Page 52 of Royally Tempted

“But,” I gasped as he suddenly moved towards me, his strong hand boldly and quickly moving to my waist, lingering there and sending heat radiating through me.

“But if I told you that you were the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen in my entire life, that you take my breath away?”

Imelted. I wanted to see it for the line it was, but as I just lost myself in those eyes of his, and let those words melt over me, I wasn’t so sure itwasa line.

Maybe he was just drunk?

“I—”

“That’s not a line,” he growled.

I’d barely had time to catch my breath, or even begin to formulate words back, when suddenly, another hand slipped over my other hip, pulling me from Cade and against Caspian. I gasped as I fell into him, and all I could think was howboldof them this was, for this being a formal dance. Not to mention, for my father being less than fifty feet away.

“And if I were to tell you that for the first time literally ever, I had butterflies coming over to talk to you? If I were to tell you no girl has ever gotten my blood pumping so hot or my head all turned around as you have?”

Caspian leaned in, and I shivered as I felt his lips almost touch my ear.

“That’s not a line either.”

And then he was pulling back — both of them were, leaving me breathless and spinning, wondering what in the world had just happened. Iknewwhat lines sounded like. Or at least, I thought I did. And I wasn’t interested in men with lines, that’s for sure. But these two? I was fairly sure they’d meant every single word they’d just said, as insane as that was considering I’d literally just met them.

I paused.

Maybe theywereinsane? Like, legitimately inane? They weren’tthatbig in tabloids, after all. Not like Prince Logan or Prince Magnus. They were famous, of course, but they kept distance from the press. And I suddenly wondered what that meant about them. One of my sister’s was currently with a beast, the other with a legendary bad boy. But those two had well-documented stories in the papers and tabloids. These two though? Well these two I realized didn’t really have any “reps” I knew about.

They could be anything.

I took a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves. Line or not,manhad those words hit me deep inside. I could feel my pulse still racing, my head spinning, and heat teasing through parts of me I was embarrassed to admit even to myself.

“I should,” I swallowed. “I should be going. Wonderful to meet you both. Enjoy the ball,” I finished quickly, whirling to start to march away and hoping my voice hadn’t quavered like I thought it had. But I only made it three steps before two hands grabbed me —two, a hand on each arm — stopping me.

“Hang on.”

I turned, the heat flushing back into my face as two sets of gorgeous blue eyes lanced into me.

“You really still think we’re giving you lines?”

I bit my lip, studying both of them. “Your Highnesses, no offense, but ofcourseyou are.”

They both frowned.

Oh what, liked I’d wounded them. They were really rolling with this act.

But at the same time, I could feel the little thrill shiver through me. I mean, theyweregorgeous, and it wasn’t every day a girl had two crazy handsome princes — twins, nonetheless — fighting for her attention, lines or not.

“You’re both princes, and I know the crowd you run in. And while I’m a little flattered, I’m sorry but I’m just not interested.”

“Yes you are.”

My eyes snapped to Cade, my jaw dropping.

“Excuse me?”

“You are,” he said plainly, grinning. “Interested, that is.”

“I beg your pardon!”

“Have a drink with us, Princess,” Caspian growled.

---