«We still have time before lunch,» Alexander exclaims when he realises that the fish soup can’t be cooked in such a short while. «Let’s go freshen up!»

I follow him, pretending to believe he really wants to freshen up and rest before the meal.

«We’re almost done with the work in Polis,» I say while observing his back and our twined hands.

Alexander is a bit in a hurry, isn’t he?

«We’ll soon depart for Kyre. We’re going by land, so we might stop in the capital for a week or so.»

I haven’t talked with the Empress for a long while. We do exchange regular letters, but having tea together and discussing philosophy and history is so relaxing.

«And then, we’ll run back home to our children,» I add. «I miss them.»

«I do, too,» Alexander sighs, slowing down to let me walk next to him. He looks at me, smiling. «Every time I’m far from home for more than a couple of days, I miss them so much. And you, too. I spend my nights planning what I’m going to do to you once back, you know?»

«I could imagine it,» I murmur.

And, also, it’s not like I am any different. I roll on the bed, hugging Alexander’s pillow, and wonder how many wicked ideas he’ll bring back from his journey.

And he never disappoints.

He won’t get tired of this ever, will he?

«I love you, Xander,» I whisper as soon as we’re alone.

I jump in his arms and kiss him while he opens the door to our room and walks inside.

No matter the years on our shoulders, he still can carry me around without fatigue. Must be thanks to his heavy training.

He lets me fall on the bed while grinning, amused and absolutely evil. He ties a couple of ropes on the bed.

Oh, I’ll become hungry and taste the fish soup better!

«You’re so positive, Thea,» Alexander comments, caressing my arm and reaching to my wrist. He brings my hand to his lips and pecks my skin. «You seem not to know what’s going to happen…»

I smile, and he bites my forefinger, playful and light. I let him play with my hand until he’s satisfied, ordering my traitor body to stay calm.

It’s just a hand, for goodness. The best part is yet to come.

«Now, choose. Blindfold or gag.»

«Can I really choose?» I chuckle.

«If you don’t, I will.»

«There are some things I can’t do if I’m gagged,» I point out.

«I also prefer to listen to you,» he sighs.

He crosses his arms and leans on the headrest, thinking about the matter with his whole brain.

Meanwhile, I crawl to him and caress his shoulders and arms.

In the end, he won’t use either. I know it already since he’s taking too much time to choose.

Too many props don’t make the play more fun: they’re just something more he needs to think of. The most extreme games are for important occasions only.

And today isn’t such a special day, after all.

While Alexander thinks, I start unbuttoning his shirt. We’ll waste less time, like this, and we’ll make it for lunch. I’m really looking forward to the soup.

«I don’t know, Thea. I’m not sure what I want to do today…»

He sighs and curls his lips down. He does have these kinds of moments, from time to time. He’s all happy and willing to engage until he faces a challenging choice or realises he’s almost done with the wicked ideas he listed in his mind. Or when his idea is as extreme as to fear my reaction, but that happens less often.

His vulnerable side is cute, and it makes me rest from his overbearing attitude in bed.

His fear that I’ll get bored if he doesn’t come up with something new is also heart-warming.

«We can do something ordinary,» I propose.

«You… would like that?» he inquires, tilting his head with surprise and amazement.

«I like you, so it won’t be such a challenge,» I chuckle.

«You do?»

«Yes, I do,» I repeat. «You already tied the ropes, by the way… It would be such a waste not to use them.»

I take one between my fingers and eye Alexander’s wrist. The whole Empire knows we take turns tying each other. They just miss a small detail.

Alexander gets to tie me quite often, but I can do it only once in a while. Let’s see if it’s once in ten years… Last time, he wasn’t all that displeased.

If only his pride allows me to…

«No!» he says, even before I can voice my intentions. «You are not tying me.»

«Why not?»

«I don’t like it.»

«Liar. You like it because I’m such an obedient wife!»

«You, obedient?»

«Yes, that’s it. You like it when your obedient wife does all you tell her. Isn’t that what you want? Being served like a king with the perfect excuse to do nothing meanwhile.»

«Excuse,» he sighs. As if some tiny scarves could stop my hubby from anything.

«We don’t have to do anything, by the way. We’re supposed to freshen up, right? Let’s have a bath.»

I grab his hand and pull him up, walking towards the huge bathtub in the washing room. This was one of Theodora’s favourite places. She would bathe quite often.

It’s also where she and her consort would do all kinds of things. The bathtub is always filled with water, even if not hot. But the warmth of the day will make it bearable.

«Wait!» Alexander says, stopping me before I can take off the gown. «Let’s bathe after.»

«Not before?» I murmur. «Don’t you like the scent of my skin after a fresh bath?»

«I do, but not in the water.»

Oh, his old fear of getting stuck. I’ve dreamt of it, and it was way more traumatic for him than for the Queen.

«All right,» I accept. «Which corner of this room do you prefer?»

I even cross my arms and wait for a decision.

He looks around, considering the matter too seriously. But it’s part of his sensitive phase.

He’ll be like this for a day only if I’m lucky, so I better take advantage of a sensitive and protecting husband. Once he’s back to his older self, nothing will stop him anymore.

«Let me be of some help,» I offer. «I’m sure something will come to mind.»

And, even if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter. I will be happy regardless, and I’m convinced it won’t make such a big difference to Alexander either. As long as he’s him, and as long as I am me.

«Hmm,» he moans, walking to the nearby resting chair. He sits down and opens his arms, his eyes looking down, depressed and disappointed.

«Don’t be so hard on yourself,» I try.

It’s not going to work, but I can’t bear to look at him this dejected.

I sit on his lap, straddling him to avoid losing time later.

«You’re always my dearest hubby, even if you don’t have new ideas.»

I mean, we could recycle those he already used for the rest of our lives.

I kiss his neck and wait for any reaction, but it doesn’t come. He’s really in a bad mood today.

«You know what,» I murmur. «This wife is tired. Let’s just have a bath and relax.»

Bed activities aren’t everything in marriage, after all. I was getting ready for a passionate session, but I’ll delay it for another time.

«No,» Alexander whispers.

He reaches between my legs and massages my secret part. His fingers know every single spot to perfection, and he doesn’t miss any of those that make me moan.

«I can’t leave my wife hanging just because I’m a little tired,» he adds.

Who was hanging? I haven’t even started thinking about it yet. But now… There’s no need to clarify since what he’s doing is exactly what I need.

He lifts his head and makes me kiss him while his free hand moves on my breast. Only his gaze is enough to understand what he wants, and I’m willing to comply.

«This husband here isn’t going to ignore his duties,» he says, splitting for me to check my expression.

It must be as lewd as he likes since he nods. An amused smirk decorates his face while his arms overturn me to press me on the mattress.

I part my legs and let him kiss me down there, closing my eyes to feel every single shiver from my belly.

«Oh, Xander,» I murmur, caressing his head and moving my hips up to meet his mouth. «Your fingers,» I remind him, panting and moaning a bit too loud. We’ve just begun; I shouldn’t be this close already.

«Are you giving orders, now?»

«No, it’s a plea,» I clarify.

He won’t give me what I won’t if we start fighting over who gets to order whom.

«I’m asking you, not ordering…»

«Hmm, better,» he sighs. I guess he’s back to his old, invincible self. Just when it was getting interesting.