“None, little star. It was a mistake to have one drafted. I wasn’t sure if you’d take me without guarantees.”
“But the king still hates me.”
Unease jackknifed through Aleki. “He doesn’t hate you. He is disappointed in me. In my actions, and what it means for our people.”
“What does it mean for your people?”
Aleki shrugged, discomfort prickling over his skin.
“Some diplomatic relationships may become strained. There was talk last year of whether the Tongan princess and I would make a good match.”
“You were dating that hot French Formula One driver last year.”
“Little star.” He didn’t even try to hide his delight. “Have you been keeping tabs on me?”
One smooth shoulder rose slightly but Aleki had the distinct impression that if Stella Warren was the kind of woman who blushed, she would be doing so now.
“It was in a magazine when I was in line at the supermarket. Honestly, Aleki,” she cracked one eye open and met his gaze. “I know you were on the Riviera, but you should still consider wearing something to swim in. The entire world could live happily without ever seeing your penis.”
“Would you live happily without ever seeing my penis?”
“Sure. Aesthetics are worthless. As long as it keeps me happy through the sense of touch -” Stella broke off mid-sentence as Aleki threw a few pages of their ripped contract at her.
The tinkle of her laughter rang in his ears and he smiled at the ceiling.
“Will she be terribly disappointed?”
“Who?”
“The Tongan princess.”
“She ought to. If she’s read the same magazine as you, she’ll know exactly what she’s missing out on.”
“Aleki.”
He heaved a sigh. “I will not lie to you, little star. My father has made his expectations for me clear. It is the king’s duty to set an example for his people. The Riviera photos were not my finest moment and I was given a significant talking-to about my behaviour. I will be king one day, and it is important to the mana of my people that I conduct myself appropriately. Marriage and children is very much a part of that. Indulging in those with an outsider to our Pacific culture will raise eyebrows, but the important thing is that we set a clear example of how to treat each other and our children well. Additionally, I will need to manage any concerns our union raises with our neighbouring islands. I have not yet proven myself worthy to lead my people, but I hope to change that soon.”
Stella’s threaded her fingertips through his hair, applying enough pressure to set his nerve endings alight with pleasure.
“You will be an incredible king, Aleki.”
“I can only hope.” He shifted and pulled out a small stack of crumpled paperwork from underneath him.
“What is all of this, fafine aulelei? We have been engaged all of three hours, and you have a veritable library of administration here.”
“Those are my lists and charts and forms. Lani made them for me and I love her passionately for it. I will marry her once you die and we will reign together.”
“Good luck getting past her girlfriend.” Aleki flipped through several pages until he found an easy looking form. “Okay. Height?”
“What?”
“We’re filling these out now. If Lani is happy, we are all happy. And sometimes when she’s in a good mood, she brings in panipopo from home, and that makes me happier still. What’s your height?”
“Five foot eight.”
“Weight?”
“Bugger off. I’m not telling you, and even if I did, the fact that I’m eight weeks pregnant means that it's going to change rapidly.”
“A fair point.” He wrote an answer in the space regardless. Perfect.
“Colours that suit your skin tone?”
“Black, white, cream.”
Aleki looked up. Stella’s eyes were closed again and she wiggled her red-tipped toes as she stretched her legs out towards the end of the bed.
“Stella,” he replied patiently. “You look fantastic in many colours.”
“How do you know?” She kicked each leg gently. “You haven’t seen me in anything else since I was eighteen.”
Aleki hesitated, his mind running back through each occasion since she’d arrived for Luke and Mae’s wedding. She was right.
“You don’t wear colours?”
“Nope. I’m busy and it’s too much hard work, trying to match things and buy fashionable colours each season. Black and neutrals work for me.”
“What about at weddings?” Genuine curiosity piqued his voice. The ‘hot French Formula One driver’ had spent a ridiculous amount of his money on clothes in Monaco that made her look like an oversized parrot. So had the professor, the pilot and the hedge fund manager that had come before her in various cities of their own.
“I have three identical dresses for working weddings. One in pink, one in navy and one in green. I rotate depending on what the colour scheme and bridesmaid dresses are for each event.”
“Shoes?”
“Nude or black.”
“Nails?”
“Nude or red.”
Aleki stared at her. After several beats, she opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him.
“Why are you staring at me?”
Noise stopped. There was nothing else, just the gleam of her green eyes, the caramel-chocolate swirl of her hair, the tanned skin and the white and black and cream of his future wife laid out on traditional Avali fabric in his home.
He answered honestly.
“Because you are amazing.”
And Stella Warren, who was not the kind of woman who blushed, blushed.