Page 23 of His Runaway Princess

Alternately, soft and gentle then more intense, Ryker remained aware of where they were and who he was kissing and why he shouldn’t be... but continued anyway.

Far too soon - while also not soon enough - the kiss came to an end. Ryker looked down into those incredible green eyes. “I probably shouldn’t have done that.” His voice came out almost as a whisper.

“I probably shouldn’t have either.” Her hand brushed his hair back at his temple. “But that was...” She blew out a breath.

“Exactly.” Ryker let himself flop onto his back away from where she lay. “I’m sorry.”

Amalia took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t. It probably shouldn’t have happened, but I won’t apologize for it either. We’ll count it as a momentary lapse in judgment and a lovely thing that just sort of happened, but probably shouldn’t have. It will be a nice memory once you’re rid of me.”

“Rid of you? It’s an honor to help you stay safe.” Ryker hoped she didn’t notice his wince as he rolled away from her. He probably shouldn’t have put it quite that way. “It’s no trouble at all.” The conversation reminded him that he needed to check his official email sometime soon, but given the issues with communications, and the lack of any coded message sent to his personal phone or email, he had to assume there were still potential issues.

He propped himself up on his elbows. “Do you want to watch a couple more episodes?”

The look on her face tore at him but she quickly masked it. She had to think he was rejecting her. He didn’t want her to think that, but really had no choice. It would be better that way.

“Sure.” She pushed herself into a seated position and moved back until she sat against the headboard. “I’m enjoying it.”

Ryker grabbed the remote and situated himself a reasonable distance away from her with his legs stretched out in front of him. He moved the pillows around until he was more comfortable, but also managed to build a slight wall between them. His arm rested on the pillow that separated him from the princess.

As he hit play, he felt her hand slip into his. Common sense told Ryker he should disentangle himself, but the part of him that was attracted to her, that wondered if - in another life - they could have made a relationship work, chose to curl his fingers around hers.

As the show went on, they made little comments to each other and laughed at the same parts.

Between episodes, they took turns doing their evening ablutions. When he returned from brushing his teeth and splashing some water on his face, Ryker found the “pillow barrier” had vanished. Without it, he made sure to leave plenty of room between himself and the princess.

The princess.

He had to keep their differences in status at the forefront of his mind.

Princess Amalia was the oldest biological child of the Crown Princess of Øyanord and her husband. Because of her older half-sister, she wouldn’t inherit the throne, but she was still quite important in her country.

And he was simply a member of a royal protection agency, tasked with protecting the eldest sibling of his king.

Making out with such a high-ranking member of another royal family could lead to accusations of treason.

No. He wouldn’t degrade that connection with the princess to simply “making out.” It meant more than that to him. He had to believe it did to her as well.

By the time another episode ofManagement on Marsended, the princess had fallen asleep.

Holding his hand.

Head resting on his shoulder.

Ryker didn’t quite know how that happened, but he didn’t think he could move without waking her.

Against his better judgment, he let himself fall asleep right next to the princess.

When he woke, it remained dark outside. He felt an unfamiliar weight on his chest and across his abdomen.

He blinked his eyes open to see dark blonde hair on his shoulder and a slender arm across his stomach.

Great.

At some point over the course of the night, she’d rolled over and snuggled into his side, one leg over the top of his.

His arm had wrapped around her shoulder of its own volition, holding her to him.

Ryker closed his eyes again and tried to think. It wasn’t as easy as it should have been, not with her so close.

---