We cling to each other for the rest of the night, almost as though we’re hoping morning will never arrive. But it does, and I wake as soon as the first light hits the window of the small bedroom.

Andrew doesn’t stir behind me as I find his hand on my belly and cover it with mine. I never want to forget this moment. I want to remember everything about the way he feels. I want to memorize how his body feels, pressed against mine as he holds me the way he always does, with my back against his chest.

I want to remember everything about the way I feel when I’m with him—how it seems anything is possible. Like nothing in the world can get in our way as long as we’re together.

I close my eyes again and try to memorize everything about this moment—probably the last I’ll have with Andrew.

The practical part of me knows I should go. I should grab my clothes and slip away before he wakes up—before this becomes too difficult for both of us. But I can’t seem to move. I don’t want to move—and my practical side can be damned.

He promised we’d find a way through this. Find a way to be together. But the sad truth is the only way we’ll be able to be together is if I’m his mistress. We’re right back where we started—I can’t be his wife. There’s no way for us to be together. Not now. Not with the threat of a war hanging over his head. And I’m just not willing to play second fiddle to Princess Justine, no matter how nice of a person she is. And I don’t want to do that to her, anyway. I’m not going to cheat with someone else’s husband.

If Andrew had left me well enough alone, none of this would have ever happened. We never would have been in a plane crash together. He never would have had to hire me to cover his stupid pageant. And he never would have humiliated Justine, getting him into the predicament we face now. If we had never met, we never would have had to face this mess.

And I never would have fallen in love. And that is the real problem. I was just so sure I never needed to fall in love again. I was so sure I didn’t want to fall in love again. And I certainly never meant for it to happen with Prince Andrew, of all people. He was the fantasy—the brooding, uptight prince who gave so few interviews that no one knew much about him. He was perfect—every woman could build him up in her head to be exactly what she fantasized he’d be.

And he turned out to be nothing like my fantasies at all. He’s so, so much better than I ever could have dreamed.

I shift against him, almost hoping I’ll graze a part of him that will wake him up and make him want to take me one last time. I should just roll over and take matters in my own hands, but Andrew is sleeping so peacefully, I’m almost embarrassed to admit I want to have him again, especially when I know he hasn’t been sleeping well.

But I need him one last time. I need to feel him inside me—I need look into his eyes when I come one final time.

God, I need him. How am I ever going to not need him?

I take his hand in mine, lifting it away slightly so I have room to turn to face him. I have every intention of making it very clear to him that I need to have him make love to me now. Hell, maybe I need him to fuck me. Maybe that’s what we both need—to show each other our raw passion one last time. Last night was filled with tearful, sweet moments. But I think right now, I need to show him the pure, unadulterated lust I also have for him. Because I don’t want him to forget this moment, either.

I’m not even turned to face him completely when I hear something. It takes me a second to realize it’s the slamming of the front door, followed shortly by muffled voices. And laughter. Definitely laughter.

My eyes widen in horror and I reach for the sheet to cover Andrew and myself before the intruders walk into the bedroom.

At the same moment I’m reaching to the end of the bed for a blanket, Andrew awakens, pulling me tightly to him again. He buries his head in my hair. “You’re not leaving. Not yet. Not before I have you at least one more time.”

My voice is low—I don’t want whoever is out there knowing the two of us are in here. Not until I’m covered, anyway. “Andrew—”

He interrupts me by crushing his lips to mine.

It takes me a second to recover—even with the threat of intruders, there’s still something about his kiss that makes me melt, unable to think coherently. I break away, trying to twist out of his grasp and reach again for the sheet.

“Victoria.” Andrew’s voice is almost a growl. He wraps his arms around my waist to prevent me from pulling away.

And I can’t quite reach the sheet. He obviously thinks I’m trying to get up, but all I want is to cover my body before—

“My God, Andrew. I know I’ve been saying for years that you need to get laid, but…” Leo chuckles and rubs his jaw. “Well done, Brother.”

I let out a short, almost raspy breath as Andrew’s grip on me loosens just enough for me to pull the sheet up to cover my body, and I clutch it over my chest.

Leo’s eyes never leave Andrew’s, almost as though he’s trying to show me some small amount of respect. “Good to see you again, Ms. Simpson. Though I must say, I was not expecting to see so much of you.”

My face is on fire and I consider pulling the sheet up over my head.

Andrew’s cheeks look like mine feel and he pulls the sheet over enough to cover himself from the waist down. “Leopold, I would ask what you’re doing here, but—”

“You sent our sister to fetch me, did you not? And here I am. I thought Elle and I might…rest a while before we go and see Father this afternoon.” He motions to the hallway. “She’s in the washroom now, freshening up.”

Andrew rolls his eyes. “You thought you might bring her here for a little playdate, did you? And what, might I ask, is wrong with your suite? It isn’t as though you two haven’t spent an inordinate amount of time in there over the past few months.”

“The problem, Brother, is not with my suite, but with who is guarding the palace at this time. I imagine you know who I’m speaking of.” Leo’s gaze darts to mine for the briefest moment before it falls back on Andrew. “We both know that Stephan has something of a distaste for foreign women. I’m sure you’ve experienced it yourself. Elle and I have been…utilizing the cottage from time to time. Particularly when Stephan is in one of those moods, as he appears to be now—”

“Yes, because our father is ill and is hospitalized. Father’s only just come out of surgery last evening. And the only thing you’re able to think of is having a rendezvous with your lover? Have you no conscience, Brother?”

Leo’s brow furrows for a second before he shakes his head. “Do I really need to point out that you are lying naked in bed with your lover?” His face flushes a bit and his gaze drops to the floor instead of to me. “I apologize, Ms. Simpson, though my brother seems to think—”

“The reasons Victoria and I are here are none of your concern and are completely different from the reasons you and Doctor Parker are here, I assure you.”

Leo lifts a brow and looks back at Andrew. “Not by the looks of it, Brother. I’m fairly certain both of us had the same intentions. Only you and your lover arrived first. And had I known you were also using the gardener’s cottage as a hideaway, I would have never…” He clears his throat. “Again, I apologize, Ms. Simpson.”

“It’s fine.” My voice is low, only barely above a ragged whisper. “I should be going, anyway.”

“Like hell you should.” There’s an edge in Andrew’s voice that I’ve only heard around Leo. “My brother and his betrothed will be leaving when she exits the washroom.” He pauses, glaring at Leo. “Won’t you, Leopold?”

Leo does a half-bow sort of gesture and takes a step back into the hallway. “Whatever you wish, Your Grace.”

Andrew growls under his breath.

Leo smiles and rolls his eyes. “Elle and I will be fine in my quarters. Or perhaps we can find another underutilized room inside the palace.”

“Hm. Like your office, perhaps?” Andrew folds his arms over his chest. “Why did you leave, anyway? Besides the fact that you were not here when Father was taken ill, you also refused to answer your mobile. You may want to deny your responsibilities as a representative of this country, but in this circumstance—”

“Can we perhaps save this lecture for later? After I have had at least a few hours sleep? It was a long plane ride, and Sophia chirped at me the entire way here. You have met our sister, have you not?”

Andrew only glares at Leo.

“Right, as I thought.” Leo glances into the hallway, but Elle hasn’t returned. “I merely thought Elle and I might be able to rest more fitfully away from the noise of the palace, particularly when we seem to have guests in King Maximilian and Prince Reginald. God, I hope they leave before the festival begins on Friday. It’s definitely going to make it infinitely less fun if they’re still hanging around.”

Andrew nods, but says nothing. His gaze is still narrowed, but less of a glare now.

Leo continues. “I didn’t mean for us to have a run-in over who is entitled to use the cottage for…sleepovers, Brother.”

Something in Andrew’s expression softens. “I am glad you’ve arrived home safely, Leopold. We have much to discuss.” He glances over at me. “I’ve asked Victoria to be my wife. And with that, there are some additional responsibilities of which you’ll need to become aware.”

My mouth falls open and my eyes widen as I turn to him. “Andrew. I think…I think maybe you’ve forgotten that we…” I drop my voice, though I’m sure Leo can still hear. “We can’t. We can’t get married.”

Andrew frowns and lets out a long breath. “I’ve not yet determined how we will be together, Victoria. But in the night, I did decide that we will. You and I will be married. I’ll not agree to any concession where that is not a condition. And I’ll not be agreeing to marry Princess Justine.”

I shake my head. “And I’ll not be agreeing to marry you, either. Not with the threat of war hanging over our heads. Or did you forget that part?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Leo interjects. “Did you say…war?”

Andrew lifts a brow and glares at Leo again. “As I said, Leopold, we need to discuss many things. And perhaps you’ll have some semblance of an idea of how our countries might come to an agreement before my meeting with King Maximilian again later this morning. I’ve already asked William to join me for a late breakfast. You should join us, too.”

Leo shakes his head. “As I said, I’m in no condition. I’ve had no sleep in days—”

“Too bad,” Andrew interrupts. “You can sleep when this crisis is over. Now…” He motions with his head toward the door. “Now leave us. And close the door on your way out.”