Princess Next Door

“We’re not in the Middle Ages or something. It’s not some gift.”

“And that’s where you’re wrong. It is a gift. Your body is your own special gift, Wynter. It’s not to be thrown at anyone, not your first time.” Tammy sighed. “I know you just want to get it over with, and you know what? I completely understand your frustration, I do. What I don’t want is for you to call me tomorrow, crying because you can’t stand the fact you slept with some faceless man you can’t remember or at worst, you’re never, ever going to see again.”

“Why do you have to be the voice of reason right now?”

“I’m a teacher. It’s ingrained for me to always guide the young.”

She rolled her eyes and finished her dance with her friend. This time when they went back to the table, she apologized, and said she needed to get some air. She didn’t want them to feel like they were babysitting her. They should be allowed to have a good time as well, and if they didn’t, she’d feel even guiltier.

Stepping out into the warm night air, she took several deep breaths and stared up at the moon. Closing her eyes, she kept on taking deep breaths.

“Couldn’t think?”

She turned to see Zane sitting on the hood of a truck, smoking a cigarette. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

“It’s a bad habit, but I always have at least one before heading in to sing.”

“You’re performing? Tonight?”

“Yep. I work the bar, and perform at it. I told you I was in a rock band.” He winked at her.

“I believed you.”

“And now you’re going to get to hear me play.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

He patted the space beside him, and she climbed on, feeling really clumsy as she didn’t want to ruin the paintwork with her heels. Zane helped her up, and she stared over at the bar. It was crazy to think how quiet it was outside rather than inside.

She could at least think here for a few seconds.

“How is your manhunt going?”

“I’ve been told that my manhunt is not going all that well. In fact, I’ve been told that I shouldn’t be hunting for a guy in a bar. Can you imagine that?”

“I can, yes.”

She ran fingers through her hair. “It’s tough you know. Being a girl, and then being a woman. I mean, what do men really want?”

“Sex. Freedom. The chance to come and go as they please. Oh, and to be told they’re the greatest lover in the world.”

She laughed. “I don’t think I could lie to someone like that.”

“Now that is no way to be getting a man. You have to point out exactly how handsome, sexy, and so right for you they really are.” He nudged her shoulder, and she closed her eyes.

Every single time he touched her, she felt this fire ignite inside her.

Wynter felt drawn to him in a way that no one had ever appealed before. He was totally the opposite of everything her parents would like in a guy.

First, he’d covered his body in ink, and they really didn’t like it when anyone did that. She recalled a conversation she’d had with her father over a woman at the bank. How she’d ruined her body by having a little tattoo around her wrist.

Her parents weren’t religious or anything, although the way they talked, everyone would think they were.

No, they were just really, really opinionated, and that sucked. They wanted people to stick to their way of life, and putting ink on their body was not “the right way” to go.

Pushing thoughts of her parents aside, she focused on the bar.

“I’ve got to head back in. I’ll save a spot near the front for you, and you can cheer me on.”

“Okay. This is so going to be my first rock concert.”

****

Princess stood at the edge of the crowd as he began to sing. He and the guys had written a couple of their own songs for some fun, but it wasn’t that big of a deal. They’d been performing for years together, since they were in high school. They’d had a chance of making it big, but they completely blew it. Now they were keeping their feet firmly on the ground, keeping their focus right.

They just loved to perform.

To get the crowd wild.

Of course, if the big time ever came around again, they’d all jump at the chance to take it. No doubt in his mind that he’d take the opportunity. Throughout the entire half hour they were on stage, he struggled not to sing his heart out to Princess. The crowd was rocking them tonight, and he for one was loving the energy, but he also liked having her attention completely on him.

Any of the guys that approached hoping to dance, he saw she turned them down, and her attention would once again come toward him.