‘Of course,’ she said stiffly. ‘For the succession. We would have a shared heir between Severene and Monrova.’
‘And unite the two into one country? So this is an acquisition? Who’ll have the greater power—Monrova or Severene?’
Jade straightened. She would never cede power over Monrova to another nation. Not even a friendly neighbour like Severene. It would be an alliance. But Alvaro’s distaste grew more evident with every sarcastically enunciated question.
‘Does this prince of yours expect you to be a virgin queen?’ he asked. ‘Is that part of your promise too?’
‘I imagine he’d think my virginity is a hindrance, actually,’ Jade retorted, stung by Alvaro’s judgment. ‘He probably wouldn’t be at all pleased.’
‘You...what?’ Alvaro’s eyes widened. ‘He what?’
She realised he’d not expected her to answer that virginity question—let alone honestly.
‘Well, it is inconvenient,’ she said, explaining it with bald businesslike briskness to cover her embarrassment. ‘But neither of us would consider sex as anything other than a biological transaction. Fortunately, there are other ways for me to become pregnant.’
‘What?’ He actually gasped. ‘Are you talking about artificial insemination?’
She shrugged. ‘It might be a preferable option for us both.’
His jaw slack, he slowly shook his head. ‘You’re a virgin. An actual, real-life twenty-something virgin.’
‘I’m sure I’m not the only one in existence,’ she retorted testily. ‘But I’ve been very sheltered all my life.’ All but imprisoned, to be more accurate. ‘There really hasn’t been the opportunity.’
He stared at her, then glanced away, visibly processing it all. A few moments passed and she felt relieved that the subject was closed. But then he faced her again—muscles flexing as he moved, the faint sheen of sweat making his bronzed skin glow.
‘Have you ever kissed anyone else?’ It was a whisper.
One she couldn’t answer.
‘Jade?’ Alarm flashed across his face, but he stepped closer again.
She was indescribably pleased by that small shrinking of that gap between them, but there was no hiding the obvious truth.
‘Never?’ He lifted his hand and brushed her lip with his fingertip. ‘I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?’
‘No,’ she breathed. And she didn’t want him to be sorry.
‘It was a little more than a kiss.’ His frown hadn’t fully eased, but there was the smallest quirk of his lips as he softly questioned her. ‘What did you think?’
That blush burned again. ‘You know already...’
He waited but she couldn’t say more.
‘Are you always this careful with your words? This...reticent?’ That quirk became a complete smile. ‘Not officially a risk taker, Queen Jade?’ He leaned closer. ‘Yet I think you’re exactly that.’ He brushed her lower lip with that lightest of fingertips again. ‘Is that the real reason you switched with Juno? So you could have a couple of weeks to sow all the wild oats you can?’
That smile, that touch, provoked her. ‘Would it be so awful if it was?’ she challenged, even though it had been nothing of the sort. ‘Why shouldn’t I? King Leonardo has certainly enjoyed life to the full. There shouldn’t be a reason why I can’t do the same.’
Alvaro’s frown instantly returned. ‘Are you really considering marriage to him?’
She paused.
‘You don’t see something wrong with fooling around with me here while considering that?’
She stiffened. ‘The moment I make any marriage vows, I intend to keep them.’
‘But haven’t you made a promise already? Isn’t that what an engagement is?’
‘I’m not engaged to anyone,’ she declared hotly. ‘I’ll do that at the time required. Until then, everything is my own.’
He suddenly leaned his shoulder against the wall next to her, facing her, watching her. ‘You’re using semantics. You’re twisting it to get what you want.’
‘Well, why shouldn’t I get what I want for once?’ She lifted her chin. ‘I’m prepared to do everything for my country. I’ll sacrifice my personal life to perform my duty.’ She threw her shoulders back. ‘But I’ve not yet made that promise to King Leonardo. Not him or any other man.’
‘Would it be a very convenient marriage—with you both having affairs on the side?’
‘I can’t speak for anyone else. But if I ever marry, I have every intention of maintaining my vows.’
‘You’d settle for a sexless life?’
She was burning with mortification at his relentless questioning. ‘I’ve gone without sex up until now—I’m confident I can go without it for decades.’
But something went cold inside. Only now did she realise the gravity of her future choices.
‘Wow. You’re quite the willing martyr.’ His eyes flashed. ‘But you won’t expect that from your husband?’
‘I’d expect him to live with his own decisions, as we all must. And I don’t intend to hold any of his decisions against him. I understand the sacrifice we must both make.’
‘That’s the biggest load of horse shit I’ve ever heard in my life.’ Alvaro straightened, only to step closer still. ‘So you’re going to calmly turn a blind eye to all his affairs? You’re going to let him parade his lovers in front of you?’
‘Leonardo is not a monster. He cares about his kingdom and if he wanted to...to...’ She trailed off, hating to even think of Leonardo in any kind of sexual way. He was like distant family to her. ‘I’m sure he’d be discreet. We both want what’s best for both our countries. We would come to an understanding.’
‘Some understanding,’ Alvaro scoffed. ‘He gets to do what he wants while you get to die of boredom.’
She glared at him. ‘I don’t think that sex is the be-all and end-all of a fulfilling life.’
Alvaro laughed and she lost it.
‘Look, if I desperately want an orgasm,’ she snapped, ‘I can give myself one.’
His jaw dropped. ‘Sure,’ he almost wheezed. ‘Of course, you can and should...frequently, I would hope.’
She was mortified that she’d stumbled into this subject so blindly.
‘But...’ He cocked his head. ‘You know how they say a trouble shared is a trouble halved?’