He pressed his face to the crook of my neck, breathing heavily, and murmured sweet nothings as he pressed his lips to my shoulder.

“Beautiful,” he whispered. “Perfect.”

I closed my eyes, enjoying the weight of his body pressing into me. Enjoying the sense of contentment we had created.

Enjoying Max.

I had warned him that this would be dangerous. And I’d been right.

I was losing my heart to this prince.

A prince who would hate everything about the career I was trying to build for myself.

TWELVE

HER ARMS WERE still wrapped around me, one hand cupping my ass as we lay on the tiny sofa in my studio. Her breathing had slowed and I shifted so that I wasn’t crushing her. Carefully, I rolled so that we were facing one another, her soft body tucked against mine.

I wasn’t sure what to say. There were too many emotions rattling around in my head. But the dominant one was victory. Quickly followed by a sense of possessiveness that surprised me.

“I’d like to paint you like this.” My eyes ran over her face, enjoying the way it was highlighted by the sun.

“Nude?” She laughed, and her perfect br**sts moved against me.

“The look on your face right now.” I touched her nose. “You look satisfied.”

“Feeling proud of yourself, Your Highness?” She wrinkled her perfect nose and rolled her eyes.

“Absolutely.” I grinned down at her.

“You’re something else.”

“So are you.” I let my hand slide down her back and over the curve of her hip. She had such perfect lines.

“I bet you tell all the girls that.” Her eyes looked down between us.

“No, I don’t.” It was truth. No one had compared to Meredith.

She hummed under her breath. “And is there anyone that I should worry about making jealous?”

Her guarded eyes looked up into mine and I let out a chuckle and then realized maybe I had something to worry about. Way to get the information backward, Max.

“No.” I tilted her chin up. “Is there someone in your life?”

“There hasn’t been anyone since Marty’s father.” She shrugged, but shock filled my body.

“No one?”

“No.” She sat up and pulled away from me. “Did you believe my dad when he called me a whore?”

“Of course not.” How could I explain that I was surprised no one else had taken the time to get close to her? “Thank you.”

“For what?” She looked at me, surprised.

“For trusting me with something so important.”

Something soft filled her eyes as she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my mouth. “You’re welcome.”

“I suppose we need to get up and join the world?” My eyes ran over her body and back to her br**sts. I really hadn’t spent enough time playing with those.

“Stop staring at my chest.” She laughed.

“I’m not sure I can help it.” I moved so that I was a little closer to them. “They’re begging for more attention.”

“I don’t hear anything.” She pushed at my shoulder and started to stand up but I penned her with my arm.

“At least let me tell them good-bye before you leave.” I captured one peak with my mouth and enjoyed her gasp of surprise.

Her skin was perfect. Soft and creamy, made for being kissed. Letting go of that peak I grabbed the other, flicking it with my tongue.

When she moaned gently, I pulled away.

“That was a hell of a way to say good-bye.” Her voice was raspy.

“Imagine saying hello.” I raised one eyebrow. There were a lot of things I wanted to do to Meredith and we’d only touched the tip of the iceberg.

She smiled but didn’t say anything. Instead, she stood up and looked around the studio. I tucked my arms under my head and watched as she walked around retrieving her clothing.

“Are you going to stay there all day?” She looked at me as she put her bra back on.

“I could.” I stretched, enjoying the way her eyes ran over my body.

“Don’t you have things to do?” She stepped into her jeans and zipped them back up.

“Didn’t anyone tell you? I’m the slacker prince.” I raised one eyebrow. “I lie about and paint things when I feel like it.”

“Slacker.” She snorted. “You organized an entire art event in England, came to my rescue, and then fought a dragon.”

“My dragon-slaying skills were getting a little rusty.” I sat up on one elbow. “I needed a refresher.”

“I think you poked him with a stick.” She shook her head and looked away from me. Her shoulders drooped a little and I tensed.

“I forgot my sword at home.” I sat up and grabbed my pants from the floor. Things had been going so well. What had happened?

“I need to check on Marty.” She bit her lip, but still didn’t look up at me. “I shouldn’t have left him alone like that.”

“You didn’t leave him alone.” I pulled my shirt on and turned her to face me. “He’s in the very capable hands of my sister and sister-in-law. I told you I wouldn’t leave him if he wasn’t safe.”

As I looked at her face I watched as she pulled on a mask, changing into someone else. Before my eyes, she became aloof and distant, the opposite of the woman I had just been holding in my arms.

“Don’t do that.” I lifted her chin with my fingers. “You don’t have to play a part with me.”