With a cheeky glint in his eye, Xandar said, “You’ll know soon. And remind me, Christian. How many women have I been with before our Queen?”

Lucianne flinched a little away from Xandar at the words ‘how many women’. But Xandar’s arm reached out to trap her body and pressed it back into his, his clear lilac eyes locked with her anxious black ones.

Christian took a moment before responding, “Is this a trick question? Cuz, when have you ever…” he paused, and his voice took a teasing twist when he said, “Oh, wait. I think I get it now.”

Lucianne was flustering in embarrassment. Even so, she took the...