The meeting can wait

"What the fuck?!" You stare after Alexia hoping that she didn't hear your involuntary exclamation. Galeon just shakes his massive head slowly, but you can see that your friend is holding back his laughter. Enough is enough, you sprint after the back end of your spymaster catching up to her just as she is slipping between the flaps of her tent.

"Hades, Bruce!" Alexia's slender body jerks in surprise as you crowd through doorway right behind her. "What's wrong?"

"That's what I want to know, Alexia." You turn the question back on your spymaster. "What in the world has gotten into you?" When she turns to answer you find yourselves standing much closer than usual; less than a hand's width separates your chin from her forehead and her round breasts are brushing softly against your tunic. For the past several years Alexia has made it a point not to ever infringe on your personal space, and you've respected her preference for standing off in the shadows and letting the attention fall on you. However, because of the rash way you followed her into her tent, you are now close enough to breathe in the sweet scent of her hair and see every freckle on her pale skin.

Alexia's gasp of surprise is accompanied by her eyes widening and nostrils flaring. You had always believed that Alexia avoided close contact with you because of her natural reserve and the excuse that it was better for people not to see you too close, but now you wonder if there is another, more personal reason. A mortal man might not notice, but the flush in her cheeks and the quickening of her breathing are clear indications of excitement. More than once Alexia has turned down your offer to ride with you on Spook, and if she reacts this way to just standing this close you can only imagine what her reaction might be if her slender body were pressed against yours as you soared through the skies. She tries to step back, but you have not forgotten the sharp sting of her palm on your cheek and like a dancer you press forward even as she retreats.

"Why did you hit me?" You ask quietly, enjoying the way your normally calm-and-collected advisor is flustered by your sudden intrusion. "I know I'm not a typical king, but I'm pretty sure that my advisors aren't supposed to slap me." Her hands come up and rest on your chest creating a little space, but you don't mind because you can feel the warmth of her palms through the fine-weave cotton of your tunic. You can see her struggle to form a coherent explanation and almost have pity on her. If she didn't smell so good, you'd go have a seat and give her the space to think, but at the moment you are not in a forgiving mood.

"Because you're an ass, Your Highness." Alexia finds her voice to your regret. "You're lucky I didn't stick one of my knives in your thick leg and cut a chunk of your blessed flesh out." She takes advantage of your surprise to slip out of your arms and plop down on her bed pulling her knees up tightly against her torso unintentionally making her small breasts swell up attractively.

"Well, thank-you for that at least." You give her your best boyish grin, hoping to break through this sudden tension. The smile seems to have some effect because she smiles back hesitantly, but then her expression becomes solemn again.

"Bruce, why did you agree to that stupid fight with Prince Iasos?" Her question catches you by surprise, and it takes a heartbeat to even realize what she's talking about.

"Oh, that arrogant fool?" You laugh, "It was much easier and quicker to put him in his place that way than it would have been any other method."

"Yes, perhaps, but then you went and offered him the Kingship of Kalion." Her voice rises with emotion. "You didn't have to do that. What if he had gotten lucky?"

"There was no way that a piss-ant like that was going to be able to scratch me, Alexia." You almost laugh at the idea, "the throne of Kalion was never at risk." A pillow flies at you with such **** and speed that you can't quite get your head out of its path, and you end up catching it only after it hits your ear.

"That's not all you put up as a prize, Bruce." Alexia points at you as you stare at back in confusion. "Bruce, didn't you see how Prince Iasos stared at me when he accepted your offer?" You do remember now the arrogant prince made a crude remark about your pretty advisor. Like so many others he mistook her for nothing more than an attractive concubine, but you still don't see how it matters.

"I told you, Alexia." You step forward and hand back the pillow as a gesture of good faith. "There was no chance of me losing, so it doesn't really matter."

"Bruce, it did matter. It still does." She swings her knees under her so she is kneeling upright on the bed, "You may not have even considered the consequences, and most everyone else thought the duel was for the crown of Kalion, but in my mind there was something far more personal at stake. You put my virginity up as the prize; the winner of the duel would be the man who would claim my maidenhead."

"No!" The denial is not loud, but every ounce of your soul. "I would never have let him-"

"Stop it, Bruce!" Alexia cuts you off. "You swore an oath before the gods, you would have had to honor it." It is hard for you to deny her claim, but it doesn't really matter because you didn't lose, and you couldn't have lost. You shake your head in confusion. Why does she always twist your words like this? Before you have a chance to try to explain again, Alexia is pulling off her tunic. The beautiful woman settles on her bed, and you see, for the first time, her beautiful naked body. Long toned legs, small firm breasts peaked with light brown nipples that quiver with each breath.

As you stare at her in wonder and confusion, her eyes lift shyly to meet yours burning with a fire that you have never before seen in the otherwise reserved spymaster.

"So, your Majesty, have you come to claim your prize?"