This also wasn’t like him.
Aléx didn’t pine over women. He used them for mutual pleasure, and when both parties were satisfied, he went back tohis life of duty and service without a care. He wasn’t cruel to women. He simply made sure he only ever slept with women who knew there would be no more beyond their mutual physical satisfaction.
As his mind began to replay that night for the millionth time, he ran a harsh hand through his wet hair, trying to figure out what was so special about this particular woman. She had him so desperate to taste her that he’d forgotten to give her his practiced “we only have tonight” speech that proceeded any sexual encounter he had with a partner.
A derisive laugh climbed up from his chest, spilling through his lips and echoing in the marble-and-glass stall. The joke was on him. He hadn’t needed to give Reigna Devereaux that speech because she was gone as soon as he’d fallen into a sound sleep. And the next time he’d heard of her, he was receiving a royal wedding invitation announcing her as the Nyeusian king’s bride.
How’s that for turning the tables?
He should’ve been relieved that Reigna hadn’t had designs on him. The fact that she’d so quickly married someone else should’ve made his year. Too bad the ugly mark of jealousy that clawed at him from the inside hadn’t received the memo. As a result, he was still obsessing over her four months later.
Still disgusted with himself for being unable to shake whatever this thing inside him was that kept him fixated on the woman, he dressed and headed to breakfast in his office. Finding his plate waiting for him and the global news playing on the television reminded him what he was here to do.
He was here to take care of his people, not obsess over a single sexual encounter that happened four months ago.
He was just about to drink the piping hot black brew in his cup when he heard the news anchor say, “When a concrete princess from Brooklyn becomes the real-life queen of an exotic island paradise, you get a fairy tale come true. Viewers, please welcomeone of Brooklyn’s most famous daughters. She’s formerly known as Reigna Devereaux of the Devereaux Inc. ilk. Now she is known as Her Majesty, Queen Reigna of Nyeusi. Oh, and her husband, King Jasiri, is joining her too.”
Aléx’s fist closed around the delicate china, and he had to force every muscle in his hand to relax so he wouldn’t shatter the thing in his palm.
He thanked every deity he could remember for the foresight to put the cup on a level surface, because the sight of her on the television left him boneless, unable to move or do anything but watch her on the screen.
She wore a cocktail-length A-line dress with its high waist accented by a large belt. She was breathtaking, her full cheeks high as she greeted the anchor with a smile and an enthusiastic handshake. Seeing her form again made him lean toward the television, giving it and her his entire attention.
The camera angle widened, giving the viewing audience a full-body shot, and the floor beneath him might as well have opened and swallowed him. She was beyond royal. She was celestial in vibrant purple, gold, and black colors. They were woven into a beautiful African print, and the gold lioness broach on her collar highlighted her strength, grace and poise as she continued to walk across the stage.
He was losing himself in the way those colors complemented her beautiful, deep brown skin, producing a soft and inviting glow around her that called to him so strongly he nearly stood from his chair. But then a hint of something familiar plucked at the back of his mind until he realized why she wore those colors. They were the national colors of Nyeusi.
Jasiri’s land.
Her husband’s kingdom.
Had Aléx known Reigna and Jasiri had a past? Yes. According to the headlines, they’d been broken up for at least two yearswhen she’d found her way into Aléx’s bed. Reigna was a free agent, and her choosing to go back to her ex after a night with Aléx shouldn’t have bothered him one bit. Irrationality aside, receiving their wedding invitation had pulled out a jealous possessiveness Aléx hadn’t known himself capable of, and he’d been fighting it every day of the last four months.
Regret and anger mixed in his gut, creating a toxic concoction that was probably going to give him an ulcer if he didn’t get the rage spreading through his system under control. And there, just as his vision began to cloud with red, he saw Jasiri’s hand touch hers, guiding her to the sofa where the hosts of the news show sat.
How had he missed the man? The answer to that was simple. Reigna. She was all he’d seen or focused on since he’d heard her name announced.
The host went on to fawn over Reigna. Even though Jasiri was at her side, it was clear Reigna was the star of the show. Honestly, it was fitting. No one compared to the sultry, strong and caring woman who’d set his body on fire.
Aléx tried to focus on just her, to ignore Jasiri’s presence, but he couldn’t. Because slowly he began to see that Reigna wasn’t a separate entity. She was with Jasiri. Not just married to him, connected to him.
Aléx could see the way she glanced up to Jasiri, the way she sought his hand or his arm whenever more than a few moments passed without the couple touching. It was there for anyone looking to see. She adored her husband.
He waited for the jealousy he’d been harboring since he’d declined the invitation to their Nyeusian royal wedding to flash hot in his blood. But as he watched their exchanges, he understood they were truly in love.
Whatever the thing was that had had Aléx in such an unbreakable hold for these last four months, it didn’t so much as simmer within him. It wasn’t just quiet. It was gone.
He pulled his eyes away from the screen, trying to focus on his own thoughts. Reigna was in love with Jasiri. As much as he wanted to be angry about that, as much as he couldn’t stand that Jasiri had one-upped him, Aléx couldn’t begrudge the two the obvious connection they shared.
He was just ready to change the channel literally and figuratively when Reigna said, “We’re happy to announce we’re expecting our first child.” She placed a loving hand against the bottom of her stomach, display a slight bump that had been concealed by the silhouette of her dress. “I’m four months along.”
Cold spilled down Aléx’s spine as he did the mental math in his head. It had been four months since the night they’d shared. Four months since he’d lost himself inside her.
Yes, he’d worn a condom. But he knew from personal experience that condoms didn’t always work.
There was a crack in the door he’d kept soundly shut around his heart. He took in a noisy breath that was equal parts pain and joy. Could this be his baby? Could he be a father again?
And as he watched Jasiri place a possessive hand on Reigna’s stomach, that anger he’d thought he’d lost came roaring back to life like a powerful flood slamming against his chest, making it almost impossible to breathe.
