Nobody wanted to be thought of as some violent tyrant, least of all by the woman they wanted.

It wasn’t like I didn’t understand what she was saying. Yes, the Royal Army had done some things during the war that weren’t okay, and those who had performed those actions were punished accordingly. It was not the policy, officially or otherwise, of the Royal Army to harm civilians or to torture people in any way, and yet I knew that I had to own up to that.

Still, I wasn’t negotiating with terrorists. I wasn’t going to show a single ounce of weakness, not after this. Maybe before they murdered my brother and bombed civilians, but not anymore. The only thing these rebels understood was strength, and I had to show it to them.

Bryce meant well. I knew she wasn’t directly blaming me for any crimes committed by my army, but I still couldn’t help but feel stung by her.

I sat in meeting after meeting. The generals were planning their maneuvers and the ministers were all arguing over what sort of response was most appropriate. None of it mattered, since it was ultimately my decision, but still. Everything about the ministers and their squabbling drove me insane.

I didn’t have time for any of this. The only thing I knew was that my people had been killed, and I needed to do something about that. I didn’t have time to argue over bullshit minor policy details with some third-rate assholes who only cared about themselves and their own interests. I wanted something to be done, and I wanted it done immediately.

I sat through meeting after pointless meeting, and the day slowly dragged on. I made decisions when I had to, but I mostly sat there and stared off into the distance, distracted by my own anger and distracted by Bryce.

I kept picturing that kiss. I hated that we were interrupted. I wanted more, needed more, but I wasn’t sure if that feeling was mutual anymore. She seemed pretty intent on finding flaws in my country’s very way of life.

Dinner came and went, and we ate only briefly, never leaving the conference rooms. I was exhausted and frustrated, and the only thing I wanted was to see Bryce.

As another minister went into some inane and absurd discussion on some minor point, I felt my phone vibrate.

Ready for any distraction, I pulled it out. There was a text from Bryce.

It was a picture. Curious, I opened it.

And nearly toppled from my fucking chair.

It was a mirror shot. She wore nothing but a thin cotton T-shirt and the black panties I’d sent her as a present.

My cock was hard as fuck almost instantly. Bryce looked incredible in the picture, her long legs lean and gorgeous, a little smile playing on her lips. I got another text a few seconds later.

“Apology accepted?” she asked.

Fucking hell, this girl. One second she was pushing me on my war policy, and the next she was sending me fucking sexy as hell pictures.

Not like I could complain. My heart was hammering in my chest.

“Meet me at the pool in fifteen minutes,” I typed, and then I sent it off.

“OK,” she sent back.

I scooted my seat back. “Gentlemen,” I said, “I’m sorry, but I have an urgent meeting to attend to.”

The ministers looked at me, surprised. “Shall I continue later, Your Majesty?” the minister who was speaking asked.

“No. Please, go on without me. My secretary will give me notes.”

I quickly turned and left the room, not caring what they thought.

This was what I needed. I didn’t want to sit in fucking rooms all night long doing nothing. I’d end up in meetings again soon enough, but I needed a little break.

Ten minutes later, I had my bathing suit on and was in the pool, swimming laps. My security detail didn’t follow me into the room, fortunately, and I felt at peace for the first time since I’d been called back to the castle.

Soon, I finished a lap and looked up. Standing at the side of the pool looking down at me was Bryce.

“Fancy seeing you here,” I said.

“The king summoned me,” she said.

I floated back, getting a look at her. She was wearing a navy blue two piece, and I could barely keep myself under control. The girl had perfect breasts and a beautiful body, though I could tell she was shy about it.

“Come on,” I said. “The water is heated.”

She laughed and sat down at the edge of the pool, dipping her feet in. “I don’t know. I’ve been warned about swimming with strange men.”

“Strange maybe, but not a stranger.” I swam over to her. “Your king commands you to swim.”

“That just makes me want to not swim even more.”

I grinned and hopped up onto the side of the pool next to her. “Fine then. We’ll both sit here.”

“How’s it going out there?”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about out there. I’d rather talk about that picture you sent me.”

She blushed a little bit. “I couldn’t think of a better way to apologize.”

“I don’t think there is a better way.”

“I figured it’s no big deal. It’s like seeing me in a bathing suit, right?”

“Something like that,” I murmured.

She bit her lip. “Did you like it?”

“Very much,” I said. “I’m still fucking hard. I had to leave that meeting immediately and see you.”

“Trip—”

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s swim.”

I reached out and grabbed her hips, pulling her onto my lap.

“Trip!” she protested, but it was too late. I had her. I plunged us both into the pool.

She came up next to me and splashed.

“You asshole,” she said.

“Didn’t want to get your hair wet?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I also didn’t want to get dragged into the water.”

“Too bad. It’s already done.”

She swam at me, smiling, and tried to dunk me under. I didn’t budge.

“Are you made of stone?”

“If I were, I’d sink. I’m just a good swimmer.”

I dove under and grabbed at her ankles. She kicked and swam away. I came up and she was laughing, splashing at me.

“Are you attacking the king?” I asked her.

“Damn right. Not the first time either.”

“You foreign temptress,” I said. “You’re corrupting the king.”

She giggled as I came at her. She splashed and swam away. I chased her but let her stay just ahead of me.

Finally, I grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. I took her hips and pulled her ass and back against me. She struggled, but I held us both up above water, kicking my feet.

“Let me go,” she said, laughing.

“I don’t think so. You’re mine now. You’ve tempted me long enough.”

“I don’t think I’m anyone’s,” she said, and then she tried dropping underwater.

She went straight down, but in the process her bikini top caught on the front of my swimsuit, yanking them both off. I dove underwater and managed to grab my trunks and her top before she even realized it was off.

She surfaced a few feet away, and a second later she figured it out.

“Trip!” she said.

I held her top up, grinning. “Is this what you’re looking for?”

She instantly covered her perfect breasts with her arms. I couldn’t get a good look, since the water was covering them, but I could tell she was gorgeous. I was hard as hell, my heart hammering.

“Trip, give it to me.”

“Come and get it,” I said, swimming away.

“Not funny. Come on, Trip!”

I laughed as she started swimming toward me, covering herself with one hand.

Just as she neared me, a motion toward the door pulled my attention away. Al was standing in the doorway, frowning down at me. “Your Highness,” he called.

Bryce caught up with me and snatched her top from my hand.

“Asshole,” she mumbled as she turned away and got it back on.

“Your Highness, they need you back in the situation room. General Dune is calling.”

I sighed. “Fun’s over, I guess,” I said to Bryce.

“Who was having fun?”

“You were. We both know it.”

“I was too busy having my top stolen to have fun.”

“Pretend you didn’t like it all you want, but we both know where this was going.” I swam over to her, close behind her. “You want me to fuck you rough up against the edge of the pool. You want me to fuck that wet pussy until you can’t stand it anymore.”

“No,” she whispered, but I knew she meant yes.

I swam away, pulling my trunks back on. Al had already left, so I got out and toweled myself off.

“Stay as long as you want,” I said to her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good luck being the king,” she answered.

I laughed. “I don’t need luck for that. I just need to be myself.”

I waved and then headed out, back toward my apartment.

That girl could drive me crazy so easily. I could barely control myself around her, even in these difficult and complicated times. There was just simply something alluring and intense about Bryce.

The girl was a distraction, but the best fucking kind of distraction.