Series: Royally Kissed #4
Publication date: November 6th, 2025
Synopsis:
He needs a royal redemption arc. She needs to keep her distance. The public wants a story, preferably a romantic one.
I called him Ledonia's most eligible man-child in a headline. Now I'm living at his palace.
After my no-holds-barred expose on Prince Maximilien goes viral, the royal family doesn't banish me--they hire me. Apparently, the King and Queen think damage control looks like me filming an exclusive behind-the-scenes series on their charming, cocky, scandal-prone son.
Prince Max isn't thrilled. In fact, he downright despises me. Which is fine. Because the feeling? Entirely mutual.
But the thing is, I didn't expect him to be smarter, deeper, and somehow even hotter in royal pajamas. And I definitely didn't expect to start falling for a man I've built a career out of publicly roasting.
There's just one problem: He has one idea who I really am.
He may be a real-life prince, but I'm royally off-limits.
👑 Enemies-to-Lovers
🩷 Hidden Identity
👑 Forced Proximity
🩷 One Bed
👑 Slow burn, kissing only
And a Labrador puppy called Toffee 🐶
Romantic, fun, and swoon worthy, Royally Off-Limits is a laugh-out-loud romp about a prince who has lost his way and a woman with a hidden past who has everything to lose. It's The Princess Diaries for grown-ups meets The Hating Game. If you love opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burns, snarky banter, and a royal who accidentally falls hard, this one's for you.
All the titles in the Royally Kissed series can be read as standalone novels or as part of the series.
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Excerpt
The next thing I know, Max is roaring down the slide behind me. He lands, balls flying about, and as he catches my eye, a grin stretching from ear to ear, we break into fits of laughter, the heady concoction of being chased around this padded play area by the man I'm falling for rolling out of me, my whole body shaking.
Running and laughing with him like this brings back flashes of being children together in the palace gardens, before I had to become someone else. An innocent time, before my world imploded, before I had to become someone else.
And then, something shifts between us, and our laughter evaporates, replaced by something stronger. Something no longer childish. A muscular arm snakes around me, pulling me against him. My heart thuds as my body responds, melding to his, and I finally allow myself to give in to my overwhelming feelings for this man who's captured my heart and mind.
His eyes darken with intensity, and as I drop my gaze to his mouth, he tangles his fingers in my hair, pulling my lips against his. They're soft and perfect and just how I'd imagined they'd be, and I breathe in his delicious scent as I kiss him back with the urgency I feel for him, an urgency that can only be satisfied with one thing.
He lets out a soft moan as he deepens our kiss, his big hands holding me possessively against him. Our kiss is nothing short of magical, and I sink into it, full of passion and want, my heart thudding with everything I feel for this incredible man.
I'm lost in the moment, and as everything around us fades to nothing, it's just him and me and the way we feel about one another, finally taking form in the most wonderful way.
Eventually, after we've kissed for longer than any self-respecting adults should in a ball pit, we pull back, resting our foreheads against one another's, our breath mingling.
"Max, that was... you are..." My voice is shaking and I'm unable to find the words to tell him how I feel.
"You are," he replies, smiling at me, his eyes dark. He leans in and places another long, lingering kiss on my lips once more. "I never expected this," he says, echoing my very thoughts. "But now that I've found you, I don't want to let you go."
"I... I feel the same way," I murmur, and when I look into his eyes, it's like the whole world disappears.
He brushes another soft, tantalizing kiss against my lips, and makes my whole body quiver.
"If I'd known you felt the way about foam warfare, I would have suggested we do this long ago."
"Just so you could kiss me?" I tease.
"Absolutely."
KATE O'KEEFFE is a USA Today bestselling author known for her fun, feel-good romantic comedies brimming with humor, heart, and happily ever afters. A native of New Zealand, Kate has crafted numerous popular series, garnering a devoted international readership.
With a flair for witty banter and irresistible heroines navigating the ups and downs of modern dating, Kate's novels showcase strong friendships, comedic entanglements, and the of course sometimes bumpy but always hopeful road to love.
When she's not writing, Kate can often be found reading romcoms, binging her favorite shows, or spending time with her friends and family in the beautiful Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand.
