone other than the only person who mattered.

  Still, Sasha heard that Shane was trying to talk to me the other day and for some reason was determined to draw from me some condemnation. Not today.

  “We only know one side of the story,” I replied. “I’d say it’s none of our business. Besides, you’re not even going to prom. Why do you care?”

  I swear I heard someone down the line gasp. A look of pure alarm splayed across Sasha’s features, but my satisfaction was brief. A second later she composed herself and gave me a look so cold I swore I saw my breath.

  “Just because I don’t plan on going to prom doesn’t mean I think they should let in that kind of low life,” she spat back. “Rob and Wes are our friends. Are you saying they’re liars?”

  All Wes had said about “the incident” was that Rob made a joke and Shane flew off the handle. Rob hadn’t said anything because he wouldn’t be saying anything for a long while. His jaw was wired shut until it healed, but Wes was doing enough talking for the both of them. The whole school knew by now that Shane was a psychopathic freak with anger issues. Or, at least, that’s what Wes was peddling. I didn’t buy it for a second.

  “I’m saying that you should be a little bit more discerning about your information before you start trying to start some rally against someone you don’t even know.”

  “Whatever Miss Virgin Brigade, defender of the ‘innocent’.” Sasha put the word “innocent” in air quotes and scrunched up her face. “All I’m saying is that Shane better watch his back. He got lucky with that cheap shot at Rob. He won’t be so lucky next time.”

  I was finished with this conversation. Christ, I was finished with this school. Every day people squawked about this drama or that drama, but nobody ever really said anything. When Shane and I talked, we talked. We listened. We didn’t presume or pass judgement just because it helped the time go by. When all was said and done, I wanted my life to mean something, and I couldn’t understand why Sasha and her ilk wouldn’t want the same.

  I let the buzz of the cafeteria fill my ears as my friends continued their conversation. I’d already given up on eating the rest of my food and pushed my tray away, staring off into the distance and zoning out instead. I imagined what life would be like a year from now. I’d probably be in some crappy apartment in one of New York’s outer boroughs, working nights at a diner to make ends meet while I beat the pavement looking for audition opportunities during the day. I held no unrealistic fantasies about my life there. I knew it was a long shot that I’d ever get a job on Broadway, even one mopping up vomit. I knew it was going to be a monumental change of pace for my life, and that the comforts I’d gotten used to and the way of life I’d grown accustomed to would change. I was ready. I could deal with a shoebox for a home and a shower that never got hot if it meant that there was even a one in a million chance that I’d get to go for my dream. Staying here would mean more stability and more comfort, but there wasn’t that much of a chance for me here either. I needed to leave.

  Shane came into my thoughts of New York unexpectedly. He just walked up to my door one day and knocked. Shane would appreciate and understand the sacrifices I would have to make. He would probably think my rinky-dink apartment was charming. Perfect. And he would support me more than any of my so-called friends ever would. Him going into the military didn’t quite fit into my fantasy, but it was a fantasy for a reason, right? We could live in New York together, and the only time we’d ever talk about Sitka Valley would be to laugh about the crazy place we used to live and how glad we were to get out of there.

  “Earth to Dallas,” said Patrice, waving a hand in front of my face.

  I snapped back to focus and blinked, smiling at her. “Sorry. Zoned out.”

  “I was asking you if you’re going to your locker before science?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Cool. I’ll come with.”

  Our school’s science labs were on the opposite end of the building to our lockers, so when Patrice and I had science right after lunch it was prudent to leave a couple of minutes early to grab our stuff. I was happy for the escape. Sasha barely noticed when we pushed out our chairs, too busy entertaining the rest of the table with the story of the bar she snuck into last weekend. I’d heard the story twice already. Apparently, her next target was Satan’s Perch. Typical.

  Patrice and I headed down the hall together silently. I could tell there was something she wanted to ask me, but I couldn’t be bothered to find out what it was.

  We reached our lockers, and I started fiddling with my lock. Someone tapped on my shoulder and I spun around in alarm, only to find a familiar pair of green eyes laughing down at me.

  “Relax,” Shane murmured. “You’re so jumpy.”

  I laughed and ran a hand through my hair. “It’s been a weird day.”

  “I’m listening.”

  I glanced over at Patrice a few lockers down. She was staring at the exchange with wide eyes but dipped her head back behind her locker door when she saw me looking.

  “Not something I want to talk about here,” I said, grimacing. “Tell me something good.”

  Shane rested a palm against the side of my locker, leaning in toward me. I thought he might kiss me and my heart somersaulted and did a back flip, my eyes flitting from his to those sensuous pink lips that had brought me so much pleasure the last time they touched mine.

  “Is there somewhere we can talk alone?” he asked.

  Shane was close enough for me to feel his heat. Sandwiched against my locker, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

  Nonetheless, we were in the middle of the hallway, and the bell was about to ring. There were better places for us to chat.

  “Yeah.” I nodded, not taking my eyes off his. “Just let me grab my binder, and we can go outside for a minute. I can’t be late for science though.”

  Shane pushed off from my locker and fixed me with a goofy grin. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to do anything that might impact your education.”

  Why did everything he said have to sound so amazingly dirty? He could read me tax law, and I’d still get that warm ache in my core that told me my body wanted him. No, not wanted—craved.

  I turned back to my locker, conscious of his eyes on me and glad I wore the jeans that made my butt look good. A grin spread across my lips, and I locked my locker, only to turn around and have that smile fall away.

  Shane wasn’t alone anymore. Wes and Nelson were standing on either side of him now, smiling and talking with him like they were best friends.

  The only thing wrong with the picture was Shane, who looked about as comfortable as a stool made of snakes. His handsome features were stony, his fists clenched at his sides. My stomach jumped into my throat, and I couldn’t quite tell why.

  Patrice appeared at my elbow. “We should get to class.”

  I frowned over at her. “Not yet. Shane and I were just about-—“

  “Shane forgot he had a prior engagement,” Wes interjected. “I’m afraid we’ve got a meeting. Football stuff, you understand.”

  “I don’t understand,” I said, trying to keep the wobble out of my voice. Why was I so scared all of the sudden? Was it the shine in Wes’s eyes? Was it the feeling of tension in the air? “Shane got kicked off the football team, didn’t he?”

  “Dallas, it’s fine,” Shane said.

  “Yeah, Dallas,” sneered Nelson. “It’s fine.”

  “Come on, Shane.” Wes clapped Shane on the back so hard his shoulder jutted forward, but he showed no signs of pain. “Let’s leave the girls to their class.”

  I stepped forward, ready to do whatever I could to intervene. Something about the situ
ation didn’t feel right. But Shane merely shook his head, stopping me in my tracks.

  Then the guys turned and headed off down the hall, laughing and joking like they didn’t have a care in the world. I watched them depart and Patrice tugged on my elbow insistently until I relented and walked to class.

  Chapter 7

  Shane

  “She sure is sweet on you, isn’t she?” Wes muttered in my ear as he and Nelson led me out the school’s back door. The football field stretched out before us, freshly cut and ready for the last few games of the season. I missed playing already, not because I loved the game but because I loved the release. Being battered and bruised after a long, intense battle was one of the only times I felt completely at peace. I always drifted off into sleep without a problem when I was that tired. I hadn’t been sleeping well lately, though I guess that was my fault.

  I wanted to regret punching Rob, especially since I was now about to get it much worse back, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t. Maybe it was the hothead in me, or maybe it was what my mom called my “hero complex”, but seeing Rob laid out on the grass was one of the best moments of my year. Hard to regret something that felt so fucking good.

  I didn’t dignify Wes’s answer with a response. He shoved my shoulder and turned me toward the back bleachers. They dropped the friendly charade the moment Dallas was no longer in sight. I preferred it that way. Better to lay all our cards on the table.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are, Kelly?” asked Nelson. “You could never get a girl like Dallas. She’s way out of your league.”

  I still didn’t answer. Engaging with these idiots would be pointless.

  Nelson continued. “You think you’re better than us, don’t you? You think you’re too cool for school.” He spat on the ground. “You’re nothing but dirt under our shoes.”

  We were close enough to the bleachers now for me to make out Rob’s hulking form and the waving beanstalk that was Paul. Great. Could any of these idiots do anything on their own or did they always have to operate as a team? I’m sure Coach would have been proud, but it was fucking inconvenient from where I was standing.

  Wes stepped between the aluminum beams, and Nelson shoved me forward. He was trying to get me to fall to my knees, but I held my balance, staring directly up into Rob’s angry eyes.

  “How’s the jaw?” I asked.

  My first words of the afternoon delivered. Rob grunted angrily and threw a sloppy punch toward my face. I dodged it, smirking, only to receive a hit to the back of the head courtesy of Wes.

  I staggered forward, and Rob delivered a powerful uppercut to my gut. I groaned. Somehow I managed to stay standing.

  “He does think he’s better than us,” Nelson continued. “Why’s that? You think you’re smarter? Better looking? Stronger?” He laughed. “You’re certainly not richer. Though I will give it to you that you’re probably smarter than Paul.”

  Wes laughed and socked me in the shoulder. “A monkey with a typewriter would be smarter than Paul.”

  I keeled forward to my knees but staggered back to my feet. “Is there any particular reason you’re drawing this out? Or are you hoping to bore me into unconsciousness with your half-baked insults?”

  I looked over my shoulder at Wes. His smile fell away.

  “You should be grateful we’re not going to kill you,” he snapped. “You should be begging for fucking mercy.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Do you hear yourself? What are you, some shitty movie villain? Where’s your cape?”

  That did it. Wes let out an angry snarl and came at me fists first. We were the same size, so while I had no doubt that I could beat him in a fight, I knew I was going to be useless against all of them. This wasn’t a fight, it was a beating. Better to get it over with quick.

  They piled onto me, laying kicks and punches everywhere. I tried not to scream, letting out a series of muffled groans as they pummeled me. The pain was intense. Every strike, every blow, sending a series of rattling sensations through my bones. It felt like I was vibrating from the inside out. At the same time, it felt like someone had thrown me in a meat tenderizer and turned it on high. I couldn’t see from the blood that trickled from my nose, my mouth, covering my eyes as I lay on the ground and wondered if maybe death wouldn’t be such a bad idea. It seemed like they were heading that way, too. I’d never known Wes to show much restraint. He was like his father in that respect.

  And then it stopped.

  I lay there, wheezing, blinking through the blood. Their shadows all receded except one. Wes.

  “I think you’ve learned your lesson,” he gloated. “But remember this the next time you think about having a little private chat with Dallas. I’ve got my sights set on her as my next conquest, and I don’t like sharing. Understand?”

  I just stared up at him, trying not to look as battered as I felt. Wes sneered and then turned, and I listened to them stomp back over to the field and away.

  Thank god.

  I managed to turn onto my stomach and assess my injuries. I was tender, horribly so, but it seemed like nothing was too dire. No broken bones at least. We didn’t have insurance so going to the hospital was out of the question. If I was badly injured, mom could fix me up when she got home.

  I groaned, but this time not from the pain. Fuck. Another thing I was going to have to explain to my mom. She already flipped her lid when she found out I punched Rob, but since we barely had time to talk this morning, I hadn’t received the full brunt of her disappointment. This would just add icing to the cake.

  I hauled myself to my feet. That was a problem for another time. For now, I only had to worry about getting my ass home. It was going to be a fun ride.

  Not.

  I made it home in one piece, already feeling a little better. I took my ass to the bathroom and spent a good half hour just cleaning myself up. Blood had soaked through my shirt, so I threw it out, pissed. It was one of my favorites. Not that I had many to choose from since new clothes never ranked high on our priority list.

  After my shower, I staggered over to the kitchen. I grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer and noted that Mom had left a casserole for me in the fridge, even though she was pissed at me. It warmed my heart. And since my stomach was rumbling, I decided to heat up the casserole. I turned on the oven and headed for the couch, slumping down with a sigh and pressing the bag of peas to my temple.

  My face received the worst of the damage. They probably hoped to do the same to me as I’d done to Rob, but I’d done a pretty good job of protecting my face, and Rob’s jaw breaking like that was a once in a lifetime shot. I got the angle and the force just right. They didn’t even manage to break my nose, though it was pretty fucking painful all the same. Everything was painful. The only thing that didn’t hurt at this point was my dick, and I supposed that was a small victory.

  Wes’s warning to stay away from Dallas circled my head. I already knew I wouldn’t be able to follow the directive. Him telling me to stay away just made me want her more, and him telling me she was his next conquest just made me want to protect her more. The thought of anyone touching her made my blood boil. The thought of Wes touching her was un-fucking-bearable.

  She was mine. I’d laid my claim on her with that fateful kiss, and I meant it. Just the thought of her pillowy lips, so inexperienced yet so eager, made my cock stir. The fact that I could still get hard when my body was hurting so much was a fucking miracle, and since I needed to let loose a little frustration, I decided to go with it.

  I let the peas fall to the side and unbuttoned my jeans, pulling my cock out right there in the living room. Mom wouldn’t be home until long after I was in bed and I was going to avoid moving as long as possible.

  My cock hardened to stone as I began to stroke it, filling out until it was thick and heavy. I closed my eyes and thought of Dallas, thought of her spread out before me like dessert. I didn’t know what she looked like naked, but I could just imagine how perfect her tight little
tits would be, soft and creamy as the rest of her. I pictured her squirming with pleasure as I went down on her. She would taste divine. Her mouth had tasted divine. I would bring her to new heights of pleasure, show her the depth of my desire, and there would be no going back. I would lick her folds until she screamed, until she seized up with bliss and let go. She deserved to be pampered. She wouldn’t get taken care of by Wes the way she would with me. I would be all about her, and only once she thought she couldn’t take any more pleasure would I finally take mine.

  My hand moved up and down my shaft, squeezing hard as I pictured sliding it into her hot pussy. My balls tightened, and I went faster, the pain drifting off until it was only background noise to a symphony of ecstasy as I got ready to erupt. My fantasy Dallas was on the verge of another orgasm. Her tits bounced with the force of my thrusts. Her mouth fell open as the first ripples of her climax hit her.

  I erupted with a grunt, sucking in a mouthful of air when I realized I’d been holding my breath. I kept pumping my shaft until I got out the last few drops of cum, then I fell back against the couch and panted.

  Dallas was mine. Wes could say what he wanted, he could try what he wanted, but Dallas knew just as well as I did that there was something between us he didn’t stand a chance against. I didn’t care how long it took. I was going to get her, and I was going to keep her.

  Chapter 8

  Dallas

  I took the long way to school again, the one that took me around the backside of the school where the parking lot was. The rain pattered against the hood of my rain jacket, dripping down onto my cheeks. It was too cold for Spring. The weather report said it was going to rain for the next week or so, and that the temperatures would stay in the single digits for at least the next three days. I didn’t like to ride my bike in the rain, so I walked. The colder and wetter I got, the more I wished I’d just stayed home. I didn’t have anything significant going on today, but if I missed school, I wouldn’t have been able to satisfy my daily curiosity.