“Antidote?”
“The antidote to morning.” She gestured at the steaming pot. “That’s bittersweet, isn’t it?”
“Would you like a pour?”
“Yes—please.”
He filled a cup and handed it to her. Cradling the mug, she sank into a chair and took a long drink. Bittersweet looked like weak tea, but it had a coffee-like flavor. Falkor continued to observe her with a smile.
“Stop it,” she said.
“Stop what?”
“Smiling!”
“Why?”
“It’s too loud.”
Dramatically, he wiped the grin from his face.
“That’s better.” Her lips twitched with reluctant humor. Damn him. “Don’t make me laugh.”
“Okay,” he deadpanned.
Why did he have to be so likable? She pulled her legs under her and sipped the coffee substitute.
He focused on his own cup, seeming totally relaxed. Too handsome. His robe gaped a little, revealing a muscularity she hadn’t expected and a dusting of curly blue chest hair.What if he gets tired of me? What if he begins to dislike me like everyone else?
“Would you—” he said.
“Do you—” she started to ask at the same time. “You first.” She gestured.
“I need to meet with my business partner today. Would you like to come along?”
“Yes, I would!” Anything to get out of the palace for a while and away from her brooding thoughts.
“What were you going to say?”
“Can we really get along for a year?”
“If we work with each other instead of against each other, we can.”
She bit her lip. “Are you going to sleep with other women?”
“No! Why would you think that?”
She shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant, although her heart pounded. “This isn’t a real marriage.”
“It’s real until it ends,” he said tersely.
“So, you’re going to remain celibate the whole time?” she scoffed.
“In the eyes of the king and queen and the public, our marriage is real. I would not disrespect the crown by disrespecting my wife. Despite the rumors, I have some honor.” He knocked back the remains of his bittersweet and stood up. “I’ll go get dressed. I’ll meet you in an hour if you still want to go with me.” And he stalked out of the room.
* * * *
How could she assume he’d carry on as if he was unmarried? He’d let his guard down and opened up. He’d thought she’d started to see him. Instead, she’d bought into the public rumors like everyone else. There had been lovers—a thirty-one-year-old single man couldn’t be expected to be celibate—but those relationships were over. He’d promised fidelity, and he never made promises he didn’t keep.
