I was shuttled out of the hospital and into the prince’s black car before I realized what I had agreed to for the night. I was too exhausted to argue anymore. He was persuasive. He was convincing. It was hard to ignore that beneath his line of reasoning, there was truth about what he said about the crew. Why wasn’t anyone here? Where was Tom? Why hadn’t Lance called? I didn’t have a single text on my phone from anyone on the set. Not a single cast member had checked in with me.

I settled into the cool leather seats as we drove away from the hospital. I let a long breath escape through my lips. It wasn’t until the hospital was in the distance that I realized how tense I had been. Every muscle in my body was rigid and stiff. I never believed I would be able to escape the MRI. It seemed to be looming around every instruction from the nurse. I never fully trusted that she wasn’t going to lead me into one of the rooms instead of into the X-ray bay. I held my breath every time Dr. Fines walked in the room. I looked at Liam next to me. He was the only reason it never happened.

He was the kind of man who would have loved it if I said he was my knight in shining armor. I wasn’t about to go there. I wasn’t willing to give him that small triumph—not yet.

I looked at my phone again. It was still black. I kept the sigh inside.

“How long have you been in Freychon?” he asked.

“A few days. We had two days to adjust to the time difference before we began filming.”

He nodded. “Are you from L.A.?”

I shook my head. “No. Our studio is in Atlanta, Georgia.”

He scowled. “I’m familiar with the U.S. states.”

“Sorry. I’m originally from Dallas. I won’t give you the state.”

He chuckled. “Thanks.”

The car slowed as we climbed a hill and wound upward. It was hard not to feel as if we were driving toward the clouds, although I knew the palace sat on a wide plateau of land below the highest peaks. I had seen it from my hotel room.

Monstrous gates opened and we rolled onto the royal grounds. I held my breath, aware of how surreal everything was around me.

The car stopped abruptly.

“We’re here.” Liam smiled.

The door opened and I was offered a hand. Liam walked up behind me, carrying his bag full of wet clothes. I hadn’t decided if he looked sexier in his wet military uniform or in the tight T-shirt. It was hard not to notice how wide his shoulders were as the fabric stretched across his taut muscles.

We had barely made it inside the grand foyer when an older gentleman pushed his way forward.

“Your Highness.” He spoke between clenched teeth. His mustache twitched. “There is a state matter that needs your attention.” His eyes landed on me.

“Wallace, this is my guest. Miss Gillian Sparks,” Liam answered.

I could tell he wanted to ignore me, but the prince had put him on the spot.

“Miss Sparks.” He bowed his head slightly.

“Gillian, Wallace. Royal manager for the House of Marquis.”

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled.

“Sir,” Wallace urged. “I’m requesting your audience immediately. I’m sure Miss Sparks understands the severity and importance of your obligations to the country. It’s a timely manner—it has been since your weekend duties ended.”

I looked between them. It sounded intense. “Of course. Just point me to the kitchen and I’ll find the ice for my arm,” I offered. I didn’t need any more fuss, especially if it was going to cause trouble.

Liam chuckled. “I have a staff for that. I’ll make sure you’re settled before I go anywhere.”

“But, sir—”

Liam shot him an icy stare. “I’ll return when I’m available, Wallace.”

The man folded his hands behind his back and took a step away from us. I knew I had caused a problem, and I had no way to undo it.

I whispered to the prince as we walked along the marble corridor. “You should go with him. I’m fine.”

“You’re my guest. Wallace can wait,” he replied.

“Is this normal for how you handle state problems?”

He pushed the lever on an elevator at the end of the long hallway. “It’s normal for how Wallace handles them. I’m third in line to the throne. This seldom falls on me.”

“Then shouldn’t you take it more seriously?” The elevator doors slid closed as we stepped into the car.

I could tell from the way he looked at me, I had overstepped a boundary

“No,” he snapped.

There was a gentle ding and the doors retracted. We walked into a beautifully lavish set of apartments.

“This is where I live,” he explained. “You’re in my wing of the palace.”

“Your wing?” I was astounded by the art and the furniture surrounding us. I’d been in a lot of guys’ bachelor pads and nothing looked like this.

“My brothers, sister, and I each have our own set of apartments inside the walls. Although, my brother Corbin is in the States for a while. He commutes back and forth for business when it suits him. And by that I mean he’s rarely here.”

“And the king?” I prodded.

“In London right now with the queen. They travel most of the time.”

“So you do have to step in often?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Occasionally.”

“I don’t want to keep you. You should go save the country instead of American actresses.” I smiled. “Just show me the way to your freezer and an ice pack.”

“You act like I can dump you off here and walk back downstairs.”

I felt the tingles start along my collarbone and travel to my breasts. The sound of his voice heated my chest. It was distracting enough to make me forget about the pain in my arm.

“Of course you can,” I whispered.

He stepped closer and it was as if the light in the room was blocked out from his massive frame. I couldn’t see anything but him. His eyes. His arms. The athletic movement of his body. I swallowed, looking into his gaze.

He reached forward. His palm rose toward me in slow motion. Or was it just that everything had suddenly switched into a different gear? As if we were in some kind of secret room and we were the only two who could see inside.

I didn’t know how it had happened, or if it was reversible, but I fell into the space. I lounged in the heat the nearness of our bodies created.

Liam grazed the line of my cheek. He touched my lip before his mouth crashed against mine with the kind of intensity I’d only pretended existed. But this wasn’t a scene. This wasn’t for the cameras. It was real, and passionate. Our mouths moved hungrily as our tongues twined in rhythm.

I gasped for breath. I wanted more. I needed it. I slung my good arm around his neck and brought him closer. Deeper.

His hands pressed into my lower back, urging me to sink into his body. I couldn’t resist. I didn’t want to. It was a kiss unlike anything I’d ever felt. The room spun. My heart hammered.

Liam growled lowly. His chest vibrated, and I gulped for air. I looked in his eyes for an explanation. For a reason that we kissed like that.

He grinned. “I do have to go downstairs for a few minutes. But I wanted you to know I don’t want to go.”

My cheeks were heated all the way to my ears. “Really. I understand.”

“I won’t be long.”

I nodded. “I’m fine here. I’m in a castle.” I giggled.

“Before I go, let me get that ice for you. And I’ll send Rae in to make dinner for you. How does that sound?”

“I had forgotten about food. I’m starving. It sounds amazing.” My stomach rumbled.

“And you need clothes. You can’t stay in hospital PJs all night.” He winked.

Oh shit. My core twitched. I didn’t want to read between the words, but I did. If that kiss was any indication of what the prince had planned when he returned from the royal crisis, I wouldn’t be wearing anything. I bit my lip—and neither would he.

Five minutes later, I was propped on the couch with the remote, an ice pack, and Liam’s personal chef was in the kitchen preparing my dinner. The elevator closed and the prince was gone.