You want her first

"This is important to you?" You ask innocently and are rewarded by seeing her eyes widen when she realizes that you are not dismissing the idea out-of-hand.

"Yes Bruce, I think it's the perfect opportunity to deal with two or three issues that have been coming up."

"All right, Alexia," You pat the bed next to where you are sitting, inviting her to join you as she tries to convince you. "Come tell me about how plucking those pretty little flowers is going to help anything." Usually, Alexia is hesitant to get too close to you, but either something changed when you woke up in her arms this morning, or she is too intent on convincing you to worry about joining you on your bed.

"I'm just working it out now, Bruce, but the more I think about it the more I like the idea." Alexia pauses as if she is expecting your protests, but you wait patiently for her to spell out her reasons before you make your counteroffer. "OK, first of all - there are those rumors about you and your oath-brothers. I know you're not lovers, Bruce, but every time the three of you disappear for hours on your 'adventures' I hear the rumors start up again." You snort angrily but let her continue. "Some of your men don't know what to make of you; it wouldn't hurt to take a pretty young girl or two as lovers to make your preferences clear."

"Is that really going to convince those homophobic skeptics?" You take her hand in yours, and Alexia doesn't pull it away as she shuts down your objection.

"Not completely, no." She concedes "But it would certainly help. And, if those two are plants placed into your court by Athenapolis, it might not be a bad idea to let that weasel Darius think that he has succeeded in corrupting you." Anything you could do to put that bastard in his place would be good, but Alexia is not done. "That is if you can enjoy those pretty things without falling in love with them?"

"Oh please, Alexia!" You interject again, "I could never love sheltered debutants like those two; those girls don't know anything about the real world." It was true, listening to the twins as they chattered together made it crystal clear just how naïve the two were. "They are like fragile pottery that might shatter if I even just raised my voice at them."

"Which brings me to my third point." Alexia is not even phased by your objection. "Soon, Your Majesty you will have to take a bride. Your queen will be as sheltered and naïve as those two, and likely just as virginal. I think you need to refine your technique if you want your nuptial bed to be a place of pleasure for both you and your bride." This is getting ludicrous, but she's left you an opening.

"I'm willing to do as you want, Alexia." Her gasp of surprise confirms that she really didn't think that this was going to work. "But I want something in return. Something from you."

"Anything, Bruce." Your spymaster is really off her game if she is agreeing to your demands without hearing what you want. She truly is a beautiful woman, and it is a wonder that you even left her bed this morning. As pretty as she is, you wonder how many lovers she's had over the years. Not a lot; you are sure of that, but it would be too much to hope for to think no man has tasted the fruit from this tree.

"I want you, Alexia." You lift her hand to your lips, "I want my first time to be a woman that I love."