Her Off Limits Prince

"Of course not." They were having sex, not involved in the love story of the century.

Even if she had fallen in the love with her prince, he'd never given any indication he felt the same.

Tor did not make it to Blythe's room until the wee hours of the morning, long after the last partygoer exited the ballroom.

Blythe knew he'd had to wait until all the guests staying in the palace were tucked safely into their rooms so they would not see him making his way to hers. But each minute she waited for him had crawled by in slow motion.

Uncaring of the enthusiasm she revealed, she flew into his arms the minute her door shut behind him.

One kiss led to another, and to another, and finally to making love in a frenzy of need up against the wall of her sitting room only to be followed by more lovemaking after he carried her to her bed.

Afterward, Tor wanted to talk. Blythe didn't mind. She didn't want him to leave yet and if that meant talking, she was happy to chat.

Until she realized what Tor wanted to talk about.

"But we've discussed this." Blythe stared at Tor, panic making her breath come in short gasps.

"That was three and a half years ago, Blythe." He sat up, unconcerned that the bedding pooled on his legs, revealing his semi-erect sex.

Did the man ever go completely soft?

Shaking her head at her thoughts, she said, "But…" only to trail off, unsure what she could say without sparking an argument.

"It is time to either go forward, or stop." Tor's expression lacked any semblance of humor.

He was not joking. Not teasing. He meant business.

Blythe could feel the cracks forming in her heart. "You want to break up?" she asked, unable to modulate her voice to hide all the pain that idea caused her.

Even knowing it was time. Even knowing she was the one who had planned to have this discussion with him.

Soon.

Just not yet.

"According to you, we cannot break up," he said, his tone unreadable. "Because we aren't officially together."

Yes, that was what she said, but they both knew the truth. "I haven't been with anyone else since Janice and Holger's wedding."

"And that does not tell you something?" he demanded, sounding more impatient than loverlike. Though his eyes roamed over her nudity with the warmth of a caress.

She shifted into a sitting position too, tugging the sheet and comforter up her body in a belated attempt at modesty. She needed armor for this conversation, not just some bedding.

"Can you say the same?" she asked, rather than answer his leading question.

"Yes."

He didn't elaborate, but what else did she need to know? They had agreed to make their friends with benefits deal exclusive and they'd both stuck by that agreement.

Which meant what? That the relationship she'd worked so hard to deny could be labeled as nothing but that.

A relationship. They were undeniably lovers and she'd been a fool to think she could maintain an emotional distance with this man.

"I wasn't ready for this." She gazed at him appealingly.

Unmoved, he said implacably, "I find that hard to believe."

"And yet, it is true," Blythe insisted. "You're still in your twenties," she said, like that in itself was an argument for her point of view.