But this wasn’t then. And David wasn’t Alexei. No, David couldn’t even be compared to him, and the more he touched her, the less she thought of the past, her mind entirely in the present, feeling her way through this moment.
David’s fingers touched Katy lightly, gently gripping her hips as he gazed up at her, his eyes warm, his face flushed, his lips slightly open. The look on his face seemed close to awe. Katy basked in it, heat thrumming through her belly, as she paused, considering her next move. She knew what she wanted to do, but it was so bold and so new to her that it felt surreal.
Katy had never been taught about sex. From the very first time she heard about the concept, it had always been referred to as “marital relations.” Lorrellian tradition upheld that a woman’s beauty and chastity were her most important qualities—a tradition that was especially true for the royal family. And so Katy had considered sex a faraway possibility, something that she only had to worry about when it was time to give her husband children.
Her body had never truly been her own. It had belonged to the king and queen, and then, according to tradition, it would be bequeathed to her husband.
And maybe that had once worked for Katy.
But that was before she met David. Before the desperate, fervent desire to be as close to another person as possible had overwhelmed her. She didn’t feel like she owed it to David. And she didn’t feel pressured or uncertain. Quite the opposite: Katy was confident and assured in her choice.
And that was all because of David.
Katy tugged at the hem of David’s shirt, slowly inching it up to expose his navel and the dips and ridges of his chiseled abdomen. Her fingertips brushed over his skin as she exposed more and more of it, marveling at how smooth his body was, how warm and sharp and masculine he felt under her fingers.
Still looking wordlessly into Katy’s eyes, David assisted her, grabbing his shirt and pulling it over his head and off, his body flexing impressively as he sat up to strip himself. When he was bare-chested, Katy lowered her body to press against his, her hands roaming over the tanned valley of his torso. She kissed his chest, moving up toward his mouth, so grateful that she had waited until meeting David for this experience.
David’s hands weren’t idle. Gently, haltingly, his big, strong hands explored Katy’s hips and sides, inching up toward her lace bra. Katy stopped and sat upright again, her thighs tightening around David. As he watched with bated breath, she brought her hands up to her own body. With tingling fingers, she unclasped the metal hook at the front of her bra, where the lace cups met, and then pulled it away. She wanted to be totally exposed to David, to let him see her at her most stripped-down and real. And she trusted that David would accept her, even without the fineries and fabrics. Even without the name and title. At that moment, Katy didn’t feel like Princess Katerina de Courtes of Lorria; she just felt like a young woman lying with a boy, feeling love and intimacy deepen and overwhelm her.
At the sight of her bare form, David inhaled sharply.
Katy experienced the next hour in shades of pink and red. Colors burst around her, sweeping through her, in sync with her bodily sensations. Light pink as David touched her in places that she had never been touched. A flash of red, in the brief moment of pain. Then pink again, deepening as Katy relaxed, allowed herself to be consumed by the sensation of their bodies moving together, the unbridled pleasure that threatened to undo her, the moments when she looked up into David’s eyes and knew he was right there with her, feeling what she felt, letting their love and trust in each other deepen and grow.
David’s breath was hot in her ear and on her neck, a constant reminder of his closeness, as his deep, silky voice became ragged and animalistic with lust. His hands held her in a way that was at once new and familiar, gentle and strong, greedy and loving. Katy felt her body pulse like a wave as something powerful and primal built up inside of her.
And when the wave crested, she dug her nails into David’s back and bit at his shoulder, crying out involuntarily.
“David,” she breathed out, though the voice sounded like it was coming from very far away.
The water broke on the shoreline and flowed back, leaving her . . . drained. Ravished. Changed.
Afterward, lying in David’s arms, Katy said the only word that was left in her brain. It was the only way she could adequately describe the new world of emotions and sensations she’d been thrust into. The culmination of months of tension and desire and admiration and love with the boy who was now beside her.
“Wow.”
David chuckled beside her. “Yes,” he agreed. “Wow.”
* * *
“You’re chipper this morning,” Cassie said suspiciously.
Katy blushed. “Do you want a cup or not?” She poured her own coffee and then stared expectantly at her cousin. And don’t expect me to smile for the rest of the morning, either—if you’re reading that much into it. Geez!
Cassie nodded. “Okay, sure.” She watched as Katy filled a second mug. When she took the coffee, she asked, “How did your date go last night?”
Katy spooned sugar into her coffee, stirring slowly and methodically. “Fine. Watched the rom com I told you I wanted to see.”
“Yeah, how was it?”
“Um.” Katy was grateful to be interrupted as Michelle walked into the room.
“Oh, thank God,” she said with a flourish, tackling the coffee pot. “My head is killing me. Need some caffeine to make it through the day.”
“Oh, yeah,” Cassie said to Michelle. “Forgot you had a date last night, too. How’d that go?”
“From what I remember, really well.”
Cassie laughed. “Katy had a date, too.”
Michelle looked over at Katy. “Well, I can guarantee that more happened on my date than yours,” she joked.
Don’t be so sure about that, Michelle.
Cassie looked back at her cousin. “Unless there’s something she’s not telling us.”
Katy rolled her eyes and put down her spoon. Time to change the subject. “What about you, Cass? Did you get the psychology guy’s number?”
Cassie smiled wistfully. “No, but I wrote mine on our take-home quiz yesterday before I turned it in. Too forward?”
“Just the right amount,” Michelle replied. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need a shower and about six Tylenol.” She walked out of the room with her coffee in one hand, rubbing her temple with the other.
When they were alone again, Katy could instantly sense that her cousin was about to ask more prying questions. It seemed she always knew when things changed in Katy’s life, as if Katy was just a big open book. But Katy had already decided that this time, her love life was no one’s business but her own. So Cassie wasn’t getting any details. Katy steered the conversation firmly away from her date.
“I’m not excited to face Bissenhof again,” she said. “Wish I could keep skipping his classes.”
“Sounds like you could,” Cassie retorted. “And still get an A.”
Katy shot her a pointed look, and Cassie relented. “Sorry, hon. Just teasing.”
“Yeah, well, I’m still pretty bummed about the whole thing.”
Cassie nodded. “I know earning your degree is important to you. But what’s the harm in getting a few extra credit points here and there? I wish my History of Psychology professor would do the same.”
“Maybe the Ab Psych TA will give you something in return for your number,” Katy teased.
Cassie smiled. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
They laughed together. Katy was in a chipper mood. She couldn’t help it. Everything was different now, in a strange way. Her relationship with David felt like it had reached depths of trust and intimacy that she had never known before. She felt like a new, rejuvenated person. She couldn’t stop thinking of David’s firm touch and his passion and his smile. And she even felt a little better about Bissenhof. Because David was right: one crappy professor couldn’t steal an entire
education from her. She had still earned her knowledge. The thought made it hard for Katy to remove the smile from her face, even after she and her cousin were done laughing. It just . . . stayed there.
“You sure there’s nothing you want to tell me about last night?” Cassie went on, turning a suspicious look back on her cousin.
16
David
“I thought you Brits were supposed to be the stoic type,” Zeke said, casting a sideways glance at his roommate. “You’re in a weirdly good mood.”
David shifted in his desk chair and rubbed the back of his neck in good-natured embarrassment. If you can’t wipe this permanent grin off your face, people are going to keep asking questions. “Woke up on the right side of the bed, is all.”
“Was that the side Katy was on?” Zeke shot back with a knowing smile.
David blushed. That’s enough about me! “What about you? How are things with Nur?”
Zeke shrugged and closed the economics textbook he had been flipping through. “Better than expected. Her parents seemed to like me. If things keep going well, she’s going to come home with me over spring break to meet mine.”
David’s eyebrows rose in surprise. That was a big step. “You two are getting pretty serious.”
“Yeah, I guess so. But we’re still just having fun and getting to know each other. But you . . . I’m starting to think that maybe you aren’t much longer for the bachelor life,” Zeke replied, delivering a pointed look at David.
David swallowed. He was happy and content in his relationship with Katy, but marriage? That was crazy. David and Katy were still so young. They hadn’t even graduated yet!
But when he thought of it, the idea didn’t entirely frighten him. He allowed himself to picture Katy, all smiles and graceful beauty, a veil hanging over her lovely gray eyes, a long white train trailing behind her . . .
Alas, a part of him knew that the picture wouldn’t be quite that simple. A wedding with Katy would be an enormous, elaborate affair involving the entire world. There would be royalty and celebrities in attendance, along with a healthy dose of politicians, influencers, and journalists. The venue would probably be some historic castle, and they’d be serving escargot and bottles of champagne that cost more than a used car. Designers would vie for the opportunity to clothe them, and glossy magazines would bid on publication rights for the wedding photos. Would Katy wear a crown? Would David? David couldn’t imagine ever wearing a crown on his head. Of course, that was another problem entirely.
Was David even a suitable match? The thought made the happy image dissolve from his mind. Katy’s parents didn’t seem likely to grant David their blessing anytime soon. And they might never be okay with a marriage that didn’t involve a wealthy, worldly, or powerful groom. It was unpleasant to consider.
But, if it ever came to a proposal, David wouldn’t be asking Katy’s parents; he would be proposing to Katy. It was her choice. And so far, through everything, Katy had chosen David. That thought soothed him.
“What about you?” Zeke asked, interrupting David’s train of thought. “Have any plans for spring break yet?”
David exhaled. He didn’t want to tell Zeke about every detail in his personal life, but this was a pretty big one. And Zeke was his best friend. He needed to know.
“Well . . . I might go to Brazil. Depending on what the private investigator finds.”
Zeke’s eyes bulged. “Brazil?”
David nodded while Zeke shook his head in confusion. “Your mom?”
“My dad, actually. He’s from Bahia. I know his name now.”
Zeke’s mouth hung open as he stared at David. “David . . . wow,” he mustered. “That’s incredible.”
David exhaled with relief. It was nice to share things with people of his own accord. He had gotten so cautious and reserved since his details had become a public affair; it felt good to make those decisions for himself again. David trusted Zeke. He knew that what they spoke about wouldn’t be shared.
“Yeah, it’s pretty new to me, too,” he told Zeke. “I’m still processing.”
His roommate nodded slowly. “That’s understandable. So, will Katy go with you? If you go to Brazil?”
“If I get the internship, or if we can go before summer, then maybe.” David shrugged casually, but in reality it was a topic of great concern for him. Katy had been right beside him through almost all of his journey to find his family so far. It made sense that she’d come with him when he got to meet one of his biological parents for the first time. He wanted her there—and she had offered to come. But they hadn’t made any definitive plans, since he didn’t really have enough information yet. So the whole question was lingering in his mind, and he wasn’t quite sure whether to be hopeful yet.
“If I end up going,” he said, “then I hope so!”
“Well, if you don’t have enough information to go to Brazil by spring break,” Zeke offered, “then at least you get to go enjoy another complimentary trip to Lorria.”
“Assuming her parents don’t bar me from entry, yeah.” David regretted saying it immediately. He had nothing against the king and queen. He just didn’t quite feel accepted, which made him defensive.
“I felt the same way about Nur’s parents, honestly.”
David looked over at his friend. He had been quick to assume that Zeke wouldn’t understand, but maybe he was wrong. Zeke went on.
“But I was pleasantly surprised. They were really welcoming and nice. And I realized that maybe it wasn’t them that didn’t accept me; it was me.”
Zeke’s tone was introspective and earnest, which gave their conversation a sudden air of gravitas.
“You need to come to the same conclusion, David,” Zeke continued. “You’re a great friend, and I know you’re good to Katy. If her parents care about her at all, then that’ll be all they need to know.”
David smiled. He hadn’t known how much he needed to hear that. “Thanks, Zeke.”
Zeke nodded. “Any time. But you owe me for that therapy session I just gave you.”
“I’m not very liquid at the moment,” David replied. “Besides, with your fancy Harvard degree and family business, you’ll be the one supporting me in a few years.”
“Speaking of, can you take down notes for me in Bell’s class today?” Zeke asked. “My dad wants me to sit in on an important business call that he couldn’t reschedule.”
“Yeah, that’s fine,” David replied. “But consider my debt repaid.”
“Not hardly,” Zeke shot back with a grin. “You can pay me later. All you have to do is bestow a title on me when you’re the king of Lorria.”
David laughed. But as he turned back to his economics textbook and Zeke’s joke sank in, his smile faded. That was just one more thing he hadn’t thought about.
If Katy’s parents ever did accept David . . . if he got their blessing to propose, and Katy accepted that proposal, and they were married . . . would that make David a prince? And then maybe one day a king?
He had no idea how he felt about that.
* * *
“So now that you understand why these investment theories are controversial,” Professor Bell said to the class, looking down his nose, “I want you to talk me out of one. Separate into groups of three or four and pick a strategy to attack. Put together a list of the cons of your chosen investment practice. Begin.”
David sighed. Group projects. The worst. But he was still in such a good mood that the thought didn’t sound so terrible; he couldn’t imagine anything upsetting him at the moment. Even being stuck in a group project on the one day that Zeke had decided to skip class.
A finger tapped on David’s shoulder, and he looked around. The girl sitting behind him smiled slowly, twirling a tendril of her dark hair around a manicured finger. “Need a partner?”
“How about two?” the girl behind her asked, poking her head around.
Damn you, Zeke.
David turned his desk to face the dark-haired girl.
The other girl, a freckled blonde, pulled her desk up to connect.
Well, at least he wasn’t going to have to think too hard about choosing his own group. David got down to business. “Okay, I think we should do the efficient market hypothesis,” he said, beginning to write in his notebook. “We can all brainstorm and I’ll write out our points.”
“Can I join?”
David and the two girls already seated looked up to see a short, rather plain girl standing beside them. She looked embarrassed to even be asking.
“Sorry. Every other group already has four,” she said timidly.
“Yeah, of course,” David said with a polite smile. As the new girl pulled up a desk, David thought he heard the dark-haired girl scoff.
“Okay, so efficient market,” David started again. “Cons?”
“Well, for one,” the new girl offered with a shy smile, “it should’ve kept Warren Buffet from existing, since no investor can consistently beat the market.”
David laughed. “I definitely think that warrants a bullet point.” But as he started writing, the dark-haired girl reached out her hand to stop his pen. David looked up in confusion.
“David.” She said his name in a syrupy, familiar way that instantly made David feel uncomfortable, cocking one eyebrow. “Do you really think Bell will be impressed with a dumb joke?” Her hand lingered on David’s.
“Um,” David sputtered, unsure how to respond to such a rude statement. “Who are you?” He meant to insinuate that no one had made this random, bad-mannered girl the chair of their group, but she appeared to misread him.
“Carly,” the dark-haired girl said smilingly. “Kappa Kappa Gamma.”
David furrowed his brow. What does that have to do with anything? But before he could argue any further, the funny girl spoke again.
“No, she’s probably right. You can leave that out. I, uh, respond to awkward situations with humor.” She blushed. “I’m Stacy.”
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