Her Off Limits Prince

Tor just let her vent, asking no questions and making soothing noises, but not using words that could be taken wrong. Finally, she seemed spent of emotion and stood up.

Looking away from him, she said, "I need to wash my face." She grimaced. "I probably got makeup all over your shirt.

Like he cared. "Go, wash your face. I will order dinner."

She nodded and turned to go.

While she was gone, he got dinner ordered and a comedy for them to watch queued on her television. He texted his staff and gave instructions to have some of his things packed and brought over.

He wasn't leaving Blythe and she needed familiarity around her right now.

They fell asleep without making love because that was what Blythe needed. She just wanted to be held and that was what Tor gave her.

Blythe woke up from a surprisingly sound sleep to pounding on her front door, then the sound of the lock turning and the door opening. The only other person who had keys to her door was Janice.

Blythe flew out of bed even as Tor was jumping up and barging toward the door. Naked.

"Stop," she shrieked at him. "It's Janice. She has keys."

Tor halted and then looked down at his nude body and grimaced. "I think I had better put something on."

"No kidding."

He gave her a significant look. "You too, sweetheart."

"Is that your new name for me?"

"You like it."

"I do." Because it implied tender feelings, even if they weren't love.

Blythe threw on pajamas and a robe in record time, not willing to risk Janice coming to look for her in the bedroom. Finger combing her hair with one hand, Blythe yanked open the door to the hall with the other.

She would have gone straight out but Tor stopped her by the simple expedient of grabbing the belt of her robe. "Hold up there, speedy. We do this together."

Blythe took a deep breath and let it out, then nodded.

They were holding hands when they walked into the living room.

"I knew it!" Janice crowed, her worried expression morphing into a smile. "Didn't I tell you, Holger?"

"Yes, kjæreste, you did," King Holger agreed drolly.

Tor frowned at his brother. "Where is your security?"

"Where are the children?" Blythe asked of Janice at the same time.

"They remained at the palace with our parents," King Holger answered Blythe's question first before he gave Tor a raised brow, looking very regal for the wee hours of the morning. "They are in the hall with your guard. My wife would be uncomfortable with others witnessing her tears."

"Janne is not crying."

"Not yet, but it's coming." The grim set of the king's features told Blythe he wasn't thrilled this truth, but his tone said he was resigned to it.

Janice patted her royal spouse's arm. "You're a very considerate husband." Then she turned toward Blythe, taking a step forward, but stopping, like she wasn't sure what to do, her expression full on tragedy mode.

Blythe couldn't stand that look on her heart sister's face and moved to pull Janice into a hug. "What are you doing here?" she demanded of the queen.

Janice returned the hug with interest, only pulling back after several long seconds. "You didn't call. When you found out about Linda. You didn't call."