Just so happened, he stood by the rubber trash can that held the beer. Allie reached her hand inside and pulled out an Ultra, twisted the top and pres...ed it to her lips as her eyes met his. “Hi, I am Derek, what’s your name?” “I am Allie, nice to meet you Derek, I like your costume.” “Thanks, I love yours. You look like the perfect naughty school girl.” Allie took another sip of her beer. “I can be,” she said with a wink. Derek and Allie exchanged small talk as they walked around the house. There hasn’t been anyone smart enough to...” Snapping his fingers Derrick’s eyes went wide. “Kimison and Rayburn! That was why! I’ll be damned!” Walking to Shelby he slowly and gently touched her arm. “Soft and warm, reactions to touch excellent. Now the only question is why?”Shaking her head with a smirk Shelby could only stare at him a moment. “Uh hello? You aren’t going to live forever, and an heir or more will benefit both you and the empire.” With a wry smile she continued, “Besides I find. .. friends? But I am not the ogre I have been portrayed to be and I am not stupid. I know you and my husband have feelings for each other. Feelings which can lead to disaster." Princess, I..." Please, let me finish. Ours was an arranged marriage, I, forced into it as must as the Prince, but over the past year I have grown to love Raynoor. He is a decent and honorable man and we both agree that these senseless wars must cease. I have tried desperately to give him the child he wants... I cannot.. She pulled back. I suspected she decided she was not interested in me romantically, but for some reason we kept talking. We openly resolved to become friends, and that is what we did. Great friends. Friends who can talk about anything, who share everything. Friends who cannot wait for the next email or text, who smile in a goofy way when one arrives. Through ups and downs, joys and disappointments, we were friends. And we loved each other. Sure, there were reasons never to have reached that.